Said she to TT, it was both exciting and a little scary to work with Mike again.
The adoption drama "Secrets and Lies" premiered at the Cannes festival in 1996, where it won both the Golden Palm and the acting award to Brenda Blethyn. The following year, it received a number of Oscar nominations, including one for Marianne Jean-Baptiste for best supporting actress.
It opened up a whole new world for me, with roles in the USA. But they were all conventional, it wasn't like working with Mike, she says.
Completely without a script
She and Leigh have kept in touch over the years, and when he asked if she wanted to film with him again, she immediately said yes. And as usual with Mike Leigh, there was no script from the start, not even an idea of what the film would be about. Jean-Baptiste tries to explain:
We meet, just the two of us. I bring a list of women I know, both well and superficially. We discuss them all, and from that, we approach the character I'm going to play.
That's how Mike Leigh works with all actors – until it's time for them to come together.
One day, I meet one of the others and find out that we're going to play sisters. We still don't know the plot, the only one who does is Mike. But all actors are central to the drama in their own way when they discuss with Mike.
The film scenes were basically shot in sequence, says Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
So the first time I saw it was the first time I understood what it was about.
Complains constantly
In "Hard Truths", Marianne Jean-Baptiste plays Pansy, a bitter and disillusioned woman who constantly complains and opposes. She stands in stark contrast to her life-affirming and positive sister Chantelle.
Pansy is depressed, she has an enormous amount of emotional pain. Mike has an enormous love for and fascination with human existence, and he trusts that we actors will bring it out for him. He knows what he's doing, notes Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
When I work with Mike, I get to use all my talent, all my imagination, everything I have to give. It feels so incredibly liberating to play, I have all this information to draw from.
She has lived in the USA for a long time, and when asked what she will do next, she says with a small sigh:
I don't know yet. But it will probably be back to something conventional again.
Gunnar Rehlin/TT
Facts: Marianne Jean-Baptiste
TT
Age: 57 years.
Family: Husband Evan Williams, two children.
Lives: In Los Angeles.
Occupation: Actress.
Previous roles in selection: "London kills me", "Secrets and Lies", "28 days", "The cell", "Spy game", "Without a trace", "Blindspot", "Robocop", "Fatman", "Boxing day",
Currently starring in: "Hard Truths", which has its Swedish cinema premiere on 4/11.
