Her revealing conversation with us lifts the lid on what it’s like to create a movie about breast cancer.
The actor, producer, and writer penned Miss You Already, out now on DVD, after witnessing the harrowing journey of women in their 30s being diagnosed with the horrific disease.
Now, in an exclusive interview, she talks about the complexities about writing a realistic story in which there are no “saints or heroes”.
What inspired you to write Miss You Already?
I wrote it in response to witnessing the diagnosis of several women with breast cancer. Most of them were young women, in their 30s, with partners and young children. It felt important to try to write about their journey.
The Brit has also worked on Peppa Pig and Skins.
What did you hope writing this story would achieve?
I wanted to create a fictional character who had a complicated response to her diagnosis. Not everyone who is diagnosed automatically becomes a saint or a hero. I wanted to achieve some sort of realistic portrayal and one that people could either relate to try to understand. I also wanted the film to be funny.
Why do you think it hit such a chord with fans?
The response has been so wonderful especially from people who have been affected by cancer either through diagnosis or being a family member, friend or colleague. Unfortunately cancer is very prevalent and many people have shared this experience. People have responded to being able to laugh and cry together.
What did you think of Toni Collette and Drew Barrymore’s performances in Miss You Already?
Toni and Drew were, frankly, amazing. They were honest and funny and their chemistry together was very real . You believed they were best friends and their real-life friendship grew throughout filming. Toni is a very rare actress – she will take risks with material and with her performance. Not many actresses would have handled the lack of vanity required to give such a truthful performance. And Drew’s performance was so honest and touching and yet restrained at the same time. It made people want her for their BFF.
Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette in action.
What people may not know about you is that you are the voice of the mum in hit animated kids’ show Peppa Pig. How did you get involved in that?
[Laughs]. I’m very proud to be Mummy Pig (and Madame Gazelle , Dr. Hamster and many other parts) . I had previously worked with the creators Neville Astley and Mark Baker and their Producer Phil Davies. They created beautiful animated films like The Hill Farm and Jolly Roger. One day they showed me the design for Peppa and asked me to help do voices for a test pilot they were making. I agreed but privately I thought, ‘this will never work’. Could I have been more wrong?
Does your voice ever get recognised when you are out and about?
I sound rather different to Mummy Pig in real life – but it’s often the parents who will recognise me from other work and tell their children, who generally look a bit confused! The parents often ask me to record a Mummy Pig phone message for their little ones.
*Miss You Already is available now on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. Watch the trailer in the video player below.
*For your chance to win a $1000 shopping spree, enter our Miss You Already competition now
- Morwenna Banks photo credit: Ray Burmiston
