Jane Horrocks expressed her desire to play a villain in a film by Quentin Tarantino.

Every year, I believe that you are hiding behind one of the costumes on The Masked Singer, but I am always proven wrong! Did your holiday job at the drama school, where you had to wear a Snoopy costume in Harrods’ linen department, make you dislike it? VerulamiumParkRanger

I was given the opportunity to appear on The Masked Singer, but it’s not something I am interested in doing. My previous experience with Snoopy was not enjoyable, though that is not the reason for my decision. The assistant director at Rada was looking for a student to wear a Snoopy costume in the linen department during Easter break. For some reason, they chose me and I accepted the job. Imogen Stubbs, who was also a student at Rada, came to see me at Harrods where I was working. She was shocked to see me inside the Snoopy costume and asked if it was really me. The heat in Harrods was intense, and even worse inside the costume. As a result, I ended up with glandular fever and had to miss half of a term at Rada.

How do you prepare for portraying a chicken (in Chicken Run), turkey (in this year’s PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] ads), or duck (in Garfield)? Do you ever have concerns about being stereotyped as a bird? TopTramp

I have a past experience with voicing similar types of birds. They typically provide pictures beforehand to give an idea of the character. Babs, in Chicken Run, has a stretched-out mouth like Wallace and Gromit. Because Babs is a big chicken, I believed a gentle voice would suit her well. For Tessa, the turkey in the Peta campaign, I aimed for a more husky and slightly unsettling tone.

When did you first realize you had a remarkable singing ability? chargehand

At the beginning, I began imitating others. My initial impression was of Julie Andrews when I received The Sound of Music record at the age of nine. I became enamored with mimicking her voice. My parents were big fans of Shirley Bassey and I discovered that I could also impersonate her and Barbra Streisand. This is when I realized that using my voice was a valuable talent for me. It has brought me much joy and I have been able to make people laugh, which is wonderful.

What was it like working with Nic Roeg and Anjelica Huston on [1990 Jim Henson Roald Dahl fantasy horror] The Witches, a far superior, nastier and funnier adaptation than the Anne Hathaway remake? Mesm and Roedelius

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking back, I now realize what an amazing opportunity it was to collaborate with Nic Roeg. The casting was spot on. The ensemble of actors chosen to play the witches were delightfully wild. I had never worked with a group of actors like that before, and haven’t since. One day, while living in Twickenham, I visited the nearby fish shop and was greeted by a uniquely dressed woman who knew me by name. It took me a moment to remember that we had worked together on Witches. It made perfect sense.

How did you get ready for the role of distressed twin, Nicola, in Life Is Sweet? To what extent was the dialogue developed during Mike Leigh’s rehearsal process? Did anyone try to make Aubrey’s unappealing dishes in real life? Notifications from BunionB and zebthecat.

The dialogue for the play is developed during rehearsals, with someone sitting in a corner taking notes. It is then refined and becomes the final lines spoken on stage. This is the approach used by Mike Leigh. With three months of rehearsal, it was a lengthy and meticulous process. It was challenging not to fully embody the character, but Mike encouraged us to take a step back and be objective so we could provide feedback on the character’s growth. As for the cooking instructions, I believe my character would have been overwhelmed at that point.

What is your favorite movie out of all the ones you have worked on? Is there a director you would like to collaborate with again or in the future, if given the opportunity? FeetLikeFins

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience working on Little Voice, making it my favorite project so far. Life Is Sweet is also high on my list. As for directors I would love to collaborate with, Paul Thomas Anderson and Quentin Tarantino top the list. I have always been drawn to playing a villainous role, although I am unsure of my specific skill in that role. I am not proficient in sword fighting like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, nor was I successful in stage fighting during my time at Rada. In fact, my friend and I attempted to recreate the scene from The Wicked Lady with Faye Dunaway using six-foot whips, but I struggled greatly. Our instructor, Reg, who also taught Harrison Ford for Indiana Jones, had more success with my friend than with me. I would much rather portray a gun-wielding villain and would love the opportunity to work alongside Joaquin Phoenix. If you have any connections with Tarantino, please do put in a good word for me!

I enjoyed watching you and Mark Rylance portray the Macbeths at Greenwich theatre, it was a clever and modern interpretation of the play. Are there any other roles in Shakespeare’s plays that you would like to take on? Perhaps Hamlet? thesighman

I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with Mark on the production of Macbeth. It was an unforgettable experience in my theatrical career. I have had the privilege of performing in various Shakespeare plays and I find the language to be truly magnificent. However, I do struggle with understanding Shakespeare’s works and I often feel sorry for my guests who may also find it challenging. Therefore, I have no desire to take on the role of Hamlet or any other Shakespearean character.

What was your impression of being painted for Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year? Is your portrait currently displayed in your home? VerulamiumParkRanger.

I possess a portrait of myself, but it is currently in storage due to my move last year. Prior to that, it was kept under my bed. I felt it was self-absorbed to display it, despite the fact that the artist made my nose appear smaller, as I had requested. This made me quite satisfied!

How did you get involved in the video for New Order’s 1963? coruja3151

Is this song not great? Michael Shamberg, the video producer, requested that I participate in it. Being a huge fan of Joy Division, being in a New Order video was a huge honor for me. Even today, I still get excited when I see them. In 2017, I worked on a project for the Manchester international festival and was invited to watch their dress rehearsal. Afterwards, I went backstage and asked for a photo with them. They reminded me that we had actually met before.

Source: theguardian.com