The 5er: Actor Jeannie Bolet

Awww, am feeling inspired after watching the 2013 SAG Awards so I thought I'd honor this moment with my first "The 5er" interview for my blog.  And no one better to cut the ribbon for my new interview section is my very good mate, Jeannie Bolet.  She hails from Liverpool (yes, that Beatles place) and is not only a talented actor, writer but a dope-ass karaoke singer, chopstick swear! (inside joke, folks!)  So, check out why she became an actor, what she has to say when we dig deep into the issues of E.T. vs. Alf, and her personal homage to Marilyn Monroe.

What made you decide to want to become an actor?
I think I became an actor because I enjoy the feeling of what it's like to be other people and to live in shoes that I might not have otherwise. It sounds rather self-indulgent but to step into a character's life, without judgment, and to experience who they are in any given circumstance is a thrill and lesson in understanding human nature.
 
As a transplant from Liverpool, do you ever get homesick for bangers and mash?
I get extremely home sick for my family and friends, though I keep in touch using Skype which definitely lessens the pangs of homesickness. Having said that, I've really grown to love Los Angeles over the last two years and do consider it home...for now. I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt said it best when describing LA, "In LA you can make your own experience. There's so much space, you can make your own world." He was, of course, talking about Jeannie World...but seriously, as much as I miss home and the culture, humour, music scene, I can find similar here...well, almost.

As for bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherds pie and Lancashire hotpot - yes, I miss them, but luckily I cook and can rustle up a pretty authentic B & M (caramelized red onion gravy optional). Incidentally, Gelson's sells the best bangers...if you're asking, and I definitely heard you asking...

Let's say you were offered both of these roles. Which one would you choose and why?  E.T. or Alf?
I won't lie...that's a tricky question, Lorna. I would have to say E.T. because Alf is so...how do you say... gobby! Or as a good friend of mine likes to put it - "is all fur coat and no knickers." To exhibit all of E.T's emotions and feelings with very little dialogue, for example: "Be good" or "phone home" and not forgetting "Ellioooot" is not an easy task and therefore, what I believe to be, the actor's choice. And whilst we're on the subject of E.T. I think that he would have been a great second option for the movie "Drive" had Ryan Gosling not been available. Again, a great example of an actor with little dialogue, and able to create enough tension and intrigue in a theatre that you could give yourself a hernia.

What's one thing we might not know about you?  Or one thing we do know about you?
One thing that people don't know about me? I was given an unconditional offer to study Fashion Journalism at Central Saint Martin's School of Fashion in London. I told them that I needed to take a year out but never returned. It would have been an amazing opportunity had my heart been in it, but you also can't regret things like that.

Most people know that I'm an avid rock climber...most people that I know, that is. It puts me in a very calm state. It's just me and the wall that demands my undivided attention so needless to say, I can't be thinking about silly things. It's great for helping me turn off the chatter from the outside world.

What or who are you currently obsessed with?
I am currently obsessed with my dog, Norma Jean. She's an 11 month old hound with a heart. A Papillon/Chihuahua mix with a small head, black beady eyes and a bark that doesn't sound too dissimilar to Betty Davis's laugh in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane."

If you'll allow me a second obsession, I am in love with K and R Ceramics. Kat Hutter and Roger Lee, are an LA based artist and ceramicist pairing who make the most rustically beautiful ceramics on the planet. I drink out of my mug everyday, be it green tea or egg nog (yes, it's the holiday season EVERYDAY in my house). I call it the cup for all occasions!! I usually find their work at Platform in Highland Park or Mohawk General in Silverlake.

Go See: Lincoln

As you may have noticed, all of my postings lately are about what to see because, hey, I've been doing my homework.  Every year I have a contest with myself to see how many oscar-nominated films I can actually see before the bloody show and every year I fail miserably.  However, this year, it's looking good for me.  And yes, I do realize that I am speaking about myself as two people.  It's okay, I accept that about myself.  But enough about me...go see "Lincoln". It's Spielberg.  It's Daniel Day-Lewis and you will become transfixed with the transformed Day-Lewis who really, truly does look like President Lincoln.  You believe that this is truly how Lincoln was back in the day.  Wow, wow, wow. 

It was a great cast with amazing performances by Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens, Sally Field as Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln, David Straitharn as William Seward, James Spader who was freaking hilarious as W.N. Bilbo, John Hawkes as Robert Latham, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt as Robert Lincoln, Hal Holbrook as Preston Blair, Lee Pace as Fernando Wood (who might I say does a british accent quite well - remember him in "Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day"?), and Jared Harris (another brit) playing Ulysses S. Grant. 

Here's a bit o' trivia (or I like to call it...gossip!), according to imdb.com:

-Once Daniel Day-Lewis decided on the voice that he would use to portray Lincoln, he sent an audiotape of it to Director Steven Spielberg in a box with a skull & crossbones on it so no one but he would hear it first.

-During the three and a half months of filming, Steven Spielberg addressed his actors in character: he called Daniel Day-Lewis "Mr. President," and Sally Field "Mrs. Lincoln," or "Molly." Additionally, he wore a suit every day on set: "I think I wanted to get into the role, more than anything else, of being part of that experience - because we were recreating a piece of history. And so I didn't want to look like the schlubby, baseball cap wearing 21st century guy; I wanted to be like the cast." 

-After Liam Neeson dropped out, Steven Spielberg returned to his original choice for the titular role, Daniel Day-Lewis. Day-Lewis declined because he didn't know if he could play such an iconic role. It was Leonardo DiCaprio who convinced him to take the role after Spielberg told him that Day-Lewis declined. It is unknown how DiCaprio convinced Day-Lewis to take the role.

Enjoy!

Go See: Premium Rush

If you enjoy action, NYC and some key actors such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jamie Chung, Dania Ramirez and "Boardwalk Empire's" Michael Shannon (who does such a good job playing evil characters), then you'll enjoy "Premium Rush".  You may seriously never want to be a bike messenger after seeing this flick, too.  But hey, did you ever think you could do that anyway?  This film was directed by David Koepp, who co-wrote this flick with John Kamps.  Koepp seems to have the experience with action as he also wrote the first Tom Cruise version of "Mission Impossible", "Spider-man" and "Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull".

I gots to give my shout out to my fellow asian actors and wanted to give props to Jamie Chung, who, btw, I got the opportunity to interview last weekend at "Audrey's Night Out".  If you know anything about her, you would know she started off on one of "The Real World" seasons, then went on to become quite successful landing roles in films such as "Sucker Punch", "The Hangover 2" and the soon-to-be released, "The Man With The Iron Fists" to be directed by RZA.  Other notable factoids: did the character Raj look familiar?  Well, that's because you might recall seeing Aasif Mandvi in "Ghost Town" with Ricky Gervais, "The Last Airbender" and "The Dictator".  And Wole Parks, who played Marco, was a soap opera star playing Dallas Griffin on "As The World Turns".

So, go see it - it's a fun ride.  Okay, I just couldn't resist!

Go See: "50/50"

There is a 100% chance that you will love "50/50", even if you're not a fan of Seth Rogen. Director Jonathan Levine ("The Wackness") put together an amazing cast and of course, the multi-talented Joseph Gordon-Leavitt steals the show playing the anguished, emotionally suffering lead. I'm such a huge fan of his - ever since his "3rd Rock From The Sun" TV days, we all knew he had an amazing talent. If you saw "500 Days of Summer" or the haunting, indie flick "Mysterious Skin", you would know what I mean.

This film delicately and raw-ly showed a real side to someone who has cancer and how his family and friends react. There is a pivotal moment in the car when Adam comes to an emotional crossing point with himself and might I just go ahead and say it - I think he will be getting some nominations for his performance in this film. Adam is comforted by a Doctor-in-Training youthful Anna Kendrick, who struggles with maintaining a barrier between doctor and patient. His overbearing mother is played by Angelica Huston (amazing!) and his girlfriend is played by the lovely Bryce Dallas Howard.

I don't even want to say much more about the film because you really need to see it to understand the range of emotions covered in this film. I will say that it really touches you in trying to understand the human emotion, even when it's not spoken.