The Big Issue - UK (2020-11-30)

INTERVIEW

TheBigIssue:Soyoufinishedlotsofworkinthenickoftime?

TuppenceMiddleton:I was so lucky.I finishedManktwo weeks

beforelockdown,flew back fromLos Angeles,got to see familyand

friends, then the countrylockeddown.It was being edited during

lockdown–as wasShadowplay,which we shotin Prague,and

Possessor,which was filmedin Canada.Situations change,funding

is sparse,and Covid affectseverything.So I was veryluckythese

projectswere done and dusted.

MankfeelslikealovelettertoclassicHollywood.

Ifyouworkinthisindustry,itmakesyouthinktwo polarised

thoughts.Ohwow, theglamour, didn’t everythinglooksobeautiful

andwasn’titgreat whenourprivate lives weremoremysterious?But

atthesametimeitwasn’tallroses,youseethecorruption,theways

we’vemoved onasanindustryandsociety.Soitisastarkreminder

thatalthoughwe considerthosethegoldendaysofHollywood,many

thingsaremuchbetternow.

Especiallyforwomen.

Exactly.Ifeel gratefultoliveinanera ofHollywood whichis

post-MeTooandisaworld of‘intimacydirectors’andmoving

towardsequalpay,equalityanddiversity.

YouplaySaraMankiewicz–whoisknownasPoorSara.

Poor Sara for havingthenicknamePoor Sara! She doesn’tdeservethat.

ItwasmeantassomethingplayfulandaffectionatefromMank,her

husband.OfallofthepeoplesurroundinghiminHollywood,sheis

theonlyonewhoseopinionhetrulytrustsandlistensto. She was with

himlongbeforeheenteredthatworld.So althoughsheisgratefulfor

thisglamorous lifestyle,it’snotwhatshehad

plannedout.She wantedahusbandwhowas

goingtobeathome, notsomeonewhowas

essentiallyanalcoholic. Althoughsheadmires

andsupportshisbrilliance, there was aprice

shepaidandMank knowsthat.

There’salreadytalkofGaryOldman[who

playsMankiewicz]winninganotherOscar.

He’s justadream.It’ssoboringtosay,buthe’s

areal sweetieanddideverythinginhispower

tomake allofusfeel comfortableandwelcome

andequaltohisinsanetalent.Whenyouwork

withhim,automaticallyyouupyourgame.

And he’s upfor larkingaroundinbetween

takes too. He’s veryfunny,andthatwitshines

throughMankiewicz.

IsPossessoraverydifferentfilm?

Itisatotalacidtrip–youwouldn’texpectanythinglessfrom

theCronenberggenepool.[Director]BrandonCronenbergwas

justlovely–I’dactedwith[hisdad]DavidonDisappearanceat

CliftonHill,andDavid’sdaughterwas unitphotographer.They

are reallysweet andgentle,whichisfunnywhenthefilmsthey

produceare soprovocative andgoryandboldandstylised.

AndyourTVseriesShadowplayshouldcometothe

UKsoon?

Ihopeso. Iloved thatproject.It’sfromthecreatorsof

TheBridge–youhave adarkrevengestoryagainstthebackdrop

of1946Berlin,whenthecitywasinruins. An American copis

senttorestructuretheBerlinpolice force. Iamthewife ofa

diplomat,playedbyMichaelCHall. Myfamilywere soexcited

thatIwouldbeactingwithDexter.

Tuppence’s

worth

TuppenceMiddletonwentintolockdownwith

threeprojectsinthecan–startingwithNetflix’s

hotlyanticipatedMank, whichchartsthedramaas

screenwriterHermanJ MankiewiczwritesCitizenKane

underpressurefromOrsonWelles.Shesaysworking

withGaryOldmantookheractingtoanotherlevel

Mank girl

Middleton plays the wife of

Citizen Kane’s writer, played

by Gary Oldman (bottom left)

Photo: Rob Harper

42 | BIGISSUE.COM FROM 30 NOVEMBER 2020

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INTERVIEW & TV