Hattie Morahan: Novelty factor

She's the hot 'new' star in the acting world with an extensive theatrical background, but Mark Kebble discovers that all Hattie Morahan wants is to be different

It’s a good job that Finsbury Park’s Hattie Morahan is not reviewing her own performance in the BBC’s Sense & Sensibility. “I’d rather run out the room,” she laughs. Of course, Hattie’s Elinor Dashwood isn’t bad – anything but – it’s just that she is still getting used to watching herself in lead roles. “I am extremely critical. Perhaps the more you do it, the more you get used to yourself.”

At the time of writing, the BBC’s new version of Jane Austen’s classic was drawing admiring glances from both critics and viewers alike. Hattie’s name was often cropping up as the star of the show and rightly so, convincing as the ‘sense’ amongst the Dashwood sisters. “Elinor is definitely a dream role,” she gushes, “and in so many respects. Primarily because she is such a lovely girl who hides what she feels. I don’t think I have played anyone who is like that, who keeps things to themselves so much. I often play people who are more like Marianne [for non-Austen buffs out there, the impulsive Dashwood sister], so it was a really interesting challenge to try and convey that on screen.”

Of course, this isn’t the first adaptation of Sense & Sensibility to hit our screens, and it does have the difficult task of trying to leap out of the 1995 film’s shadow. “It’s always a bit daunting when you do something that’s already a well-known and loved version as Ang Lee’s film is,” Hattie admits. “But everyone felt we were trying to do something different and people have responded pretty well.” Not that Hattie returned to the film to prepare. “I stayed away!” she exclaims. “You may find yourself making choices in reaction to another version, so I consciously avoided it.”

There was also the small matter of following in Oscar-nominated Emma Thompson’s footsteps, who played Elinor in the film version of the book. “Oh god, she’s an extraordinary actress,” Hattie sighs. “The film was 12 years ago, so I just hope that I am different! All you can do is bring yourself to the part.” Thompson may have left her mark over a decade ago, but Hattie recently got up close and personal to another modern-day acting great when she starred opposite Nicole Kidman in The Golden Compass.

Based on Philip Pullman’s best-seller, the fantasy tracks character Lyra Belacqua’s journey into a parallel universe. “My scenes were set on an experimental station in the Arctic,” Hattie takes up the story. “Lyra goes there in search of her friend and I play Sister Clara, who was the complete opposite to anyone I have played before. When you first see this nurse you think she is sweet, but in fact she is sinister and evil. That was a real treat and such fun to be a part of a project so big. I was fascinated by the special effects, and there were plenty of children and animals around. So much for not working with them…” And Miss Kidman? “She’s an incredibly hard working and professional actress. She deserves her success.”

From fantasy to reality, the end of February will see the general release of The Bank Job, where Hattie plays a real life character. “People knew Gale Benson for just being a wealthy London girl who got involved in the black power movement, but she was also later murdered by Michael X [a self-styled black revolutionary and civil rights activist],” she explains. “The film implies that she was also working for the government as an undercover agent.”

The Bank Job stars Saffron Burrows and Jason Statham and promises to be a great ride for lovers of conspiracy theorists. Focusing on the true story of a London heist that netted ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ money, no arrests were ever made and not a penny recovered. “It’s about who might have set the robbery up. I loved filming it – it was great getting to wear lots of glamorous 1970s clothes!”

It’s obvious that Hattie is having a whale of a time, riding on the crest of a very promising career wave. “I guess it’s strange,” she admits when North asks about her feelings on being named a ‘hot new star’ – even though she has been professionally acting since the start of the century. “Then again, it’s always nice to get recognition.” The acting bug was always in her blood, especially when you consider her father is director Christopher Morahan and her mother actress Anna Carteret. When did she decide that acting was indeed for her? “Probably at a very young age,” she answers. “I did have people asking me when I was young if I wanted to go into acting – I probably didn’t tell anyone ‘yes’ for a few years! But it just felt right and natural. I used to go the theatre as a child and just imagine myself up there and think how I would do it. This was me at ten watching Shakespeare!” Hattie chuckles.

Quite apt, then, that her first real taste of acting was with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2001. After studying English at New Hall, Cambridge – where she directed and appeared in many student productions – she got the call from the RSC at just the right time. “I was toying with the idea of going to drama school or not,” Hattie remembers. “I was offered an audition at the RSC, went for it and got it. It was a brilliant place to be and I got to work in so many different styles.” Any particular highlights? “I loved working on David Edgar’s play The Prisoner’s Dilemma. It’s the most moving and challenging play, but the most rewarding too. I also worked with the late Steven Pimlott, who directed Hamlet. I only had a small part, but he was really inspiring with such an extraordinary mind. That felt like a huge privilege.”

Such a grounding has left its mark on Hattie. Despite the growing interest in her, she insists that it’s not big roles on blockbusters that drives her. “I want to do interesting work,” she says, modestly waving away the praise directed her way. “That’s what makes me happy – I am drawn to novelty. If I get a script and have no idea how to play the part, then I will do it! It’s simply anything that keeps me stimulated and excited. I can’t ever see myself doing a part on TV for year after year. I would rather do something different.” Hattie better prepare herself to dash out of her living room on many more occasions in the future.

The Bank Job will be on general release at the end of February.

EXTRA, EXTRA… HOW THE LOVELY ENGLISH WEATHER GOT INVOLVED WITH SENSE & SENSIBILITY

On the Sense & Sensibility shoot:
“It was lovely, full of beautiful locations. The one – I wouldn’t call it a downside… Difficulty was in Devon where we had terrible weather. During all the exterior shoots, it just kept pouring with rain. Actually on screen it makes it look rather romantic, but to actually shoot it… The poor producers!”

Big budget filming:
“It’s a nice change to do something where there’s that kind of budget and time [on The Golden Compass]. For me, though, work isn’t about that. I just wanted to play varied roles and be happy doing it, whether it’s low budget theatre or not, as long as the work is rewarding.”

Making her London stage debut:
“I liked performing at the Barbican. Backstage is a bit strange – there are no windows – but the space is beautifully designed. I love living in north London – Finsbury Park is really unpretentious and there’s a real varied feel to it. I really like this part of London.”