As an actor, I've had the honor to work with some fabulous directors. One of my favorites was Trevor Nunn, who ran the Royal Shakespeare Company while I was there. When playing Poins in Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, I thought I'd throw him a curve ball. 'What kind of underpants do you think Poins wears? Boxers or Y-fronts?' Without a pause, Trevor said, 'Neither. He's the sort of fellow who wears purple velvet g-strings ... !'
When I was working with Richard Attenborough on the film Cry Freedom with Kevin Kline and Denzel Washington, Richard said to me, 'It's all in the eyes, Miles'— and subsequently put me in a huge pair of dark glasses.
Humor and integrity are the best qualities in any creative artist, but particularly directors. I try to bring the lessons I've learned from those wonderful directors like Nunn and Attenborough into my work with the cast of Grapes.
Coming to California really was living the American dream for me, just as it was for the Joads. And just like the Joads, I came at a time of financial stress. 2008 was probably the worst economic downturn that America had seen in decades. What a time to arrive!!
I've known nothing but generosity since then, and always from those who don't have huge amounts to give themselves. Actors are used to living on the smell of an oil-rag which is why I love Ma Joad's comment that it's not CAN they take Casy with them, but WILL they— and of course they WILL. I aspire to the same ethos. Coming from Zimbabwe, I have friends who will share with me their last slice of bread, literally. Not that things are that bad at the moment! After all, my wife has a job at UC Davis! And for the moment—so do I!!
Coming to California really was living the American dream for me, just as it was for the Joads. And just like the Joads, I came at a time of financial stress. 2008 was probably the worst economic downturn that America had seen in decades. What a time to arrive!!
I've known nothing but generosity since then, and always from those who don't have huge amounts to give themselves. Actors are used to living on the smell of an oil-rag which is why I love Ma Joad's comment that it's not CAN they take Casy with them, but WILL they— and of course they WILL. I aspire to the same ethos. Coming from Zimbabwe, I have friends who will share with me their last slice of bread, literally. Not that things are that bad at the moment! After all, my wife has a job at UC Davis! And for the moment—so do I!!
-- Miles Anderson (Granada Artist-in-Residence/Director)
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