Interview with Helen McCrory
Helen McCrory plays Dawn Ellison in Roadkill.
Published: 7 October 2020
Dawn’s problem with Peter is that she doesn't recognise him, and because she doesn't recognise him, she doesn't realise how dangerous he is.
What attracted you to the role?
I knew David Hare’s work very well. When I came out of drama school and first worked at The National Theatre I saw Racing Demon and Murmuring Judges, he was doing a triple bill there at the time. I've seen his work but I’d never seen him write about right-wing politics and I think that has brought another edge to his work, which is so blunt, brutal, funny and scathing. It has a sharpness that I really enjoyed when I read it. All the characters are pretty venal, but they're quick and they're bright and they're ambitious. They’re also honest and I think that that is a very interesting story to watch.
Was it fun playing the Prime Minister?
God yeah! I've been to Downing Street and I've met various Prime Ministers, but what is interesting is whatever your personal politics, they all have quite extraordinary, powerful presences in a room. Even if you didn’t vote for them, when a prime minister walks in the room you can feel it - you know why they're Prime Minister. When Obama walked into a room you know why he was president - these people have power. I don't know how much power Dawn has, but I had a lot of fun throwing my toys around in the pram because that's more where I think Dawn is - I don't think she is a huge threat to politics.
What is Dawn’s relationship with Peter Laurence?
Dawn’s problem with Peter is that she doesn't recognise him, and because she doesn't recognise him, she doesn't realise how dangerous he is. I think she realises that he is popular and that he is highly ambitious, as she is, and he is without scruples, as she is. But what she doesn't realise is how many supporters he has.
Tell us about Dawn’s relationship with Julia?
Julia is Dawn’s right-hand woman. She is much younger than Dawn, which is interesting because when I first read it I thought she was senior to Dawn. I like the way it has been cast, I think it adds another element that obviously Dawn is trying to keep her finger on the pulse. I think she has promoted and supported Julia and brought her into the inner sanctum. She’s almost like a daughter figure.
What is the political climate in Roadkill?
It’s Europe in economic free fall, with the same problems that have been facing Britain for the last 10, 20, 30 years; what we do about prisons, what do we do about the NHS. The same problems every government faces really, so it's recognisable in that way. These aren't real people and this is not a revelatory piece about something that David Hare discovered, this is a discussion in his mind about how to go about politics, and what politicians are really like.
Cast and Production Credits
Cast Credits
Hugh Laurie - Peter Laurence
Helen McCrory - Dawn Ellison
Pippa Bennett-Warner – Rochelle Madeley
Danny Ashok - Luke Strand
Millie Brady - Lily Laurence
Shalom Brune-Franklin - Rose Dietl
Sarah Greene - Charmian Pepper
Olivia Vinall - Julia Blythe
Iain De Caestecker – Duncan Knock
Gbemisola Ikumelo - Steff Frost
Sidse Babett Knudsen - Madeleine Halle
Katie Leung - Margaret Moore
Ophelia Lovibond - Susan Laurence
Saskia Reeves - Helen Laurence
Pip Torrens - Joe Lapidus
Patricia Hodge - Lady Roche
Emma Cunniffe - Sydney
Production Credits
David Hare - Executive Producer and Screenwriter
Mark Pybus and George Faber - Executive Producers for The Forge
Michael Keillor - Director and Executive Producer
Andrew Litvin - Producer
Lucy Richer - Executive Producer for the 麻豆社
Rebecca Eaton - Executive Producer for Masterpiece
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