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Your movie Pareidolia
- in a few words, what is it about, and what can you tell us about your character in it?
The short film Pareidolia
is about what happens when a woman tries to look
into the science of pareidolia, trying to put her fears and nightmares to
bed, when in reality the opposite happens - her sanity is challenged and
her life put into terrifying danger.
I play Jean, a long time girlfriend of the protagonist, and university
lecturer.
What did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much
Carolyn Pickles can we find in Jean Clarke? As the very close and caring friend of someone in a very fragile state, Jean
gets drawn in to try to help her. For me, close female friendships involve
trying to support each other especially in times of stress, anxiety and
problems. Jean searches her memory and heart for ways to help her friend,
and comes up with what she feels will be the solution. Yet everything
turns into a bigger nightmare for her. The setting and the characters have
to be real and convincing in order to hook the viewer. Jean has to be
someone we could all identify with, a regular caring friend.
To what extent can you identify with Pareidolia's
approach to horror?
I have not watched a lot of horror since that arm shot out of the grave in Carrie! This short is an incredibly involving, real and terrifying film.
It worked for me, despite being in it and knowing what happens, it still
horrified me!
How did you get involved with the project in the first place, what drew you to it?
The
wonderful producer at Misty Moon, Stuart Morriss
[Stuart Morriss interview -
click here], got in touch with me and
asked me to come on board. I’ve known Stuart for quite a few years now,
he got me involved with re-visiting The Bill, which he does on a regular
basis, by creating evenings where ‘fans’ of the programme get to
participate and pose questions, get photos signed etc. I played DCI Kim
Reid on that programme and was welcomed on board. Stuart is a very bright,
passionate guy who loves film. I jumped at the chance of working with him,
and of working on a short horror. What can you tell us about Pareidolia's
director Aaron Truss [Aaron Truss interview - click here], and what was
your collaboration like? I
met Aaron Truss the director just once prior to filming and was impressed
by how much work he had already done on it, and how deeply he had
been thinking about it. Like Stuart, Aaron was very bright and so
passionate about this short film written by his father. Do talk about the shoot as
such, and the on-set atmosphere! Aaron
created a very relaxed open feeling onset. He was never dogmatic but
always listened to your input first, but could supply ideas when needed.
It was great fun too, my one day on the set, which I would say helped
enormously, with plenty of laughs. Any future projects
you'd like to share? Having
just finished a third series of Sister Boniface Investigates, my desk is
clear! I am waiting to hear about a project but fear it won’t be made
for a while because of the SAG-AFTRA strike. What got you into acting in the
first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject? My
involvement with acting must have started because of the various members
of my family who are actors. Chistina Pickles, my aunt, my father’s
sister, moved to New York after RADA here, and did well, at the peak of
her career playing Monica and Ross’ mother in Friends. Also
DiCaprio’s mother in Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet. You have to be old
to remember Wilfred Pickles, a radio actor initially who crossed
successfully into television and film, most memorably perhaps The Family
Way with Hayley Mills. I
read Drama at Manchester University and spent 3 seasons with the National
Youth Theatre, starting in rep and going on to TV and film.
What can you tell us about your film and TV work prior to Pareidolia?
Prior to Pareidolia
my screen work stretches back to 1978, when I worked on a
film with Dustin Hoffman about the disappearance of Agatha
Christie, called Agatha. I played Agatha’s nanny Charlotte Fisher, and
was pretty scared until Hoffman, playing the detective on the case, came
to my rescue and quelled my terror. Still a bit in awe of the screen, I
then worked with Polanski on Tess, the Thomas Hardy film Polanski wanted
to make with his now murdered wife Sharon Tate, now starring Nastassia
Kinski. I played Marion her milkmaid buddy and I really enjoyed working
with Polanski, who was painstaking and neurotic but a great director. Who
knew exactly what he wanted to convey. Then work on British television and
many years of it, in between theatre which I love. I played Anton
Rodger’s screen daughter Simone for 4 or even 5 series of May To
December, the BBC sitcom.
The Bill, Emmerdale, Coronation Street
and Eastenders and appearances many TV dramas followed. I played Charity Burbage in a
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I worked on Broadchurch playing
Maggie, editor of the Broadchurch Echo. Most recently I’ve been playing
Reverend Mother Adrian in the BBC
comedy Sister Boniface Investigates.
Going through your filmography, you seem to have been in pretty much
every other British TV show I've ever heard of for the last several years
if not decades - so what keeps you running, really?
What keeps me going is a love of the craft. I teach at Pinewood and learn
more from my students than I would ever have anticipated. I love how much
a little goes a long way in screen acting, how certain faces work well and
how we all need to draw so much on our own experience and
imagination for the work as actor.
Having been in the business for quite some time, how has the film-
and TV-world changed over the years?
The industry has changed terribly. I have a very talented daughter who is
finding it very difficult to move ahead, and she is battling against much
higher numbers now. I did Drama at Manchester Uni, you can study it
anywhere and everywhere now. The business is no longer a closed shop, the
self tape for many has replaced the audition in the room, which means a
producer sees so many more actors at the flick of a button. We are now
more expendable than ever.
How would you describe yourself as an actress?
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I
am a character actor, and like to think I can play a wide range of
characters up and down the class range as well as types. This makes it
harder often, there are actors who play themselves only, and
therefore you know a casting director knows who to go to for specific
types. Actresses
(and indeed actors) who inspire you? Glenda
Jackson was a major heroine of mine, and Judi Dench. I loved Glenda’s
physical relaxation and courage, and Judi’s classical work. All styles
cross-fertilise and help the actor grow. Your favourite movies?
Casablanca,
African Queen, North by Northwest, Goodbye Girl,
Barefoot in the Park, most Woody Allen films, and plenty more modern
movies, I can’t remember their titles. ... and of course, films you really deplore? Boys’ films about war, or sci-fi stuff I can’t
understand. Aren’t people more interesting? Your
website, social media, whatever else? I
am on most social media but am really terrible at working them. I discover
Instagram messages that were sent 5 weeks ago. Totally unreliable. Thanks for the
interview!
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