Interview: Rachel Wilde, EastEnders Actress, A Rare Insight into Her Life & Career

Rachel Wilde has always loved singing and dancing at family parties, or over the working men’s club, where she used to go as a child with her grand father. She’d always get up and sing really old songs like Al Jolson, or war songs like Mother Kelly’s doorstep. Rachel grew up watching all the old MGM movies and loved the musicals so much, they were her favorites. Then was she was seven, she was asked to be in the school play. It was Country and Western.

Rachel Wilde had to do a Southern Belle accent. She loved being up on stage. Her friend who was the lead was really shy but Rachel lapped up the supporting role. She got a lot of praise for her acting and it felt really good, to be good at something. That was when Rachel decided she was gonna be an actress, and she has not had a single moment since then where that decision has changed.

indieactivity : How did you become an actor?
Rachel Wilde : I wanted to go to Theatre School as a child. My mum had 8 different cleaning jobs and money wasn’t around growing up so it just wasn’t an option for me. My friend used to stay at her dads house every Friday and I used to stay with her. It was the best, we used to do acting every week, picking up things we had seen on Who’s Line Is It Anyway! We also made up acting sketches and his girlfriend bored and reluctant would judge the 3 of us. He was constantly saying I had a talent for acting and performing.

SPOILER PICS! David cheats on Carol again?! With Nikki?! AGAIN?! SEE: http://t.co/QCSvDZsx8m #eastenders pic.twitter.com/dsOxut5pmm

— ShamManTV (@ShamManTV) April 26, 2014

My friend was going to do a 3 week Summer Course at Sylvia Young’s Theatre School so her mum and dad went half each and paid for me to go. I loved it so much it was the best 3 weeks id ever had. I started to use everyday life as my stage I was always singing and dancing it didn’t matter where and id always hear the same thing “how are you not on Stage, your gonna be a star one day”.

When I was 30 I discovered The Poor School and I signed up for a 4 day course, I was offered a place on the spot without an audition. I looked up getting a Career Development Loan and luckily Paul Caister had set up The Poor School, which made it possible for people with talent regardless of your financial situation to be able to go there.

It was evenings and weekends so I was able to work a full time job at the same time. It was a dream. I did a 2 year Acting course and was taught by some of the World’s greatest, Clare Davidson, Marcelle Davies amongst others.

indieactivity : What acting technique do you use?
Rachel Wilde : At The Poor School, it was all about giving truthful, honest and realistic performances. For me doing Animal study was an amazing lesson in acting. It was so raw and helped to strip away any part of you that may be self-conscious. I loved it. I also had a book that my friend’s dad had bought me on the Stanislavski method when I was a child. I used to read it and practice the exercises. I have also dabbled in a bit of Meisner and Laben.

I think they are all extremely useful. I have them all as tools and use them as and when, depending on the character I’m playing. I don’t force it, and maybe sometimes ill incorporate a little bit of all of them. I also use my own instincts and have before done my own methods. Some a bit whacky and kinky haha, but they helped me to become whole when I was finding my character.

indieactivity : Describe wrong impressions that actors hold about acting?
Rachel Wilde : Well a wrong impression I made is that things happen how they do in the movies. Although they can, it’s possible, but the odds of that are not in the actors favor! I think to keep your spirits up and feeling positive you have to really want it and believe in it.

indieactivity : Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Rachel Wilde : Yes I do I think it’s important to keep learning but also its good for the soul when there’s no work around. I do as much acting stuff as possible including going to the theatre as much as I can afford to, which isn’t often on actors wages haha!

indieactivity : What Acting books do you read?
Rachel Wilde : I have read many over the years but I haven’t been able to keep them so I give them to people or charity. Here are a few from the top of my head.

Acting The Handbook Of The Stanislavski Method, by Toby Cole The Power Of The Actor, by Ivana Chubbuck

The Artist Way, by Julia Cameron. It’s about creativity and not just acting (I’ve read this 3 times, it’s a 12 week program). Again these are just a few but to have a wider understanding is key, not all will work for everyone, but take from it what works for you. I have also read books on personal growth and development which has helped to be more open and go deeper. I didn’t realize for years how much I’ve blocked out things that are painful, but in acting your past can be very useful and you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, so win win. The last few years for that reason my acting is stronger than ever. And I’m really modest haha

indieactivity : How do you keep fit as an actor mentally physically?
Rachel Wilde : Taking care of yourself is so important, no one wants to hire an actor or in any profession really when someone is constantly run down and getting ill. I live a full life when sometimes I can find myself burning the candle so I’m a big believer in the power of food. My rule is that I start the day putting only really clean food and drinks in my body. I start with a hot water and lemon and I’ve been doing that for 20 years. Then I will have fruit and try and get as much alkaline food as I can and then after if I want a coffee and a fry up or pizza then so be it, It’s just good to start the day on a good not it has a knock on effect.

indieactivity : How do you prepare for a role after you get it?
Rachel Wilde : I read the script at least twice. If there is an accent, then I work through the script thinking about every words emphasis on what letter, to make sure I get the accent spot on. Then I record my lines only with the accent onto a Dictaphone.

Then I walk around going about my everyday life doing everyday things listening to the dialogue and I start to get a feel for the character, I start to feel the character through the dialogue resonating through my body, I focus the energy with the words on the souls of my feet and my reproductive area and around my heart space to help the character to become a whole person. Written down it sounds bloody balmy haha! I know what I’m trying to say I don’t know if Its traveling to the page very well. As I’m doing this thing I do the lines are also sinking in so I’m remembering them whilst becoming the person.

indieactivity : How do you create a character from a script into person?
Rachel Wilde : Ooops I’ve sort of answered that question in the last one. So I usually don’t rehearse in a certain way that could get me hooked on something because I like to stay open to being directed because they may come in with their own ideas too. As long as I know the character inside and out then everything hopefully falls into place.

indieactivity : How do you stay fresh on Production Set?
Rachel Wilde : It depends on the character but by the time I’m on set the character should be imbedded in me so I don’t have to bury my head in the corner doing some sort of ritual or demanding complete silence. haha! If it’s a scene that needs me to stay with a certain level of emotion for continuity also then I would use some meditation techniques I’ve picked up over the years to stay focused and not be distracted by noise going on around.

indieactivity : Describe a memorable character you played?
Rachel Wilde : A memorable character for me was Abigail Williams form the Crucible by Arthur Miller. The reason it was so memorable for me is it was the first time I felt like a character had changed me. It had unleashed things about myself that I had never dared allowed to be shown, I have to laugh it all sounds so wanky but it really was what was happening.

It was scary for I while I didn’t think I would ever be Rachel again and the one day it just happened. Although parts of a character when you go that deep never leave you fully. The people that still comment on that performance as well makes it memorable for me too. A director who has worked on West End shows and Broadway said it was her best Abigail and other directors said the same to. It’s a nice feeling when you work hard on something and its recognized. Also, Nikki Spraggan in Eastenders, I loved that character.

indieactivity : What do you most want from a director?
Rachel Wilde : Clear communication, although sometimes a Director doesn’t know what they’re looking for, they just know it when it happens. Also when they let you have the freedom to play and explore because that’s when the magic happens.

indieactivity : What Actor do you long to work with?
Rachel Wilde : That is such a hard question because there are so many. Mark Rylance, I remember how blown away I was when I saw Jerusalem. Emma Thompson, Emma Stone. I haven’t met any of them yet. The hope is when you work with an actor that they are a generous spirit and not just self indulgent. To be honest I’m happy to work with any actor nice or not, you just want to keep working in this industry so who gives a shit. Haha!

indieactivity : Why these actors?
Rachel Wilde : Well I think they are all amazing and every job is a learning experience, to work with them would be so valuable I would learn and absorb so much. Again though everyone has something you can learn from, or learn what not to do haha

indieactivity : What advice would you give to actors around the world?
Rachel Wilde : Take care of yourself in body and mind. Its an industry where there is so much hope and lots of knocks and if it’s your love then accepting its all part of it and embracing it all. Be brave in your choices and don’t try to think what would they want or expect me to do, because you can’t never preempt what that may be.

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