It's been 10 years since Kathy Burke stuck two fingers up at stardom. Here she talks about loving theatre, hating writing – and why Richard Dawkins gives her the hump
'Don't write about how much I'm chain-smoking," grumbles Kathy Burke. "Everyone opens with, 'After the fourth cigarette … ' and it's boring. So don't be doing that, Ryan, else I'll say you're just the same as everyone else." She releases a tight laugh and takes another puff. I mean: takes another sip of rosehip tea.
We're up on the roof of London's Tricycle theatre, sitting on two rickety chairs beneath a blank November sky. Downstairs, Burke has spent the morning directing a new production of Once a Catholic, Mary J O'Malley's comedy set in 1957 at Our Lady of Fatima convent school. Burke is a versatile actor, adored for her populist, prickly comedy: she was Linda, the voracious ginger foghorn with porthole specs in...
'Don't write about how much I'm chain-smoking," grumbles Kathy Burke. "Everyone opens with, 'After the fourth cigarette … ' and it's boring. So don't be doing that, Ryan, else I'll say you're just the same as everyone else." She releases a tight laugh and takes another puff. I mean: takes another sip of rosehip tea.
We're up on the roof of London's Tricycle theatre, sitting on two rickety chairs beneath a blank November sky. Downstairs, Burke has spent the morning directing a new production of Once a Catholic, Mary J O'Malley's comedy set in 1957 at Our Lady of Fatima convent school. Burke is a versatile actor, adored for her populist, prickly comedy: she was Linda, the voracious ginger foghorn with porthole specs in...
- 11/13/2013
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
'Someone once said to me: "Don't take this the wrong way, but you look like Kathy Burke."'
Kathy Burke, 46, was born in London. Her mother died when she was two, and she was raised by neighbours until the age of six, when she was returned to her alcoholic father. At 16, she began to act at the Anna Scher theatre school in Islington and, a year later, got her first role, in the film Scrubbers. She appeared in Harry Enfield's Television Programme, playing characters such as Waynetta Slob, and in the sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme. Her film roles include Nil By Mouth, for which she won the Cannes Palme D'Or. In recent years she has directed plays, and her latest, The Stock Da'wa, is at Hampstead Theatre until 14 May.
What is your earliest memory?
Sausage and chips at Auntie Joan's.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
In my 20s, walking...
Kathy Burke, 46, was born in London. Her mother died when she was two, and she was raised by neighbours until the age of six, when she was returned to her alcoholic father. At 16, she began to act at the Anna Scher theatre school in Islington and, a year later, got her first role, in the film Scrubbers. She appeared in Harry Enfield's Television Programme, playing characters such as Waynetta Slob, and in the sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme. Her film roles include Nil By Mouth, for which she won the Cannes Palme D'Or. In recent years she has directed plays, and her latest, The Stock Da'wa, is at Hampstead Theatre until 14 May.
What is your earliest memory?
Sausage and chips at Auntie Joan's.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
In my 20s, walking...
- 4/15/2011
- by Rosanna Greenstreet
- The Guardian - Film News
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