2 June 2000

Maybe Baby interview

Posted by Bonnie on 2 June 2000 at 12:00

Who is your character?
Joanna is the name of the character. She's a sort of rather ditzy public school girl. Very willing, but really stupid. And, er, um, and she fits in, in the plot, in terms of working in Joanna Lumley's office, er, in which, er, Joely's character Lucy works. Um, and, er [pauses]… er, and obviously Joanna ends up producing the film, which is how it all comes together.

Have you learnt much on this film?
It's, it's been great, and for me [pauses], because I hadn't done this kind of comedy, in which it's sort of gag after gag after gag. Um, I sat there, and for the first few days we were working in an office scenario with me and Joely and Joanna and Hugh [gulps], and er, and really it was just a learning experience. To see how to deliver comedy in a… in a big way, but for film, which is so different to what I know, which is a big way for the theatre. Um, and, er, and I just learnt, and watched, a huge amount from those sort of people. It was great.

Who has taught you the most?
Probably Joanna. [laughs and coughs] Um, you know. She's an amazing woman, how not to take yourself too seriously, but give your best every time. And, and also, not to be afraid of over-doing it sometimes is a good lesson, which I learnt.

What scene are you shooting today?
The party scene at the end. Um, it's a sort of, it's a premiere party and, er, and it's had, you know, all the different, 'cause it's, there are different crews within the plot, there's our crew, and then there's Tom Hollander's crew, and then there's, you know, Hugh Laurie's crew at the BBC, and we've all been brought together and we've met one another for the first time as well. And dressed up to the nines in kind of semi-wonderful but semi-ridiculous costumes. [laughs] It's been a joy.

Maybe Baby

Posted by Bonnie on 2 June 2000 at 12:00

Sam and Lucy Bell are a married couple who seem to have it all: good looks, successful careers and an enthusiastic love life. The only thing they lack is the one thing they want most — a baby. They try everything in their efforts to reproduce: New Age chanting, acupuncture, creative lovemaking… but all this hectic schedule achieves is improvement in their cardiovascular systems. Ovulation charts soon replace spontaneity, when the couple reluctantly deliver themselves into the hands of medical professionals. At the same time, as Sam comes to find his job increasingly unfulfilling, he sets his sights on writing a screenplay, but writer's block strikes. Encouraged to "look within" by his hippie friend Druscilla, Sam is inspired: he will write a comedy about a couple trying for a baby! But Lucy is horrified at the idea, and forbids him to tell their story. Sam and Lucy's love for each other, the most important thing they both have, will now truly be put to the test… with surprising results.