Helen Monks interview for Raised By Wolves

6 March 2015

How did you get the part?

 

I was totally in love with Caitlin Moran and she was doing an event, in conversation with Stuart Maconie, at Birmingham Literature Festival. Although I’m from Birmingham I was at uni in Sheffield at the time and I couldn’t decide if it was mad to travel back home for one night only. But, love conquers all, so I went. During the event Caitlin mentioned she was penning a sitcom with her sister and goddess Caz, and so when I went to get my book signed at the end I told her, ‘I should totally play you,’ and unbelievably she said, ‘Yes! You should!’ She wrote down her email address in my copy of ‘Moranthology.’ I remember having to have several calming baths that evening to lower my blood pressure before sending the 16th draft of an email to her. She replied, ‘Dude, I’ve already googled you and sent you over to the producers.’ I remember it being a long time before I could come down from standing on the sofa. I then had several more baths. This was probably the cleanest period of my life.

 

A few months later I auditioned. My old drama coach and Birmingham Workshop leader Ross Simpson acted as my agent through this process. He then sent up more students from our drama group to audition. ‘Callum 2’ and ‘snogging lad’ and ‘Erin’, our gorgeous cousin, are all members of The Workshop. SUBTEXT: **Shameless plug for The Workshop, a talent pool / acting training centre for young people based in the Midlands. It sources talent from all sorts of backgrounds and gives opportunities to kids who may not otherwise afford it. Alumni include Samantha Morton, Felicity Jones, Jack O’Connell and ME. It was originally funded by the BBC and ITV. Although the organisations that benefit from it have chosen to no longer support it financially, it’s still standing strong, generating talented actors every year, thanks to the tireless efforts of Ross and Ian Smith who runs the Nottingham branch.**

 

Although my auditions went well, I’m not as big as Caitlin was at 15, which I was worried would cost me the part. Luckily, my brother has a pretty decent ladies fat suit (he is a very committed fancy dresser). It is such a good fat suite it’s actually the one I ended up wearing in the pilot. Caitlin says that when I turned up with it, it was like I was there with her tits and arse in a bag, which looking back, is probably quite creepy. But what could have ended in a restraining order, ended in a sitcom. I still have to pinch myself.

 

Tell us about Germaine. What attracted you to the role?

 

Germaine is essentially a public school boy but without the cream trousers – she has this unshatterable sense of entitlement. She believes she is so beautiful, so clever, so funny, and therefore – she is. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to play a 15-year-old girl who genuinely loves herself. And knowing what Caitlin went on to achieve I think it’s a really positive message that undying, delusional self-belief can totally get you places, and how you don’t have to come from privilege to believe in your right to privilege.

Also, to play a 15-year-old girl who is so unapologetically horny is really exciting. You always see the boys humping things on telly while the girls stand there rolling their eyes when, in my experience anyway, it is just as often the other way around.

 

You were a huge fan of Caitlin’s before you got the role. Has the admiration been well and truly cemented?

 

I could talk to you all day about the Moran sisters and how tear-inducingly magical, kind, clever, and funny they are. The main thing I’d say about meeting Caitlin and knowing her in real life is that she is no different to the Caitlin I felt I already knew. The reason she’s such a success is because the person you read and hear in her books, columns and interviews is exactly the person she is. There is no performance or lie, it’s not about fame or being liked, it’s about being genuine.

 

And Caz is the same. She is such a great friend, inspiring role model, and funny person. They both make you realise how much you can do in a day. They both have this unfaltering energy. It’s almost like they’re constantly outside of themselves, seeing what needs to be done, what needs to be fixed, and knowing that they are in a position where they’re able to do it. It was really exciting to be surrounded by people like this. It makes you feel like you’re one of those people too.

 

You also grew up in the Midlands. Was your upbringing anything like that of Germaine’s?

 

There were a lot of books in my house, so I think I had a similar literary education to Germaine. I remember my brother reading War and Peace age 9 and commenting on it being ‘Machiavellian’ when we fought over the TV remote. My parents have a sense of the Della parenting about them. They are a lot softer and more openly loving than Della is, but they’ve always had that same be-yourself, look-for-the-bargain, eff-the-Tories, wear-practical-knickers kind of mentality.

 

Also, although I went to school and Germaine doesn’t, my school was this amazing enormous girl’s comp full of fiercely intelligent, incredibly driven girls who are now busy making the world a better place. It was a bit like the Garry house – chaotic, frantic and fun – but with 2000 girls in bottle green rather than a family of 6.

 

 You had to wear a fat suit for the role. How was that? Any funny stories?

 

It weighed about four stone so ironically I lost a lot of weight wearing it (which I have deeply enjoyed putting back on since wrap.)

 

Every morning me and one of the lovely, very patient women from costume would have to bounce for a long time in unison to hoik it on. It was a workout. Molly (Yoko) and Alexa (Aretha) were next door and it would make it difficult for them to get changed with the trailers shaking about like mad first thing in the morning. At the end of every day I would take it off as quickly as feasibly possible and then throw open the trailer door to let in fresh air. I remember scaring crew members walking past coz I’d just stand there in my flesh coloured underwear – at a glance, looking totally naked – and soak up the freedom. It wasn’t because I’m an exhibitionist (although I am) or because I was glad to have it off (I wasn’t: I’ve never felt more sexy than when I had my curves on), it was because I cannot even begin to describe the SMELL that would steam up out of the fat suit at the end of each day. It was gag inducing. We were filming very long days and there was no air whatsoever in that suit. The smell still haunts me. I now know what I will smell like when I die, which is something I probably could have done without.

 

The actors who play the younger siblings are so talented. Did you learn anything from them?

 

Alexa (Aretha) taught me how important it is to keep hydrated. She had this sippy cup that I made a lot of fun of her for, but by the end we all had them. Also, it’s not something you can learn, but I spent a lot of time being very jealous of how easily she could learn lines, and how effortlessly she is good at making you want to look at her face a lot. When she’s on screen, you’re drawn to her. I’d look at her in the room and I wouldn’t know she was doing anything particularly special, and then I’d watch her through the monitor and it’d be like SAY WHAT?! I’m still trying to work out how she does that. Mostly because if I can, I will write a book that will make me millions.

 

Molly is this beacon of joy I have never known the likes of. If I was ever having a bad day I would just find her and soak up her positivity. This was also true outside of the filming day – we would go dancing, and I can’t describe the shapes this girl can throw. I would just watch her and it would make me happy. I still do, whenever possible.

I really, really fancy my mum, Rebekah Staton. I fancy her so much. She is a sex symbol, a feminist icon, an inspiration, a leader of men and women. We developed this saying on set, ‘What would Della do?’ We all use it in our real lives. When you see the show, you’ll say it too. Caitlin says that the way Bex plays Della has made her change the way she parents her children. She’s just the right amount of sass, and she makes you know that everything’s going to be ok. However, since filming has ended I’ve developed a saying which is even better: ‘What would Bex do?’ I’m certain I’m not the only one from the cast and crew who’s done this. Rebekah is this fierce, kind, ambitious woman. She is just as much of a feminist icon off camera as she is on. I aim to be like her every day.

 

Did Caitlin offer you any tips on set or did she give you free rein?

 

One rehearsal day she came in, walked straight over to me and sat on my lap. I thought at the time it was some kind of lesson – an insight into Germaine having no boundaries. But looking back I think she probably just wanted to sit on my lap.

 

Caitlin says a lot of things, and most of the time I’m just thinking in my head ‘Oh my god oh my god oh my god it’s Caitlin Moran.’ It’s a shame, because I’ve probably missed some very vital life lessons due to this. I’m trying to get a handle on it.

 

Caz was on set the whole time, and there were a lot of late night drinks where we’d discuss her childhood. Out of context of filming, it’s strange to think how much I know about their personal lives, how much I’ve analysed them as people, how much I’ve prodded and probed and asked awkward questions. But what’s great about playing people who are real, is you quickly become very good friends. There’s a huge amount of trust in this process, and because they put that trust so readily in us, it is now like we are all part of the Moran family, and my god is it fun.

 

For someone so young you’ve achieved a huge amount. What’s next?

 

I’m doing a Master’s Degree in English at the moment, which I’m loving. It’s with the Open University, so the plan is to work while I’m doing it. I love learning and I’m so lucky to be able to keep doing this.

During filming I signed with the agent Conway van Gelder Grant which I’m more than ridiculously excited about. Partly because they are LOVELY people and a fantastic support and partly because they have Benedict Cumberbatch’s personal phone number.

 

As well as acting, I write. The plan is to become the British female Woody Allen without the controversy, so if anyone reading this has a shed load of money they feel like giving away, call me

 

We know you’re a keen writer. Who and/or what inspires you?

 

My dad’s a writer, so I think that probably has a lot to do with it. I remember Victorian Coren Mitchell (a hero turned arch enemy when she stole my husband) saying in an interview that her dad being a writer meant she got to see, practically, how it worked. I think that’s true for me as well. I’ve seen that it’s just a trade like any other and so it makes it much less of a pipe dream and much more possible. It’s not this big unachievable thing – it’s a day job.

 

I love David Edgar for remaining fiercely political in a climate where people seem to be sacrificing this for the commercial. I love Caryl Churchill and Samuel Beckett and all those weirdy dystopian plays about people’s nightmares and how the world is awful and we’re all going to die. I’m also obviously massively influenced by this new era of funny women writers: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Lena Dunham, and, of course, Caitlin and Caz Moran.