Once described as the Ophelia of Skins – but twice as mad – Cassie (Hannah Murray) was one of the most beloved characters off the iconic E4 show. Who can forget that scene with Sid on the trampoline? Celluloid teen magic, we tell you. To mark Cassie’s return to our screens in Skins: Pure, we caught up with actress Hannah Murray to find out what she’s been up to, and what it’s like resurrecting your best-known character.

You actually worked pretty closely with Skins creator Bryan Elsley on your episode. What was that like?

Bryan kind of knew I’d want to be involved in a creative level. We’d meet up every month or so and to start off with what was very much just general chats about the character, his ideas about the story, my experiences being 23 and living in London, and my friends’ experiences, various things we both felt it should be about and what the themes should be.

Other than being able to contribute to the script, why were you so keen to revisit Cassie?

It was that challenge to play the same person, that that much time has passed so they really aren’t the same person. Anyone from 18-23 changes massively. I felt finding the right balance between the new her and the old her was really interesting; it gave me this freedom, really. Whatever I needed those five years to be they could be them.

You’ve gone on to appear in Game of Thrones, another cult TV show – tell us about your role as Gilly.

It’s kind of about this journey, her leaving with the baby. What I love about it is that everything is so stripped down to the most basic of emotions for my character. She wants to save this baby’s life and nothing else really matters, it’s instinctive and animalistic. The world she was in was so shrunken down. When she leaves, that’s the first time she’s ever left — that’s one of the things that’s so beautiful about her journey.

Whereas Michael’s my age, Stuart is so well established as a creative person. They’re both very exciting people to work with. You just feel very lucky to be on someone’s first film, to be with them at the start of their career. And they’re both people who I think are really talented I’m really excited to see what they do next. When I remember my first job, there’s something special about that that you don’t quite get back and to be in someone’s first project you feel so happy. I just felt so lucky to be part of such a special experience for them both

What kind of characters would you love to play?

I’d love to play a baddie. I just think it seems really dishonest to try and make characters likeable. When I read scripts where you can see that they’re working so hard to make you like the characters, then the characters feels to me like they’re no longer real people. I’m really fascinated by watching people do despicable things. So many people are very selfishly motivated. I think you can learn a lot more from watching people do wrong things than watching people do right things.

So, what future plans do you have?

I always read interviews when I was younger with really successful actors and they’d go from job to job to job, and I always thought that’d be amazing. I mean it’s difficult on a practical level, you don’t spend that much time at home, but I think that’s why we all want to do this, to be rushing around the place playing three different places at once. I’d like to do as many different things as I can do. Film and theatre and television, everything mixed up!

Images: Jessie Craig
Fashion Editor: Sylvester Yiu
Words: Paul Craig
Hair: Jay Zhang at ERA using BUMBLE AND BUMBLE
Makeup: Carol Hayes at DWMANAGEMENT using KIEHL’S and CHANEL
Videographer: Kiel Devalera 
Producer: Seona Taylor-Bell

Look 1
Patchwork dress by JACOB BIRGE, printed dress by MALENE ODDERSHEDE BACH and white diamond loop necklace by SOPHIE BREITMEYER

Look 2
Military jacket by FAITH CONNEXION, T-shirt with embroidery detail by MALENE ODDERSHEDE BACH, black skinny jeans by SUPERFINE and shoes and socks both talent’s own

Look 3
Dress by FAITH CONNEXION, patchwork skirt by JACOB BIRGE and sapphire hoop necklace by SOPHIE BREITMEYER

Look 4 (video only)
Sleeveless black leather jacket by FAITH CONNEXION, printed dress by MALENE ODDERSHEDE BACH and rose gold bracelet and white gold bracelet both by SOPHIE BREITMEYER

The post In Profile: Hannah Murray appeared first on Wonderland.

You first came to public attention with Chris in Skins. Do you have any plans to reprise the role for its final series?

The show was a massive break for all of us and I think what they’re doing with the last few episodes is a great idea, but if I’m honest I doubt I’d reprise my role. It opened a lot of doors for me but it also closed one or two initially. I kind of spent a few years after doing Skins living in the shadow of the show.

Nicholas Hoult and Dev Patel have gone onto have amazing big screen success. Do you still keep in contact with the guys?

Yeah, we’re pretty much all in contact. Dev is in L.A a lot being world-famous and going to the Oscars and stuff, but when he’s in London or if I’m in the States then we’ll always make time to meet up. Nick is here, there and everywhere. All we normally get to know about Nick is that he lives on planet Earth. He’s filming something new at the minute so when he’s done we’ll be sure to hang out.

Did you carry on watching the show once you’d exited after the second series?

I did for a while. I’m friends with Jack O’Connell who played Cook, so I was keeping tabs on him via the show. Barring that I haven’t really seen any of the new series but I’ve met the cast and they seem like a great bunch.

Was it a conscious decision for you to break your ground in the UK rather than to try and crack America?

Not really. Nick had already had a successful career in movies before we did Skins and everyone knew him from About A Boy. That’s kind of what Skins was initially sold on, that weird looking kid from About A Boy is all grown up and looking sexy, having sex and doing drugs. Nick was always destined to graduate into the big league. With Dev, I think him landing the part in Slumdog Millionaire was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was amazing to watch him and the year that followed.

Do you think that Skins was the right platform for you to kickstart your career from?

Yeah, without a doubt. I don’t think the Skins cast didn’t get the credit they deserved for the performances that they gave. The programme dealt with a lot of issues and wasn’t just about teenage hedonism.

http://capturehislove.com/ relationships advice

photoshoot by Luc Coiffait for Wonderland” width=”576″ height=”386″ />

What was your first ever role?

I got my first role before I’d even thought about acting as a career. I took part in a Junior Television Workshop in Nottingham, which was kind of like a drama youth club. It was set up in the 80s by ITV as they had studios up north and they wanted to get some local kids involved. In my first year I landed a part in Peak Practice. Attending that workshop has definitely moulded me into the actor that I’ve become.

You play the lead role of Stefan in upcoming BBC drama Murder. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

We shot it in Edinburgh and it’s directed by Birger Larsen, who directed The Killing. I spent a week helping various actresses perfect their Nottingham accent as that’s where the show is set and that’s where I’m from. I started reading their scripts and noticed a couple of male parts so decided I’d try out for an audition. The character was 37 in the script so I thought I’d try my luck anyway and hopefully they’d call me back to try for the younger guy’s role. They ended up bringing the age down for me.

You play Gendry in Games Of Thrones which has a massive cult following. How did that happen?

I auditioned for a couple of roles before landing the part of Gendry. My character could be the heir to the throne and he just doesn’t know about it. There are people out to get him. I hadn’t heard of any of the books before, but I mentioned to a friend that i was up for a part and he could’t believe it. He’s a massive fantasy fan. At the time I had none of the physical attributes that was required for the role so I hit the gym and dyed my hair. Unfortunately though, I’m still a bit short.

You also took on a role in Merlin. Is fantasy a favoured genre?

The weird thing is is that it’s a genre that I have no interest in whatsoever. I think the reason why Game Of Thrones is so popular is because those fantasy elements are used very sparingly. It’s not all monsters, dragons and wizards. It has more in common with a show like Sopranos than it does Lord Of The Rings.

What else is in store for you for the rest of 2012?

Filming Game Of Thrones is going to keep me occupied until late October. It’s been a good year all in all and I just want to keep on working. And I’m not usually one for patriotism but it’s been really good year to be British.

Murder will premiere on 26th August on BBC2 at 10pm.

WORDS: Shane Hawkins
IMAGES: Luc Coiffait
STYLING: Krishan Parmar

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Would you say that there is any part of your ‘real’ persona that you envelope onto your character Mac?

Mac definitely is one of life’s optimists. He tries to see the best in everything and everyone and I would like to hope I do the same. Mac is one of the nicest guys in the world.

How’s Mac different from the rest of the boys in the series?

Mac is all American. He grew up on a farm in a small town in Wyoming and has never really ventured out the state. He’s got real American values and is completely wide eyed to the goings on at Beaver Falls. He’s clean cut and loves his sport, especially basketball and doesn’t really go in for sitting up on the roof having a joint with the boys- well, not to begin with anyway.

You have very diverse range, from stage to the big screen. What would you consider to be your favourite thing about your chosen career?

I think just that – the diversity! In the last year I’ve got to travel the world and see amazing places doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been lucky to work with some amazing actors on fantastic scripts and feel like I’m learning and growing with it all the time. I love that you have no idea what tomorrow will bring let alone where you might be in a year or twenty years down the line.

What was your first ever role?

I played a rent boy in Shameless on Channel 4. I was just running round talking about fucking, stealing babies and handcuffing prostitutes to beds. It was a proper baptism of fire for my first job. I don’t think my Nan was pleased.

You must have to take a completely different approach to playing a character like Rafaello in The Borgias?

Doing something period always throws up so many different challenges. Stepping into a pair of knee high leather boots and a cape was always going to be a bit more of a stretch, but if you break it down they are still just people and The Borgias is so well written you see those people so clearly and can learn about them.

You’re also going to appear in the fresh series of Misfits. Can you tell us a little bit more about how you’ll fit into the show?

It’s a very small part but I’d always wanted to get involved. I’ve always loved the show and the way it’s shot are unlike anything else on TV. It’s really exciting for that, but I don’t have a power. I just get controlled by someone else’s.

What other parts are you interested in exploring?

I’ve spent the last while playing the good guy – the caring guy, the lover, the romantic… I love all that BUT I’d love to play someone really fucked up and demented and go a bit mad with it.

What else can we expect from you?

I’ve just got done filming a small part in an adventure movie called Legendary in Beijing and I’m currently on location in Paris shooting a new thriller detective series with Jean Reno called Jo, playing his right hand man, which is awesome. Hopefully everyone will like it as much as we do when it hits the air.

Words: Shane Hawkins

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Is Two Broke Girls a fun show to be part of?
It is! Kat Dennings has become a great friend of mine and she’s so hilarious and talented and we shoot in front of a live audience. It’s fun when they clap and cheer or they’re cracking up. It’s such a cool thing seeing them react.

Do they ever not laugh?
We have an amazing writing staff – Michael Patrick King and all of our writers – who give us alternative jokes and that’s a cool thing as an actor because it won’t be rehearsed and you have to work with it right then. But we’ll always keep them laughing!

What attracted you to your character, Caroline?
I love that she’s not a stereotypical Upper East Side blonde. She is a fish out of water in the restaurant and there are things she doesn’t know, but she’s not dumb. She went to Wharton Business School and has this incredible savvy for money and business. I also love that the girls were never outwardly mean to each other even though they are from different walks of life. I think that’s really refreshing to see – especially to young women out there.

You’re playing a waitress in the show – being an actress, have you had lots of experience of being a waitress in real life?
I have! I worked at an Americanized Mexican restaurant for a while called Chili’s. I’d work in the cocktail area and they served big beer glasses. On my first night I put all the beer glasses on one tray thinking I’d be fine to carry it and I spilt them all on a table of ten people. I went to the bathroom and cried. It was awful. I wasn’t the best waitress

The show has already won a People’s Choice Award and was commissioned for a second season before the first had finished airing – has the success surprised you?
When we were filming the pilot it was a special experience it felt like we’d been doing it for years which I’ve heard from other actors is very rare so I think we knew we had something special and we all loved each other and working together. At least we were having a good time and you hope that energy and specialness translates to the audience and I’m glad it did.

There has also been a bit of controversy attached to the show. Michael was accused of being too crude and touching on stereotypes – do you think some people have failed to notice it’s a comedy and not a documentary?
Yeah and I think Michael said before, everything the characters do comes out of a real place. There’s backlash with everything but we love what we’re doing and we believe in the show and the characters and it seems like the audience agrees.

Controversy is also good in that it means people are watching.
Exactly! We’ve said the word “vagina” on TV like it’s never been said before. Doing comedy is supposed to push boundaries but that’s what makes it new and innovative and exciting. I’m glad, at least, to be a part of that and this whole “women in comedy” loop that’s going on.

Vagina is hardly offensive at all. If you spent a day in our office you’d be shocked by the language you’d overhear.
[laughs] That’s honestly the truth! In most people’s day-to-day life the word “vagina” is not that big a deal but for whatever reason, saying it on network television was a big deal.

According to your Wikipedia, you’ve been acting since you were 4 – is this true?
It is true. I’ve been doing theatre since before I could read. My mom had to read my lines for my auditions. I used to watch The Sound of Music a million times a day and I fell in love with it and kept asking my parents to let me do something like that so they got me into theatre which was great.

You’ve been an ambitious actress your whole life!
Yes, definitely. And I still hope to come to the West End or Broadway eventually. My dream is to do a Broadway or West End musical. I love Les Miserables and The Sound of Music and Wicked. Although I’d also love to be in a new one – is Andrew Lloyd Webber writing a new one any time soon?

We’ll find out and get you a part.
I’ll cut you 10%

It’s a deal.

Two Broke Girls is on E4 Thursdays at 9pm. Beth Behrs will be in a new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical as soon as we have a word with him.

The post One Broke Girl – Beth Behrs appeared first on Wonderland.

How privileged do you feel to have landed this role so early in your career?

I’ve benefited so much. Going to drama school [Brennan studied at London’s prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama], the focus wasn’t on camera technique, so when I was coming into this I was a novice one hundred per cent. The hardest idea is leaving what has become kind of a family for me – especially because I’m from New York and I’m very far away from my actual family. I value it every day. If you want to complain about something, as one does, I do try to pinch myself and say “you have literally no right to complain at the moment, you’re doing exactly what you’ve wanted to do your whole life and you’re getting paid for it, so shut your mouth.”

Doug Carter is in many respects your brainchild. How do you think the character has evolved through the years?

Originally, the character was actually Irish and that got switched around, because he was supposed to be coming over with Brendan and that’s how Brendan would have known him. The character of Doug has evolved from someone who has a lot more barriers on the surface. He was someone who bragged, always used to hook up with the ladies, made terrible decisions and was self-obsessed. That’s why he would do things such as dealing drugs – to give him a purpose and a place to be. I think Doug has actually started to settle down; make real connections with people.

So you feel he has more integrity now?

Yes, and he’s less willing to make bad decisions, though the decision that he made this week was probably one of his worst – but I don’t think bad judgments are as intentional as it used to be with him.

What do you like about playing Doug?

I like that he’s a good character – he’s still a good guy. He does make bad choices though and I think in a lot of ways the audience can relate to him with that. Doug’s probably a bit more cowardly than I am – if I have an issue or difficulty with someone I do like to approach them directly for a one-on-one conversation. I think Doug is someone who avoids that; he’s a bit of shoegazer. That would be something that I hope Doug will pull himself out of. With his ex-girlfriend, that’s always something that’s been lingering around and it got so bad he eventually tried to kill himself. He’s an avoider.

How do you see the character evolving further?

I think the business is almost a physical representation of what Ste and Doug want, which is a bit more responsibility, validation and purpose. I just hope for Doug’s sake, things go along that route and he eventually does realise that his life has value and that he can hold his head up high even though he made mistakes. I think it’s important to see someone go through the idea of finding purpose within themselves as opposed to finding it in someone or something else. I’d like to see Doug a bit happier, a bit more settled.

What kind of parts are you interested in exploring next?

Part of me would like to play someone with an accent. I focused a lot on it in drama school, because we did loads of non-American shows. I’d like to prove that I’m capable of playing something other than American. I don’t know, someone who’s maybe not so mainstream-normal, you know what I mean? I play characters that are very grounded in reality, whereas I’d like to play someone who’s maybe borderline sociopathic [laughs], something like that.

Words: Jack Mills

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I have to say the last few weeks have been pretty hectic, my eyelids keep wobbling begging me let them sleep. But as they say, the show must go on and last weekend I found myself bang in the middle of Latitude, with my eyes wide open. I’d describe it as the more whimsical, well-read & clever sister in the festival family tree. I walked the tightrope of artsy bliss and delirium (plus some coherent presentation for Sky Arts and hosting a Q&A with cast of “Misfits” in the Bafta tent). The lake, the woods, the poetry, the theatre. Do you surrender? Course I do..

Afternoon tea was served with some woodland nymph’s!

Loved The Cribs set on the Saturday afternoon. Both anarchic & tongue in cheek. Was good to see a set that packed a punch of pink punk.

I’m good friends with Ryan & his girlfriend. They have a pet rabbit called Fluffy. We joke that Fluffy has the most extreme of altar egos. Fluffy is wild & probably picked the wig. Was also glad to see that my pink hues complimented Ryan’s new tresses.

This is the Sky Arts studio where they were filiming the bulk of the coverage presented by Zoe Ball and Shaun Keaveney. It perfectly captured the festival, often studios and sets make me cringe but not this one..

I gave Kate Tempest the brief of ‘pensive’ for this snap. She was just about to wax lyrical live on telly. So ‘pensive’ seemed apropiate.

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In the eve, I filmed a tour of a ‘Winter’s ball’ & this was the setting, right in the forest. Latitude is unique in how much attention to visual detail goes into the secret and theatrical performance areas. That, you don’t get anywhere else.

Some astonishing contemporary dance in the middle of the night. Another example of what makes Latitude so spontaneous.

Brigitte Aprodite practicing before her poetry tent extravaganza in that dressing room, I mean camper, of hers.

And an insight into my friend Bri’s (granny rather than trendy) camper squished with a weekend’s worth of treasure.

This tee made me smile.

On the Sunday I was honoured to be asked by BAFTA to interview the cast of E4’s “Misfits” – they are an almighty cracking bunch of individuals – who created a lot of excitement with people responding to them like they were a band! Here we are sipping emergency berrocca in wine glasses before the Q&A.

In truth, I was bricking it to interview them live onstage in front of a jammed tent full of over six hundred people, but it was fun! Oh and check this lovely one – Joey [Joseph Gilgun] or Woody (as most know him) from ‘This is England’ who is new to the group & will be in series 3 of Misfits and plays the part of Rudy.

Until next time!

Words and photography: Gemma Cairney

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