Exclusive Interview with Louise Jameson (Rosa di Marco)
By Larry Jaffee
NEW YORK– Louise Jameson (Rosa di Marco) makes a diva’s entrance at a
Chelsea eaterie, eagerly greeted by scores of local Dr Who fans,
looking far more glamourous than her Italian matriarch/restauranteur
on EastEnders. Not to intrude on the sci-fi club’s night, we said a
quick hello and caught up with her soon thereafter.
Walford Gazette: You’ve had such a varied career, but according to
your website you’re probably best known as Rosa di Marco in
EastEnders. Do you agree?
Louise Jameson: I think that was probably true 10 years ago, but now
Dr Who probably reigns supreme, certainly in America... although there
is a large faction of fandom also tuned into Tenko. (Editor’s note:
Louise is referring to a television drama, co-produced by the BBC and
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, in which she appeared in 13
episodes, 1981-1982, and cites it as her favourite acting experience).
The series, which dealt with the experiences of British, Australian
and Dutch women who were captured after the fall of Singapore in
February.)
WG: When you first landed the Rosa role, did you realise that
EastEnders would have such an impact on your career?
LJ: I kind of did. My agent asked me, “Are you ready for this?” At
first I wasn’t sure what he meant exactly, but the fandom is very
different from the other series that I have done. Rosa is an ordinary
person living her life in an extraordinary way. But she was very
accessible and it meant that people on the street were very “in your
face” because they really felt that I was a friend, and a wise person.
I would get letters from people telling me their woes and how would I
sort them out. With other characters the blur between me the actress
and me the character was quite clear, but because EE is a soap and
(then) three times a week, people really felt they knew me.
Career-wise, it has had an odd effect. I am (touching wood here) never
out of work, but the TV series offers are fewer. I’ve done some
one-offs since EE, but only one other “regular” in River City, which
is Scotland’s equivalent of EE. I get offered tours all the time,
theatre work abounds, but I’m holding out this year for another series
of merit.
WG: How did you get the part of as Rosa di Marco? Were you a fan of
the show prior to landing the job?
LJ: I hardly ever watch TV I am ashamed to say, even though it is my
livelihood and am not really a “fan” of a great deal. I am hooded
into DVDs of Glee at the moment. I was an on-and-off fan of EE and
have had several friends go in and out of the show so turn it on
occasionally, but radio is the genre I adore.
WG: Was your contract year-to-year, or always anticipated as a three-year
role?
LJ: It was a year to year, but behind the scenes we were asked for a
long-term commitment which I would have been very happy to give, at
least another 18 months. But with a change of producer came a change
of direction and the di Marcos were caught in the broom sweep.
WG: Any particular storylines that are most dear to you?
LJ: I liked the engagements to Paul Moriarty’s character (George
Palmer), and the going to the pries for confession (of her affair to
George while she was married to Giuseppe). Gave me a chance to flex
my acting muscles a little.
WG: Did the other actors playing di Marcos make it feel like a real family?
LJ: My on screen family kept me sane. I had huge affection for all
four of the kids, and the grandchild. We worked well together and
behaved as a family off screen too. Squabbling and gossiping and
proud as punch when Carly got eight GCSEs (General Certificate of
Secondary Education, a British academic qualification award for
teenage students) in real life!
WG: For example, at the canteen, did you tend to sit together?
LJ: When we were all in together we spent most lunch hours in my
dressing room bashing lines. We had no rehearsal, and it was a matter
of pride that the di Marcos would go on set with their lines and cues
mastered. The technicians liked working with us.
WG: Any funny behind-the-scenes anecdotes you can share?
LJ: On a bonfire night sequence a rocket went off at a particularly
poignant moment, it kind of went thrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp like a damp
squid. I left a pause, because I knew the sound boys could cut around
it, but Paul Moriarty improvised telling me I really must do something
about my flatulence. Needless to say, we had to go again!
WG: Do you think they could have gone further with the character and
family?
LJ: MUCH further. I think we were just bedded in and ripe to go. There
was a huge national campaign on BBC Radio 1 to try and save us, with
much support, but the producer had made his mind up.
WG: Were some of your EastEnders colleagues Dr Who fans and in awe of
“Leela” in their presence?
LJ: I don’t think so, everyone has a CV with much respected work on
it. I was more likely to have some of the younger ones coming up and
telling me their dad used to fancy me rotten!
WG: Are you amazed how fervent Dr Who fans can be?
LJ: Yes, and also grateful for their loyalty.
WG: What’s been the strangest request from a Dr Who fan at an
event?
LJ: To sign his thigh so he could go and get it tattooed.
WG: Unlike when you played Leela, did you have desire to still possess
a frock that Rosa wore?
LJ: I had a blue scarf that I wore in the last scene, but gave it to a
charity event.
WG: How was the food at Giuseppe’s, compared with Walford’s eateries,
such as the caff or Ian’s fish & chippie?
LJ: All of it is “staged” and lacquered, inedible really. The main
thing was that I was only ever allowed to chop courgettes, because
they are soundless.
WG: Almost 10 years after you left, do you still watch EastEnders?
LJ: No, only if there’s a major story line, or a friend performing.
WG: Please tell us about when you lived in the U.S. and what were the
circumstances.
LJ: I was with the Royal Shakespeare Company in about 1974, and spent
three months in New York City living near Carnegie Hall, and loving,
loving, loving it. I held 12 parts in my head, what with the ones I
was performing and the understudies. We toured to Omaha, and Texas.
And later (1984ish) I did a three- month tour whilst pregnant with my
second boy, playing both Viola and Sebastian in Twelfth Night. A
pregnant man is one of my most challenging roles to date.
WG: What’s been your favourite acting experience, and do you prefer
television to theatre?
LJ: Weirdly, I prefer theatre to TV.
WG: Do you you have a favourite play?
LJ: It is probably Romeo and Juliet. I was in it at the Royal
Shakespeare Company, but never got to play Juliet except on radio...
and actresses.
WG: Which actresses do you admire?
LJ: I admire are Vanessa Redgrave, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins... I
could go on and on, so many brilliant women out there.
WG: Thanks so much
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