PRODUCTION. HARRY WILD
For me, the actor, it was a nightmare. To save money they’d buy short ends, and we used to have hair in the gate. All that has been taken out of the equation.” Seymour says she harbours ambitions to direct a film one day, but appreciates that juggling being the most important person behind the camera with being the main star can be a step too far. “I put everything into being on-set,” she declares. “I’m first to arrive and I don’t use my trailer. Instead, I use the time to read through lines with actors when we’re in make-up. I dress it up as wanting to practise, but in reality I like to help nervous actors who are struggling with the script. I’m first on-set and never complain – even when I broke a kneecap and was in a brace with crutches.” Don’t just take her word for it. Kavanagh says he has great respect for Seymour for what she offers on-set. “She brings great energy and positivity,” he adds. “For a camera operator, she’s an actor who understands where her key light is coming from and what I’m trying to achieve. She has a fantastic ability to play eyelines to close camera, and is always helping younger actors with set and camera craft. This level of awareness is rare and a positive technical lesson for up-and-coming actors. Also, she always knows her lines!”
HOMECOMING Irish actor Kevin J Ryan stars alongside Seymour as Harry’s Garda detective son, Charlie
Seymour bucks the trend for women over 40 when it comes to a career that’s continued unabated. She says that’s for two different reasons. She concedes that she had a ‘slower period’, but it all changed after another hit movie that brought her a younger audience: “I was in Wedding Crashers and that broke the mould. Suddenly, I became the go-to Milf. I didn’t know what that meant and was flattered by it until my children, appalled, said ‘Mum, no!’ I’ve played a bunch of cougars and now an older woman who happens to be a
detective. What’s fun about Harry Wild isn’t looking glam or anything. She’s very real though, by the same token.” The other reason? “This is where it gets interesting. I have noticed I am one of very few actresses who hasn’t had any surgery, Botox, fillers or any of the stuff that a lot of people do now starting from the time they’re 20,” Seymour says. “That means I can easily play an 85-year-old – like I did in a sitcom – or if the DOP knows what they’re doing, they can wipe a good ten or 15 years off my face.” Despite an IMDB entry most would envy, Seymour is modest. “I have been lucky,” she says. “I’ve played ingénues and love interests, leading ladies, evil characters. I’ve played real people like Marie Antoinette – in French and English – Wallis Simpson and Maria Callas. I’ve never been asked to play Jane Seymour, though!” Hollywood, take note. Watch Season 1 of Harry Wild on Acorn TV or Channel 5
VISUAL LANGUAGE Season 2 was shot on an Arri Alexa Mini LF with Arri Signature Primes, for a consistent look to match Season 1
“I can play an 85-year-old – or if the DOP knows what they’re doing, they can wipe ten or 15 years off my face”
18. DEFINITIONMAGAZINE.COM
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