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Andrew Tiernan {Frost Interviews}

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I recently had the pleasure of working with one of Britain most hard working and talented actors, Andrew Tiernan, on Jason Croot’s new film Le Fear, Le Sequel. He was kind enough to give Frost an interview, and it’s a stunner.

You are in “Prisoners Wives” the new BBC Drama, what was it like working on that?

All credit to the Production as they took a risk with me, as usually I’m the Bad guy, so this time I’m on the other side of the law playing DS Hunter who is investigating the murder that Gemma’s (Emma Rigby) husband Steve (Jonas Armstrong) has been accused of. The Directors and Producers wanted an edge to this guy and they knew I could bring that to the role, which was great for me. I had to get my head into Cop mode, as I haven’t done that for a very long time, in fact since “Prime Suspect” when I was a young copper with Helen Mirren and Tom Bell. Hopefully I’ve done a good job. But that was easy as Julie Geary’s writing is fantastic.

You played Ephialtes, in Zack Snyder’s “300”, how did you manage to put in such a good performance under all of that prosthetic?

It’s great because you don’t get recognized. I have always tried to transform myself for each role. The prosthetics was like a mask that I could manipulate with my facial muscles, but I had to exaggerate my expressions to move the inch thick prosthetic. I enjoy mask work, so that wasn’t the hardest thing for me to do. When you’re trying to transform yourself without the use of prosthetics, that is the challenge. I’ve fluctuated my weight and appearance over the years to fit the roles, I was influenced by Robert De Niro when he put a ton of weight on for “Raging Bull,” but it’s quite a dangerous thing to do and not everyone in the business appreciates it, some have thought that I’ve just let myself go, so I doubt I’ll be putting on the pounds again anytime soon, unless it is under prosthetics.

You are a successful Actor, but still do your own projects, why?

It’s all about the work. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I wanted to have some kind of control over my work at some point. What people forget is that it’s the Writer and Producers who are in control we can only perform what is written on the page. And when we’re not doing those jobs, we’re waiting around for work, it can send most Actors insane, so I try to keep myself busy between jobs.

Tell us about the short film you’ve recently directed; “Flush”:

“Flush” came about after the writer; Kevin O’Donohoe, told me about an experience he had with some Estate Agents. One of the estate agents asked to use the toilet in his flat and was in there for an unexpectedly long time and managed to stink the place out. He thought that the guy had done it deliberately, so he decided to get his own back and came up with this very funny little script. We made it Independently, I got Shona McWilliams and Simon Balfour in to help me produce it. We’ve just finished Post-Production and we’ve entered it into some film festivals, we’re very excited about it. We’re planning to do some Feature Films later in the year with the same Production Team and a new script by Kevin called “UK18” a Political Drama set in the near future.

How did you get started as an actor?

I was into films from an early age and would visit the local cinema on my own, The Grove. I’d watch all the Ray Harryhausen adventures and then I managed to see some of Peter Bogdanovich’s films, such as “Paper Moon” and “What’s up Doc?”. So I suppose the bug started there, and eventually I decided it was something I wanted to do as a Career. I started working at the Midlands Art Centre after joining the Youth Theatre there, then ended up at the Drama Centre London.

Who/what is your inspirations?

If you’d asked me a few years ago, I would have said De Niro and Scorsese, but I think really it is people like Powell and Pressburger, Nicholas Roeg, Lindsay Anderson and Ken Russell who inspire me, and always have. I also have an admiration for Polanski’s films, one of the very first films I remember seeing was “Repulsion” when it was screened on television and it freaked me right out.

What is your favourite film?

At the moment, I would have to say it’s Ken Russell’s “The Boy Friend”. It was such a shock when he passed away, but I had managed to finally get the film on DVD the week before his passing. And it’s just as wonderfully spectacular as when I first watched it, what a genius. But there are so many films that I love, that I have a top 40 in my head every week. Though there are certain ones that always top the list and not necessarily everyone’s favourites.

How has the industry changed for Actors?

Since I joined the industry rather a lot has changed. When I first started there was a lot more opportunities and a lot more Drama was made for TV. But also there was a lot more Theatre Companies, we thought cuts were bad back then, but now it’s unbelievable. But on a positive note, technology has improved such that Artists can develop and produce their own independent work a lot easier than back then. And it’s possible for that work to be seen in different markets.

What are your opinions on reality TV?

Unfortunately, I think that it’s had a knock on effect in our industry and not just the fact that there’s not enough Drama being produced, but reality TV is very cheap for the Networks to produce and people seem to want to watch it. It’s a very sad time, as I think that when we look back at this period, we will think, where were the great British TV Drama Writers that we used to produce like Alan Bleasdale, Dennis Potter or Peter McDougall? The Networks should really pump more of the money they make from this cheap stuff into quality writing and drama, instead of squeezing the budgets. But we as Artists can’t rely on them anymore, we have to do it ourselves if we have a story to tell and find our own ways to distribute it.

What do you think of celebrity culture? What harm does it do?

Recently I was having a conversation with a Young Actor and we were chatting about the business and I mentioned that I’d worked with Simon Callow, the renowned Theatre Actor and Writer. He must have misheard me, as suddenly he shrieked in excitement “You know Simon Cowell!?!” I can forgive him for not knowing who Simon Callow is, but that reaction to the possibility that I could introduce him to Simon Cowell was deeply concerning. And I am seeing it more and more. Actors who manage to get themselves roles on Productions and the next step for them is a Celebrity Dance Show or the Jungle one. Shows where you have swallow things in order to gain more celebrity status. How ironic is that!? I think what this culture of celebrity has done has made some people very ignorant and obsessed with materialistic things. I think what will happen is when people think back to the noughties, no one will be remembered for any kind of Art or Music, the era will be remembered for the Wars that took place and the Banking Crisis. And just for the record, I don’t know Simon Cowell.

What next?

We are going to change things.

Links:

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0862907/
Official Website: http://web.mac.com/andytiernan/Andrew_Tiernan
Flush FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/Flush2012

Photo credit; Marac Kolodzinski

Andy Serkis and Host Of Stars Celebrate Young Actors Theatre

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Who and Where The launch of Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland audio book along with the all star cast including Simon Callow, Chloe Moretz, Andy Serkis, Sandi Toksvig, Paul Whitehouse, Celia Imrie, Dexter Fletcher, Asa Butterfield and other members of The Young Actors Theatre, Islington.

When On Wednesday June 15 / 18:00 / Young Actors Theatre

Frost had a wonderful time at YATI’s launch for the Alice in Wonderland audio book, the theatre made us feel like we had fallen down the hole after Alice, the cast did a reading and performed some songs, and all the while we sipped cocktails and munched canapes. It was a fun (alcoholic) tea party indeed.

I had a chat with the wonderful and polite Andy Serkis, who told me that the Young Actors Theatre had given him his start when he was 18. Asa Butterfield, fresh from a Martin Scorsese lead, put all his success at the door of the theatre, saying that he would never be where he is now without them.

In a bid to raise much needed funds and awareness of the continuing work that Islington’s YATI carries out with budding actors and performers from within the local community, the non subsidised community theatre and acting school has given its young professionals the chance to experience the demands and fun of recording this enduring classic, alongside some of the country’s best-loved actors and performers, all of whom have generously donated their contributions to support this fund-raising initiative, to support the launch of the developing potential fund and create a brand new audio book version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

In the current climate, it is more important than ever for small, community based organisations such as YATI to be pro-active in generating the income to continue to fund an environment where young people from all walks of life can transform their lives

‘YATI is not only an important part of the local community’ says Andy Serkis, (The Mock Turtle), ‘but is also an invaluable resource for young actors and performers from all walks of life to get an introduction into the acting profession’ before adding;

‘How better then to celebrate the ongoing achievements of the theatre than to bring members past and present together with some of the country’s best actors working today to record a new and fun version of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’

Andrew Harries, Artistic Director of YATI, says; ‘This is a pivotal time for YATI and we want to celebrate the achievements of the theatre. We have more classes and opportunities for young people in the community than ever before and our members are experiencing an impressive amount of professional success with appearances in The Kings Speech, Attack the Block and Horrid Henry – and that’s just the past 12 months.

And what better way to raise awareness of the theatre, gain the support of the wider community and invest in the futures of as many young people as possible than with the launch of this exciting and fun new version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It is great to see YATI students acting alongside some of the nations best loved talent.’

The Young Actors Theatre deserves public funding for all of the hard, amazing work they have done over the years.to support them, buy the CD, volunteer or give them some much needed cash, Young Actors Theatre

Jamie’s Dream School starts Wednesday at 10pm on Channel 4

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www.channel4.com/dreamschool

JAMIE’S DREAM SCHOOL Nearly half of British children leave education without the qualifications they need to succeed. Jamie Oliver was one of them: he left school at sixteen with just two GCSEs.

Now he wants to do something about it. So he’s bringing together some of Britain’s most inspirational and expert individuals to try to persuade twenty young people, with just a handful of qualifications between them, to give education a second chance.

The kids, aged from sixteen to eighteen, will be taught a range of subjects, supervised by an experienced head teacher, John D’Abbro.


The science teacher is Professor Robert Winston, history is taught by Dr David Starkey, politics by Alastair Campbell, drama by Simon Callow, music by Jazzie B, art by Rolf Harris, maths by Alvin Hall and sport by Olympic gold-medallist Daley Thompson.

Other experts lending their weight to the project include former poet laureate Andrew Motion, hip hop vocalist Tinchy Stryder, sailor Ellen Macarthur, photographer Rankin, barrister Cherie Blair, actor Dominic West, classics professor Mary Beard, explorer David Hempleman Adams, environmentalist Jane Poynter, school dinner lady Nora Sands and former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan.

The project comes as 47% British children fail to gain five GCSEs at grade A*-C, including English and Maths.

The issues faced by the students are diverse: Angelique moved home and school because of increasing violence in her area; Aysha lost the year before her GCSEs when her family sent her back to Bangladesh for unruly behaviour; Connor, from an old East End family, couldn’t see the point of school and has been doing odd jobs labouring since leaving; and Jamal was bullied at school.
In the first programme of the series, David Starkey shows the class some Seventh Century ‘bling’ from the Staffordshire Hoard, worth millions. A traditionalist, he plans to take a firm hand with bad behaviour, but he gets off to a difficult start when he and a student trade insults.

Meanwhile, actor Simon Callow wants to enthuse the children about Shakespeare by showing how relevant the bard is to today’s society. Robert Winston, a doctor, scientist and founding father of IVF wants to try a very hands on approach with the kids, so he has them dissecting rats and a pig. And Jazzie B, who found fame with group Soul II Soul, wants to turn the students into composers.

The project’s just begun, but Jamie already has a crisis on his hands – while David Starkey demands that the students’ discipline is addressed, head teacher John D’Abbro thinks it might be the distinguished historian who needs to re-think his approach.

As well as the intensive and inspirational reintroduction to learning provided at Dream School, the project will be providing long-term expert support to help the kids get back into education.

The series raises the issue of why so many young people are unengaged by education and asks what more could be done by society and the educational system to help them. It also aims to find out if the new teachers can translate their real-life expertise into the realities of the classroom.

“Nearly half of Britain’s young people leave school without the recommended minimum of qualifications – I was one of them!” says Jamie Oliver. “So I wanted to see if we could inspire some of these young people – a handful of those kids who hadn’t been inspired at their own schools – by creating a school where the teachers were absolute experts in their subjects.”

“I have to say that I’ve never admired teachers more than I do now. Until you’ve tried it, you can’t possibly know what it’s like standing in front of a group of young people who aren’t interested in what you’re saying. And I think all the Dream School teachers came away with this huge respect for teachers.

“I thought they were all really smart kids – a lot of them had trouble paying attention, but once you got them inspired in whatever subject grabbed them, their qualities really shone through.

“How did we cope? I won’t spoil the programme, but let’s just say that some teachers found it more of a challenge than others.”

Jamie’s Dream School is a seven-part documentary series made by Fresh One Productions.