Life lessons with Rita Tushingham
As actress RITA TUSHINGHAM (77) stars in the TV adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse she talks beliefs and life experiences
■ Chemistry is important
It’s great when you just ‘click’ with the people you’re working with.
In The Pale Horse, I’m playing Bella, one of the three witches, and as soon as I met the other two (actresses Sheila Atim and Kathy Kiera Clarke), we got on immediately, looked after each other and have developed a lovely friendship as a result. The Pale Horse is my second TV Christie.
My first was The Sittaford Mystery and I loved that. This one is very different – there’s no Poirot or Miss Marple for a start. As soon as I read the script, I knew I wanted to do it.
■ I’m quite superstitious
I believe in fate and that things happen for a reason. I don’t believe in the pointy hat and broomstick idea about witches but I am quite superstitious and do feel we are born with certain supernatural powers and
that it’s within us to use these powers. Not everyone, however, is tuned into the right frequency. It’s a bit like tuning into a radio. ■ A newspaper clipping changed my life
I was 18, and working backstage in a Liverpool theatre, when I read that director Tony Richardson was going to make a film of the play A Taste of Honey and wanted an unknown actress to play the part of Jo. I was definitely unknown. My acting experience basically was playing a cat and the back half of a horse. Some of the actors at the theatre helped me compose a letter to Tony Richardson and playwright John Osborne and I ended up going to Chelsea to do an audition. I was given a film test and got the part! I’d always wanted to act and that was the beginning of it all.
■ A Taste of Honey still resonates today
My character in A Taste of Honey falls in love with (and becomes pregnant by) a black sailor, which was seen as very controversial at the time. It was made 60 years ago but I still get recognised. I have wonderful memories of filming it – and of working with the likes of Dora Bryan and Robert Stephens.
■ Today’s stars don’t have freedom
I think fame is more difficult to cope with these days. While I did a lot of interviews for newspapers and television in the Sixties, now people take pictures of young stars and post them online. They are bombarded with it all the time. We were allowed a certain freedom that I don’t think today’s young stars have. We could go to clubs to relax and it was safe to have a dance and enjoy yourself. There were no people observing us or wanting to take photographs.
■ Costumes are key!
The right costume, and hair and make-up, can be immediately transformative. In The Pale Horse I was given dozens of wigs to try but I knew immediately which was the right one as soon as I put it on. It just felt right. I had the same feeling as soon as I put on Bella’s apron. It makes me feel, ‘Right – let’s go!’
■ The Pale Horse is on BBC1, Sunday, February 16, 9pm. The first episode aired on February 9. You can catch up on BBC iPlayer
■ Rita was talking to Alison James
And finally…
■ What advice would you tell your 18-year-old self?
When life’s big chances come along, grab them. I’m glad I did.