It’s a short way from following a lawyer day after day to playing a pupil barrister on the small screen, or at least, it was for Gwyneth Keyworth! In this new talkie, the Welsh actress told us about her preparation for “Defending the Guilty” (and what she didn’t really like on set), her epic-fail with a happy ending and the character she would love to play which, not by chance, she also saw playing live…
How do you usually approach a new character?
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I suppose it’s different for each role but I try to do my research and get an understanding of the world the character comes from and go from there. I try not to get too in my head about it and opt for a practical approach whenever possible. For ‘Defending the Guilty’ I shadowed a QC to see what being a pupil barrister was really like for a week. I actually loved so much I thought of switching career but… those white horse-hair wigs are horrific.
What should we expect from “Defending the Guilty”?
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A sharp comic take on the trials and tribulations of a pupil barrister.
What does acting mean to you?
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I don’t want to do anything else, which is very fortunate because I’m legitimately quite bad at everything else.
A Welsh word or expression everybody should know?
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“Cerdded ling di long” which is Walking happily, aimlessly.
What’s next for Gwyneth?
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I’ve just finished filming a new tv series called “Glass houses” for ITV alongside Dawn French.
Must have on set: Tea.
Superpower : Teleportation.
Epic fail on the job: At the read through for my latest job I was delighted, if a little surprised when I heard who would be playing my husband. Unfortunately, the actor in question could not be there as he had prior engagements, but regardless I instantly recognized his name as one of my favourite comedians. In my excitement I couldn’t help myself from letting the other members of cast know how pleased I was to be working with this actor and what a departure from the norm this would be for him. I had seen his standup on numerous occasions and I went on to describe *in detail* everything there was to know about his drag-act cabaret. Cut to the first day of rehearsal, and I realised I had made a grave, grave mistake. I had misheard the actors name. Unfortunately for the actual actor in question, news of a drag-act travels quickly and he spent weeks having to quash many a drag dream from the cast and crew. Fortunately for me, he is not only brilliant but also very forgiving and found the whole thing very funny…I hope.
Happy place: Long car journeys with my Mam.
Favourite accent : Whatever Dick Van Dyke was doing in “Mary Poppins.”
Movie, then and now: As a kid I loved “Robin Hood Prince of Thieves” with Kevin Costner. All I wanted from adult life was to live in a tree house village with my pals – I still don’t think that’s too much to ask. Now it changes all the time, but maybe “Moonlight.”
Favourite Word: Spigoglys (Welsh for spinach.)
Who you’d rather be: Celine Dion if possible .
Favourite Emoji 💁🏻♀️
Italian movie: “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.”
Favourite quote :
“Live, laugh, love”
The last series you binge-watched : The BBC’s new comedy series spin off from the film “What we do in the Shadows.”
What have you already crossed from your Bucket List : I’ve seen Celine Dion live, and I’ll never be the same again.
I Dreamed a Dream… I love Yorgos Lanthimos’s films, they’re devious and unpredictable, I’d kill to work with him.
The most beautiful thing while filming… “Defending the Guilty”?
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Not the horse hair wigs…
Ops! Break Time:
Your Snack Crush? Raspberries.
Sweets or Popcorn? Mixing a bag of salt popcorn and a bag of Maltesers at the cinema is one of the finest things life has to offer.
Since we are Italian… Hawaiian pizza, yay or nay? No thank you.
Photos by Montana Lowery.
Styling by Holly Elgeti.
Hair by Charley McEwan.
Makeup by Lucy Gibson.
“Defending the Guilty” will start on the BBC on Sept 17th
