No.1 for Interviews - Daniela Nardini
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The This Life actress is trying desperately to raise awareness of the terrible plight of the Congolese people and hoping to encourage Scots to raise money for much needed supplies
The violent clashes that have taken
place in the Congo, between the
army and rebel forces, has meant that over 250,000 people have been driven from their homes with nowhere to go and limited resources. Scottish actress Daniela Nardini, arguably most famous for her role as Anna Forbes in This Life, is backing the Disasters Emergency Committee Scotland campaign to raise funds and awareness of the tragic cause. The 40-year-old Largs born actress has recently moved back to Scotland following the birth of her daughter, Claudia, after living in London for many years. When we caught up with her, Daniela filled us in on why The Congo Crisis Appeal is so important and whether the dreaded credit crunch has had any impact on the acting
world so far.
Can you tell us a little about the Congo
Crisis Appeal?
Basically quite a few charities have grouped together because it is a crisis appeal. They’re trying to
get as much money together as possible for
the appeal in the Congo. A quarter of a million people have been displaced because of the
fighting there, they have to just up and leave in
the clothes they have on so they really have
nothing. At the moment the rainy season is
coming, they need shelter and clothing and
medical supplies and water. They desperately
need help now.
How long have you been involved with the charity?
Only very recently. I’ve worked with Oxfam on and off for the past six years. I’ve been out to Africa a few times and they have asked me to support this crisis. I think it’s fantastic if you’ve been on telly and you can help. I think it’s a nice thing to do. They always say thank you to me when I’ve helped out but I feel like saying thank you to them.
How did you get started in acting?
When I was at school I was interested in films. We didn’t have a drama club or anything, I just always wanted to be an actress from an early age. Then I found out there was such a thing as a drama school and it was news to me. It took me a couple of
years to get into the RSAMD because it’s a
competitive course, but then that’s good training
for the actual business!
Was difficult to try and get acting work in Scotland?
I kind of ticked along but then I got a television
role down in London so I set up home there.
I’ve moved back recently when I had my little girl
and now we’re just having some time in Scotland.
I’m really enjoying it, I’m not missing London at
the moment. Claudia is 18 months now so she’s at the stage where she’s ordering me about. If you
don’t do something immediately she gets very angry at you [laughs].
Do you think the Scottish government should
do more in the arts to help young entertainers achieve their potential?
I think any help that government can give to the arts is really important. I do find that there isn’t as much happening in Scotland as there used to be. When
I left college there were a lot of companies and a
lot of theatre. But I see less of it about in Scotland now so I think it would be fantastic if the arts
were supported more.
Do you ever get used to the uncertainty
of being an actress – trying to sustain
regular work?
It can be very frustrating but I think you get better
at it as the years go by, you accept it a bit more for what it is – it’s not really personal! But the lack of continuity and a wondering when your next
paycheck is can all be worrying. There are ‘for’s’
and ‘against’s’. I don’t know if I’d be thrilled if my daughter Claudia wanted to go into the business,
but I’d accept it.
Do you think the acting world has been in anyway affected by the financial climate?
I think it’s inevitable that it will have because companies probably have to make cuts on the number of productions they make.
Is there an actress who’s career you admire?
I find that question hard. I don’t know really. I do admire certain actors but to a degree I thing everyone has their own frustrations. Even someone you think is really successful like Kate Winslet, you might hear that she lost a job to someone else. You just have to try and concentrate on your own career.
The coming year is on everyone’s mind at the moment – do you make New Year’s resolutions?
They usually have something to do with smoking
and I’m now thinking that hypnosis is the way to
go. I’m not great at keeping them. I might say at quarter to midnight, ‘Right, what’s everyone’s resolutions?’ but I don’t really stick to them.
What‘s next on the agenda?
I’m hoping that a pilot I did in Scotland is going to go to a series for the BBC but again it’s up in the air. It’s in somebody else’s hands at the moment.
Quick Fire
The three people (dead or alive) I’d love to invite to a dinner party are...
Mozart, John Lennon and Marilyn Monroe
If I wasn’t an actress I’d be…
An artist
The last time I cried was…
Yesterday
My earliest memory is…
Being with my two brothers in an old house when I was about three
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
Learn to laugh at yourself
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