Roles you'd like to see Mandana play

[Nikkhele]

I saw a similar title on that other board for Simone, but I never read it cuz, hmm, not that interested, so I don't know if anyone was discussing other roles for Mandana. So starting one here for Mandana seems entirely appropriate!

The first time I heard of Sarah Waters, it was through the BBC mini series "Tipping the Velvet". I loved the story so much I read the book, which was even better. Then I saw Fingersmith, again an excellent movie and I read the book after seeing the DVD, and thoroughly enjoyed that one as well. It lead me to her other books, namely "Affinity" and "The Night Watch". Although Affinity is extremely well written and was totally engrossing, it left me depressed but not because of the prison storyline. I won't spoil it here but suffice it to say, I hated the way it ended. Not so much as how it made me feel as a reader after so much investment in the main character, but how it made her feel. Anyway, not looking forward to a telemovie adaptation of that book, if they ever make one.

Which brings to me to The Night Watch and Mandana Jones. Set in the 1940's, again, Sarah Waters has such a gift for writing that I got totally involved with the characters. Needless to say, my favourite character was Kay Langrish, a flat out butch, who seemed to be a 1940's version of Nikki Wade. IOW, how Nikki would have been if she had been an ambulance driver during WWII. When I was reading the book, I could only picture "Nikki" and of course, Mandana Jones as that character. This is not to say that I wish Mandana would only play lesbians or Nikki-like characters, but that role just seemed so perfect for her, the thought just literally leaped off the pages. I even wondered if this was Sarah Waters' "shout-out" to the Nikki character. Does anyone know if she's a fan of Bad Girls?

As far as the story goes, it was kinda like watching a train wreck as the story is told in "backwards" style. First the year 1947, then 1944, then 1941. IOW, you knew what was going to happen to the characters before you read the next chapter because it had already happened in previous chapters. It was fascinating, while at the same time, absolutely heartbreaking. If they ever made this book into a movie, I'd rather they'd tell it in linear style and somehow get back to 1947 (where the book started) and resolve some of those storylines, namely Kay's! This book and the Kay character haunted me for weeks after, and I'm normally not that sentimental about characters or books. In any case, if they ever do adapt this book for the BBC, Mandana is the only actress I'd want in the role.

Umm.... has this already been discussed?


Nikkhele

[wadewannabee]

Someone wrote a post on the other M/B that Sarah Waters IS A Bad Girls fan. I think it would be great if Mandana landed a role in a TV/film version of a Waters novel. I don't think she would have much say in who is cast in the lead roles though.

[coolbyrne]

I'll have to get romanmachine to scan some panels, but does anyone here read the graphic novel, "Y the Last Man"?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y:_The_Last_Man (wikipedia entry)

The role might be slightly younger than she is, but I'd love to see her play Rose. She'd have to cut her hair and wear an eye patch, though.

Rose Copen is a spy and demolitions expert for the Australian navy, and is Allison Mann's lover. She joins Yorick, 355, and Dr. Mann on their quest to rescue Ampersand. Her true agenda becomes clear after Dr. Mann's mother stabs her with a jian: delirious, she confesses that she had been sent to spy on them. However, she maintains that she is in love with Allison and agrees to be impregnated with Yorick's clone for the benefit of Allison's research.

Sounds a bit wacky, when you just read it like that, but believe me, it's an awesome story!

[romanmachine]

Scans, you say?



I don't normally project Mandana into certain roles, but when Rose showed up in this series, I immediately thought how perfect MJ would be for the character. Now, at first, she might seem a bit too Nikki-ish, but, just as Nikki was pretty complex once you got to know her, so is Rose. She's in love with the woman she's supposed to be spying on, and she's conflicted about whether or not she should carry out her original mission or help the people she's with now. I think Mandana could certainly portray the vulnerability that the character needs and I think it'd be cool to see her play a spy.

Also, there are plans to make a Y:The Last Man movie, so who knows?

[Nikkhele]

Mandana as an action hero? Awesome! Thanks for the scan, I can totally see her in that role ;D . The story sounds cool too, glad to hear they're making it into a movie.

On the topic of Mandana's acting in general, one of the things that struck me is how much of a natural she is with a broad range of emotions, but especially when she does "anger". I can't say why that's so appealing to me, maybe it has to do with how she channels such strong emotions and it totally sucks me into the character. Besides certain scenes as Nikki, this is no more evident than in the recent clip of Doctors. In one of the DVDs, she talks about doing that scene where Nikki leaped over the counter to attack Shell, and Mandana said it was one of those situations where she just had to go for it. From that interview, I was under the impression that she'd never done it before or had little experience with it. But that seems not to be the case as you can see in the London Bridge clip so I'm not sure why she was hesitant about it. I may be wrong but it seems to me, Mandana doesn't gives herself enough credit for how good an actress she is, maybe she feels different now, after all it's been 7 years or so. Anyway, I really hope we see her in more roles soon!

[topcat]

I was going to start a new thread following a discussion on the Wire in the Blood one but this one fits the bill.

Over in WITB we were talking about how cast changes affect dramas - I feel that dramas lose something when new actors are brought in to replace established characters and it all becomes diluted and repetitive.

So, would you prefer Mandana to go for brand new material or get a regular role in a programme you love? She's done a bit of both in her career. London Bridge, BG, CUFA and Powers have all been new material. She's played guest roles in established dramas Holby, Born and Bred, Doctors and Eastenders. How would you feel about her taking over from a regular character in an established drama?

[gingercat]

Digital Spy

Thandie Newton for 'Life on Mars' sequel


Thandie Newton has been tipped to star in Ashes To Ashes - the sequel series to Life on Mars.

The role of DCI Gene Hunt's new sidekick, DI Alex Drake, is said to be coveted by many actresses following the success of the original show.

According to the Daily Mail, producers have shortlisted Thandie Newton, of ER, New Street Law's Lisa Faulkner and Liz May Brice, from Bad Girls. The paper added that Newton is tipped to win the role.

"I don't think there's an agent in the country that hasn't been pushing their clients," explained a BBC source. "Life On Mars was such a success that everyone wants to be involved."

Filming on the new series, which shifts to London in the 1980s, is due to start in July.

What a shame that Mandana isnt on this list..wonder if CAM even put her name forward

[wadewannabee]

Hi, it's been very quiet here lately. One of my favourite shows is SPOOKS. I have series 3 on DVD, and the ABC is currently broadcasting Series 4 in Aus. I think Mandana should land at least a guest role on the show. Other than being a brilliant actress, she knows how to speak 3 languages and could play a character who switches from talking English to Farsi! What do others think of this?

[gingercat]

Mandana can play anything as far as i'm concerned.

She is so underused..just wish that CAM would get their fingers out & put her in for some roles.

[wadewannabee]

Maybe Mandana should change agents, I think she has done that before.

[topcat]

Must admit that I've been so disappointed that there hasn't been a work announcement recently. After the gentle re emergence from nappy changing with Random Quest, the advert and Eastenders - which I'm assuming were filmed towards the end of 2006 - I really thought Mandana would be back with a string of roles. I wasn't expecting major leads because I suspect she wouldn't want to be away from home too much, but I thought she'd be getting guest roles al la Holby/Born and Bred on a steady basis.

Prior to Enzo, I had always thought CAM were doing a pretty good job with the work they were getting her - very diverse roles. She'd played timid housewife to bunny boiler to frustrated astronaut!

Maybe it's the time of year. All the major dramas come out prior to the summer. The summer always gets bogged down with things like Big Brother clogging the networks. Most dramas we are seeing now would have been filmed in summer/autumn 2006 - before MJ was possibly back working. Maybe this time of year is always a bit of a lull for casting for anything other than soaps.

I just don't get it, especially when you see some terrible actresses - one dimensional, usually playing themselves - turning up over and over in things.

Does Mandana limit herself to TV these days? I cannot believe a classically trained actress who's done stints at the National can't get theatre work. It has to be a choice not to go for theatre roles. I can understand that now that there is a young child but always found it odd before, especially given the fantastic reviews she received for Othello. Other cast members were criticised in that production but Mandana was picked out as outstanding in most of the reviews I have read.

[coolbyrne]

Mandana could have very easily played the role of Alice in "28 Weeks Later". As soon as I saw the character, I thought of her.

... of course, considering it's a zombie movie, I wouldn't have seen much of her anyway, what with my hands over my eyes and all.

[wadewannabee]

I guess one of the reasons Mandana hasn't been working much for the last 4 years or so, is because she went to live in Spain. I was just wondering why she went there. I know this is a long shot, but does anyone know why?

[topcat]

wadewannabee said:

I guess one of the reasons Mandana hasn't been working much for the last 4 years or so, is because she went to live in Spain. I was just wondering why she went there. I know this is a long shot, but does anyone know why?

Prior to Enzo, her last role was in 2005 and so it's only 2 years in reality. Just seems a lot longer

No idea why she went to Spain but I assume it was due to work commitments of her partner. The announcement was very specific 'moving to Spain for at least two years'. Normally, when someone moves abroad it's for one of two reasons - work or emigrating. Mandana clearly was not working and you don't usually emigrate for a pre determined time. My guess is that Mr Mandana's work took him to Spain for a contracted period of time and she, obviously, went too.

[wadewannabee]

Thanks Topcat, Yeah that makes sense - Mr Jones ;D probably had work going on in Spain.