Party Animals
Andrea Riseborough plays Labour researcher Kirsty MacKenzie
"Kirsty believes that sex can be traded for power…"
Why is Kirsty attracted to politics?
"Men in tight suits, with jaws that cut could cheese? Visit Portcullis House
and you'll soon understand why … it's dead exciting!
"Kirsty's drive is career-based rather than morally or even politically-based
at the core, so her initial attraction was about working in an exciting
environment of up-to-the-minute decision-making, the effect of which changes
people's lives. Whether that's for the better or worse is initially
incidental to her."
Is Kirsty ambitious?
"Kirsty is possessed of a ruthless ambition, though the more she begins to
get a grip on truly understanding politics, the more her opinions on specific
issues, such as women's rights, become less 'received' and closer to her
heart."
What are her long-term ambitions? Do you think she wants to be an MP?
"From the moment she steps into the political arena, Kirsty recognises the
importance of being 'where the real decisions are made'. As she develops, she
realises the only way to make that happen is to become a Cabinet Minister –
Chancellor at the very least!"
Do you think she will do anything to get to the top?
"Kirsty believes that sex can be traded for power – if the opportunity arose,
she'd probably s**g Jo Porter if she thought it would get her promoted…
"However, although she can be shrewdly strategic in her efforts to get to the
top, she often lacks the pragmatism to be able to deal with the consequences
of her misguided sexual conquests."
She's quite a vixen, isn't she?
"Kirsty likes to think of herself as a vixen, though inside she knows her
sexual bravado with men and her awkward, less functional relationships with
women are borne of loneliness and insecurity. She has an unfortunate tendency
to bite."
Do you think she likes Danny more than she lets on?
"At first, Kirsty thinks Danny's affection for her may be the perfect vehicle
for her career and she takes great pains to maintain it, while quietly
absorbing his comprehensive (some might say mildly obsessive) political
knowledge.
"She na?vely and often transparently uses Danny's generosity to get on side
with Jo, but she can't help but be affected by his kindness along the way.
"He
becomes probably her closest confederate, one whom she can connect with and
trust in, since Kirsty's not really a girls' girl. Her appreciation grows for
him in many ways, though the fringe doesn't do him any favours…"
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