The Jodhi May overflow post
In the last entry about Sarah Waters adaptations I started having a fan-girl ramble about Jodhi May that got a bit long and distracting, so welcome to the Jodhi May overflow post.
Because it's Jodhi May I really want to talk about. Her character in Tipping the Velvet, Flo, was for some reason or another, given a bit of an overhaul somewhere between the book and drama which took away a lot of Flo's power evident in the book, her quiet stength. But Ms May still made it work - pulling off quiet, strong, reserved and incandescent.
Daniel Deronda was on just a while after TtV and there she was, stealing the whole show in that quiet way - even up against Hugh Bonneville (again) and the amazing Romola Garai. Friends and Crocodiles was baffling but there she was, acting her socks off. Ms May is currently gracing our screens in the silly-but-not-too-silly Sally Wainwright creation The Amazing Mrs Pritchard. You can see the logic in Sally Wainwright's step from At Home With The Braithwaites to Mrs Pritchard, it seemed like an extension that had been a while coming.
The point is, Jodhi May is an actor. She acts.
This might seem obvious but I am frequently moved to rage by people on our screens - my anger has no respect for those seen as stalwarts of our screens, yes I am looking at you Judi Dench - who simply turn up and read their lines like they do in every other drama, exactly the same, for whom acting is simply playing themselves in a different situations. Awful, hammy acting is easy to spot but these people are worse.
Jodhi May actually acts. She is never the same person twice, so much so that it is sometimes difficult to realise it is in fact her and her real self (as seen in interviews and the like) is never in evidence. No half-measures, no over exposure in rubbish dramas just to keep herself famous or the money coming in, no falling out of clubs, Heat magazine or her dress. Just acting.
Because it's Jodhi May I really want to talk about. Her character in Tipping the Velvet, Flo, was for some reason or another, given a bit of an overhaul somewhere between the book and drama which took away a lot of Flo's power evident in the book, her quiet stength. But Ms May still made it work - pulling off quiet, strong, reserved and incandescent.
Daniel Deronda was on just a while after TtV and there she was, stealing the whole show in that quiet way - even up against Hugh Bonneville (again) and the amazing Romola Garai. Friends and Crocodiles was baffling but there she was, acting her socks off. Ms May is currently gracing our screens in the silly-but-not-too-silly Sally Wainwright creation The Amazing Mrs Pritchard. You can see the logic in Sally Wainwright's step from At Home With The Braithwaites to Mrs Pritchard, it seemed like an extension that had been a while coming.
The point is, Jodhi May is an actor. She acts.
This might seem obvious but I am frequently moved to rage by people on our screens - my anger has no respect for those seen as stalwarts of our screens, yes I am looking at you Judi Dench - who simply turn up and read their lines like they do in every other drama, exactly the same, for whom acting is simply playing themselves in a different situations. Awful, hammy acting is easy to spot but these people are worse.
Jodhi May actually acts. She is never the same person twice, so much so that it is sometimes difficult to realise it is in fact her and her real self (as seen in interviews and the like) is never in evidence. No half-measures, no over exposure in rubbish dramas just to keep herself famous or the money coming in, no falling out of clubs, Heat magazine or her dress. Just acting.
Oooh, careful you'll have the Dame Judy squad breaking down your door at 3am...
But you're right of course, she can't act just gurns a bit and sounds cross'n'posh which seems to suffice these days.
Tell me, what do you think of Emily Watson? I saw her in Punch Drunk Love last night and she was radiant, pity she was in such an ugly film.
Posted by
Michael Powell |
9:20 AM
The best thing Dench has been in is Mrs Henderson Presents where her character is supposed to be posh'n'cross and annoying. Hilarious.
I haven't seen Punch Drunk Love as I'm allergic to Adam Sandler, he brings me out in an extreme reaction of anger.
One of my favourite Emily Watson performances is in Richard E Grant's Wah-Wah, where she really lets loose.
Posted by
Sophia |
8:51 PM
I know this is somewhat after the fact, but I did want to comment on this. I read it awhile ago now, and even put a link to it from my own site. I like your declarative observation that Jodhi May acts. Like you suggest, this may seem really obvious, but the craft of acting does seem to take a backseat for many others making their livings via acting. I don't really want to contemplate what that means culturally. -- But, I don't take JM for granted, nor her seemingly rare discipline for her chosen profession. She is quite impressive. She remains the youngest recipient of a Cannes Best Actress award; she received that when she was only 12yrs old. And, she just never disappoints, as you also suggest. She, at least, never phones in her performances. --Did you see her in Blackbird, either at Edinburgh or London? Anyway, I'm rambling. JM was wonderful in the Amazing Mrs. Pritchard, and I enjoyed your post very much. Thank you.
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:52 PM
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