1646 – Issue 4

13 Natalie as Vanda in Venus In Fur There was a relatively small intake of girls in sixth form when you and I were students but now the school is going co-ed from September this year, what do you think about that? I think it’s wonderful. As you say, there was only a handful of us girls when we were there; roughly one female to four male students in Sixth Form, I believe. The world we want to live in is gender parity, so ‘enough said’ really. I went back recently to talk to the pupils about my career in journalism, they asked me for my best nugget of advice….what would yours be? I said it quite recently at an interview at the Oxford Union when they asked me this question. It was off- the-cuff when asked there but I will repeat it now because I really believe it: Don’t hold yourself to the dreams of your 18 year-old self. We grow, we shift, we alter, we get affected by our experiences. As long as you are true to your gut and instincts and are kind and compassionate – importantly with yourself as much as other people – then allow your dreams, ambitions and hopes to alter and change. The digital footprint of a young individual’s past is so over-documented now it can be hard to break free of a previous identity, but as Yusuf/Cat Stevens sings, ‘To be what you must, you must give up what you are’. Any tips for pupils reading this who want to pursue a career in acting? It’s a marathon. Not a sprint. And additionally, I would suggest, submerge yourself in storytelling: novels, theatre, TV, film. Go back and watch the award-winning films of the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s; read the classic novels. Learn the heritage of all the craft forms in storytelling – be it directing, writing, acting, whatever. I interviewed Greta Gerwig about needing more women directors and producers and of course screenwriters – from your perspective, do you feel the landscape is changing for the better or is there still more to be done? There is tons more to be done but so much has changed for the better since I began my career. The good news is you can make a feature film with an iPhone now, literally. So start now with your friends. Trial and error is the best training. Which has been your favourite role to date? Ah dear, I’m afraid that’s like asking a mother to pick a favourite child! Roles come to you at different times in your life and give you a unique experience and perspective on an issue or theme, a historical event, an individual… You grow as a human and ‘a creative’ every time you take a job, not least because you get to travel so much, meet different people and cultures. The fact that I am answering this question from Cape Town (shooting WHITE LIES) proves that. I have genuinely loved all the characters I have played in different ways, but if you were to force my hand, I would say, it is always an honour to play a real person and the historian in me remains. Anne Boleyn was a genuine Evangelical Reformist who wanted to eradicate the corruption of the Catholic Church of that era. She was heroic, and despite Henry VIII’s campaign to erase her from history, I have always believed her mettle can be identified in the personality of her daughter, Elizabeth I. I have also most recently had the honour of playing Dr Audrey Evans, a trailblazing British paediatric oncologist who revolutionised chemotherapy in childrens’ cancer in the 1960s and amongst other things created the ‘Evans Staging System’, a system still fundamentally used today in childrens’ cancer diagnosis. She also founded the first Ronald McDonald house, in Philadelphia. An organisation that now serves millions around the world. I was able to hold Audrey’s hand in her apartment in Philly, on what turned out to be her deathbed, and tell her what an inspiration she was to me (She passed whilst we were shooting). I was deeply affected by playing such a courageous, razor- sharp woman so dedicated to helping children and their families through the trauma of cancer. The film AUDREY’S CHILDREN will be out next year. That has definitely been the greatest honour of my career to date. The side note is, I suppose, I always consider myself first-and-foremost a stage actor, and have had the privilege to work with the likes of Patrick Marber and Luc Bondy. I met my Civil Partner, David Oakes, on stage and whenever I am in a rehearsal room for theatre it feels like ‘coming home’. What’s the dream role you haven’t yet played? Apropos your previous question, you never know what is around the corner and that is the joy and gift, but equally the unpredictability of this profession that you become accustomed to. I do have a number of things ‘in Development’ as we say, as a Producer. So to grow a space the other side of the camera – writer, producer, maybe director one day- is a skill set I hope to continue to nurture. There are rumours the next 007 will be female, I can see you in that role…would you put your hat in the ring? Tell them to call my agent! No, seriously though... I have just been lucky enough to shoot a two-hander film version of the Morgan Lloyd Malcom play THE WASP before Christmas with Naomie Harris, who people may know as ‘Miss Moneypenny’. Perhaps I should ask her to put in a good word?!