Sorry We Missed You star Debbie Honeywood: ‘On the first day, I completely got impostor syndrome’
Debbie Honeywood grew up in Wallsend, north Tyneside, and worked in a school before being cast in Sorry We Missed You – her first film role – as contract nurse and in-home carer Abbie.
How did you get the part?When I turned 40, I had a bucket list of things I wanted to do – go to Glastonbury, see the Rolling Stones and get on the telly. I had been working in a high school for 10 years as a learning support assistant and wanted to do something new. One night, I got an email about this movie from the extras agency and I applied. Then they asked me to send a video to Ken Loach; the next thing I knew, they were asking me to meet him for a drink – I told my mam I’m going on a date with Ken Loach. They kept asking me back to do auditions, but I didn’t find out for a long time that I’d actually got the job.
Did you do any research?During pre-production, I volunteered at a care home and did a training course. I met about 20 different care workers from different companies and heard their stories.
Did you learn anything that shocked you?Some of the real-life stories I heard did shock me. The fact that three out of four children in poverty [in the UK] have parents who are working. And working people are going to food banks. I care about the effect of this on children and families. It’s wrong.
Tell me about making the film.On the first day of filming, I completely got impostor syndrome. I had to go and have a little cry. I said to Kris [Hitchen] who plays Ricky: “I can’t do this.” And Kris said: “You wouldn’t be here if Ken didn’t think you could.” But once I learned how it all works, it was just brilliant. Ken films in chronological order.
We’re not allowed to see the whole script or know what the other characters are doing, so when we watch the film at the end, it’s almost as much of a surprise for us as the audience. Me and Kris were on set nearly every day hugging each other going: “Oh you’re not dead yet! You’re still here!” We were like a real little family unit looking out for each other.
What was it like watching it for the first time?It was at a screening in London. I had my hands over my eyes and didn’t look at myself at all. There were a few quite important people there but I dodged everyone and sat in the toilet. I just thought that I was terrible. I was texting my husband, going: “What the hell have I done?” The second time was in Cannes. My husband was right by my side and I was watching everyone’s reaction, the tears, and, wow, it blew me away. It wasn’t until the Athens film festival a few days ago that I properly took it in and felt really proud for the first time.
Did you have any experience of zero-hours contracts?I haven’t been on one myself but I know what it feels like to live hand to mouth. We’ve had times in the past where my husband got made redundant and we were like: “What are we going to do?”
The film shows that there’s an appeal to zero-hours contracts, because you have at least the promise of flexibility and being your own boss.It’s sold to people as a really good idea. A young mum might think, I could fit work in with my kids this way. But it isn’t always like that, because some companies are not very flexible at all. What it’s doing is isolating people, because you’re just completely on your own – and as soon as you isolate people at work, they’ve got no support or voice, they just put up with things.
Will the film make a difference?I think it will, because people in that situation have got a voice now and they’re not alone. Hopefully, they’ll get some sort of comfort that someone cares enough to show their story. And hopefully people will be a bit more aware of what they’re doing, like when they’re ordering things online. Do you ever speak to your delivery driver? I’ve got a bad addiction to Asos and have clothes delivered, but I’m now thinking, I need to go to the shops more.
Would you like to do more acting? In the summer, I made a one-off drama for BBC Two. They saw the trailer [for Sorry We Missed You] and invited me down to London for my first proper audition and I got it. I can’t tell you what it is but it comes out in December. I still love my job though – when I’m not away promoting this film, I work in a youth club in North Shields. I still don’t believe that I’m going to make a massive career of acting. Obviously travelling around Europe and meeting all these famous people at parties is brilliant, but I’m just going to take it slow and see what happens.