Description

British actress Juliet Stevenson reflects on her transient childhood, and her time studying acting at RADA. She discusses working with film director Anthony Minghella who wrote her a part in the film Truly, Madly, Deeply. They went on to also make Breaking and Entering together 2006, Stevenson talks about the film's themes of urban life, secrets and multi-cultureism. Stevenson says she had been offered big Hollywood roles in the past but disliked the ‘social aspect’ of chasing work, so instead she went back to the stage with The Royal Court’s Death of a Maiden. The next film discussed is Bend It Like Beckham 2002 directed by Gurinda Chadha, a fresh, funny and original script that had more to it than football. Stevenson discusses what Minghella and Chadha had in common as directors and what sets them apart. When Did You Last See Your Father 2007 Stevenson talks about her complex character and having to do extensive research in order to find more sides to her personality, to find the truth and to try to do her justice. She often asks to change some of her dialogue in order to add something to the character, as often female characters ‘lack dimension’. Stevenson now discusses Mona Lisa Smile 2003, her biggest Hollywood film to date, Julia Roberts is described as ‘gracious and great to work with’. Stevenson recalls her disappointment on not being cast in the film version of Death of a Maiden, she reflects on how it was never going to happen for a British actress, she closes by sharing her frustrations about the state of the industry in the UK and how she has aspirations to write and direct.

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