171 replies to this topic

[sweetjane]

Read her bio at ABC Medianet.

I've seen Anna in films such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Land Girls, Rogue Trader, and Me Without You, and also caught her on Broadway when she was in Patrick Marber's Closer. I don't think I've ever heard her without an English accent, but judging from what clips I've seen of the pilot she seems to do a pretty good job playing American.

I read somewhere that she is moving her family over from England (she has a young daughter with partner David Thewlis) and that she recently bought a house in Hollywood Hills for $1,195,500. Just one more reason to hope that this show succeeds!

[RoxieVelma]

Weirdly, I always pictured this thread being titled "Dead Woman Walking" for some reason. =)

Having seen the pilot, she does have a few minor slip ups in the American accent, but almost every British actor does. It'll be interesting to see how many people know she is British instead of American, because she does pretty damn well.

[sweetjane]

I remember a lot of people in the old thread seemed to get her confused with Zooey Deschanel. I didn't have this problem since I didn't know who Zooey was until after I'd already seen Anna in a bunch of stuff; but I think I did use to get her confused with Kate Beckinsale. Not that they look at all alike or anything, just that they were both young British actresses who were getting similar types of roles in the late 90s.

[Rinaldo]

They must have thought she was extra-special in order to cast someone who isn't that well known yet as such central character, who would have to move to a new country and speak in an accent not her own.

So I'll be interested to see what special "thing" she has. My reaction has been kind of negative so far, I'll confess, but I'm always ready to keep an open mind. I found her one of the most forgettable elements of A Midsummer Night's Dream (not bad, just hard to remember), and the main thing I recall about her in Closer was that she was one of the most inaudible actors I'd ever encountered on the professional stage -- I quite literally couldn't hear her half the time. But I'll wipe the slate clean and begin again.

[stepliana]

to cast someone who isn't that well known yet as such central character, who would have to move to a new country and speak in an accent not her own.

Well, look at Caroline Dhavernas in Wonderfalls - no, she didn't have to move to a new country, since they did film in Canada, but she was the main character, had to speak in an accent not her own, and wasn't very well known at all. And she was fantastic. I think Anna will be the same way.

[Rinaldo]

Well, that's what I was saying. Someone for whom they'll go to such lengths (and who will herself go to such lengths) must be fantastic. So they must feel that Anna is exactly that. I haven't seen that from her in the past, but I remain ready to be convinced. I'm quivering with anticipation, in fact!

[MoreRidonkulous]

They must have thought she was extra-special in order to cast someone who isn't that well known yet as such central character, who would have to move to a new country and speak in an accent not her own.

So I'll be interested to see what special "thing" she has. My reaction has been kind of negative so far, I'll confess, but I'm always ready to keep an open mind. I found her one of the most forgettable elements of A Midsummer Night's Dream (not bad, just hard to remember), and the main thing I recall about her in Closer was that she was one of the most inaudible actors I'd ever encountered on the professional stage -- I quite literally couldn't hear her half the time. But I'll wipe the slate clean and begin again.

I've seen the pilot. She VERY definitely has something special going on in it. A lot of the pilot has an intentionally dreamy quality to it, but this character stands out with a weird kind of magnetic energy.

[IamDcontraband]

Weirdly, I always pictured this thread being titled "Dead Woman Walking" for some reason. =)

I couldn't agree more.

It never occur to me that she's British. She's done a great job with her american accent that you couldn't even tell that she's faking it.

I remember a lot of people in the old thread seemed to get her confused with Zooey Deschanel.

The reason why I was lured into the show is because I thought Miss Deschanel is playing Chuck's role. I was somewhat disappointed when it wasn't her. But then after watching the Pilot... I was blown away with Anna's performances and that alone is very redeeming.

[thethinman]

Well, look at Caroline Dhavernas in Wonderfalls - no, she didn't have to move to a new country, since they did film in Canada,

Oh Caroline, my Caroline. I miss her so. Maybe if PD takes off Bryan Fuller will give her a guest spot. She is too good of a comedic actor to be doing those small budget movies that nobody sees.

[spiralout9]

I saw Anna in Niagara Motel and I thought she was pretty good. No hint of a British accent at all. Oddly enough, Caroline Dhavernas was in that movie too and was a hoot to watch.

[CiaraCobb]

I will always remember Anna from her old Brookside days, but then I am a Brit so I have an advantage. I thought she was excellent in the pilot. I was a bit worried at first as I have never seen her in any kind of role which I could picture her then going into a lead spot, but she did very well.

[needsleep05]

I saw some hideous movie in the wee hours of the morning on Showtime called Irish Jam and AF was the female lead. Eddie Griffin played some American guy who won/bought an Irish Pub or something. Then, he actually moves to Ireland to run it. I think. I shouldn't say it was hideous because I only made it through the first half hour, so I suppose it may have gotten better. The Irish accent AF was sporting sounded good, though.

Behold, the trailer.

[poppy82]

I'm going to watch this show based on two things: the trailer and Anna Friel. I've see AF in a few things, including Our Mutual Friend, the Canadian movie about British war brides, and Me without You, and all were quite good performances. I'm going to miss her British accent though.

[still proudgirl]

Well, look at Caroline Dhavernas in Wonderfalls - no, she didn't have to move to a new country, since they did film in Canada, but she was the main character, had to speak in an accent not her own, and wasn't very well known at all. And she was fantastic. I think Anna will be the same way.

Yes, but Caroline is...Caroline. Few people have her pizzazz/charm, and I've seen Anna in plenty of projects (including "Niagara Motel," which was hilarious, thanks in large part to Caroline's storyline and Craig Ferguson) and she never quite "sparkled" for me. In my opinion, Anna was definitely the weak link in the pilot. Imagine my agony, then, when I realized that Bryan Fuller had written Chuck with Caroline Dhavernas in mind.

*sigh*

Let's hope Anna fares better in subsequent episodes. And that Caroline, wherever she may be, seriously considers a guest spot (that turns her into a series regular) on PD.

[dafi]

In my opinion, Anna was definitely the weak link in the pilot

.
still proudgirl, I'm with you and it seems we are alone in that corner. I'm curious to see whether the general consensus shifts after the airing of the pilot but I'm not holding my breath. I watched the leaked pilot twice and still don't see her appeal save that she's beautiful. Somehow her delivery and the way she played the character jarred with the style of the remaining cast and the general whimsical atmosphere. Maybe some of it is a result of her doing a foreign accent but in the funeral home scene I thought her line readings came a beat too late than needed - not due to any implied confusion on the part of her character, for there was none (that's my other gripe, her character comes across as too gung-ho, like oh, I've been resurected, let's go. Indeed, her character is the other weak link for me, because I didn't see why she had to be shown falling in love with Ned right off the bat after so many years apart and obviously not having him on her mind during that time). But maybe the episodes after the pilot will make me change my mind - and I'd love to for the sake of my full enjoyment of the show. For now, because of Anna and the way her character is presented, I have zero interest in the romantic story.

[still proudgirl]

For me, I definitely think it's Anna's delivery that's not selling me on Chuck. By all means, Chuck is written as pretty interesting and downright awesome in her moral ambiguity. But Anna's line readings are one-note and, I might add, slurred. More than once I detected accent slippage. I don't mean to be harsh, but if she's having trouble mastering the accent, then maybe she simply isn't the right actress for the part. And you know, I imagine her accent might not be so prominent if she at least played the part convincingly, but when an actor doesn't have the character down, it becomes difficult not to notice his/her technical slips. Her overall performance just grated on me; it wasn't charming, and I'm SO not sold on her supposed tomboyish-ness. I'm not saying she has to channel Caroline Dhavernas (because let's face it, these two actresses aren't even in the same LEAGUE of talent or charisma, so I wouldn't hold Anna to that standard), but I don't think it's too much to ask for a little character in my characters.

[ethanvahlere]

I liked her in Me Without You a lot, as mentioned in other threads, and don't really remember her from Midsummer Night's Dream (which, I agree, makes her forgettable), nor do I remember her from much else. However, I was completely won over by her in the pilot. She didn't overdo the whimsy, and the fact that she wanted to go back to her aunts, and also wanted to know Ned wasn't in it for the reward won me over. She will definitely keep me watching this show.

[Choo Choo]

I thought she was just okay. She's a decent actress but didn't really bring anything to the role.

[Hugin]

She reminds me very much of Mary Louise Parker on Weeds, in her appearance and line delivery (which is a good thing). As someone who didn't like Jaye on Wonderfalls, I'm not particularly broken up the role went to Friel instead of Dhavernas.

[frankdbunny]

Imagine my agony, then, when I realized that Bryan Fuller had written Chuck with Caroline Dhavernas in mind.

I adore Caroline Dhavernas, but I think the idea of Aaron and Jaye as love interests rather than brother and sister would be far too disturbing for me.

[AimingforYoko]

I remember a lot of people in the old thread seemed to get her confused with Zooey Deschanel.

I think she looks (and sounds) so much like Zooey, that there should be an investigation into where Caleb was at the time of her conception.

[still proudgirl]

She didn't overdo the whimsy, and the fact that she wanted to go back to her aunts, and also wanted to know Ned wasn't in it for the reward won me over.

I'm sure Chuck looks great on paper, but watching her onscreen is like hearing great lines issue forth from an unintentionally monotone sock puppet.

She's a decent actress but didn't really bring anything to the role.

Blandness treads dangerously close to indecency.

She reminds me very much of Mary Louise Parker on Weeds

I respectfully disagree. MLP is one of the world's most subtle actresses, her every acting decision nuanced and packed with intent. She's one of the most raw, honest storytellers I've ever seen. Anna Friel, on her best days, is perhaps capable of mustering enough sincerity to convince me that she's not thinking about her laundry while delivering a line. She's a distracted actress, and that makes me a disinterested viewer.

As someone who didn't like Jaye on Wonderfalls

Wow, you exist. Are there more of you out there? That's not meant as an offense, I'm just...DAZED here.

I adore Caroline Dhavernas, but I think the idea of Aaron and Jaye as love interests rather than brother and sister would be far too disturbing for me.

I don't know. Much as I revere "Wonderfalls," I try not to blur the lines of reality and storytelling. I can see how it might be disturbing, but at the same time, I trust both actors (particularly Dhavernas) to make it work, because that's what (good) actors do. Furthermore, were Friel a more finessed actress, I might not feel quite as disappointed that Caroline wasn't cast. My point isn't so much that I'd LOVE for Caroline and Lee to play star-crossed lovers, but rather that I can really picture how great Caroline would be in this role, and their choice of an actress who I regard as a half-assed player (just as a fact and not in comparison to anyone) for the part somehow makes Caroline's absence all the more painful.

Edited by still proudgirl, Oct 4, 2007 @ 7:17 PM.

[Turtle Wexler]

I adore Caroline Dhavernas, but I think the idea of Aaron and Jaye as love interests rather than brother and sister would be far too disturbing for me.

frankdbunny, I couldn't agree more. Of course, I just found out about Chuck being written for CD....It would be great if she'd guest star. I hope that happens.

I'd never seen AF in anything, so I had no idea she was from the UK--same way I thought Nancy Travis was from the UK for ages, thanks to the Three Men and A... franchise. ;-) She didn't bother me, but I don't have another performance to compare.

[Spadada]

still proudgirl, where did you read about Chuck being written for Caroline Dhavernas? Do you have a link? I am curious to hear whether or not she turned it down or if maybe the network wanted someone else.

I have never seen Anna Friel in anything else but I think she is great in this. I liked her stunned, flighty delivery and thought it meshed well with Lee's (which was also somewhat monotone and stylized). I think she really embodies the innocence and wonder of childhood that the character requires. I am captivated by her when she is on screen because everything feels so new to her.

It would be a completely different character in Caroline Dhavernas' hands, obviously, and I bet I would love her in the role, but I really like this version of Chuck.

[sweetjane]

where did you read about Chuck being written for Caroline Dhavernas? Do you have a link?

Spadada, I'm not sure if this is the interview still proudgirl is referring to but Bryan mentions it here. Quoting the relevant parts:

Fuller: [...]In my head, when I was writing the script, I imagined Ned as Lee. The same was true for Chuck, who I imagined being played by Caroline Dhavernas [who starred in Fuller's Wonderfalls]. I have to have an archetype in my head when I write....

Q: So any chance then of Caroline Dhavernas turning up on Pushing Daisies?

Fuller: I'd love to work together with Caroline and any chance to do so would be fantastic. I was worried about the practicality of casting two people as lovers who had played--and will always be in my mind--siblings. But Anna [Friel] literally just fell into our laps.

[para]

I find Friel's performance fitting for Chuck. Dhavernas is larger than life when she plays a role and while this is something I can see as the original archetype for Chuck, there is something slightly awkward, sweet and girl-next-door about Friel that fits Chuck's backstory much better. If Dhavernas had played the role, I don't think I would have believed that she only threatened to put anti-depressants into the aunts food. Nope Dhavernas' Chuck would have been putting those in and a bag of coke. Dhavernas just doesn't make a good wallflower, but Friel despite being gorgeous convinced me that her life before the cruise consisted of honey for the homeless, books and her aunts.

I find her believable as Chuck and I would probably love the alternative universe version of PD in which Dhavernas was cast as Chuck as much as I love this one, but... well, I am living in this universe and there is no point in crying for Chuck to be re-casted with Dhavernas at this point. Especially since the casting could have been so much worse. I mean Ned's role was actually offered to Adam Brody - now imagine if Chuck's role had been given to Mischa Barton.

[cutecouple]

Actually, what would be fun would be Dhavernas in a Chuck-esque role turning up as a rival for Neds affections with Chuck, SWF style.

[spiralout9]

Dhavernas just doesn't make a good wallflower, but Friel despite being gorgeous convinced me that her life before the cruise consisted of honey for the homeless, books and her aunts.

Have to disagree. Dhavernas actually plays the awkward, sweet character in Niagara Motel while ironically, in the same movie, Anna plays the more abrasive, almost strung-out character. Both were great in their roles. If anything I think that's why I enjoy Anna's portrayal of Chuck. It's fun to see her play an entirely different character since Niagara Motel was the only movie I've seen her in.

[still proudgirl]

Thanks, sweetjane. I was referring to that interview.

Dhavernas just doesn't make a good wallflower

It's so ironic that Caroline has played, for most of her film career, wallflowers ("Out Cold," "Breach," "Niagara Motel," "Hollywoodland," "Comme Tout le Monde," and even "Edge of Madness" to some degree - yes I saw all of these because my love for Caroline knows no bounds), and has played them well. Yet most will probably never know it, because she played Jaye to such perfection (and because most of her films are obscure indies). I'm willing to bet, though, that she could tap into Chuck's "wallflower"-esque qualities beautifully while bringing to the role a little more Dhavernas-oomph and a little less Friel-oofuck.

well, I am living in this universe and there is no point in crying for Chuck to be re-casted with Dhavernas at this point.

Can't speak for the others, but I certainly haven't been clamoring for that. Would it have been mind-blowingly awesome? Sure. But I too have a (semi-firm) grip on reality. I just think that they could've done a lot better with Chuck's casting, even without Caroline onboard. Water under the bridge? Fine. But spare the snark, spoil the Anna.

Especially since the casting could have been so much worse. I mean Ned's role was actually offered to Adam Brody - now imagine if Chuck's role had been given to Mischa Barton.

Well, yea, when you put it that way, I guess I'm kind of glad they cast Anna Friel instead of Paris Hilton or my dog (sorry, Fido). Man, we LUCKED OUT.

...or we could've also done so much better. Half-empty or half-full? Matter of opinion, as always.

If anything I think that's why I enjoy Anna's portrayal of Chuck. It's fun to see her play an entirely different character since Niagara Motel was the only movie I've seen her in.

I really wish "different" meant "good."

Edited by still proudgirl, Oct 5, 2007 @ 3:43 AM.