This was such a crazy audition: one day my agent sends over a casting invitation and I’m so chuffed to have an audition, as usual, until I notice the character is Henry VIII – the older, more familiar version. I’m a bit of a lanky beanpole and I just sit there thinking, well, this’ll be a waste of time.
However, I decide I’ve got nothing to lose and end up doing something a little outlandish – I fully dress up for the audition. I use cardboard and bubble-wrap to create American-football-style shoulder pads on top of a puffy jacket and dress it all up with curtains and sparkling fabrics – the volume is impressive. I even grab some elegant white leggings from Primarny and stuff cotton wool into my cheeks to fill out my face. To give a little more context, dressing up like this is generally not encouraged and is considered a little unprofessional. It can also look silly VERY easily. With regard to costume, best practice is to give a hint of the character and concentrate on the performance.
I think the casting director was a little confused when I asked if there was a changing room at the audition location; when I stepped into the room he was genuinely taken aback, but then grinned and said, “10 Out of 10 for preparation”.
To my delight, I was invited back for the recall. This time there was a whole crew of people in the room, including the director, Daniel Kleinman (creator of many superb James Bond title sequences and brillianty funny commercials). Again, I wore the full costume, but this time I entered in character and stayed that way, treating everyone in the room, who would be deciding my casting fate, with absolute contempt. It was simply delicious. Of course, I came back down to Earth once the acting part of the audition was over – I observed all the usual pleasantries and when my skirt (yep, my curtain-skirt) started slipping off, I quickly made my exit.
Long story short, I booked the job and had an excellent time in an amazing costume, riding horses, shooting arrows and meeting all sorts of fascinating filmy folk. An interesting bit of trivia: the cloak I’m wearing in this commercial was one of a series originally created for Eric Bana in The Other Boleyn Girl – because this one never appears in the film, we were allowed to use it.
Jeffrey Mundell 