The actor-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and poet-novelist Kate Tempest sat to have a one-on-one interview for The Guardian in 2016 after both of them made an impact with their works. Discussing writing, television, acting, and speaking for a generation, the duo engaged in some interesting conversation.
While speaking about acting and television, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kate Tempest recalled something that philosopher Plato once stated. Discussing the art of acting through Plato’s philosophy, Waller-Bridge expressed her disgust towards the idea of having to pretend while acting.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge And Kate Tempest Spoke About Acting
After Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s bleak and hilarious Fleabag on BBC2 earned her rave reviews, and Kate Tempest’s poetry and novel earned her plaudits, the duo appeared to have a lively discussion for The Guardian. Speaking on shared topics like writing and television, the pair had the most interesting conversation.
Discussing their generation-defining projects, Phoebe Waller-Bridge mentioned how she was bullied into writing her show Fleabag. Recalling how she started with her theatre company while facilitating and producing people’s work, Waller-Bridge mentioned how director Vicky Jones forced her to try writing.
“One day, Vicky just said, “You do it” to me. It was exciting – dare I try it myself? I had two weeks, and I was going to have to write a 10-minute piece…I’d go so far as to say I was bullied into writing, but sometimes you need that.”
The actress later went on to discuss stagecraft when Kate Tempest recalled a point that the philosopher Plato once made. Discussing how “culture is this ongoing thing that needs to be nurtured” and stagecraft is something that influences culture, the two women ended up having a heartfelt conversation.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge Hated The Idea Of Pretending While Acting
During their discussion with The Guardian, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kate Tempest spoke about how art and culture are like basic human rights. Because of how art and culture impact society, the two phenomenal women discussed how each of their works plays a fundamental role in society.
“Art and culture will never be a quick fix for anybody. And yet it’s something that needs to be accessible to people, as a basic human right…I think it’s important that culture is this ongoing thing that needs to be nurtured because there is no such thing as a quick, arty fix.” Waller-Bridge shared.
Hearing what the writer-actor had to say, Kate Tempest recalled how it aligned perfectly with what Plato said. “He talks about the role of the artist as a vehicle for the improvement of society,” Tempest recalled. That’s when Phoebe Waller-Bridge recalled how Plato also said, “Performance is inherently dishonest”. And apparently, Waller-Bridge has always hated that idea.
“I remember being a teenager and saying, “Oh, I want to be an actress when I grow up.” And people saying, “You need to be a good liar – are you a good liar?” It really pissed me off, that idea. Because in some ways you have to be able to pretend, as a writer and as a performer, that the truth of that character is your truth in that moment. But there’s also no getting away from the fact that it is pretend.”
Further, the duo proceeded with other conversations surrounding their projects and offered an interesting read for their fans and readers, alike.
Source: The Guardian
