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Film & TV

<p class="font_8">Actors are committed to their work, even if it means falling on a horse during an intense battle sequence with props when you've never ridden a horse in your life in the middle of a desert. Crazy right?</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">After landing his most significant role to date as historical figure Alexander in Alexander: The Making of a God for streaming giant Netflix and being under the eyes of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg in Apple In TV+'s high-budget TV series Masters of the Air,' Buck Braithwaite tells HATC about the reality of entering the world of acting. From working amongst Barry Keoghan to embracing the intensity of film shoots to tackling the anxieties of auditioning and waiting for the next big job, Buck opens up about his journey so far, which all started with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in his primary school musical.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">ALICE: Let's talk about how you got into acting and where your passion began.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">BUCK: As a kid I was in all the school musicals, all the choruses from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' to Fagin's gang in Oliver. My best mate Stuart got the part of Artful Dodger over me and still teases me about it today. At the time, I was curious if it was a real-life job you could do for a living. So, I went to do work experience in a broking office. I wanted a change, and I did it for a week. I remember thinking I could do this. This is a real job. I was still doing drama at the time and I hadn't fully decided until I watched Bronson with Tom Hardy, which had me hooked. I rewrote the whole film for my GCSE drama piece, this little scrawny 14-year-old boy pretending to be this absolute beast of a man shouting at all these prisoners. I thought that's it. I'm going to give this shenanigan a crack. And then here we are, ten years later.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">ALICE: There's not a lot about you on the internet. You have to dig and then what you find isn't always true (I tease Buck for the various ages I found online).</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">BUCK: Yeah, it's not all true. I'm not 36.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">ALICE: This is your chance to set the record straight, I joke. Out of the roles you've done over the past few years, what's been a standout?</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">BUCK: I feel [Alexander] was my largest role over the last few years. It's my first lead. It's just the pure scale of Alexander's story. How huge it was, it's unfathomable. It's epic, it's passionate, there's horses, it's intricate and it's sensitive. I learned a lot on that job. I'm quite indecisive about my decisions sometimes as an actor. It was such an intense shoot, and we had to deliver a lot in a concise amount of time. So, I would second guess myself at times. I have learned to trust my decisions even more now. Not so much by choice but because I didn't have time to debate. I feel like that was helpful for me because I'll dabble in decisions for hours if you give me the opportunity so it was nice to make a decision and run with it because we had to shoot six episodes in six weeks, which you should usually have a month to shoot an episode. We were doing, like five, six scenes a day. Also choreographing for the battles and all that.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">ALICE: Did you learn how to ride horses?</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">BUCK: This is one of those classic, mendacious actor things you say yes! Your agent calls you and asks, "Can you ride a horse?" and I say, "Yeah. Sure! I used to ride when I was younger. I'm a bit rusty, but I'll pick it up." not thinking you're going to get the callback.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">ALICE: What happened when you got the role and realised you'd have to learn how to ride?</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">BUCK: As soon as I got the job, we were due to fly out within a week. So, I had one or two lessons before going out, so I at least looked like I knew how to get on a horse. I'm actually allergic to horses so I lived off antihistamines for two months.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">ALICE: Some scenes looked tricky, and that's coming from someone who's ridden for years!</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">BUCK: I think we had five days before we started shooting to have horse-riding lessons, including hair and makeup rehearsals. So they put you on this horse and say, "Okay, here's the sword. Go over there and fight with your mates!" And there are about ten guys on horses over there with swords. And then you're kind of just like, "Well… I suppose. Now I'm here, it's now or never!" They give you tips throughout, and there are incredible stuntmen, too, but it was a very intense crash course.ctors are committed to their work, even if it means falling on a horse during an intense battle sequence with props when you’ve never ridden a horse in your life in the middle of a desert. Crazy right?</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">After landing his biggest role to date as historic figure Alexander in <em>Alexander: The Making of a God</em> for streaming giant, <em>Netflix</em> <em>and </em>being under the eyes of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg in <em>Apple TV+’s</em> high budget TV series <em>Masters of the Air</em>, Buck Braithwaite tells HATC about the reality of entering the world of acting.&nbsp; From working amongst Barry Keoghan, to embracing the intensity of film shoots to tackling the anxieties of auditioning and waiting for next big job, Buck opens up about his journey so far that all started from performing in <em>Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat </em>in his<em> </em>primary school musical.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Alice: Let’s talk about how you got into acting.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Buck: As a kid I was in all the school musicals, all the choruses, <em>Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat,</em> Fagin’s Gang in <em>Artful Dodger-</em> My best mate Jamie still holds that against me and he’s not even an actor! And then it got to GCSE level, and I took it as a GCSE.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">But at the time wasn't really sure if it was a real-life job that you could really do as a living. So, I wanted to do work experience, like in a broking office. I wanted a change because, you know, it was widely talked about, it pays well and I did it for a week. And I was like, you know, I can do this.&nbsp; This seems like a real job. And then, I was still doing drama. So, I was a bit on the, in between, I hadn't fully decided then I watched<em> Bronson</em> with Tom Hardy. And I was like, yeah! Basically rewrote the whole film for my GCSE drama piece. So, this little scrawny 14-year-old boy, pretending to be this absolute beast of a man shouting at all these prisoners. And yeah, I thought that's it. I'm going to give this shenanigan a crack. And then here we are, ten years later.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Alice: There’s not a lot on the internet about you. You have to dig and then what you find isn’t true, escpecially your age!</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Buck: Yeah, it’s not true. I’m not 39!</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Alice:<strong> </strong>This is your chance to set the record straight! Out of the roles you’ve done over the past few years, what’s been a standout?</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Buck: Over the last few years, I feel [Alexander] was my largest role as well. It’s my first lead. I think just the pure scale of Alexander's story. How huge it was, it's just like, unfathomable, one boy. It's epic, it’s small, it’s passionate, there’s horses, it’s intricate it’s sensitive and it’s this theory based on this demigod kind of thing.</p> <p class="font_8">I learned a lot on that job. Because as an actor, I feel I'm quite indecisive about my decisions. And it was such an intense shoot, we had to deliver a lot in a really short amount of time. So, I always like to just second guess myself. I feel like I learned to kind of trust my decisions now even more so. Not by choice just you didn't have time to kind of debate it.&nbsp; I feel like that was helpful for me because I'll dabble in decisions for hours if you give me the opportunity so it was nice to just make a decision and go run with it because we had shoot six episodes in six weeks, which you should usually have a month to shoot an episode. We were doing, like five, six scenes a day. Also choreographing for the battles and all that</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Alice: Did you do learn how to ride horses?</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Buck: This is one of those classic, mendacious actor things where you say, yeah! Your agents calls you and says “Can you ride a horse?” and I was like “Yeah. Sure! I used to ride when I was younger, I'm a bit rusty, but I'll pick it up.”&nbsp; Not thinking that you're going to get on one yourself!</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Alice: So, have you <em>ever</em> ridden a horse?</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Buck: No. Never and I'm allergic to them. So as soon as I got the job, we had, I think we were flying out in a week. So, I got a lesson really quickly. I lived off antihistamines for two months. Learnt how to get on a horse in one lesson.</p>

Buck Braithwaite

Buck Braithwaite

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<p class="font_8">She expresses the complex nature of juggling family and filming “It's like these really intensive work schedules and then nothing for months. I'd rather that than like five days a week, every single day of the year.but honestly it is like there'll be five nights of the week that I'm not there to put them to bed and so I guess it’s exchanging those intensive times for like really peaceful times with nothing going on.”</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“Being a parent, it's hard on both sides. Because when I'm at work, I miss my kids so much. And when I'm at home, it's hard because I want to be creative and do my job.” She says.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">From teen drama Gossip Girl to gritty drama Netflix’s The Weekend Away, Leighton has done it all since her TV debut at a young age. The 37-year-old talks about her love for Rom-Coms. “It’s what I like to watch, I feel like it's such a nice world to live in. And comedy, in general, I think is just so stimulating, and enjoyable to take on. I'm always really lucky. And I'm working with people who I admire and think the world of. I really can learn a lot so each time I do a comedy, I learn by observing, and of course, having a lot of laughs. It's a very enriching experience.”</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">The nature of shoots can impact an actor’s personal life. Speaking about her time filming hitting psychological thriller, The Weekend Away (2022), “I really loved the actors and the crew, and the location (in Croatia) was amazing.” she reminisces.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“There was so much to enjoy about the experience, but once we were on set, it was heavy, dramatic scenes and you know that no matter what you sort of have to enter that similar mindset. And it brings you down”.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“I don't necessarily take that stuff home with me, as people say.” She states.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“But at the same time, I think I can get caught off guard sometimes, because I'm like, oh, that does affect you even if you're not necessarily going to stay in this mindset for the rest of my, you know, the rest of my filming. You can't help it, it seeps in.”Leighton Meester is now a part of your annual Christmas film viewings. After being every teenager’s ‘It girl’ as Blair Waldorf, the actress is taking on a Christmas Rom-Com. The actress plays Ali, in your next fave film of the season, <em>EXmas</em> (<em>Amazon Freevee</em>) where her character is in a festive heated face-off with her ex-fiancée, Graham (played by Robbie Amell) when he finds her celebrating Christmas with his family.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“It's nice. I feel like I can share it with at least my older kid and people and I include around the holidays, it's just so nice to have a holiday movie to watch with your family. It's just such a great feeling about it that I really enjoy both watching and being part of” the actress says on her enjoyment of the project.</p> <p class="font_8">Speaking on the process of shooting a Christmas movie, <em>EXmas</em>was filmed in June, information that’ll shock audiences but will be normal for those involved in making films. “We shot the majority of the movie in a house that was decorated to the nines. Like Christmas everywhere you looked”.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Leighton found her Christmas film debut to be “one of the nicest, warmest environments and experiences and, living in that world is just so fun, going to work every day and everyone laughing and, you know, making each other laugh” she recalls.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“I feel like that comes off in the movie. I'm very proud of it. And I think that that's just how you want to feel with a holiday movie. I think that's what holiday movies do. And on top of it, it's, you know, kind of a kooky family. And then, the romantic element &nbsp;is really nice” she adds.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Leighton joins HATC to unwrap all that 2023 has brought her, delving into the important role therapy has in her life and how she juggles mum life, self-care, and work. Plus, there may just be an adorable four-legged animal that’s arrived just in time to join her family’s Christmas.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Family is of high priority to her. Leighton has two children with her husband, also actor, Adam Brody. During the filming of <em>EXmas</em> in Canada the mother-of-two was grateful to have her family around her during the long shoot days.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“It was a wonderful environment for them. And there was a lake, and they were going out on boats every day. It was just such a lovely summer with my family there.” she says “But it was five days a week, every moment I was at work, so I only got to be with them on the weekend, but it was ok as they were with their dad, and they were having a great time.”</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">She expresses the complex nature of juggling family and filming “It's like these really intensive work schedules and then nothing for months. I'd rather that than like five days a week, every single day of the year.but honestly it is like there'll be five nights of the week that I'm not there to put them to bed and so I guess it’s exchanging those intensive times for like really peaceful times with nothing going on.”</p>

Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester is now a part of your annual Christmas film viewings. After being every teenager’s ‘It girl’ as Blair Waldorf, the actress is taking on a Christmas Rom-Com. Leighton plays Ali, in your next fave film of the season, EXmas (Amazon Freevee) where her character is in a festive heated face-off with her ex-fiancée, Graham (played by Robbie Amell) when he finds her celebrating Christmas with his family.


“It's nice. I feel like I can share it with at least my older kid and people and I include around the holidays, it's just so nice to have a holiday movie to watch with your family. It's just such a great feeling about it that I really enjoy both watching and being part of” the actress says on her enjoyment of the project.

Speaking on the process of shooting a Christmas movie, EXmas was filmed in June, information that’ll shock audiences but will be normal for those involved in making films. “We shot the majority of the movie in a house that was decorated to the nines. Like Christmas everywhere you looked”.


Leighton found her Christmas film debut to be “one of the nicest, warmest environments and experiences and, living in that world is just so fun, going to work every day and everyone laughing and, you know, making each other laugh” she recalls.


“I feel like that comes off in the movie. I'm very proud of it. And I think that that's just how you want to feel with a holiday movie. I think that's what holiday movies do. And on top of it, it's, you know, kind of a kooky family. And then, the romantic element is really nice” she adds.


Leighton joins HATC to unwrap all that 2023 has brought her, delving into the important role therapy has in her life and how she juggles mum life, self-care, and work. Plus, there may just be an adorable four-legged animal that’s arrived just in time to join her family’s Christmas.


Family is of high priority to her. Leighton has two children with her husband, also actor, Adam Brody. During the filming of EXmas in Canada the mother-of-two was grateful to have her family around her during the long shoot days.


“It was a wonderful environment for them. And there was a lake, and they were going out on boats every day. It was just such a lovely summer with my family there.” she says “But it was five days a week, every moment I was at work, so I only got to be with them on the weekend, but it was ok as they were with their dad, and they were having a great time.”



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<p class="font_8">Sat in my London office on an almost too sunny day in June (too sunny to be sitting indoors, that is), Aisling Bea joins me via Zoom call. Making the most of the glorious weather as she strolls outside, we spend the next 45 minutes or so discussing her latest project, her own portrayals of mental health, and even her firm hatred for carrots—an unequivocal declaration she made herself, without a shadow of a doubt, 100% not fabricated. Aisling Bea is an artist who needs no introduction to the world of comedy. Making an indelible mark as a rising star and going on to win the Edinburgh Fringe’s So You Think You're Funny? From there, she quickly became a fan favourite across panel shows with her chatty charisma and quick wit. Not one to become pigeonholed into a single focus, she transitioned into the world of sitcoms in both the UK and the US. Taking her talents one step further, she wrote and starred in her own Channel 4 comedy-drama, This Way Up. Over the last few years, the Kildare-born comic has been expanding even further on both big and small screens. Her latest adventure sees Aisling centre stage as leading role, Rachael, in Coky Giedroyc’s latest film adaptation, Greatest Days. Based on the Take That musical of the same name, Greatest Days takes the band's greatest hits from the past three decades into an uplifting slice of summer escapism. With Greatest Days' recent release just a few days ago, I wanted to delve straight into how Aisling has been doing throughout its release. We jumped into the interview to talk about the film’s premiere. “The premiere was grand, but definitely busy! I have a lovely stylist and team who I’ve worked with for years, so that’s always nice. Those things are really work nights out though, you know? I remember saying this when I won a BAFTA during lockdown.” Jokingly, she adds, “Yeah, don't worry about it.” As Aisling continued, it was clear this was how events like these were meant to really feel. “What made it special was that I could really let it sink in because it was all online. I was in my garden with a sort of broken arm, and ten friends were over. There were no thoughts of interviews, talking to the press, having pictures taken of me with someone there, or bumping into someone from work. It wasn't a work night; it was a day to celebrate. It was such a relief, having been in lockdown for ages that we could even have people in our gardens again.” When back to ‘normality’, despite what is and will always be an amazing celebration, it feels like the magic seems to have been slightly worn off. “The next time around, it becomes a work event. You have a team coming in; there’s hair and makeup—who are lovely—and you're wearing high shoes and suck your tummy in, worried someone's going to take a terrible photo of you that's going to be in the front of something the next day. They become very much work events.” Given the camera-heavy environment and the spotlights on everyone, I ask if she has grown used to being in such situations. “Yeah, and you know how to do it, especially with the comedic part of my career. It means I'm okay with being thrown in, given a microphone, and asked to speak. But there is always this underlying feeling of, ‘Oh God, is there a wrong way to answer this?’ It's not a safe space; it’s a guarded space, put it that way.” As viewers, we often overlook the buildup leading to a film's release and the gap between completing a project and its actual debut. “You create something, and it feels like the job is done. But in reality, you work on something one year, and it won’t be out until the next. You're a whole different person by the time it airs.” Aisling recalls when she saw a trailer for Quiz, a TV drama in which she starred, focusing on Charles Ingram unexpectedly winning the £1,000,000 jackpot on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. “I saw the trailer and thought, ‘Oooh, I want to watch that; that looks good’. I'd forgotten I was in it! I had such a good time filming Quiz, but it was in the middle of promoting This Way Up. I was pushing the first series of that really hard, and during the daytime, I'd go and film with Stephen Frears. I had such a good time, I sort of forgot it was work. It can throw your head. When you're pretending to be someone else, it doesn't always attach to you in a way that maybe writing does.” Aisling is joining me for her last interview on this PR run, and she tells me how the experience has been promoting her starring role. “Yeah, this is my first and only interview this week, so you're getting a good version of me. It’s my very last one too; last week was quite intense. It's been about a year and a half since I've been talking about anything. You know, you're answering the same questions all the time.” Something you never think about is the exhausting process of having to come up with and repeat the same answers multiple times a day, over and over. “Over the last few years, what’s been different has been interviews like these ones. They’re nicer because you're talking to someone, and it's a whole collection. It’s like, 'Okay, there's a nuance there.’ But it’s the clipped interviews that get you. Someone comes in for eight minutes, they film it, and you are constantly thinking, ‘Oh, what version of this clip might they use?’ Everything just gets used as content, which is obviously designed to be much more grab-able or clickbaity.” I'm curious to know if she has experienced such tactics being used on her in the past. “In Ireland, I jokingly mentioned to one of the camera guys during an interview, ‘I've legally banned my age from being mentioned anywhere; are you taking this out? You better edit that out.’ A few days later, I see The Sun published a headline: ‘I banned my age from being mentioned, says Aisling Bea as she fights back at the industry.’ We talked about how there's a younger version of me in Greatest Days, and that’s when I use it as a bit of a filler joke, that’s all. Then suddenly it turns into this big thing. Of course, that's the nature of the beast.” It's a parasitic beast that distorts people's words into attention-grabbing headlines. Even as readers, you read through half a piece before releasing what you were told has been completely twisted. “You know, ‘Aisling Bea reveals what it was like working with Take That, and then halfway through the piece, you reach “Aisling says, Oh, we only met them for 20 minutes. They seemed very sweet.” Or, ‘Aisling Bea slams award ceremonies for not honouring comedy actors’. And the truth is more “Oh, it's a pity the BAFTAs have no supporting comedy actor awards.” “It’s just lying, essentially, about what you said or how you said it. If we talk for 40 minutes and I bring up carrots once. Then this whole thing leads with ‘Aisling Bea talks carrots and nothing else’. You’d think I sound like a fucking mad woman. It’s an environment you're supposed to feel safe in, you know? I understand it's silly, but it’s more the fact I worry about the people who the thing is supposedly about and what they are supposed to think when they see it. I mean, I understand having to try and sell my work, and I do understand most people are at this point where, do you fight it or just try and play ball?” Going back to interviews that try to build a connection with the interviewee, Aisling says, “Those are the ones that are more interesting to read anyway; you don't feel like you've read them a bunch of times already.” Stepping away from frustrating click-baiters, Aisling’s job revolves around constantly embodying different identities, so I ask her whether she finds that she is able to find the time to switch off. “I’m not very good at it. Some people may go to work, then come home and be done with it all. Maybe it’s because of the hours and scatty schedules, but so much of my life is work. I caught myself clenching my jaw so tightly that I ground away a tooth. It seems that being constantly tense has become my comfort zone.” With the exception of next month, she rarely has the time to take any time off; this is the first long break she has had in over a decade. “I can go to random things I don’t normally have time for, like physio appointments, or just taking it slow. If you've made a lifetime of living a certain way, it doesn't just change the next day. It's like a diet of energy or a diet of focus, really. The idea of being unscheduled is just so nice for a while.”</p>

Aisling Bea

Aisling Bea "I made my second series during the pandemic, and it broke me on every possible level. I think I'm only just coming out of that now. Doing press the last few weeks has been interesting because I think it's something that probably a year ago would have crippled me. I would have needed twice the breaks and half the interviews. It's often the small things that have the greatest impact."

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<p class="font_8">Miss Benny is in her element. Authenticity becomes her. Sitting down with MB on LA time, I knew she was a star from the moment I met her. No matter the location of the interview, whether in person or on a call, when you know, you know. MB's breakout role, Marco, in Netflix's Glamorous alongside stars like Kim Cattrall, is everything you could hope for. A re-imagination of those ever-iconic films/tv shows, including Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty, Glamorous is home for the queer community. In this space, their shine is celebrated and only comes naturally. As the sun beams into her room, there's no denying the beauty that quite literally radiates from her in person. As we begin to chat, there's something more, an eloquently spoken individual who's reality and truth is gospel. MB's lengthy preparation for the role of Marco sees a show emerge five years on, a celebration and roaring success, and a not-so-subtle middle finger to those who said the world wasn't ready for topics and nuances, particularly for queer identities. A: There's quite the buzz behind Glamorous, so after a few years of it being in the making, you must be very excited and very ready for it to be brought to life. MB: I really thought that I would be super nervous right now. And then I'd be scared. But honestly, I'm just so excited. It's (Glamorous) so silly and so funny. And it's all of the things that I had wanted it to be. So I'm very excited. A: How has nurturing the show made you feel so emotionally and physically attached to your work? MB: I've been attached to the show for so long. It's been a four-year process for me and a five-year process for the creator of the show Jordan. So we've been making this show for years. So many of my nerves have to do with it feeling so personal. I wanted to do it justice because I grew up with this character. I'm really excited to throw my take into the world. I hold a lot of respect for this kind of show. A: I've no doubt about the positive effect it will have, but the representation and the joy of that come through so clearly, let alone legendary roles, including Kim Cattrall. How was it working alongside her? Is it even more comfortable to do what you're doing and know that she supports you? MB: So many feelings have come on board for the show. What it really did for me was validate that the show is something special because when they were casting Madeline, I remember thinking these are big shoes to fill. This character needs to be funny, this character needs to be strong, and a little intimidating but also super grounded and have a lot of heart. And so I always thought that Kim Cattrall would be perfect. But I thought that was a long shot. So when I found out that she was signing on to the show, it was first of all fantastic because I am such a big fan of her portrayal of Samantha and Sex and The City. But it was also just really cool. Because to me, that meant someone like Kim read the script and thought, yeah, this is something special. I've always felt like it was special. But I am so close to it that it meant a lot that somebody else read this script and saw it as something valuable and special. Having her on set was mind-blowing because she's such an icon, and I've used her as a comedy reference point for so long in my life and career. My character Marco is also in awe of her and terrified of her all at the same time. So anytime I was starstruck by having someone like her on set, it was really easy to use that for the scene. But it was just super cool. The whole cast is so special. You have someone like Kim, who's established, iconic, and talented at what she does. And then you have a whole cast of actors who are all on the newer side of things. It felt like we were at some summer camp for five months. We had so much fun filming it that I'm hoping it'll translate to people and they watch it, and they'll be able to see the amount of fun we're having. It was the best experience. A: On a side note, I'm a giant Devil Wears Prada fan. As I watch it so regularly, it's incredible how my whole world has not become it yet… she says, creating HATC magazine. Clearly, something came through. But on that side note, I loved growing up watching these shows, Ugly Betty, Sex, and The City as a young girl idolising their creative worlds. How have you found the autonomy it's brought to your life, creating a show like those but with even better representation and community. MB: Well, it's excellent because I am are very close with Jordon Nardino, the creator of the show. We are both just big pop culture snobs. Like we love movie references, TV references, anything. We're constantly telling each other to watch this, watch that, quoting things. And we're very aware of this sort of Devil Wears Prada, Ugly Betty essence of the show. It was really special to me as I grew up idolising those shows and those movies and wishing so bad to be one of those girls navigating love, fashion, and a career. You know, I discovered my queer identity. And so it's pretty crazy that this show allows us to give a new perspective to a story we all know, love, and are very familiar with. So many topics and nuances of our take on it are particular to queer identities. I think that comes from having a majority of a queer cast and transparent producers. I've never been on a set where I wasn't the only queer person on a set. It was refreshing to feel like I don't have to be an entire community representative. I can be who I am, knowing there's space for everyone else to do the same. That way, we all get to breathe and enjoy the process more. It's something that I love about the way our show gives us that power. Marco gets to be all the flamboyant fun, be one-liners that we know and love for a character like Marco, but we also get to see Marco at home. It's good to see Marco in relationships, and when the makeup comes off, who Marco is. That's something that I haven't really seen very often on television. I was really excited to be a part of that. I'm also such a big fan of the other actor's storylines in the show because they feel so fleshed out, whole, and unique. Specifically, I'm just such a super fan of Jade Payton's character Venetia because I've never seen someone like her being a black queer woman whose role is so fleshed out. And so I know that if I feel that fan girl fondness for her character, and the fact that she gets that opportunity, I can't imagine what people who identify with her will get to feel. I want to do the same thing for people who identify with Marco. A: As much as TV over the years has started to adapt, it often only adapts to what they want to show to be. Growing up with Bipolar disorder, there was never really a space to breathe, take that weight off for a second, and be yourself authentically. You're creating a beautiful reality where life is more than any gloom that can come about. There's beauty in our authentic selves and lives to come. MB: I wanted to do something important to me and significant to Jordan. All of us were just so proud. To see queer representation on TV or in movies, so far, it's been a lot of the beginning and end of life, a lot of the trauma associated with being queer. And so, when I was growing up and seeing clear representation, I was exhausted because I felt like, Oh, this must be miserable. Because that's all, I ever saw. And while I think it's amazing that we have movies and TV shows that show the authentic experience that queer people have and how hard it can be, our show truly is a fantastic healing. In this escapist queer story, there's never homophobia or transphobia. From anyone outside of the community, it's to understand. It's always internally the challenges we face as communities. That was super healing for me because I feel like, as a kid and as a queer person, in my formative years, I spent so much of my time trying to constantly start by validating myself and justifying myself. And that's super exhausting. It takes a tremendous toll on you. So to see a show where no one ever has to explain themselves, and no one ever has to deal with prejudice, it's just, I mean, queerness is a superhero on our show. And that means we get to sort of delve into the relationships we have with our own queerness and how we navigate our own identities. That's super refreshing. Now we get something more soft and playful when you get to see yourself on the screen for once and enjoy your life. A: Authenticity is so crucial. And that it allows us not to have to validate or be constantly your biggest cheerleader. Don't get me wrong, it's great to be your own cheerleader, but sometimes you need to bloody breathe without that being questioned, and I feel that in Glamorous. How prepared do you think in the incredible work of the roles you've played, both this and others like Love Victor, you prepared for such a tremendous response and the way people will connect with it? MB: I'm just so impressed and shocked that we got to make and finish it. Because when we started developing it four or five years ago, we were told it wasn't time for this show yet. That was always really frustrating because I was somebody who wanted to see a show like this. At the time, I certainly felt like I couldn't possibly be alone. There have to be other people who would very much appreciate a show like this. So I'm very excited for queer people to see the show, enjoy it, make fun of it, and relate to it. I'm excited for everyone to see a campy, silly TV show that's very aware of itself and goofy. I'm mindful of the time we're in, specifically for gender nonconforming and trans people right now. I'm very mindful of that and excited that we are contributing something very positive. Specifically, to see a very expressive group of people succeed and be celebrated is very important right now. My fears and nerves about a potential pushback or reception or anything harmful to the show have dissipated. I'm excited because I'm very proud of what we made right now. I was very clear about my intention for doing the show, and I'm really proud of how I feel we succeeded with it. I can't wait to see people's memes and jokes about it, people getting on board with all of this silliness and the things to poke fun at. There are so many moments that I get to have as Marco that are just so ridiculous and over the top, and I can't wait for people to sort of get to partake in that because we've had a blast. A: Always here for the memes! Ok, here goes. I'm sure the whole thing is, but is there a standout moment or memory? MB:There are so many memories. I mean, I will say that anyone who's a fan of Kim Cattrall in Sex in the City will absolutely love it. All of the great one-liners, she has an art. I was such a fan of hers and saw her do this new character with similar energy. There was a specific memory. There were moments when we'd break character and laugh because someone would do something funny. But there was only one scene where we really could not get through it. It's a funny montage we do at the beginning of an episode where we're trying to figure out a whodunit situation. And there's this bit where Zane Phillip's character Chad, walks around the room saying who he thinks did it. For each one of those moments, we all had a reaction to our description being said, and it became one of those things where every take, we were making each other laugh. It was so hard to get through. When I watched that episode, I was giggling like a kid. I mean, the ensemble cast is so silly. It's very rare. That, at least for me, I've been on a cast where these are all people I will know for my whole life. They are so funny and care about the show so much. We were all very aware of the tone of the show we were making, so when I think of the filming experience, I think of the cast just trying to make each other laugh. A: It's so important to hear, like earlier when you mentioned this heaviness and the belief that's all we were meant for many times due to those conversations. How have you found your tribe and that relief in knowing it is there? </p>

Miss Benny

Miss Benny "So much of my formative identity was made in my bedroom with the door locked, watching YouTube videos, or doing my makeup in the middle of the night and washing it off at 4am so I could go to church in the morning. Just finding pockets where I could safely accept myself until I could create a much larger space."

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<p class="font_8">“I’m filming all weekend,” Jack Lowden tells me as he sits down for a moment’s break in his ever-busy schedule. Albeit ever busy, he appears excited, returning as River Cartwright in Apple’s critically acclaimed Slow Horses, his role in The Gold on the horizon and a fervent desire to continue his journey of producing his very own masterpieces.</p> <p class="font_8">As Jack talks about the beginning of his journey into acting, his brother, keen to perform from a young age, appears the initial catalyst. “It came from my younger brother, a ballet dancer. He wanted to do that from quite a young age. We saw Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, which he wanted to try out for, so he went along, and he was very, very, very good, unlike me, I wasn’t that good.” Growing up, the brothers found joy in the arts, with Jack joining his brother in rehearsals and ballet shows in Edinburgh. It was there, Jack tells me, that he fell in love with being on stage and discovered a talent for narration. “I ended up reading and sort of took to it quite naturally.” In the years following, Jack, despite being a timid kid who was terrified of everything, found passion in acting and opera (something those closest to Jack found a bit bizarre considering his nerves), before attending the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. To me, Jack, both in person and within his roles, seems overtly confident with no trace of unease. Like his roles, he comes across assured, with the notion of apprehension lightyears away I’m curious whether he’s found some comfort in his abilities over the years or that inherent sense of fear is the force that drives him.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“I think I was heavily conscious as a kid. Even as a kid in my 20s, I was very scared of interaction. I was super aware of that, so I had an inherent sense of guilt. I think a large part of where I am today is driven by knowing that I’m scared of something but instead of running away from it, the guilt sort of results in me doing it.” That must be not easy at times, I put to him. “Everything’s been a trial, but you wouldn’t necessarily know that from the outside for most. I was certainly quite affable. I want to think I still am.”</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Jack has delivered multiple characters brimming with tenacity and nerve, from TV Series Slow Horses to films including Terence Davies’ Benediction and Josie Rourke’s Mary Queen of Scots.</p> <p class="font_8">“I certainly survived by faking it; ironically, that’s what I do for a living. A large part of why I am where I am, and that I get to do great work with great people, is because I got very good at faking it. I probably spent a lot more time acting off camera and stage, and that’s where I learned to do what I do; through trying to convince someone that I’m actually like this, or I feel like this, when in truth I’m the complete opposite.”</p>

Jack Lowden

Jack Lowden: “For the first time, I’m playing a part I’ve played before. This role  in Slow Horses has been the turning point for me in trying to get rid of that fear and feeling a lot more secure.”

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<p class="font_8">DeWanda Wise enjoys her time off between a rigorous filming schedule as she tells me of her Christmas plans with family and friends over the coming weeks. Growing up in a working-class family in Maryland I listen as she tells me it’s good to be back on the east coast being closer to her mum and others who she cherishes as her support system. With an early childhood straddled between an urban and rural environment, being brought up primarily by her mother, Wise spent key moments of her childhood at her Grandfather, a Methodist minister, junkyard.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Following her parent’s divorce around age five, Wise often found herself at church, a community she attributes alongside her mother as a pillar of importance in her life. Full of insight, even at the tender age of five, Wise explains how she knew that her mother and father shouldn’t have been together. It’s something she’s learned, that awareness of others and her environment is crucial to her knowledge of herself. Having always had a sense of direction on who she is and what she needs for herself, a born performer, she laid down her creative foundations by singing in the county choir. In the choir, she tells me she discovered the language of love, something she often refers to when prioritising her mental health. As a self-confessed sensitive child, Wise describes herself as porous in absorbing emotions, sobbing while singing in the pulpit at church “No one there knew what to do with my emotions. It was kind of something I naturally understood about myself. People often don’t think about how to maintain their mental health, especially at a young age. It’s the same as thinking I should exercise. It’s the same process. I think it should be something you think of daily or at least a weekly practice.” Growing up, Wise’s mother was integral to this firm belief in prioritising her mental health. “My mom was such an integral component to that because there was no stigma or judgment around me environmentally. It just wasn’t in the house. She knew she had a sensitive kid and was always willing to figure it out with me. She was always listening.” Wise seems aware of how enormous that was for the time, as her mum continued to set an example of being open when taking care of her own mental well-being. “As a single mum, you can only hide what you’re dealing with so much from your kids. She struck as fine a balance as she could between being vulnerable herself but not making me feel responsible. My relationship with my mum is something that I really, really cherish.”</p> <p class="font_8">It’s these pivot relationships Wise has drawn upon all, be it juxtaposing for the relationships her character Sloane portrays in her upcoming role for Three Women. Based on the nonfiction bestseller by Lisa Taddeo, the adaptation is an intimate portrayal of American female desire with the characters trying to radically change their lives. It’s a role Wise undertakes confidently, solidified by her mental health journey. Wise opens up to me about the energy it takes when feeling like you have to advocate for yourself all the time, something her character knows all too well about.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“Where I’m not working, I love and need my breaks. I need seasons where I don’t have to constantly advocate for myself.” Playing roles where women are deeply misunderstood must be mentally tricky. “I think I naturally gravitate towards them. It’s catnip for me. I think the transparency stems from my desire to be understood, accepted, and loved for who I am.” As we move into the Christmas season, Wise questions the pressures women often find themselves in around this time of year. “I always question, especially right now when we’re in this kind of very punitive and petty season, where you can and must do no wrong.” It’s clear to see the curiosity Wise has about the boundaries of unconditional love, especially for women, bringing us towards the topic of shame and how we, as women, tend to move through it. Wise questions how badly can we fuck up or figure things out before we’re punished. “I’m constantly questioning what it means to live a life that might make people a little more uncomfortable, or that might not resonate with how they express themselves or how they live their life, but it’s not necessarily good or bad?” It seems she’s searching for the answer to ‘what does it mean to move through your shame or, at the very least, how do we live without that self-judgment. “What does it mean to live and feel free in and of yourself?”. She tells me that’s what resonated with her after reading the script for Three Women and how our portrayals of misunderstood women.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“I think Jenna Ortega, who played Wednesday Addams talked about this. Anytime you’re playing a character that makes people feel uncomfortable, you have to advocate for them every step of the way. Playing Sloane, a character that can come across in some respects as a mean, Wise feels for her “she’s automatically misunderstood and requires protection. That’s part of your job as an actor, but it’s also part of what comes naturally for me because I’m a voracious protector.” As a program that covers realistic aspects of life, I ask how those on set felt facing head-on difficult and triggering subjects while advocation for those characters.</p>

Dewanda Wise

Dewanda Wise: “I think I went (to therapy) because there was an understanding and an acceptance that in some ways, the depression admittedly didn’t serve me. In the last 10 years, I realised happiness is fleeting, but contentment is a daily practice. It’s something that has changed my baseline.”

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<p class="font_8" style="text-align: justify">In his Leicester Square hotel room, Lewis Gribben joins me with the light bustling of London in the background. Responding he’s well, having traveled from Glasgow, Scotland, I ask him about the journey and the madness that is London, “I’ve been down to London a bunch of times for in-person auditions, and I always remember how mad it is here. I remember being told of professional pickpocketers and thinking, is that an actual thing?” I chuckle, telling him they really do exist, having had my own experiences. Having grown up in a small town outside Glasgow, I ask the furthest he’s travelled in the UK in relation to his auditions and roles, “a job in Buckinghamshire or Cardiff,” as he takes a moment to clearly remember. On the topic of film locations, I quickly ask where he’d love to travel if he has the opportunity, “Canada for sure,” he exclaims after little thought. “I feel like you always see films there, and it looks just beautiful. I love winter, so I feel a film or TV show in Canada would fit that well. I could see it as a great place for a thriller film.”</p> <p class="font_8" style="text-align: justify"><br></p> <p class="font_8" style="text-align: justify">Known for his roles in Trainspotting T2 and Shetland, Lewis has become somewhat of a household name over the past 2 years, taking on role upon role acting, something he continues to praise as his happy place. Growing up in Scotland, I’m curious about his upbringing and its role in his love of acting. “My childhood was good. I grew up in a small town outside Glasgow and went to primary school around the local area.” He tells me he was quite an imaginative child, always flying around on brooms, talking to himself, and casting spells. “I guess I felt isolated at the time, so acting became a bit like a mental strength. I would have imaginary conversations with myself”. Seeing his love for his imagination, he tells me his parents gifted him tickets for a drama class at Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre, “At around 14, I decided I’m gonna chase the dream, so I’ve been acting ever since.”</p> <p class="font_8" style="text-align: justify"><br></p> <p class="font_8" style="text-align: justify">It seems to me, as he tells me more about his childhood and being diagnosed at the age of five with Autism and Dysgraphia (a type of dyslexia) that acting became something of an escape, even a deep-rooted need for enjoyment and respite. “When I went to secondary school, I was offered extra help. The school I went to, I didn’t live close to it. There was a bus that would pick up the kids with disabilities. I think that alongside the fact that I couldn’t write made it difficult.” Pausing briefly, he continues, “I think I’m fairly intelligent when it comes to speaking, vocalising, and visualisation, but dysgraphia, made it difficult.” I asked whether living further from school than his friends made him feel disconnected? “I think the downside is you can’t form friendships by going out with your mates after school. It was quite isolating. I think that’s why I fell so much in love with drama because it was my only class where it was mostly practical. It was escapism from being the reality of the weird kid with autism.” His dark humor then appears. “If it wasn’t for that, I would have wanted to jump off a cliff or something, but in all seriousness it allowed me to feel more comfortable. And from that, I found my tribe of people that also liked to imagine and create just like me. Acting has been a constant in my life. And even if it wasn’t my career path or it didn’t work, I will always find ways to still do it.”</p>

Lewis Gribben

Lewis Gribben: Acting was an escapism from being in the reality of the weird kid with autism.

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<p class="font_8">Sat against a tree in Victoria Park, George webster lets me in on the memories of the moments that contributed in one shape or another to the path he walks today.</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">“I was always obsessed with action figures when I was a kid. I had every WWE action figure you could think of, every Star Wars and Lord of the Rings figure. Playing with them as a kid, it got to the point where there were multiple storylines, across multiple things going on in all of these different worlds.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">I ask whether those worlds as a young boy gave him the direction he was looking for as a child. “I’d say my imagination was integral to me growing up, it made me want to be a director. That was suggested to me when I was about eight as I set up my little scenes. To me, it sounded great. From that age onwards, I decided that’s what I was going to do”. He jokingly tells me how math’s got left at the wayside as I wonder whether acting was part of the package in discovering his passion for film. “I started to follow other routes for quite a long time until I discovered I was denying that I was an actor. When I look back at playing with the action figures, I had 50 different accents going up in my head, so I guess it was kind of obvious. I was internalizing what I actually felt.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">I resonate, having spent what feels like the entirety of my early teenage years on The Sims with various storylines. Two years after making his debut in television, many will recall George stepping into the role of William of Orange for the critically acclaimed Versailles. As a massive lover of period drama, I remember being fascinated by the series, wishing that I could step into costume. George is quick to mark the series as one of his first legitimate gigs, as I curiously &nbsp;ask about the set locations and what it was like stepping into such a large and highly anticipated production.</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">“It was a strange one because I was playing William of Orange, who was only in series One at the time, so I thought that was it. And at that time, I could accept that it was the right scale for the role size I should be doing. I mean I got to go to France and film. When you get there, you get to see the scale of it. It was my first time in the studio, so seeing behind the scenes of films and TV shows was something special. It was a bit overwhelming in that sense. When I returned for season Two, it was all on location. I didn’t film anything in the studio. They were in these old monasteries. I believe they even allowed the series to film at Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors, which was one of the only productions allowed to then. Being intertwined within the history of a place was such an honor.” And as for the costumes, I fawned over, “they were incredible. Still, in all honesty, all the women who had to wear corsets, were barely breathing on set” ok, so maybe I’d try them on briefly I declare to George.</p> <p class="font_8">Having spoken about what must have been breathtaking locations on the set of Versailles I’m interested in what George prefers: either being on stage or in the studio.</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">“That’s a good question. I think both have their place. I wouldn’t say I like the cold. I am the worst when it comes it. So when you’re on location, you’ll probably be cold. But saying that, you’re also completely immersed when on location. When I’m on location, especially in period productions, I always try and find a snapshot with my eyes of somewhere where there’s nothing modern, everything completely natural. When I do that, and I’m in period gear, my brain is tricked into thinking I’m in that time, like a time machine, so being on location can be more magical.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">Since Versailles, George has made quite the name for himself, known for the diversity of his roles. “I think if I can keep every day as fresh as possible, I’m happy,” He explained, “As much as I love routine, and I need routine, I also crave the shattering of it. So juggling many things simultaneously when you pick up another role within a year can be quite chaotic. But honestly, I get off on the chaos of it all.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">With Wedding Season premiering within days of our interview, and the excitement surrounding his role in Masters of The Air, I can imagine he’s enjoyed the chaos of playing multiple roles in a short time. As for Masters of The Air, those who haven’t heard the impatient and excited rumblings of a whole industry getting ready for what can only be described as a stunning adaptation filled to the brim with adrenaline and leading actors. It’s going to be quite something, I exclaim to George, who plays Lt. Glenn W. Dye.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">“It’s just amazing; no job I’ve ever been on has had the gravitas. We are trying to tell these well-researched stories, so every actor on it was so engrossed in trying to do it justice. When I say how brilliant the cast is, I speak for everyone on set. I find myself just watching them completely engrossed. I never went to drama school or anything like that, so I get better at what I do when I see good people doing it. Watching Austin Butler, Callum Turner, and Barry Keoghan, who are just at the top of their game, and being able to play alongside them is a mad job. This time last year, I managed to get in touch with the pilot who I play co-pilot to, who’s still alive; he must be 98 or something. I found the town and desperately tried to find a way to speak with him. He was incredibly generous with his time and information. It was a complete joy. It was one of those moments that slapped me in the face. A total dream.”</p>

Geroge Webster

George Webster: "For me, it’s (grounding) about understanding that there are so many unexplored things, even in the physical world. That curiosity is needed, I think that needs to be drawn out of us more."

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<p class="font_8">Joining me over Zoom is, multi-award winner , comedian, podcast presenter, and general all-rounder Dane Baptiste, to speak about his smash hit comedic show The Chocolate Chip and his experiences with mental health. As we fall into conversation, Dane talks to me about how his frustrations surrounding the state of our world has helped form not only his hit tour at London’s Soho Theatre but also BAMOUS, his unashamed and provocative hit show centred on NASBLAQ, a mythical stock index for black and famous talent.</p> <p class="font_8">With the UK having just started to make moves post COVID we chat not only about the excitement of being able to get back to some form of normality but also about the worries and concerns we amongst others have. “As a kid, I was a real overthinker I would of been going mental about the current situation we find ourselves in.”</p> <p class="font_8">Similar to me, Dane’s concerns following what we learned from the pandemic and our way of life, flow into our conversation “I hope from the pandemic, that people hope or realise that you don’t have to live to work and you can survive if you can stay at home or work from home at a different pace. We live in a world where when people get their paycheck every month, the larger part of it goes towards rent, accommodation, and travel to a place of work, leaving so many to struggle. People need to readjust themselves and that’s one of the things that is supposed to come from this time of horror. Hopefully, we can turn to some sense of normalcy, because people lack routine and stability, especially with what people are used to having in this part of the world. My biggest concern as a very careful optimist is that things aren’t going to go back to the way they were before, which wasn’t working. But I feel like people should understand you can’t go back to that, we can’t go back to what wasn’t working.”</p> <p class="font_8">Having had to postpone The Chocolate Chip due to COVID, the two-week success is back in London, unfiltered and unapologetic to tackle difficult topics from a witty perspective. Having grown in profile considerably over the pandemic I wanted to know how this has impacted the show whilst it’s been postponed and him personally. “It was rewarding to see a very big increase in profile over 2020. But, I’ve been trying to say this for years, particularly in comedy, there’s a lot of validity that should go towards the critics and those performing in comedy who won’t play down the themes that were discussed.”</p> <p class="font_8">One of the things I love about Dane’s approach is he isn’t here to avoid the uncomfortable or to sugarcoat the reality. Ultimately he endeavours to avoid the BS involved, “I don’t believe in the whole idea of scaling it back. I don’t think that does any good. Don’t get me wrong I’ve tried it, but I can’t do it. It’s just not who I am, It’s very tongue in cheek which I think generation Z are responding to. I’m looking forward to the comeback, some things are a lot punchier, whilst some things still walk that tightrope, really pushing the show to the edge. I think that’s a big part of that what I discussed in my material, I don’t consider what I do to be particularly edgy, it is just making honest observations about the world that I can see. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve started to do some small gigs here and there and I’ve just been testing out that material. It’s gotten a very good reception, and I’m thrilled”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">With Dane back on the stage with his UK tour rescheduled in October, I ask how he’s found himself keeping busy throughout lockdown with most of his work being at a standstill.“I’ve been supplementing a few things for the world of live work. We’re doing some zoom calls and recording my podcast series ‘Dane Baptiste Questions Everything’. So it’s been fun recording the podcast, embracing the new ways of contacting audiences through live stream and zoom. I’ve been enjoying learning a new skill of being able to perform down the lens of a digital camera.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">Having captured an active audience I wondered what’s been a pinnacle point from producing not only an in-demand show but his podcast. “What was particularly significant was a lot of the positive feedback from a lot of my black predecessors, who were like, you know, dang, this is amazing.”</p> <p class="font_8">Mental health and comedy are something I’ve always found interesting. As a. platform that creates joy in the good. and the bad, I’ve always been curious about the perceptions surrounding not only the content but also the comedians behind it and the stigma and stereotypes surrounding their job.</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">Something I imagine has its difficulties is that some expect them to be upbeat and funny finding light in everything all the time. Dane tells me it certainly is the case that many comedians have experienced this at some point in their careers and that at times it can be a difficult ideology to deal with. “It can be difficult, there most certainly can be repressed emotionally. I always tell myself that that’s ok as long as I can reference it. What’s great is when I may not have the tools or the words to articulate a certain emotion finding a comedic outlet can be great, comedy really can be the best medicine. You know all people say if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry and it is true but it’s important to note the sense of being happy all the time. Being able to laugh about something further down the line is a great part of our rationalisation process and our healing process but it’s a balance. I would never assume that comedians are funny offstage because of how they behave on stage, especially because given the year we’ve had. Many of us are observational comedians, and seeing the world around you can be rough, I’ve most certainly not dealt with the intensity of some of the issues emotionally but I use the darker thoughts or experiences or traumas that I observe or think of in my head to offer a method of coping, that helps people to rationalise it.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">I find it an interesting and almost a noble endeavour for so many to flip the darkness of reality into an outlet of laughter, and although I’m sure it has moments of overwhelming weight, as we’ve seen from so many comedians who suffer from their mental health, it can be seen as one of the most wonderful gifts one could give in a world with some many problems and difficulties to overcome. The power of laughter truly has and always will be a way to heal.</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">​</p>

Dane Baptiste

Dane Baptiste : "Comedy really can be the best medicine"

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<p class="font_8">Season 13 of the Real Housewives of New York City is well underway and Leah McSweeney has spent the last few seasons shaking up the cast with a real, authentic, and modern take on the world. Leah is a successful American fashion designer and founder of the women’s streetwear line Married to the Mob in 2004. As per Leah’s Season 13 tagline, she inspires us by being ‘sex-positive and BS negative’, with many adoring this influential, powerful, badass woman.</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">Mental health can be a turbulent path particularly when you’re concerned about stigma and judgments. Leah warmly opened up surrounding her experiences with mental health. “I remember getting my diagnosis when I was 30. It was my 30th birthday. And I was in my psychiatrist’s office thinking, what is wrong with me? Why am I back to this place again? When he replied and said I was looking through all of our text messages and it seems I won’t hear from you for a few months. And then all of a sudden, you text me and you’re like, having this crazy depression and then you tell me about what led up to it, how it was a series of you having all this fun, spending all this money and having sex with all these people. He said, this is Bipolar, you’re Manic Depressive. I was like, holy shit, what does that even mean? It was a relief but also felt like something was completely wrong. I felt I was fucked up for life and that I was never gonna get better-I remember feeling totally hopeless. Thank God, I haven’t had those symptoms for years now.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">The HATC team are boastful fans of Bravo and The Real Housewives franchise. For the team, Leah was a pioneer and breath of fresh air joining the cast with the New York Ladies back in 2020. Leah was open about her relationship with alcohol and the first housewife to be truly transparent about her mental health and began a dialogue. Leah educated the ladies and us at home. But I can imagine, it must have been sizeably daunting. “It’s something I’m still getting used to. It’s funny because I saw someone on Instagram posted, “Leah has bipolar everybody. She’s dealing with her mental health. She is disabled, you can’t be so hard on her.” and I thought no, I’m not a victim. Don’t go easy on me because of XYZ, I don’t want that at all. I’m just as capable as anyone else. You know what it is? Let’s take the bipolar aspect out of it and say anxiety, depression because I think I suffer mainly from anxiety at this point. Although I guess some people don’t. I think reality TV as someone</p> <p class="font_8">that deals with mental health issues I have to be aware of and have a support system. I need to be checking in with my psychiatrists. I need to have my inner circle, my support andbe hyper-aware.”</p> <p class="font_8">Leah describes the aim of a healthy mind and wellbeing by producing enthralling rhetorical questions which really left the team thinking about her incredible point “Is this self-indulgent? Why do I need to work so hard at feeling good? I kind of feel bad about that. Other people who are struggling with physical illnesses, deaths, living in war-torn countries. And hearing this I feel a little guilty about it.” Mental health stigma refers to societal disapproval, or when society places shame on people who live with a mental illness or seek help for emotional distress or also use it to justify or explain a person’s behaviour. Leah conversed around this topic which is special to HATC and our core values. “Last year I was outed for it, which I did not think was gonna happen. I have been publicly open about it before I was famous and on TV. So when it was used, (I’m not trying to use buzzwords here) and it was kind of weaponised against me to explain the idea of this is why she’s acting this way, that was not me showing any symptoms of bipolar on the show. I was clearly just really drunk. In hindsight, it was great that it was brought up because I think it reached a lot of people, it gave me a chance to talk about it. It also made me realise that the important thing for me to do with this new platform is talking about mental health, it’s really popular to talk about it right now. But it’s something we’ve been dealing with for a very long time, I’m very happy that people are finally paying attention to it. That’s why I thought was great about Head Above The Clouds. Mental health, let’s talk about it! It makes me feel better. Selfishly I want to use my platform to talk about it and connect with people because it helps me.”</p> <p class="font_8">Leah reveals her experience with her mental health on the Real Housewives of New York City after a cast mate uncovered her diagnosis. “It was brought up in a dramatic way. We all talked about it. It was it’s fine the way it happened. I’m glad it happened when it did, as maybe it would have taken me longer to bring it up. I’m happy that it came up during the pandemic too. The show was airing during the pandemic, and the pandemic has been a mental health crisis for everybody. I mean, how are you not mentally affected by this? I still don’t know what’s happening in our world. When is this going to be over? I’m still mad anxious over this and I’m worried about COVID. We live in a new world and I’m still adjusting to it. And I was adjusting to it this past season when we filmed, that season was very difficult. That aspect of reality TV is weird because there’s plenty of days that I don’t want to see anybody and I don’t want to leave my house. I have those days, they don’t last for weeks and weeks like they used to, but they’re there and I can say, You know what? I have to show up. So that’s challenging.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">Everyone’s mental wellness journey is unique and individual. Sometimes we have blunders or modifications when we are progressing. Leah was asked what encourages her wellbeing daily. “Sleep is so important. If I do not get not enough sleep I am a wreck. I take medication. I have to exercise. I have a therapist. I see my psychiatrist because he does a lot of talking therapy. I’ve done it all, gone psycho-spiritual I’ve done it all, like Monks and Rabbis. Those were the key things.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p>

Leah McSweeney

Leah McSweeney: "I felt I was fucked up for life and that I was never gonna get better"

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<p class="font_8">Mason Gooding is a charmer. As he bursts into our Zoom interview full of excitement the first thing he does is compliment my British accent. He’s won me over. In a few hours, he’ll be getting styled up for our cover shoot in sunny LA with our amazing on-location team while I’m sat in miserable London wearing my trusty and well-worn lockdown tracksuit. But hey, it’s not pyjama bottoms right. Mason points out that is exactly what he is wearing from the waist down “It’s a lifestyle now”.</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">As we talk about our last holidays before lockdown, coincidentally talking about mine to LA and his to London a couple of years back, it’s clear we both have ants in our, incredibly comfortable, pants to get out of our usual routine and fly the nest. Another coincidence - both of us were in the middle of moving house when we were doing this interview. “I’m actually in the middle of moving. I figured I spent enough time collectively in one place to last three leases. So once this one was up, I was like I should probably get out and find somewhere new. About halfway through the pandemic. I was blessed with a dog. His name’s Iggy, He’s a French Bulldog. He likes to have attention so I had to put them in my bedroom while we chat, otherwise, he’d be going nuts. But he’s been the biggest change, and motivator to sort of making it through the pandemic, obviously alongside my loving family and friends.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">As someone who struggles to keep house plants alive, as much as I’d love a dog, for now, it’s a responsibility I don’t need although he tries to persuade me otherwise. Mason is convinced house plants are harder, pointing out to me his suffering one in the background. Whilst on the topic of change we speak about when something tends to go wrong in life, how we end up making changes, especially in the way we express it. “For me, it’s tattoos, definitely. There’s something about body art and self-expression through that, that makes me feel both fulfilled and artistically kind of satisfied. When I work as an actor, obviously one of my first jobs aside from giving the director what they want is becoming this character, embodying their roles, their ideals, who they are as people, their upbringing, it’s best to have a blank slate or at least as much as possible. So I decided I’d make that as hard as possible by basically covering myself in tattoos. But my thought process has always been despite the inherent selfish decision to want my body to look my own when I sit in a makeup chair and the lovely makeup community on Love Victor - her name’s Kathleen, she’s amazing at her job - cover me in makeup and they dissipate all the tattoos and ink on my body it helps me mentally kind of step into the idea that I’m now becoming someone different. When I look in the mirror and I no longer see the body art that I have, it allows me to make a cognitive switch between Mason and I guess in the case of Andrew or whoever else I portray.”</p> <p class="font_8">​</p> <p class="font_8">I asked what his favourite would be if he had to pick one. “I’ll tell you, I have to pick the one that would be the most meaningful. It probably varies every time I get a new one. My most personal which was my first would be a ship and in the compass, circling it, instead of north, East, South, and West it says C S S P standing for Cuba, Spencer, Sara, and Piper, my father, brother, mother and sister. I wanted to get something to commemorate the family dynamic that I have and how much I love them because they are everything to me. I’m a big Anime fan, and I frequently get these tattoos of artwork from Manga, mostly from a source material done by Raman, and he’s brilliant. He does these really fine, meticulous ones. You got me talking about them now. I have another one of my back by Shlomi The Homie on Instagram, he does such great shading and detailed work, especially with white ink on black, and I have a lion on my back subtle, you know, nice, streamlined. That’s usually the one that gets photographed the most. It’s hard because I love them. I love them all."</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8"><br></p>

Mason Gooding

Mason Gooding: "I just want to make art for other people and to make them feel"

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<p class="font_8">“Hi Gorge”, Gottmik greets me over Zoom from LA with her now-famous catchphrase. She became an instant star after her impeccable run on Series 13 RuPaul’s Drag Race, setting a new precedent for what it means to be a drag queen today. From the second she entered the werk room determined to crash the “cis-tem” she challenged the preconceived notions of what it meant to be a trans man in 2021. Blurring the lines between gender in a no fucks given way she was a visual advocate for throwing conformity out the window in a way that was entertaining, educational and fostered greater empathy. In a society where trans people are celebrated for “passing”, Gottmiks position in the middle of a constrictive spectrum, on international TV has given a voice to countless people around the globe and personifies the compassionate change we need so desperately in the world.</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">I sit with a cup of tea to catch up with Gottmik about her 2022 future endeavours, combating labels, and finding her true identity. As we exchange pleasantries I can think of no better place than to start than the success she’s found on Drag Race and how being the first trans male to appear on the show has impacted the trans community. “I think me going on Drag Race as the first Trans Male has impacted the community as a whole in a way that I didn’t see coming. I thought I was just going to go on there and tell my story, hoping whoever sees it connects with it, but since getting off the show I’ve been able to travel and meet so many people from every gender on the spectrum. I felt I was breaking boundaries and it opened so many more doors than I ever thought possible. I think it gave people hope, even if they didn’t connect with my story. I’m so grateful I could come and tell my journey on that platform.”</p> <p class="font_8"><br></p> <p class="font_8">Gottmik, ever modest, seemed hesitant at times when talking about the journey she’s been through and the response she’s received from fans both in and outside of the LGBTQ+ community. I can’t help but wonder whether being a small-town kid who had to find their own way through their struggles has had something to do with it. I was keen to ask how drag has helped established her identity.“Drag was the way I found my identity across the board. I always knew I was trans, I just never had the language or the vocabulary to voice it let alone how to describe it. Although I wasn’t sure what my identity was, I knew that there was something there with my gender. So finding drag and expressing what I was feeling through a physical art form with my body and finding what I was comfortable looking like, has been such a monumental thing for me to figure out.”</p>

Gottmik

Gottmik: "I always knew I was trans, I just never had the language to voice it let alone describe it"

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