Olivia Tracey Interview - Transcript
Excerpt of radio interview with co-star Olivia Tracey
(as interviewed by Sean McCarthy)
When she sat down for an interview with RADIO IRISH’s Sean McCarthy recently, Red Roses and Petrol’s Olivia Tracey (Moya) was ready to dish on the making of the film and the Irish themes that it projects.
On working with Red Roses and Petrol’s director,Tamar Simon Hoffs…
“The minute I spoke to her and the minute I met her, I liked Tammy. She is a tiny little frame of a person with a head full of silver-white hair, big brown eyes, and kind of a baby face. She’s tiny, but she’s this huge force of energy, and she’s just warm and friendly and lovely. So I liked her and immediately felt comfortable with her… You know, [when] we’d have a quick run-through, there was always the feeling that she was relaxed and totally enjoying what she was doing. And when you’re around somebody like that, it’s contagious.”
On landing the role of Moya Doyle…
“It was in September that we had done the reading, and then I heard nothing. Then a few months later, it was like, ‘Olivia, would you like to take the lead role in this movie?’ And I was like, ‘Pardon?’ All of a sudden, everything just went into orbit. I was so happy because in Ireland, generally, I would never get a character role like this. There’s not a shade of Miss Ireland in [it] — the crown is definitely dead and buried when you see me in this part. I’m very much the dowdy widow in the house frock and slippers or the raincoat and headscarf. I’m like the practical, Irish, down-to-earth mother.”
On Irish family matters…
“I think in Moya’s case, [there is a secret that] took place in her husband’s life that she thinks her children don’t know about, but in fact her children have misinterpreted what the secret is. [She wants to] sweep it under the carpet, not deal with it, and keep it quiet. That’s a real Irish thing as well. You don’t be telling people things. I think people tend to keep secrets in Ireland. If there’s something wrong in their marriage, they keep it to themselves because it’s seen as this sign of shame or something. Whereas Americans are the opposite. They openly discuss issues, and I think that’s much healthier.”
On getting it right…
“I loved that [Tammy] was so open to [the actors’] interpretation of things. Or, if she had written something a certain way and it was slightly Americanized here or there, I would say, ‘Tammy, in Ireland, we would say this over that.’ And she’d say, ‘Oh, great. That’s lovely. That’s grand.’ She never got egotistical, and she was just totally open to what the actors were bringing to it. I loved that about her and that made it very easy for me.”
On the toughest bit…
“I suppose the only real challenge was on the first day. We were doing the first scene in the movie and it was definitely a difficult one to be thrown into because on day one, Malcolm [McDowell, Enda] is in the bed and he’s telling me that he’s dying. It’s an emotional scene for me. But other than that, I really found the whole thing to be a really wonderful experience. It was something that I just took hold of with both hands, and I just loved it all.”
On filming the Irish-themed picture in Los Angeles…
“I know that Tammy wanted to shoot in Ireland, but unfortunately she wasn’t able to get the financing. So I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived on the set and saw the replica of an Irish home. Talk about getting it down pat! I mean, with the floral wallpaper and the picture of the Sacred Heart on the wall, and the regular kitchen like Ireland of the past? Even the living room had a couch that seemed like it had been there [forever]. I think it was very much the typical Irish home of 20 years ago.”
On working with Malcolm McDowell (Enda)…
“Oh it was great, of course. You know, first of all, I knew I was acting with this legendary actor, but he never behaved like [one]. He was just down-to-earth and normal, and he’d be like, ‘C’mon into the trailer and we’ll have a cup of tea.’ Malcolm is just somebody who’s very relaxed in his own life. He has nothing to prove and there’s no ego going on. He’s just somebody who has a nice life and a great career, he has a wonderful wife (they’ve just had their second baby), and he’s very happy with his lot… There’s no sense of him being this big actor. There was never that at all.”