Ask Ann Mitchell transcript
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| This event took place Friday 11th January, 2002 |
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EastEnders
EastEnders Jane, aka Ann Mitchell, joined us for a Live Chat and answered your questions about working with the EastEnders cast and her make up schedule ...
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Question from Nic: Do you like playing your character and are you really going out of it and why?
Ann Mitchell: I liked playing Jane very much and I'm very sad to be going out of it. I would have liked to stay a little longer.
Question from Ryan Wilson: When did you get the call to say that EastEnders wanted you and how long did it take you to say yes?
Ann Mitchell: It was about last September and I took about a week to say yes. I read some of the scripts too. Partly because I knew I would die, I thought about it a lot. There was some great scripts, beautifully written.
Question from Emma: Did you have to have special training for the role you played in EastEnders?
Ann Mitchell: Yes I did a lot of research. I worked with the Marie Curie foundation and they were very helpful to me. I was allowed to visit the hospice and talk to the nurses. Also the Ovarian Cancer Foundation, I spoke to somebody there on the phone.
Question from Jessica: Who or what inspired your interest in acting?
Ann Mitchell: I come from Stepney. I was only young and I wanted to be an actor but it was a world completely away from my background. There was a beautiful young woman where I lived who pushed a pram, dressed bohemianly, and often she would be reciting poetry. She was an actress and she encouraged me. Her name was June Rigby at that time and she encouraged me from a very early age.
Question from Heidi Markum: Well done for your good acting. What was it like to be part of an EastEnders storyline for such a short time?
Ann Mitchell: It was difficult. I felt by the time I'd settled down it was time for me to go. By that time I'd got friendly with the rest of the cast so it was sad.
Question from Lucy Gretton: Did it take long for make up to give you the 'dying look'?
Ann Mitchell: The final make up, the death make up, took about an hour. It was very skillfully done. It was scary looking at myself like that.
Question from Casey: I have just stopped crying because you have died, but what are you going to do now?
Ann Mitchell: I'm not sure Casey. I'm going up to Scotland for a break. When I come back I'm going to talk with my agent to see what's happening. I think it might be theatre but I'm not sure yet.
Question from Jo: What was it like appearing in Gimme Gimme Gimme and what were the cast like?
Ann Mitchell: They were brilliant. They were warm and welcoming and very professional. Very funny of course. I would love to do more comedy, especially after seeing myself tonight.
Question from Jo Coleman: Both you and your son Che Walker who played Ross have appeared in EastEnders, but would you like to work together?
Ann Mitchell: I would love to work with him. He had great fun in Eastenders. He had great fun with Barry and Roy as they are all movie buffs!
Question from Matt Dawson: Do you prefer working in television, film or theatre?
Ann Mitchell: It's a tricky one to answer Matt. It depends on the project. You can do something like Widows, which is very gripping to do, but theatre is a much more social existence. You are working every night and there's a tradition where you go out for supper afterwards which I liked a lot.
Question from Lucy Ellis: Have you worked in other TV series?
Ann Mitchell: The big series I did was Widows, two series of that. Then She's Out, in which I play a hard bitten gangster, who was very tough. Taggart, The Bill, you name it I've appeared in it somewhere.
Question from EastEnders Lover 4 Ever: Did you enjoy working with Roy and the Evans family? Surely you must have wanted to work with the other characters?
Ann Mitchell: It was so contained, I would have liked to have more scenes with Pat. It would have been interesting to go on and interact on the square. I'd have loved to work with Barbara. I admire her work and that would have been good. Dot too.
Question from Graeme Farr: What's it like being involved in such an emotional scene?
Ann Mitchell: I did a lot of research and on the actual day, I got ready rather early and I removed myself and sat in a corner. I thought a lot about my step father who died three years ago. I tried to recreate what happened with him. I tried to do my best with that and everyone in the studio was incredibly helpful. The atmosphere was electric. There was a bonus, it was comfortable because I was in bed.
Question from Emma B: What has been your favourite role to play - so far?
Ann Mitchell: On TV, it would be Dolly Rawlins. In the theatre, I've twice played Heccuba and Mary Queen of Scots, Mother Courage, they're all in there.
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