Interview: Natalie Casey

Lady Casey

Star of stage and small screen Natalie Casey embraces the music of Dolly Parton in the show 9 To 5. Victoria Nangle talks to her about feminism, typcasting and writing a book

Were you a fan of the film Nine To Five?
“I’ve seen the film probably about 25,000 times. There is something about those late ’70s, early ’80s comedies, female comedies – the like of which has never really been seen of again. Especially people like Lily Tomlin or like Bette Midler – all those kind of actors – you don’t really have an equivalent since, and you certainly don’t have an equivalent now. So from a very early age I got sort of quite obsessed with all those comedies. Mostly the lady ones, but even things like Trading Places. They don’t really make films like that anymore, it doesn’t really exist. So, yeah – I was a fan of the film.”

Films made without any kind of formula?
“Yes, films made with kind of a message that was either about social change or about sexual politics. I think it doesn’t really exist anymore unless it’s a drama. It certainly doesn’t exist as comedy.”

How does show compare to the film?
“Well, it’s the same as the film, but it’s got the songs in. [deadpan] It’s not actually a musical. It’s pretty similar to the film – same characters, same content. I mean the lines are slightly different, obviously, because you can’t completely and utterly recreate it but… yeah.”

Your character, she was played by Jane Fonda in the film…
“She was indeed, yes – so no pressure!”

Great feminist part. She seemed very much like the everywoman in the film…
“Yes, yes, she did. I think that was the intention for that part. I mean, I do know that she had a major influence in getting that film made and getting Pat Resnick [writer of the film] involved in writing it. But yes, she’s kind of like the… you won’t be able to write this down, but I think that the Violet character is like the brain and the Doralee character is like the heart and the Judy character is a little bit like the circumcised vagina. [laughs] You know, she’s so oppressed and then ends up coming out the other side of it in her sort of spectacular fashion. I think that it’s interesting that Jane Fonda decided to play that role instead of the Lily Tomlin role, considering she was so unbelievable balls-out. I mean, with all her work against Vietnam and sort of… it made her very, very unpopular. ”

Do you think it’s still relevant these days?
“I think it’s more relevant than it has [been] at any other time, actually in our modern history. You know, the women’s movement went through a time in the late ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, we were told that don’t worry about it, everything is gonna be a hundred percent equal and now you’re still dealing with it. I mean, look at the current cases happening in Birmingham. You’re still dealing with woman having a paypack of up to 170 per cent less than the men. I think that nowadays the difficulty for feminism is that you are told that things are equal, and that you should believe they’re equal, but actually in reality they’re not.

You still get touched up on trains and people still, you know… that kind of stuff still does happens. So I think it’s relevant more than ever before. I think if this show makes even one woman in the audience leave thinking: ‘Do you know what, I’m not gonna put up with this s*** anymore!’, then that will be a good thing. I think it’s a very empowering thing to be part of. A show that makes me feel like that on a nightly basis and hopefully makes the audience feel like that.”

You have played very empowering women – Legally Blonde, and also your television work – they’re not arm candy, they’re fighting women…
“They are, yes. And I think a lot of that has to do with the way I look: I don’t look like a typical… what you would imagine the doctor’s wife to look like or the footballer’s girlfriend to look like. So I think that when you’re an actor, that tends to happen. You tend to get the roles that you’re gonna get, if that makes sense. But also, from my point of view, it was – it is – a conscious decision of mine for whenever I find myself in that state – okay, I’m out of work, I need to get a new job, What do we do? What’s coming up? It’s something that I do think about. Actually, it’s important. This sounds really wanky – please don’t think I’m a w*****. It is important as an artist for you to you live your life, live your work life similar to you do with your own life. I think that’s one of the remits of being an artist. It’s all encompassing.”

Are you enjoying Dolly Parton’s music at the moment then?
“This is the thing, yeah: I’ve got quite an eclectic music taste anyway. If it’s good, it’s good, I don’t really care what genre it comes from. I’ve got my hard core Primus-looking rocker friends and I’ve got people who’ve got slightly illegal rave music. And then I’ve got people who love country and western– good music is good music. And Dolly Parton is absolutely a genius. There’s only Dolly Parton and Prince – that’s about it. Those to me are the only people to me you can actually call geniuses… and probably Burt Bacharach. Like full on geniuses. She’s absolutely incredible. And the thing about Dolly as well is that, never mind the content of the story line of this musical, her alone, she is actually a feminist icon. ‘Cause she proves that you don’t have to – when you’re borne as woman you’re not handed a form that says you can either to be a) pretty, b) clever, or c) funny. You can be all three. And it’s fine to be all three. And I think that she’s a genius. She can’t half write a song, I’ll tell you that.”

They have a sense of humor about them…
“Yes, yes they do. A sense of humour and a sense of irony as well, I think. You have to be clever to get away with those two things simultaneously.”

Which other women do you admire?
“Well, I kind of love Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig – those Saturday Night Live girls are unbelievable. Like, so unbelievably funny. But then you’ve kind of got political women. Angela Merkel, she is holding up the European economy – and people do nothing but talk about ‘doesn’t her hair look a mess?’” – do you think she gives a s*** when she gets up in the morning?”

You’re a very funny lady. Have you ever thought about writing a book?
“I have thought about it. That’s kind of the next thing I want to do. I sort of want to do some writing but… Caitlin Moran is like a god to me – so if you’re nowhere near that, which I ain’t, then I’m like ‘what’s the point?’. But I think maybe in the future I’d like to do that. Either that or a radio show, I’d love to have.”

The world’s your oyster…
“That’s it, exactly. But this is a marathon, it’s not a sprint, dude! Who knows what’s gonna happen in the future. Who knows?”

9 To 5, Mon 10 December – Saturday 15 December, £15–42, Theatre Royal Brighton, 0844 871 7650, www.atgtickets.com/brighton