With
Derek going global on September 12th with the Netflix release, we've managed to
speak to one of the stars who features heavily in the pilot episode – Ruth
Bratt, who plays Mary, granddaughter of one of the Broad Hill Care Home
residents and also Derek’s admirer.
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| Ruth as Mary in the Derek series one finale |
Ruth has appeared in several TV shows over the years including FAQ U on Channel 4, Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive, The Ministry of Curious Stuff and she has played a number of different roles in BBC Three’s Mongrels. In 2012 she played a major part in the pilot episode of Derek and appeared in a number of episodes throughout series one, which screened in the UK earlier this year.
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| Ruth Bratt (source: Gabrielle Motola) |
Ruth is a
versatile character actress with an innate flair for comedy and can be seen on
the comedy circuit, both doing improvisation and as part of double act Trodd en
Bratt. Ruth is recording Trodd en Bratt Say Well Done You in October for BBC Radio 4 and you’ll be able to hear it on air next year.
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| Trodd en Bratt (source: Idil Sukan) |
If you’re heading to
Edinburgh for this year’s Fringe, don’t miss 'Showstopper! The Improvised
Musical' at the Gilded Balloon at 10.30pm from August 2nd to 25th, where you care
find out more about Ruth’s talent for impro. Showstopper! will be also be touring nationally in the autumn. Panthercannon is another improvised show starring Ruth, alongside David Armand, David Reed
and Andrew Pugsley and can be seen in and around the London area.
Ruth is a
huge talent and I couldn’t wait to talk to her:
How did you get the part in
Derek?
Charlie Hanson, the producer, came and saw a
character comedy night that I was doing, and two days later my agent rang to
say I'd got an audition with Ricky Gervais, which was frankly terrifying. I was
so early for the audition, I had to go and sit in Waterstones for half an hour.
Then I went in, and sat next to a cardboard cut-out of Ricky in the Simpsons -
getting silly excited and nervous. But once I met everyone in the room it was
just a real giggle. We did the script and then improvised around the characters.
I got a good feeling about it when I made Ricky laugh, and then left and put it
out of my mind because that's what I try to do so that I don't obsess about
things.
Then two weeks later I had a recall, which I was
slightly less terrified about - and Kerry [Godliman] was there reading in too,
so that was even nicer, because I've known her for years from the stand-up
circuit. Again, we made each other laugh a lot and then had a long discussion
about Katie Price as a role model for young women. And I left and put it out of
my mind because otherwise you drive yourself bonkers while you wait to hear. My
fella was much more positive I was going to get it than I was. And then I did. And
that was a VERY exciting day.
What was it like on set with a
huge array of acting and comedy talent?
It was
intimidating at times, but also very comfortable, partly because I've known
Kerry, David [Earl] and Brett [Goldstein] for years from doing the Edinburgh
festival, and gigging, so that made it all a bit easier. And the atmosphere on
set is really friendly - because all the crew have been working together for
such a long time and know each other so well. I was up in Edinburgh for the
first half of filming the series so missed two weeks (except for the funeral
scenes which I flew down to film and then had to fly back up in time for my
show - I arrived 20 mins before we were due to start. My comedy partner was
being very cool about it, but had been secretly working out how to do a double
act on her own) and came back for the second half.
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| Ruth as Mary at Derek's birthday party |
What I
loved most was nattering with all the old folk. Like Kay who played my nan -
she's incredible, used to be a tap dancer and has a WICKED sense of humour; and
Tim - he's a real foodie, and always gave me a wink during scenes. One of the
most enduring memories I have is during the talent show, when one of the older
actors got up to do some songs (as a filler while 'Duran Duran' got changed)
and he was incredible. He had a beautiful voice, and a real twinkle, and it
turned out (I found out from Margaret, who was a glorious gossip) that he was
in the original West End production of Fiddler on the Roof in the 50s. That was
just my favourite thing - hearing their stories about their careers and lives -
endlessly fascinating, which I guess is one of the messages of the show as a
whole. The sequence with them sleeping and then the old photos and footage of
divers and the like, that really touched me when I saw it because talking to
these older actors who'd been tap dancers and singers, and are still working,
you learn so much, and we forget how much there is to learn from older
generations sometimes. Sorry that got a bit deep - but I just loved coming into
work to have a giggle with Kay!
What was it like being directed
by Ricky Gervais?
It was
incredibly interesting. Everyone has an opinion about Ricky, and they're not
always informed opinions. People have asked me what he's like and when I say,
they often don't quite believe me because it doesn't fit their preconception of
him. He's a very generous director (although sometimes he's laughing so much
off screen it's difficult to continue!) and he's thoughtful and funny
(natch).
You played an enviable role in
the pilot, how was the character described to you?
Child-like
and uncomplicated but with that unerring way of getting to the root of an issue
the way kids can. You know, they aren't fooled by the stuff that adults are
fooled by, like religion and sex! I loved Mary. She was fun - though at times
it was hard to shake off the vacant expression at the end of the day.
Would Ruth also choose Derek over
Kev and Dougie?
I'm not
sure I'd choose any of them! Derek's too nice for me - I need someone with a
bit of edge! Otherwise I reckon I'd walk all over them and then feel bad about
myself and end up in therapy. To be honest, you'd end up in therapy if you went
out with Kev or Dougie as well...
What important lessons do you
think Derek has taught us?
Well, it
really taught me to listen to older people. I had such a great time hearing
about their lives - that was very inspiring. And personally it taught me that
actors don't ever retire!
Did you always want to work in
comedy?
In my
heart of hearts, yes. But I was all set up to become a human rights lawyer. As
a child my favourite shows were comedies. I, of course, remember all the other
shows that I had to watch because I had an older brother who always held the
remote control (before we had a telly with a remote control he was simply
faster at getting to the TV) - you know, Knight Rider, Manimal, CHiPs, Airwolf,
The A Team, Dukes of Hazard - but what I loved most was the Kenny Everett Show,
French and Saunders, The Young Ones (we had to sneak over to our friend's house
to watch that because my mother thought it was rude), Spitting Image (ditto with
the sneaking), Morecombe and Wise and Monty Python. They're the things that
stick in my head. And I was always drawn to comedy. Even when I went to drama
school to become a proper actor. My audition piece was a comedic one; every
role I played I found the funny, even when I wasn't supposed to - like in the
piece about a soldier and his wife splitting up due to some emotional nonsense,
I can't really remember - we just wanted to do it in Marilyn Monroe wigs...
Even when I try to be serious, it comes across as funny for some reason. Why
fight it? I've stopped now. And as Derek shows, you can do comedy but with real
heart. For me the joy of comedy is NOT playing comedy, but playing truth. Truth
is the funniest and saddest thing.
Stand-up, impro, theatre or TV,
where does your heart truly lie?
I think
that's the equivalent of asking someone which child is their favourite! I enjoy
stand-up but was aware quite early on that I was never going to work hard
enough to be as good at it as I wanted to be - that said, doing character
stand-up has been a real joy, and doing a character double act is fantastic.
I'm not great at being alone on a stage! Theatre is wonderful for the
immediacy, TV is great for the chance to try things differently a few times and
then wait and see what the director/editor/producer choose, impro is brilliant
for being the ultimate ephemera - it's there and then it's gone forever, never
to be seen again. I guess if I were pushed, I would say impro - mostly for what
it has brought into my life - my fella, my writing partner, some of my best
friends, some of the biggest laughs I have ever laughed...
What are your hopes for your
future career?
Just to
keep working! I've never wanted fame - it's a poisoned chalice I think. I want
to work and make a living out of performing, without having to have a
"proper" day job ever again. I was really lucky to be able to give
that up a couple of years ago and that's really what I want. I love working. I
think you have to in this job because it does take over your life a little bit.
Any self-employment does, but this has very anti-social hours. I wouldn't
change it though. I don't think I could now. There's no way I could be a human
rights lawyer now! At the moment most of my focus is on the Radio 4 show I'm
writing and performing with my comedy partner - Trodd en Bratt say Well Done
You. That's taking up time - we're recording in October - look out for the free
tickets on the BBC website...!
You've appeared in a huge array of
TV, radio, stage productions, what has been the highlight of your career to
date?
God there
are so many! The first TV job I ever got, the first Showstopper we did in a
West End theatre, the first time I did Edinburgh, the first time I did
stand-up, the first time I did impro... In the last year I have met and worked
with some amazing people - some of whom made me want to do this job - like
Ricky, and Vic Reeves, and Doon Mackichan. They say never meet your heroes, but
all of them have been brilliant to work with. Actually, probably the highlight
of my career was the very first day I walked into BBC TV Centre to work. Not
just to look around, but to work in it. It's funny how blase I got
about it after a few years, but that very first time was unbelievably exciting.
It's sad it's gone. I think though you have to look at every job you do as a
highlight - and it is. There's a lot of waiting and really hard graft in
between the big jobs, so everything becomes exciting and full of possibility.
Who do you most admire and why?
In the world?
The Dalai Lama - we'd just done a show in Manchester and were coming back
through the station, when a man very nicely asked us to step aside, and then
the Dalai Lama and his entourage walked through in front of us. There was a
palpable sense of calm and happiness, and when I turned to the rest of the
Showstopper cast, each and every one of them had a huge smile. It was quite a
thing. Ken Campbell - he just did what he wanted and what he thought was
interesting. Nelson Mandela. My mate Mitch - she's 84, she's had a tough, tough
life and I have never once heard her say a negative thing, except about a
politician who was trying to shut down the care home her disabled son is in -
she had strong words about him! - but she remains the most positive, life-filled
woman I have ever met. And gave me the best advice I have ever had. I'd been
dumped, it was a bad one, and I was really low. She sent me the most wonderful
letter saying, essentially, that as a young woman she had gone out with proper
wrong 'uns, and had given up hope that she'd ever meet anyone, but then she met
her future husband Bob, and realised that "I had found my wizard. And one
day you will too." And she was right.
A huge
thank you to Ruth for taking the time to answer my questions. You can follow
her on Twitter at @ruthbratt and visit her website www.ruthbratt.com. To learn more about
Showstopper!, visit www.showstopperthemusical.com.
© M. A.
Sibson
Email: tadpolehitler@gmail.com
Twitter: @tadpole_hitler
Facebook: facebook.com/derekfansite
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