Reflection of the following article: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/10/hayley-atwell-howards-end-agent-carter-driven-and-dangerous-new-queen-of-period-drama
From the onset and throughout the above article, it is clear that Atwell has developed a clear understanding of her casting and of her place within the industry. She is a rational thinker and honest with herself, which are attributes that are admirable within a person, especially an actor.
Throughout my training I have continuously been reminded that you can never know the true value of the person who is watching you, listening to you or working with you. It is hard to believe that a performance you give several years previous can be the reasoning for being offered work in the present, however this is exactly how Atwell was scouted for her role in the BBC adaptation of Howards End.
“The thing I didn’t know and was pleased by was her integrity about how she approaches a role, the amount of work she did, she was full of ideas, she had a lot to say and had a tremendous passion and enthusiasm for it. As the leading actress, she set the tone for every single person on the set, just by arriving on time, ready to go, loving it. And I can’t tell you what a huge difference that makes.” – Hettie Macdonald (Director of Howards End).
From this statement, Macdonald highlights many traits of Atwell’s professionalism that attracts Directors and industry professionals to working with her. Atwell clearly leads by example by being punctual, prepared and ready to work, whilst still finding enjoyment from her work.
Another inspiring factor of Atwell’s approach was that she did not draw on previous portrayals of the character (Margaret). She referred back to the original novel, but never sort ways of portrayal from previous actresses. Emma Thompson’s advice was “Please don’t watch what I did. This is your Margaret” – I believe that this advice rings true for many actors as I for one often get phased by other Actors’ portrayals which then proceeds to hamper the originality and truthfulness the character I have produced.
When rehearsing or performing other works, Atwell’s directors all express similar views on the actress’ professionalism and originality. One statement that speaks out to me comes from Lindsay Posner, Director of Arthur Miller’s ‘A View from the Bridge’ at the Duke of York’s Theatre. Posner says:
“She fitted the bill. She’s got great generosity and warmth when she performs. I remember she was a delight to work with because she was very keen and happy to work in very close detail with the script and the development of the role. My strongest memory is that she gives a sense of spontaneity on stage and is always very truthful and won’t hide behind an actors’ technique – she’s never mannered on stage.”
The fact that Atwell does so much preparation and development of Character is a gift to any director. The work she puts in benefits not only herself but the entire production. Surely being prepared and ready to work in detail can only make a rehearsal process more fulfilled and improve the quality of the final outcome. Posner states that ‘she’s never mannered on stage” which is very much an admirable quality. As an actor I often allow barriers to restrict my impulses and not give myself enough permission on stage. Reading of Atwell’s approach encourages me to become more fearless and experimental in the rehearsal room.
It is important to remember that even though we should take our work seriously, we must allow ourselves to have fun and enjoy the work that we do. After all the meaning of the word ‘Play’ is “to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” So whether it be a stage play or a screenplay, we must remember to enjoy what we do. I believe that Atwell strikes the perfect balance within her work and this belief is supported by Screenwriter Stephen McFeely who says “She’s serious about her job but not necessarily serious about herself.”