High Society - Ellie Bamber interview (exclusive)
Interview by Rob Carnevale
ELLIE Bamber talks about landing the role of Dinah Lord in the Old Vic’s in the round production of High Society and what it feels like to be a part of one of Kevin Spacey’s final productions as artistic director (not to mention getting the chance to meet one of her acting idols).
She also reflects on her career to date, including working with Trevor Nunn early on, and looks ahead to the forthcoming cinema release of the kick-ass Pride and Prejudice and Zombies alongside Lily James and Sam Riley.
Q. How is High Society shaping up so far? It’s currently previewing, isn’t it? It must be quite challenging performing it in the round at the Old Vic?
Ellie Bamber: Yes and it’s been really enjoyable so far. It’s an amazing opportunity and the show is incredible. I’ve loved High Society for so long anyway. And I’m really enjoying performing it ‘in the round’ because obviously you have to think about conveying the story everywhere – not just in front of you. It’s completely different from most theatre in that there are so many different areas to project to.
Q. Is it nerve-wracking at all, stepping out onto that stage every night at such a prestigious London venue, in such a well-known play?
Ellie Bamber: It is. But I think I’ve always turned my nerves into excited energy. I just get really, really excited. I haven’t really got nervous in an apprehensive way to this point.
Q. And what do you like about playing Dinah Lord in High Society?
Ellie Bamber: Well, she’s a 14-year-old girl from a very wealthy family and I just really enjoy playing with that. She’s also a bit of a tomboy, which is fun, and I get the chance to sing on stage, which is great. I’ve always loved being in comedy because I love making people laugh. It’s certainly challenging because I’ve not done stage for a while. So, it’s tough in the way that you’re doing the same thing over and over again. It’s tough creating that same performance every night.
Q. Is there room for improv, or to mix things up a little within the moment?
Ellie Bamber: Yeah, there are a few bits where we improvise a little. Maria [Friedman, the director] has allowed us to improvise a bit. So, I can say different things occasionally. I have one scene where I shock everyone and it certainly shocks my co-star if I say something different every time [laughs]. But she [Maria] really work-shopped the characters and developed them in rehearsal so that we got to know them inside out. And that then gave us room to play with them a little.
Q. What do you think Maria has brought to this production that makes it different?
Ellie Bamber: Well, I was asking her about this myself. . There’s new characters, new songs and what’s so great about it is that it’s about these wealthy people who are actually really normal. They’re all just searching for love and trying to get there. So, it also shows us that we shouldn’t have preconceptions and that people shouldn’t be judged just by their wealth.
Q. Is that how Dinah is judged as well?
Ellie Bamber: I think when Dinah first comes on stage, she’s a little girl – and that’s all that people see. But she’s probably one of the wisest characters in the play because she understands that love is the most important thing and she keeps telling people that. She’s often in the background saying all the right things, but not being listened to. And so she is judged a little in that regard because they think she’s too young. But she has so many layers and a lot of wisdom.
Q. Do you enjoy researching and creating characters?
Ellie Bamber: Absolutely. I’ve also just done Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and I’m playing Lydia Bennet, which is amazing. So, it was brilliant to spend time researching her because she is such an iconic character. Obviously, there have been so many adaptations of Pride and Prejudice but this is different – and so to have a new look on such a brilliant character is fun to be able to play with. Then again, no one person’s take on a character is ever the same. People will always find different things in a character no matter how many times that character has been interpreted.
Q. Do you look back on previous portrayals when preparing? Or do you avoid that?
Ellie Bamber: I kind of really like seeing how other people do it and then thinking about ways I can add to it, or things I didn’t like, if you know what I mean. But I really like seeing what other people thought of the character and maybe drawing even more on that. I also like looking at it for the story reference so you can see the story arc being developed.
Q. What can we expect from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Period drama mixed with blood and gore?
Ellie Bamber: [Laughs] The great thing about it is that it’s so different to what people are expecting. My brother, for instance, would never think about going and seeing Pride and Prejudice at the cinema, but when you add zombies it kind of brings it to younger audiences straight away. Already, my brother likes the whole blood and guts side of it, so he’ll love seeing that. But it’s not just the gore; we’ve added quite a comedic centre as well. It’s set in this apocalyptic England where zombies have been around for years. We’re born into this world. So, there’s a lot of [Jane] Austen references pertaining to the society of the day but we’re also adding the zombie issue in a clever way. It’s not just about the killing. For instance, we may well be martial arts trained zombie fighters but the hierarchy revolves around where you’ve been trained – whether it’s in Japan or China. So, the script is clever in that way. And the war we’re meant to be fighting in the book is now the war with the zombies. I’m sure some Austen supporters won’t like it but it’s a different approach to it. And I think that’s a good thing.
Q. So, did you have to seek martial arts training?
Ellie Bamber: I had a few months of fight training, which was so much fun. It’s such a great skill to have and to use it. We were all on this farm where we were taught how to kiss ass.
Q. And you have to kick-ass while wearing corsets?
Ellie Bamber: We got to wear sports gear in training but then we had to try it in corsets when in costume, which was trickier. But then we had these little slip-like skirts as well, which helped the situation a bit more.
Q. And how was getting to work with people like Sam Riley [Mr Darcy] and Lily James [Elizabeth Bennet]?
Ellie Bamber: Well, I’m a big Joy Division fan, so the fact that Sam had done Control meant we had so much to talk about! And Matt [Smith] and Sally [Phillips] were so funny. I had so many laughs. Lily is like my big sister now. I think we all became quite like a family.
Q. You’ve been acting from an early age, 12, haven’t you?
Ellie Bamber: I’ve had a love for it since school and it just really stemmed from there. I think if you find something you have a love for, then you should just pursue it.
Q. But you were also talent spotted, weren’t you?
Ellie Bamber: Yes, I was spotted by the London Players Theatre while doing a school play and they asked me to be in their show, which was all about old time music hall. So, I got some experience with them and then auditioned for Aspects Of Love at the Menier Chocolate Factory. I played the role of young Jenny.
Q. For Trevor Nunn?
Ellie Bamber: Yes, Trevor Nunn was amazing to work with…
Q. How much do you learn from someone like that, especially as it was one of your first major experiences of the stage?
Ellie Bamber: I really loved it and certainly did learn a lot. But I think it was such a great first experience to be on stage doing something that I love. And Trevor is amazing because he has such a naturalistic approach to acting.
Q. Have you met Kevin Spacey? High Society is one of the last productions he will oversee as artistic director of the Old Vic…
Ellie Bamber: He came to one of our rehearsals recently, which was great. He seems really lovely and I’m so honoured to be a part of his last production as artistic director of the Old Vic. It’s a really special feeling and atmosphere.
Q. Do you get star-struck around people like that? Or do you manage to stay grounded?
Ellie Bamber: No, of course I get star-struck. One of my all-time favourite films is American Beauty, so to get to meet him was just incredible.
Q. Do you have a trick for overcoming being star-struck?
Ellie Bamber: I just think I’ve learnt that I need to concentrate on what I’m doing and the job in hand and that kind of takes care of it. I just concentrate on what I have to do, or what I’m there for.
Q. Going back to your early career and the decision to act, was there a particular film or performance where you thought ‘that’s it, that’s what I want to do’?
Ellie Bamber: Um, yes, and I think it came a little bit later on. I saw Sheridan Smith in Legally Blonde and just saw this sparkle in her eye when she was on stage. I saw how much she was enjoying it and so I think that’s what inspired me. I thought then that if you enjoy something that much, then why not have a go?
Q. And your parents were supportive of that choice?
Ellie Bamber: Absolutely! I couldn’t have done it without them.
Q. Have they seen High Society yet? Or are they waiting until first night?
Ellie Bamber: My mum’s seen it twice and my dad has seen it once, as has my brother… they love it [laughs]!
Q. So, finally, what have been some of your favourite memories of your career to date?
Ellie Bamber: [Pauses to think] I think one of favourite moments was doing one of the fight sequences for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies because it was just really, really exhilarating. You’re not just acting and saying lines; you’re fighting as well. And it felt really empowering because there’s five girl zombie fighters and they’re kicking ass. I just think that’s great for a young female audience to see.