By Rob Carnevale
JESSICA Hynes (nee Stevenson) talks about appearing in Son of
Rambow, the appeal of the characters and the '80s, and her
own career, including some forthcoming projects...
Q. How did you get involved with Son of Rambow?
And what appealed?
Jessica Hynes: I went along and did an audition. I basically
came and met Garth [Jennings] and Nick [Goldsmith], having
read the script and loved it, and then came back and did a
screen test with one of the young actors and they offered
me the part. But I really sort of identified with the stories
of the young boys... the kids rampaging through the countryside.
Not that I've lived in the country, but just their imaginations
and their feelings of being an outsider. I really identified
with that. People think they're the only ones, but we all
identify with that feeling of being an outsider at one time
or another. I also just connected with the story.
Q. Did you have long to build your chemistry with Bill
Milner, who plays your son in the film?
Jessica Hynes: It happened quite naturally because he's a
really sweet kid. It was very easy to do.
Q. You also broke into acting at an early age, so did
appearing with two such promising child actors bring back
memories. Did they come to you for advice?
Jessica Hynes: Well, I joined the youth theatre when I was 14
and I was there until I was 17. When I was 17 I did a play
called Lip and I had the lead in it, playing a 50-year-old
character [laughs]. I was then approached by a few agents
and got one when I was still 17. But I just about managed
to complete my A-levels before moving out and starting work.
So, I was never really a child actor. But these two boys are
much more self-assured than I think I was. I was much more
wild and a bit more neurotic... a bit more out of control!
[As for giving advice] I learned from them. They didn't
come to me for advice. They knew exactly what they were
doing and they seemed to just be naturally aware of what
was going on around them. It's one of the major things you
need to do - just be connected to what's going on around
you and to keep your eyes and ears open. Every film set is
different, so I haven't really got anything to teach anybody.
If anything, I think I've got more to learn. I was always
inspired by their enthusiasm and discipline.
Q. What kind of research did you do? Did you watch Rambo
again? Or look into the Plymouth Brethren?
Jessica Hynes: [Laughs] I didn't watch Rambo, no. I saw it on
television recently and I loved it. But I went online and
found out a little bit more about the Plymouth Brethren and
their religion. I was aware that I wanted to create a character
that was warm and believable. I didn't want to parody them or
put on a silly voice. They're just people.
Q. Did you get to speak to anyone directly, as I gather Garth
had a next-door neighbour who provided much of the inspiration...
Jessica Hynes: He did, yes. I emailed somebody from the Plymouth
Brethren and he emailed me back, so that was interesting.
Q. Have you had any feedback since?
Jessica Hynes: Well they won't see it because they don't watch
television as part of their beliefs!
Q. What films influenced you as a child? Was there anyone
in particular that had a lasting effect?
Jessica Hynes: I kind of love all film and television as well.
My favourite film was Neverending Story as a child. I loved it.
But in terms of being inspired, I also loved Bugsy Malone.
Q. Did you also love the '80s as a decade?
Jessica Hynes: Yes and no. I mean I did because I was a kid
and I had a lot of freedom, so we were always out playing or
doing something like going to the parks.
Q. A lot about that decade has been revived. Is there
anything you think has been missed out?
Jessica Hynes: I think we could all probably do with a smelly
rubber revival. I think it's about time that kids these days
understood the beauty of a smelly rubber! Although we were
discussing this recently and we all agreed that the Swiss
roll smelt exactly like the chocolate bar... so who were they
trying to fool?
Q. As a writer yourself, how easy is it to come across a
script as good as this?
Jessica Hynes: Extremely hard. It doesn't happen very often.
In my career thus far, it's happened once and this is it.
Q. Is it more frustrating that it's quite difficult to get made?
Jessica Hynes: Well, I think that these kinds of films prove that
if you stick to your original idea and you believe in your ideas
then you will triumph. That's what Nick and Garth have done and
this is the end result. I think that people are more and more
beginning to understand that you don't need to force formula and
ideas onto the gentle little pieces such as this. You just let it
happen and let it get made and it'll be brilliant. They started
writing this before Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, so it took
a long time but I have every confidence that people are going to
go and see it because it's an absolutely beautiful film.
Q. Have you any plans to work again with Simon Pegg and Edgar
Wright [with whom she collaborated on Spaced]?
Jessica Hynes: No plans as such. I'm kind of in contact with them,
which is nice. Edgar recently invited me to a double bill of
Grindhouse, which he was hosting at the Prince Charles Cinema.
So, that was fun to meet up with him and watch the film, which
I absolutely loved.
Q. What's next for you?
Jessica Hynes: I'm in a film called Faintheart, which is
probably going to be out next year, and I'm working on
writing two films of my own. I'm also doing a play at
the Old Vic. They're doing The Norman Conquests, which
is an Alan Ayckbourn trilogy that hasn't been performed
for 30 years. They're performing it in the round at the
Old Vic, so it will be performing three plays in rep.
Tom Hollander and Eddie Marsan are in it as well. It's
kind of comedy, but subtle and it should be a lot of fun.
I know it'll be fun working with those guys. And Matthew
Orchard is directing it, so I think it's going to be a
really good show. Kevin Spacey will also probably be
loitering around somewhere [laughs]. I haven't met him
yet but I'm looking forward to it.