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Mr. Copley's interview with Emma Thomson for The Huddersfield Eye magazine.
Transcript from the interview above:
Q. You've been in a number of
programmes, plays, films and radio productions, do you prefer being on stage, on
a TV or film set or in a radio studio?
A. Difficult this because, if the
play/production is a good one, I tend to consider it my favourite medium whether
it’s stage, TV/film or radio – until the next job when I think that’s
my preference. The truth is that each medium demands some similar and some
very different disciplines. On stage as an actor you have more control over the
material and you must gauge audience reactions and act accordingly – you are
in charge of pace and tone and timing. That’s not necessarily true for film/TV
but you get the added buzz of being in real locations and you don’t have to
project as much. Radio is wonderful – like filming without the camera! I enjoy
them all – which I prefer depends on which day you ask the question –
currently it’s stage ‘cos I’m rehearsing ‘Breathing Corpses’ at the
Royal Court Theatre Upstairs!
Q. Out of all the productions you've been involved in, which
would you consider your favourite and why?
A. ‘Days of Hope’ by Jim Allen, directed by Ken Loach, produced by Tony Garnett – 4 films charting British social history, from a socialist viewpoint, between 1916 and the General Strike of 1926. BBC TV filming (in Durham, Masham, Tenby, Bristol & London) was spread over three successive years back in the seventies. It was an important piece of work and, for me, exciting, instructive and hugely enjoyable.
Q. You're from Denby Dale and and attended Penistone Grammar school in
Barnsley, what did you enjoy about growing up around this area?What memories do
you have?
A. We lived on Barnsley Road in Inkerman Cottages, next to Fred Bates’ Inkerman Farm (now Inkerman Town Houses!). I spent most of my childhood playing and ‘working’ on the farm – getting up at 5am to fetch the cows in – milking – mucking out – learning to drive on the old Fordson tractor. I lived for the school holidays and left PGS at 15 much to my English teacher’s disgust, but I did eventually go back to college in Newcastle to train, then work briefly in London, as an English & Drama teacher!
Q. You've worked alongside some talented actors and actresses in the past, who did you most enjoy working with? Why?
A. Natasha Pyne in Wedekind’s
‘Lulu’ by Peter Barnes at Leeds Playhouse in 1971. She played Lulu – I
played Hugenberg, one of her conquests. Why did I most enjoy working with her?
Because life imitated art, it was love at first sight and we married in 1972.
Q. How did you feel when you won The Laurence Oliver Award for the
1976 Actor of the Year in the New play for For King and Country?
A. Amazed! In the same category were Richard Beckinsale, Alec McCowan and Frank Finlay so you can believe me when I say I didn’t expect to win. Lord Miles (actor Bernard Miles) directed the play at the Mermaid Theatre and he lent me his lucky dress waistcoat for the event so I reckon it was all down to him!
Q. How do you think Barnsley and Huddersfield have changed since you
lived here?
A. The pits have gone from around Barnsley, the woollen textile mills from Huddersfield. I spent some of my school holidays ‘helping’ Uncle Jack, electrical engineer, wire up and maintain machinery in many Huddersfield mills. They were, like the pitheads, busy, noisy and full of energy. They’ve gone but they gave the towns their character and that still survives.
Q. When you played Eg's Dad in the T.V series 'This Life' you had to
do some nude and sex scenes. What was it like acting these scenes knowing all
those people would be watching you, were you nervous? Scared?
A. Yep, both! But they were good scripts, terrific characters – it was an important series (produced by Tony Garnett’s company World Productions) and it would have been churlish to object to cuddles from Anna – wouldn’t it?
Q. Have you ever had any embarrassing moments on set? What
happened?
A. On ‘Roughnecks’ I had successfully persuaded the director that my character would ride a Triumph motorbike. On set with the light fading the damned thing refused to start time after time – frayed tempers – mechanic called – found out later that I’d had the prop stand down which cuts the ignition – my fault – too late – on camera I had to walk up the path to the doorway instead!! Did get to ride the wonderful machine quite a lot though!
Q. Are there any actors, actresses, directors etc that you haven't
worked with that you'd like to work with? Why?
A. Robert De Niro – because I’m a fan. Sigourney Weaver – because I’m a fan. Martin Scorsese – because I’m a fan.
Q. You've been in the entertainment business for around 30 years.
Could you ever see yourself doing anything else? Have you always wanted to be in
the business? What else did you want to do?
A. Well, never say never, but can’t really see myself getting out of the business. Possibly because my dad, Harold Copley, was scene painter and make-up man for many local amateur companies and I used to accompany him and watch him it got into my blood early. The whole family including my mum, Rene, and sisters Judy and Jill, was involved in amateur dramatics. Although I didn’t think it would happen I always had the ambition to act professionally. I wanted to write professionally too and I’ve also done a bit of that.
Q. How did you get from living in Barnsley to performing with some
extremely talented and recognised actors and actresses? How did you get your
break?
A. A drama tutor from college, Jack Ouseby, contacted me whilst I was teaching in London telling me that Leeds Playhouse Theatre in Education Company was looking for an actor/teacher. I was one of a large number of applicants but I got the job. What a lucky break!
Q. For people in Barnsley and
Huddersfield who are interested in taking the same career path as you, what do
you recommend they do? Tips? Advice?
A. I learnt such lot from working
in Theatre in Education – you can’t fool kids – if they don’t believe
you they’ll at best ignore you – at worst throw things! Techniques learnt
then have been useful ever since. Drama Schools – drama courses – good
amateur companies all provide opportunities to test yourself. If you really want
to do it you’ll spot the opportunities and whiz through doors left ajar like a
rabbit heading for freedom. Read lots of good plays, watch lots of good theatre
and never give up.
Q. You've been in several T.V drama series such as 'Cracker', 'Peak Practice', 'Silent Witness', Holby City' and 'Heartbeat', which has been your favourite series to work on and why?
A. ‘Roughnecks’ - for the 3 weeks on an oil rig 10 miles out in the Moray Firth with a 32 foot Minke whale visiting nightly like a huge grey ghost in the moonlight – for the fantastic camaraderie and good humour – for the helicopter rides over the Glens – and of course for that Triumph motorbike that I got to ‘practise on’ for weeks and weeks!
Q. You're currently rehearsing on a play called 'Breathing Corpses'
alongside some well know actresses such as Tamzin Outhwaite and Niamh Cusack.
When will that be showing? How is it going?
A. Opens in just over a week (press nights are 28th Feb/1st March) – rehearsals going well and the show is booking well to the end of March. The Royal Court Theatre Upstairs is a small space – nowhere to hide. The play has lots of black humour but it’s a thoughtful piece and great to work on. The writer, Laura Wade, is hugely talented as is our director Anna Mackmin – there’s a terrific company spirit – so… we wait and see…!
Q. You recently narrated on the channel. 4 series 'How Clean is your
House' we want to ask you, how clean is your home? Have you picked up any tips
from Kim and Aggie?
A. Our house is cleaner now because, in common with almost everybody in our area judging from the empty supermarket shelf, we use white vinegar to clean the lime scale from taps, shower-head and the trusty steamer – a tip from Kim and Aggie!
Q. Apart from Barnsley and Huddersfield, where is your favourite place
to be and why?
A. The
Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park on a sunny spring day when the azaleas are
in bloom – magic!
Q. What do you enjoy watching on T.V?
A. The Sopranos, Shameless, and Newsnight.
