Brand new Mandana Interview!

[topcat]

Oh yes!

www.afterellen.com/people/2007/8/mandanajones?page=0%2C0

Some very, very interesting stuff yet again. I think it's the most indepth interview so far. Still very much about Nikki but a whole bunch of stuff about her thoughts on BG series 3 and why she left and a bit about the acting process.

Won't give any more away.

[coolbyrne]

First, we don't give you enough credit here for being the FC Detective, top! Thanks for finding this stuff.

So, the interview... I won't be as kind and will simply post passages I want to discuss.

I felt that by the time the third series came about, she wasn't so militant. She was essentially a lover; her identity was that she was in love with Helen. I felt in Series 1 and 2 that you saw a much more rounded picture of the woman and all her attributes, but there's a gradual weaning away from it. I actually missed her in Series 3.

This sums up Nikki in series 3 in a nutshell, doesn't it? Particularly the bit about her identity being strictly as Helen's lover. This was something RM and I have talked about in the past- one of the reasons I think I never quite caught on to Helen was because she was so poorly defined. She had two plots she was involved in; her vs. Fenner/the boys club and her/Nikki. When you look back on series 1 and even 2, Nikki was involved in just about EVERYTHING. That's why for me, her absence is so glaring in "Babes Behind Bars", not because I thought for a second she'd get involved in that business, but because it was odd to not see her involved in a plot, even peripherally.

Simone and I worked very hard together off the set, but it was purely script-based and story-based. We never talked much about that kind of stuff.

Hmmmm. Do I risk the wrath of Simone supporters here?

I'm gobsmacked at the activity of it that's still there, to be honest with you

Oh, Mandana, you internet novice, you. Hopefully the Splodgy site won't be the last fan site she checks out.

They decided that didn't quite work, so they had me wear a white T-shirt.

And thank you to whomever made THAT decision!!

I agree with her comments that put men in the situation and how differently society would react to it, whether it is two men being asked to kiss on a publicity tour (which would never happen), or men and violence/violent situations versus women and violence/violent situations. I was going to disagree with her comment that you couldn't do a fly-on-the-wall documentary about women in prison, because people wouldn't be interested. But I think she's right- even now, with cable channels like HBO that shows things like The Sopranos and OZ, something female oriented would still have a hard time getting the green light. I don't think we want to see women with real issues; we want to see them glammed up beyond any physical reality, or we want to see them as screeching harpies. There is very little room in-between.

Though I should add, it's always a little difficult for me because I am actually a private person, even though I am a bit gobby.

I love that!

Sometimes you're really not interested in me, you know that, you're interested in your idea of me, that I'm the closest to who Nikki Wade is.

This is spot-on as well for many fans.

"She must be a little bit like that if she can play the part. Otherwise, how could she do it?" There's this sort of archetype of distrust of an actor. They're liars, that's what they are. They steal your belief; they trick you; they're not to be trusted.

Okay, I'll incur the wrath- Simone supporters, please note that quote.

It's just … I believe truth is the greatest gift you give to anybody, ever. That's it. It's the biggest gift in life.

Every single interview she does is full of depth, clarity and yes, truth. I could have chosen a NUMBER of things to quote from that interview (and I did choose some), because she gives you a number of things to quote. But this in particular, as did the quote in her last AE interview ("I could only come to it from my truth, which is: It’s love, it’s universal.") completely sums up why I admire her so much, not just as an actress, but as a human being.

[topcat]

coolbyrne said:

First, we don't give you enough credit here for being the FC Detective, top! Thanks for finding this stuff.

My pleasure and thank you for being the first Mandana specific site to have a link to the interview on your main page

Do you know what? The trouble with Mandana interviews is that they always leave me wanting more . Not because they are bad but because they are always so good, regardless of who has done the interview. Every single time, they are full of such gems that fans can discuss.

I guess my only gripe would be that I would love to see an interview that long with her that never mentions BG! I'd love to hear about her thoughts on countries she's visited (wouldn't she be a brilliant person to do a 'Michael Palin' type travel show?) or her passion for yoga/swimming.

How strange that we, here, have been discussing some of the very things she mentions in the interview. Maybe her new found surfing skill has extended beyond splodginess.....

Firstly, she mentions the difference between her fan experiences and Simone's which, in turn, goes back to what we have been saying about there being a difference in the 'type' of fan they attract. It's fascinating that, elsewhere, there is more interest in posting about Simone's brother's band than discussion about Mandana's interview

Then, she talks about the marginalising of Nikki in series 3. It was rather sad to read 'I missed her in series 3'. If we missed the character, it must have been terrible for her to have to sit back and listen to another character delivering lines Nikki would have delivered in past series. The classic example of that, for me, was the whole Charlotte Middleton business. At the time, I can remember sitting watching and thinking 'this would be Nikki not Yvonne'.

I was also pleased to read Mandana's comments about leaving the programme. Whilst she never actually gives a final answer, she does indicate that she wasn't prepared to sign for series 4 without seeing scripts and so far in advance. This goes against all the people elsewhere who have been adamant over the years that Mandana had to leave to give the story a happy ending because Simone was leaving.

It was intruiging to read Mandana's response on this occasion to the oft mentioned 'chemistry'. There have been numerous debates in the past about what big friends they were off set and yet her response indicates their interaction was purely work based and left no room for idle chat. Does anyone else interpret it that way?

I'll say that the interviewer was spot on about the Gloria interview and, you know what, I had never noticed the point that Mandana was only asked one direct question. I recall being annoyed that Helen Fraser was so up herself and everything was compared in relation to herself/Bodybag but I had missed the fact that Mandana was actually ignored unless she herself chipped in with a response.

Going back to wanting more, I would love to know which archetypal British actors she likes? Why does she do so little stage work these days? what was her image of Nikki in her head?

I've got my fingers crossed that she was on a train because she was filming a new role and not because she was on her way to the airport!

[wadewannabee]

Hi, I'll be brief as there is a lunar eclipse happening here in Aus ! Wonderful interview, but I didn't understand the comment Mandana made about her boyfriend at the time of BG's. It's on page 2 the stuff about the string of six women...... I really didn't understand.
Can someone please expain the comment to me.

[coolbyrne]

Wonderful interview, but I didn't understand the comment Mandana made about her boyfriend at the time of BG's. It's on page 2 the stuff about the string of six women...

What she was implying was that six women in a row shouted flirtatious lines to HER, rather than her boyfriend, and he was startled by that reaction.

I guess my only gripe would be that I would love to see an interview that long with her that never mentions BG!

LOL! I've always said to RM, when the time comes that I get to interview her (positive thinking, positive thinking!), I'm going to say, "First, your work on Bad Girls was brilliant and the importance of Nikki Wade cannot be overstated. Now, can you explain this little piece to me?" then show her a clip of "Robin Hood" I'll have on my portable DVD player.

It's unfortunate in a way that the only outlet with any interest in her is a gay one; unfortunate because it goes to reason that all they really want to talk about is Bad Girls. Though I do tip my hat at the direction the questions go in- they're not all standard "How did it feel playing a lesbian" queries.

It was intruiging to read Mandana's response on this occasion to the oft mentioned 'chemistry'. There have been numerous debates in the past about what big friends they were off set and yet her response indicates their interaction was purely work based and left no room for idle chat. Does anyone else interpret it that way?

I kind of had that impression in her first AE interview. Though she doesn't come right out and say it, there's a comment about how she and Simone both had children 4 months apart from each other. Then she adds, "... and we must have continued to go down a similar arc as it were, in terms of life." It's the "must have" bit that makes me think they haven't been in contact with each other for a long time. I'm sure they were incredibly close on-set, considering their storyline. But you hear that a LOT from actors- how the movie set is just like family, they're so close, etc., but once the shooting is over, everyone goes their separate ways. A lot of actors talk about that moment of loneliness when they wake up the next day and realize all these "relationships" are over. Granted, I don't know either of them, but I would also think the dichotomy between them as people (Simone=extrovert/Mandana=introvert) would make a lasting friendship not impossible, but I suspect improbable.

I'll say that the interviewer was spot on about the Gloria interview and, you know what, I had never noticed the point that Mandana was only asked one direct question. I recall being annoyed that Helen Fraser was so up herself and everything was compared in relation to herself/Bodybag but I had missed the fact that Mandana was actually ignored unless she herself chipped in with a response.

I initially thought it was because Mandana was being quiet and deferring to HF, who was sitting closer to the interviewer. But you're right- I went back and watched it, and it's jaw-dropping how bad that interview was. You can almost see Mandana thinking, "Why the hell am I here, really?"

Going back to wanting more, I would love to know which archetypal British actors she likes?

I laughed when she said, "Not Daniel Craig", because I quite like Mr. Craig. C'mon, Mandana, we all need a bit of candy every once in a while! But I will make note of your curiosity, top, for the interview.

[Nikkhele]

Let me just say, I hope in Mandana's surfing, she doesn't just stop at MJ.net. Do you think she'd somehow manage to find this site? That would be pretty awesome

I was also pleased to read Mandana's comments about leaving the programme. Whilst she never actually gives a final answer, she does indicate that she wasn't prepared to sign for series 4 without seeing scripts and so far in advance. This goes against all the people elsewhere who have been adamant over the years that Mandana had to leave to give the story a happy ending because Simone was leaving.

Actually, I don't think of these things as mutually exclusive. When they asked her to sign up for S4, she could have already known that Simone was leaving and wanted to know what would happen between N&H, i.e. how would their story arc end? Also, if Shed wasn't forthcoming with a definitive answer of what would happen to Nikki if she stayed and Simone left, especially considering the sidelining of Nikki in S3, she could have then decided not to stay and fought for the happy ending once they knew they were both leaving. So it doesn't seem like much of a contradiction. jmo.

I'll say that the interviewer was spot on about the Gloria interview and, you know what, I had never noticed the point that Mandana was only asked one direct question. I recall being annoyed that Helen Fraser was so up herself and everything was compared in relation to herself/Bodybag but I had missed the fact that Mandana was actually ignored unless she herself chipped in with a response.

You know, something always bugged me about that interview. I noticed first time I watched it that Mandana withdrew midway through the interview so I kinda knew something offended her but I was never quite able to put my finger on it. Somehow I missed the abruptness of the interviewer when she switched the topic. Glad that was explained for us.

Btw, when Mandana says "I am actually a private person, even though I am a bit gobby", what exactly does "gobby" mean? Talkative? Obviously a British slang, but I'm not sure.

Great interview! What would be a wonderful follow-up is if she gets a gig sometime soon ;D

[topcat]

nikkhele said:

Let me just say, I hope in Mandana's surfing, she doesn't just stop at MJ.net. Do you think she'd somehow manage to find this site? That would be pretty awesome

It is being claimed elsewhere that this is not a new interview, it is just part of the same interview Mandana did last year. That means MJ did her surfing when Splodgy was 'under construction' for 9 months.

I find it odd if it is the same interview because some of the questions are almost identical to those in the last interview. This suggests that the interviewer asked the same question twice and Mandana gave a different answer. eg last time they asked her about the chemistry:

AE: Can you explain what made the chemistry between you and Simone Lahbib, who played Nikki’s love interest, Helen Stewart, work so well?

MJ: It’s a very strange thing. I think it was just to do actually with the fact we’d go on set and we would just, as best as we possibly could, suspend disbelief. We were very comfortable in each other’s company, and we could kind of go for it with each other because there wasn’t any embarrassment on a personal level. I think in a way that was quite freeing and amazing.

This time:

AE: I think a scene like that could easily fall flat or come off awkwardly, but the two of you could pull it off because of your chemistry.

MJ: Part of that was simply because we both did our work. Simone and I, quite apart from the director, decided what we thought the play was. Sometimes we went in, and they'd say, "No, we think it should be like this," and the director would completely and entirely change it.

But I think the fact that we sat down and line by line and beat by beat, moment by moment, made decisions about it together — even if they weren't all put in — somehow it meant we trusted each other and we were going to play in sync together. I don't think the chemistry was random. We used all the tools you use to suspend disbelief.

Also last time:

AE: At a movie premiere, you and Simone held hands and kissed in public. Were you just two friends having fun, or were you making a political statement?

MJ: In all honesty, I think it was a bit of working the crowd, I have to say. [Laughs.] I remember at the time being told to wear a suit to the premiere and I drew the line at that. I thought, well why? We’re not Nikki and Helen, we’re actually Simone and Mandana going out. I said, ‘I’m not wearing a suit; I’m wearing a dress, that’s it. Not unless you want to go and get me a fabulous suit.’ [Laughs.] It was a little bit … when you get told to wear a suit, you know what you’re expected to be doing on that public outing, so I think it was a little bit of a tip and a nod in that direction.

This time

AE: In your public appearances, you and Simone would kiss; you'd hold hands; you were very physically affectionate with each other.

MJ: That's what they wanted in pictures, so you know ...

Now, does that mean the interviews have been manipulated, if it's all from the same interview

So it doesn't seem like much of a contradiction

sorry, yes I agree. I just meant that some fans have posted as fact (without ever hearing MJ comment on the subject) that she fell on her sword because Simone was leaving to give a happy ending. This interview suggests that she felt pressured into signing for something so far in advance without seeing scripts etc and decided it was too much of a risk to make a commitment.

what exactly does "gobby" mean?

In this instance I think she means 'opinionated' and not afraid to express that opinion despite being naturally shy/private.

[coolbyrne]

It is being claimed elsewhere that this is not a new interview, it is just part of the same interview Mandana did last year. That means MJ did her surfing when Splodgy was 'under construction' for 9 months.

I could see it being part of a larger interview, had it not been for the bit about MJ and SL being affectionate, out in public together. Two bits in particular sound redundant on the part of the interviewer if it was the same interview:

Interview #1:

AE: At a movie premiere, you and Simone held hands and kissed in public. Were you just two friends having fun, or were you making a political statement?
MJ: In all honesty, I think it was a bit of working the crowd, I have to say. [Laughs.] I remember at the time being told to wear a suit to the premiere and I drew the line at that. I thought, well why? We’re not Nikki and Helen, we’re actually Simone and Mandana going out. I said, ‘I’m not wearing a suit; I’m wearing a dress, that’s it. Not unless you want to go and get me a fabulous suit.’ [Laughs.] It was a little bit … when you get told to wear a suit, you know what you’re expected to be doing on that public outing, so I think it was a little bit of a tip and a nod in that direction.

Interview #2:

AE: In your public appearances, you and Simone would kiss; you'd hold hands; you were very physically affectionate with each other.
MJ: That's what they wanted in pictures, so you know ...

AE: Really, you were asked to act at these events?
MJ: Really, when we would have press conferences, they would ask for a kiss or just say can you stand together, can you do this or that.

Those things are just too similar to be from the same interview, unless the interviewer modified her questions to make it look like she was asking the same thing in two interviews. Because if those were verbatim, from ONE interview, I'd be thinking, "Didn't you bring this up/ask me this five minutes ago?"

(Of course, ask RM about her experience with Canada Customs. She got asked the exact same question twice, five minutes apart, just to see if her answers were the same. )

The rest I could have believed were from one interview, had it not been for that bit.

Though, yeah, as you said, top, if this was from the October 1996 interview, and MJ visited the Blue site, I can't imagine she saw much "activity" as she put it. It was under construction at that time!! (I remember, because I offered to help out with the website in January, as it had been under construction for nine months up to that point!)

This interview suggests that she felt pressured into signing for something so far in advance without seeing scripts etc and decided it was too much of a risk to make a commitment.

I think she saw the writing on the wall as season two came to a close (and Yvonne firmly establishing herself as a character). Or maybe it was just gut instinct. Either way, regardless of how it would have affected the N/H story, I think she made the right choice to not agree to a fourth season without any real indication of what that might entail. Now, I suppose it could be said the reason she got shit plots in the third was because SHED didn't want to commit the character to anything with depth, knowing she was leaving at the end of the season, but I suspect the show was heading that way with or without Mandana's agreement to stay.

[topcat]

It's the "must have" bit that makes me think they haven't been in contact with each other for a long time.

When Simone had her own site (not of the Splodgy variety - it lasted barely a year), immediately after she left BG, she had a Q & A session and one question was 'which members of the cast are you close to?'. Her original answer was to list almost every member of that cast and then she put 'Mandana and I don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, which is a shame'. After a few weeks, this was amended to say 'Mandana, I don't see which is a shame'.

I thought it was odd that she felt the need to reword the sentence to make it sound a lot harsher. The site was just full of Nikki/Helen threads and, if anyone started a Mandana specific thread, it got deleted or moved to a 'general' section. It was almost as if Simone wanted to distance herself from Mandana. Given some of Ms Lahbib's unfortunate interview statements in the past, I suspect it was more to do with distancing herself from Helen/BG and Mandana was, obviously, the closest link to it all.

There have been a number of gatherings of some of the cast for various charity events/weddings over the years and Mandana has been there along with Linda (Yvonne), Tracey (Di), Sharon (Crystal) and Vicky (Julie S) and Simone has always been absent. I'm not suggesting some rift between Mandana and Simone specifically, but it did appear that Simone decided to distance herself from all things BG connected.

Given that they have appeared to follow a similar life path and their children are barely a month apart in age, it's a bit of a shame.

Apparently, 'members of the TV cast' will be at the Musical gala on Sept 13th. It will be interesting to see who turns up!

[justafan]

I also would love to read an 'in depth' interview with MJ that didn't always emphasize 'Bad Girls'. I get the feeling she's fed up with talking about it but has to continue to do so because it's still playing in various parts of the world and, let's face it, she'll probably never get a better role...it was a 'once in a lifetime' part. The question I wish the interviewer would have asked is "How committed are you to pursuing a career in acting?" I don't think she necessarily is but I would like to hear her talk about her plans for the future. I'd also like to know which actors she admires and which television series, movies or plays she likes. I love the fact that she has an Apple laptop and is intent on entering the 21st century. Is there any way we could steer her to this FABULOUS site? It would be nice to show her a different sort of fan site not to mention a different sort of fan. : )
Sorry that she gave the "splodgy" site a mention. All in all it was a good interview. I'm not going to guess about when it happened. I really enjoyed her talking about the extraordinary night she was in "tis Pity...." Do we know what role she played (off the top of your heads!).

[topcat]

topcat said:

I remember being annoyed that Helen Fraser was so up herself and everything was compared in relation to herself/Bodybag

Sorry, I know it's bad form to quote myself but I was reminded of this when I saw this latest interview with Helen Fraser about the musical:


Interviewer: Did you see the show at West Yorkshire Playhouse? What did you think of the actress who played your part?

HF: I did, I went on the first night and sat with tears rolling down my face. Rachel Izen was brilliant. Technically, she was far better than I am as a singer. I’m not a singer, I don’t pretend to be a singer. I’ve had dancing training because I went to stage school, but Rachel is so accomplished in that. I have to say she wasn’t Sylvia because nobody’s Sylvia but me. I created her and it doesn’t matter how good the actress is, nobody else will ever, ever be Sylvia.

Interviewer: Bad Girls was a huge success on the screen. To what do you attribute its enduring appeal?

HF: I don’t know because when it started it was slammed by the critics, they just thought it was rubbish. But it gained quite a cult following, its fan base is enormous. Even now, outside the stage door. A girl in her late teens was in tears last night as I came out and she said, “please, could I give you a kiss? It’s like meeting Madonna”.

Interviewer: What’s it like working with David Burt, a very experienced performer & a different Jim Fenner than the one you’re used to on screen?

David’s taught me so much because I’m on new ground here. I did pantomime last year, but I haven’t really been on stage for a long time because I’ve been filming. Although, having been 40 years in the business I’ve done a lot of theatre, it is quite different. Different hours for one thing. That’s been the shock. I’m used to getting up at 5am and going to bed at 8pm, and now I’m just beginning to wake up at 8 o’clock at night to do a performance! David is so accomplished musically. I had to do the dreaded harmonies which I’m finding a bit difficult because, as I’ve said, I’m not a singer. He’s helped me and been very patient with me! Because I’ve done these two workshops, I’ve been through a few Jim Fenners. Of course, the original Jim Fenner was Jack Ellis, who’s a brilliant actor, but the character died halfway through the series so I wasn’t connected to him right to the end.

Soooo, basically, no one is Sylvia but her although she doesn't extend the same praise to Jack Ellis. She doesn't know why the show was a cult and, a bit like the Waterstones book signing DVD extra, the fans are all waiting for her! At least Claire King, in her autobiography, admitted that Mandana and Simone were the reason the show had the following it had.

[mevoila]

topcat, she (Helen Fraser) sounds a bit arrogant, doesn't she? I'm going to read the whole interview, thanks for bringing this up.

And since you're the expert in finding things: this Claire King's autobiography, can it be found somewhere on-line? It'd be interesting to read what she has to say about Bad Girls.

[zippy]

amazon.co.uk has it on offer.

[topcat]

coolbyrne said:

Wonderful interview, but I didn't understand the comment Mandana made about her boyfriend at the time of BG's. It's on page 2 the stuff about the string of six women...

What she was implying was that six women in a row shouted flirtatious lines to HER, rather than her boyfriend, and he was startled by that reaction.

I meant to comment on this at the time and forgot. ;D

This was the question and answer:

AE: I imagine you had to go through a coming-out experience of sorts with your family and friends who saw you in that role.

MJ: Yes, I think so. I remember one boyfriend he came back to my house one night, and normally there's nothing, but he came back and there was this string of six women, all going, "Hello, darling, hello!" He was a bit thrown by it, by the very female world I was in, the strong female world.

It's funny how we can all interpret something differently because I thought she meant some of the cast were at her home being a bit theatrical and were responding to him. It was the bit about the very strong female world she was in. I thought she wasn't completely answering the question asked and was saying he was daunted by the strong women she was working with!

[operagoth]

I know I am opening a very old thread here but....

HF is a really lovely person and not 'up herself' at all. One of my parents friends actually knows her very well! She has an unfortunate turn of phrase with interviews, but the bit about the BGTM actress not 'being Sylvia' - being an actress myself I can totally get what she meant by that. If you create a role you really get inside the character and understand them and so honestly no-one else could be them no matter how well they do. It hard to explain really unless you have been in that situation yourself.