To celebtrate the home release of the Ben Falcone directed comedy Tammy, We are proud to be able to share this conversation with actress Susan Sarandon who plays the role of Pearl in the film.
Tammy is available on Blu-ray and DVD from 10th November
QUESTION: So can you tell me what it was that drew you to this film and to the character?
SUSAN SARANDON
Well, I have to say, it wasn’t something that I’d always thought of doing. But it came unsolicited with a phone call from Melissa and Ben. Of course, I was huge fan of Melissa, who isn’t? I think she’s a genius physical comedy actress. I thought it was interesting that I was going to be the “grandmother”. I had to make sure I understood that. Then Mark Duplass called me and said “You have to do this, there are great people and you’ll have so much fun” – which for me, immediately I’m interested, because I always choose things according to if they’re going to fun. Then I got the script and I just thought, “Oh my God, this is so funny and so crazy and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody like this”. I had already played two alcoholic, pill-popping people in a row, so I was up on that. I said, “Well, send me pictures of what you think she might look like, because I don’t understand… is she going to have granny glasses or a funny voice?” So then we exchanged pictures –and she was exactly what I’d hoped — and I just thought, “Well, let’s go for it.” I really liked Pearl’s appetites, her curiosity, her sense of adventure, her love for Tammy. I loved everything about her excessiveness, even though she obviously had some substance abuse issues. So I thought “It’ll be fun.”
QUESTION: What preparations did you do for the role? I’m speaking specifically physically because — and I really hope that I don’t offend you when I say this — but the way you put your lipstick on was just like my grandmother.
SUSAN SARANDON
Oh, great!
QUESTION: Every time! So I’m just curious how you prepared for playing a grandmother.
SUSAN SARANDON
Well, the clothing and everything, everything that you choose really helped. You can’t put on a pair of baggy, high jeans with elastic and not feel different. Of course, the makeup and then the canklesreally helped. I put peppercorns in my shoes when I was supposed to be feeling in pain. Sometimes she’s high, so she’s not in pain all the time. I tried to get a small as possible. Feisty, but small and a little bit humped, which felt much more uncomfortable than it looks actually. Then I just took notes from the script –what she says and what she does. I just saw her as a go-getter. Gary made me feel as if I was actually desirable. So that was really helpful, because I certainly wouldn’t have gotten that when I looked in the mirror or the way I was dressed didn’t feel sexy at all, but he completely, generously, from the first day made me feel like I was worth having sex with. So what else? I think that was it. When I had to be drunk, I spin.Because you definitely can’t drink to do that and that usually works — so I spent a lot of time spinning.
QUESTION: You’re working with Ben and Melissa, a husband and wife team, who co-wrote it — he’s directing, she’s starring. What’s it like on set with that? Because sometimes you have to say things that aren’t nice to his wife. It’s scripted, but…
SUSAN SARANDON
They’ve been working together a long time. They’ve been acting together, they’ve improv-ed together, and they went to school together. He adores her, she adores him, but I don’t think it’s a given that people that are living together have a generous relationship on-set. I’ve heard plenty of stories of married couples that direct that were very ugly. But not with them at all. I think they’d spent so much time writing it that they were of the same aesthetic, they were of the same vision. The style of it is justto play it very realistically and not to comment on it or wink at the audience or make fun of those characters. I think those characters are treated with respect even though there pretty funny. So actually I think it was very helpful. A director and an actress who get together on the movie — that can be a little tricky. I’ve seen that not work out so well. Especially if they don’t end up together for the whole movie.
Tammy is available on Blu-ray and DVD from 10th November
frompage2screen.com 