Editor's Note: We interviewed Gabrielle Anwar last year for this article which originally appeared in Venice Magazine, during the promotions for "The Tudors". She had only shot the pilot for "Burn Notice" at the time, which has since gone on to be one of the most successful series on the USA Network and given Anwar a true comeback. Nice to see it happen for the entire "Burn Notice" team, as the pilot was sharp, fast, and funny, and the subsequent series has built on the promise of that initial episode.
The Second Act of Gabrielle Anwar
By Terry Keefe
It was one of those true “a star is born” moments when Gabrielle Anwar tangoed with Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman back in 1992. While Anwar was only in the film for one scene, it was perhaps the most memorable of the film. She was, for all intents and purposes, the woman of the title in a movie heavy on the testosterone, and her star quality wasn’t lost on the audience, or the powers that be at Hollywood. This writer recalls working at an Orion Pictures production company at the time and hearing people rave about Pacino, the also newly-arrived Chris O’Donnell, and “that great girl,” who soon found herself on casting lists across town. When asked during our interview how dramatically her life changed after Scent of a Woman, Anwar explained that it didn’t really all that much, due to the fact that she was simultaneously embarking on the journey of motherhood, which was to take up much of the time that would have otherwise been spent basking in the starlet spotlight. She certainly didn’t disappear, making memorable appearances in Abel Ferrara’s remake of Body Snatchers, For Love or Money, and The Three Musketeers in 1993, and Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead in 1995. She’s continued to work regularly in the years since, with leads in numerous film and television projects. But it’s only been in the last year or so that those projects have started to be as high-profile as Showtime’s new series “The Tudors, where Anwar stars as Princess Margaret, alongside Jonathan Rhys-Meyers young take on Henry VIII. Next up, she’ll be seen in the USA series “Burn Notice,” and 2006 saw her adventuring alongside Noah Wyle in the second film in the popular “Librarian” series for TNT.
Venice: Being from England originally, you obviously knew the story of Henry VIII. How familiar were you with the real details?
Gabrielle Anwar: Well, I had endured all my history classes regarding Henry VIII [laughs]. With chagrin. So, any ideas of having to read up further were not the most exciting point of the project [laughs]. But I did read a very dry account of Henry VIII’s sisters, as that pertained to me particularly. And it was really hard going, and I must confess that I haven’t yet finished the book.
Had you known much about Princess Margaret then?
I knew of her and Mary, and I’m actually playing [the story of] Mary. Which was a little confusing to me for the first few days of shooting, as I didn’t know this. It turns out that they had to change her name from Mary to Margaret, because there was already a Mary character [Mary Boyeln] and I suppose that was a little too confusing to an audience.
Was it apparent on the page that this wasn’t going to be the Merchant-Ivory version of Henry VIII?
Yes [laughs]. It’s very rich and sexy. A totally different take. Merchant-Ivory it is not. Michael Hirst is an incredible writer, particularly for women. Which is unheard of. Having read my character in just page form for the audition, I was convinced that it was a female writer who wrote it.
What was the audition process like?
Audition processes are, by nature, horrific [laughs], no matter what the project, in my opinion. I was actually asked to audition for three of the parts, two of the wives and one sister. Unfortunately, they cast a great actress, Mary Doyle-Kennedy, to play Catherine [laughs]. She’s terrific.
Jonathan had an immense task in being the focal character of these 12 hours. How in character did he stay as Henry?
[laughs] He was very focused. I thought it was rather amusing when Michael Hirst commented in one of the promotional pieces that I saw, that “Jonathan is Henry VIII.” He was great. He was very convincing, especially considering that no one would have ever considered Henry VIII to have been hot at any point in his life. He was remembered as a big, fat pig. This Henry VIII has nothing to do with the one from my history classes. I would have paid much more attention, let me tell you [laughs]. I’m not sure if the British audiences will be as generous as the American audiences though. The Brits are pretty unforgiving when it comes to anything in their history that the Americans have taken a hold of. I’ll be curious to see.
The scene where you are married off to the King of Portugal and see him for the first time is a great one. I hope the actor who played the King had a good sense of humor with the faces you were making.
Right [laughs]. What a lovely man that actor was, but he played it so well, that it wasn’t difficult. So that response was authentic. He did a great job. What a sweet guy.
The next scene where you have to consummate the marriage, with the whole court surrounding the bed to make sure, was so uncomfortable and a little creepy. Do you know if it happened that way historically?
I am told that in fact did happen. Because obviously the man is on his last legs and he absolutely has to produce an heir. So there’s a lot invested in that one night of sex.
You’ve done a number of costume dramas before. How did this compare to some of the other productions in terms of scale?
I think I’ve played about seven princesses in my life. This might be my last princess though [laughs]. I think I’ve graduated past the ingénue. For the budget that Showtime had, I think they did a remarkable job. I’ve worked with a much bigger budget [in period films], for example on The Three Musketeers. So the sets were bigger there. But I think Showtime did an incredible job. Joan Bergin, the costume designer, was extraordinary.
The costumes seemed historically accurate but also very sexy, which is quite a change from most takes we’ve seen.
The trouble with those BBC costume dramas is that you can’t really imagine people actually sitting in a chair with all their buttons done up, with no sleeves rolled up. I just can’t imagine that happening. And yet, that’s the only image which we’ve had. So when you veer away from that and do something that’s a little more casual, a little more seductive, it’s a lot to handle. Especially having grown up in England. Windsor, no less.
You looked like you were having a ball on The Librarian sequel. Noah Wyle has both action and comedic chops that I never knew existed.
Who knew? I guess that’s what happens when you play a doctor on TV for so long. People assume that you’ll be performing surgery and not making jokes. Noah has an incredible sense of humor and timing. I enjoyed that show a lot more than most. The director Jonathan Frakes was just a blessing and the producer Dean Devlin was fantastic. It’s rare to get a group of people in this industry that are that likable [laughs].
Let’s talk about the “Burn Notice” pilot which I just saw. It’s a fun show, which mixes action and a light tone well.
We start shooting the series next month in Miami. It is a very fun role. I like this woman. Again, another fantastic writer, writing great women’s roles! There must be a revolution underfoot. I was actually surprised when I saw the rough cut, because I didn’t realize we were making something which was so funny. Not a good thing to do [laughs]. I was pleasantly surprised, but then I panicked, worrying that I had perhaps been playing the wrong tone without knowing it.
You’re having a real career resurgence right now in terms of the quality of the material you’re being cast in, as well as its profile. Did that just sort of happen, or has it been a matter of an aggressive pursuit of material on your part?
All of my children are in school now, so I guess I’m trying to redefine who I am as a woman, now that I’m not necessarily needed as a mother as many hours as I have previously been. Part of that has been endeavoring to capture where I left off in my career. Although that’s an almost impossible task, as this is a very unforgiving business that I’m involved in. As perhaps are most businesses, when women take time off to have babies.
Anwar and Al in Scent of a Woman.
During that time, did you turn down a lot of work?
In the beginning, I turned down work. Which was delicious for my ego. After the second child, I was not receiving offers. After the third child, I was begging for employment.
Did anything happen specifically which turned it around to what’s happening now?
I think The Librarian, perhaps. Because they wanted to cast a hot, happening A-list name. Surprise, surprise [laughs]. Which was not me. I was cold, unhappening, and perhaps at the end of the alphabet at that point. But the director did something unheard of in this town and insisted that they go with somebody who they enjoyed in the auditioning process. So I owe him much. He and Mr. Devlin actually did something unusual, which I, my children, and my landlord appreciate greatly.
Had you known Jonathan Frakes beforehand?
No, and I don’t even own a TV, so I hadn’t even seen “Star Trek.”
But you’re going to have to get a TV now that you’re on a new show!
That’s....debatable [laughs].
During that time, did you turn down a lot of work?
In the beginning, I turned down work. Which was delicious for my ego. After the second child, I was not receiving offers. After the third child, I was begging for employment.
Did anything happen specifically which turned it around to what’s happening now?
I think The Librarian, perhaps. Because they wanted to cast a hot, happening A-list name. Surprise, surprise [laughs]. Which was not me. I was cold, unhappening, and perhaps at the end of the alphabet at that point. But the director did something unheard of in this town and insisted that they go with somebody who they enjoyed in the auditioning process. So I owe him much. He and Mr. Devlin actually did something unusual, which I, my children, and my landlord appreciate greatly.
Had you known Jonathan Frakes beforehand?
No, and I don’t even own a TV, so I hadn’t even seen “Star Trek.”
But you’re going to have to get a TV now that you’re on a new show!
That’s....debatable [laughs].
0 comments:
Post a Comment