Tim Burton’s latest pic ‘Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ opens in Irish cinemas on Friday, 25th January. IFTN caught up with Northern Irish actress Jayne Wisener, who plays the bloodthirsty barber’s daughter, to discuss her feature film debut.
Tim Burton’s latest offering, ‘Sweeney Todd’, is an original take on the Tony-award winning musical by Stephen Sondheim. Featuring Burton's trademark Gothic look and quirky but loveable characters, the acclaimed director took the risk of hiring a cast of non-professional singers for the pic, most of them singing on screen for the first time. It’s a risk that paid off – the film has been welcomed by four star reviews and three Oscar nominations, including a Best Actor nod for the film's lead, Johnny Depp.
As well as the ever versatile Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands), the haunting musical stars Helen Bonham Carter (Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix), Alan Rickman (Love Actually, Michael Collins), Timothy Spall (Oliver Twist, Enchanted) and acclaimed West End Theatre actress Laura Michelle Kelly, the only professional singer amongst the cast.
Produced by Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, the film was shot in London’s Pinewood Studios in Spring 2007. The story follows barber Benjamin Barker, who is happily married with a beautiful wife, Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly) and daughter, Johanna (Jayne Wisener), until a false accusation sees him banished to the other side of the world. The scheming Judge Turpin (Rickman) sets up house with Lucy and her child until fifteen years later, the barber returns to London in search of his wife and now teenage daughter. Bitter, heartbroken and with a thirst for revenge, Barker re-opens his barber shop and dons a new identity - that of Sweeney Todd. With his barber’s razors sharpened, he plots to give Judge Turpin “the closest shave of his life”.
‘Sweeney Todd’ sees the feature film debut of Northern Irish actress Jayne Wisener. Singing in musical theatre since she was a child, the twenty year old was a first year student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama when she was spotted in a production of ‘West Side Story’ by National Youth Music Theatre’s Jeremy James Taylor.
“I was in musical theatre for years,” she says. “Jeremy James Taylor sent a tape of me performing to casting director Susie Figgis, and it started from there.”
“I had to do loads more auditions though, there was a whole big process. The first time I did an audition was in August 2006 and my last audition was in October that year, that’s when I found out I got the part. I was extremely excited when I heard I was cast!”
Jayne Wisener in Sweeney Todd |
Wisener had just completed her first year at college when she was cast in the role, but left her course shortly afterwards.
“I left pretty much as soon as I got the part to start filming. I got an agent on the back of it so I thought there’s no point in me continuing on with drama school when I could be learning from experience instead.”
The soft-spoken actress was required to swap her Northern Irish lilt for a refined English accent for the film, something that came easily to her. “I had quite a good basis for it - we had worked on accents in drama school, so whenever I went on set I just had to tweak a few vowels to remind myself.”
She also showcases her excellent singing voice in the film, performing a solo in the role of Johanna. With a perfect-pitch soprano voice beyond her years, it is easy to see why her former vocal coach Peter Wilson has stated she was one of the most promising students he has ever worked with.
“I did singing lessons when I was younger,” she explains. “We didn’t really do much singing at college though as it was a straight acting course.”
For the musical numbers, the actors pre-recorded their songs and lip-synched to the tracks on set, something Wisener says she was used to after miming to her favourite artists on the radio as a child.
With the story set in Victorian England, the petite-framed actress was kitted out in tight-waisted corsets for the role. “I absolutely loved dressing up for the role! The corsets were really tight and a bit uncomfortable to wear, though. You have to sit up straight and you can’t really eat very much with a corset on as it’s so tight!” Despite ‘Sweeney Todd’ being her first venture on the big screen, Wisener holds her own alongside experienced thesps Depp, Rickman and Bonham Carter. Was she nervous working with these established screen actors?
Jayne (far right) with co-stars Laura Michelle Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp. Image courtesy of Wireimage.com |
“I was extremely nervous. Everyone was really welcoming though and very friendly and they made me feel at ease. I’m pretty sure they were aware of my nerves and they tried to make me feel comfortable on set.”
A newcomer to the glitz and glam of the film world, Wisener found the London and New York premieres of the film a nerve-wrecking experience. “I was so nervous, but you know, you kind of just have to forget about thinking about it and just do it and try and enjoy it, even though it’s such a bizarre thing!”
“And watching myself on the screen for the first time, it was so weird, it was a really bizarre experience, I couldn’t believe it was me!”
The young actress, who states Nicole Kidman, Emma Thompson and Rachel McAdams amongst her favourite actors, believes that Ireland has a wealth of acting talent waiting to be discovered.
“Who’s to say that because you’re Irish you’re less talented than an American, or an English person?” she says. “I think there are so many talented people in this country and why should we not be given a chance?”
The pretty blonde has a previous claim to fame – she represented Antrim in the regional finals of the Rose of Tralee contest.
“It was a brilliant life experience, a great memory. I remember I was getting my photograph taken with Ray D’arcy the presenter and afterwards he said ‘Jayne, one day people will be looking at that picture and saying ‘Who’s that old man beside Jayne Wisener?’”
Now based in London, she has recently finished a theatre run at Donmar Warehouse, where she played the part of 13 year old factory girl Mary Fagan in the musical ‘Parade’ “I had to strap my chest down to make myself look younger!” she says.
“If you’re agent is London based I think it’s important to be London based because they’re going to be ringing you and you have to be at your audition the next day. For a while I was flying over from home for auditions and it’s very difficult and expensive and tiring. I think it’s an amazing city though, brilliant!”
The grounded actress credits her friends and family for keeping her feet on the ground. “They are really pleased and excited for me and proud of me I think too. I’ve been home lots since filming anyway and everyone is so happy for me.”
With looks, talent and a level-headedness that will help her go the distance in her chosen career, we are sure to see more of Miss Wisener. Watch this space...
