Emily Denniston

Based in London for the past five years, New Yorker Emily Denniston has gained recognition for her work on both stage and screen. Shorts include Carol Morley’s The Madness Of The Dance and she featured in last year’s HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE.

What training have you received?
Conservatory training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. MA acting at Arts Ed, London.

What kind of roles attract you?
The roles that I’m attracted to are quirky women like Miranda July in Me And You And Everyone We Know, Audrey Tautou in Amelie and Christina Ricci in Buffalo ‘66. Slightly offbeat vulnerable characters desperately searching for something. Also, anything with a wide character arc. Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of my favourite actors for this reason. You’re right there with him, feeling his entire journey. He plays such beautiful, misunderstood characters. However, the roles that seem to be attracted to me are crazy nuns. I’ve been cast as a nun three times over the past few years. Not sure what that says about me!

What’s the best advice that you’ve been given as an actor?
Listen. Listen to your scene partner. Play off them. Don’t act. React. One of my favourite acting books is David Mamet’s True And False. He says that an actor trying to create or conjure up an emotional state just creates an emotional rebellion within himself. I’ve had many moments of trying to “feel” the scene, which invariably led to some pretty rubbish acting. At the American Academy we studied a wide variety of techniques, including the Meisner technique. One exercise involved repetition, which at the time was slow and arduous but with hindsight was one of the most invaluable classes I’ve ever taken. I learnt the importance of playing off the other person, leaving myself alone and just being present in the moment.

Most significant moment in your career so far?
I’d really like to name drop around this point, but truthfully the most significant moment for me as an actor came one day whilst rehearsing the part of Juliet. I completely surrendered to the given circumstances and felt fully alive in the moment. Sometimes the gears just join as an actor. It felt almost spiritual. I have had moments since then, but nothing like that day … oh, and meeting my actor/writer husband Ed Bennett-Coles—how’s that for name-dropping?!

You’ll die happy when…
I’ve played Wonder Woman. It’s been a secret ambition of mine for years. The strapless leotard, the bouffant hair and gold headband. She had those yoga arms far before they were fashionable. What a woman!