Interview: Charity Wakefield
How does it feel to be described as a rising star, as you have been of late?
“Am I really? I didn’t know. Oh gosh, I hope I can fulfil that. And just hope it leads to more work!”
You’ve had a pretty incredible year, filming three BBC dramas since January.
“Yes, it’s been so exciting. Each of the projects is very different in style and approach. I’ve been really lucky.”
How do you feel about your career taking off so quickly?
“It’s very exciting. Sense And Sensibility is really high-profile and I’m hoping it’s opened a few doors.
“I was very lucky to get the part (of Marianne). When I auditioned I felt such a strong kinship with the character. It was a role I really thought I could play, having been through some of the things she’s been through. Marianne’s very human. She has to say everything she feels, and I think I have that in me, too.”
Did you feel hesitant about the role knowing you were following in Kate Winslet’s shoes?
“I made sure I didn’t watch the film version, because Kate is such a wonderful actress and it would have been terrible to watch it and end up trying to copy her.
“She’s been absolutely revered for that (role) so it was quite awe-inspiring to get a part that’s already been done brilliantly. I do feel we had a different approach, though, and I could make the part my own.”
So what can viewers expect from the new version?
“The cast is quite young which is close to the original text. It’s a lively version and very natural, even though there are beautiful still shots in it. It’ll feel very real, not like watching a novel.”
You’re also in the BBC’s updated version of the fairytale Rapunzel, which sounds quite wacky. You play a tennis player in love with a male player who disguises himself as a woman to try and win a grand slam final.
“It is really wacky, a bit like Almodovar in the humour and the storyline. It’s written by the same guy who wrote the comedy show Smack The Pony. It’s very off-the-wall.”
Is there any similarity with the original tale?
“Well, my character’s the world number one. She’s a product; her image is used to sell shampoo and she has to give all these press conferences. And as such she’s kept in this ivory tower and locked away metaphorically.
“She’s never had a male relationship, because her mum thinks it’ll distract her from tennis. Then when she meets this guy disguised as a woman she falls for ‘her’ and becomes really confused about her sexuality.”
Did you always want to be an actress?
“I lived in Spain when I was young and because of the village festivals I was quite into dance and drama. Then all the way through school I was always trying to be in plays and pantomimes.
“My grandfather, James Hayter, was an actor, and my mother grew up as one of eight children to this then fairly famous actor, so she was used to being part of that world.
“She saw how wonderful and exciting it was, but also how difficult. She says now she knew I would always do it, but she definitely encouraged me to look at the other options. That’s why I didn’t do it straight away. I did A-levels and then took a year out to decide.”
Would you be interested in trying to make it big in America?
“I don’t think I would want to move there, but if I auditioned for an interesting project that was happening in America then I would love to go.
“My parents – my mother and her husband, whom I consider my father, live here – but my natural father lives in San Francisco, so I’ve been to the US a few times. I’d sooner work in Europe, though. I’m a huge fan of European cinema.”
Have you had any preparation for what it’s like to be recognised?
“No. I am sort of hoping it won’t happen too much. I won’t say the idea scares me. It’s great to be recognised for your work, but I feel very precious about my home life.”
You’ve been dating your boyfriend, actor David Newman for two years. How do you manage the separations that acting involves?
“Neither of us really wanted to date another actor, but it’s actually been incredibly useful because you do understand each other’s lives and schedules, and you can really celebrate each other jobs and work.
“If something’s worth it you’ve got to make time to see each other, and that time’s really precious.” Besides acting what other skills do you have? Are you one of these actors who’s secretly a carpenter or a croupier?
“Nothing that I have a qualification in. But I’m always very excited about jobs that mean I have to learn something. For instance, for Sense And Sensibility I bought an electric piano off eBay and learned all the songs so it really was me playing.
“And before doing Rapunzel I’d never played tennis before, but I had four weeks of lessons and now I can do really good strokes.”