Why Samantha Jade loves playing "a bit of a psycho" on "Home And Away".
Isla Schultz has been described as "a seductress", "a dangerous mother" and "a bit of a psycho". The first two descriptions came from Seven. The third description came from Samantha Jade, who will start portraying Isla in Australia's most successful soap, "Home And Away", this week.
Jade called Isla a psycho last september during a brief return visit to "The X Factor Australia (which she won in 2012). Having lived in secret with the character for the past five months, she seems to have mellowed in her attitude because when i spoke to her last week, she described Isla thus: "At the end of the day, she's a mother and all that she's doing is for the love of her children. So she really goes to great lengths to protect her kids and it's quite intense the things she gets up to."
Playing this dangerous mother in "Home And Away"'s latest renewal of itself is part of Jade's "transition" from singer to actress. It began when she played Kylie Minogue in "INXS: Never Tear Us Apart", which was a huge hit in 2014. Bitten by the acting bug, she was happy to be approached by the producers of "Home And Away". But the first part they offered – a singer – did not excite her:
"I said no because it was the wrong timing and it was a character that i didn't feel was kind of a stretch for me. I'd played Kylie and i'd done the whole "famous singer" thing and i wanted something that would be different for me."
A few months later they came back with an outline of Isla:
"They gave me a character breakdown: a mother protecting her children gets in a bit of trouble, has had a bit of a dark past, but very much means well: "Drastic times cause drastic measures". I never do anything unless i really love it and when i did read about Isla and got the script, i liked the character and it was a real challenge for me. She is definitely an intense character, very different to myself and to Kylie. She's got a lot of depth to her, there's a lot of layers there."
New viewers will be relieved to hear that Isla is not part of the current whodunit storyline being played out on "Home And Away":
"The murder plot is over when i arrive", Jade says, "I pretty much come out of the blue. I know no-one in the "Bay". I'm not related to anyone, i'm not a friend, i'm not from someone's past. I have two daughters. I can't tell you why i come in because that will ruin it but i come in wanting something from Kyle", [A character who was also "a bit of a psycho" when he arrived in "Summer Bay" in 2012].
Jade is prepared to reveal that Isla is not killed at the end of her sojourn in Summer Bay, which means she could return at some future date. Jade wouldn't mind repeating the role because she's fond of Isla: "I do like her. I get her. I think she means well."
She hadn't watched "Home And Away" for years before the job offer, but now she'll become a regular viewer:
"It's a great place to work and you learn a lot. I learnt so much. It's really fast paced and you've got to kind of fit in."
Does Jade now think of herself as more of an actress than a singer?:
"I love both and it is very much becoming an important thing for me. I love to act, it's really great. Singing's my first love and it always will be, i think, but i definitely am making that transition over."
Who are her acting inspirations?:
"Obviously, Meryl Streep, she's God, she's the legend. Every Angelina Jolie movie that i watch, i just love. I really love Anne Hathaway. She can take on any role.
"I would love to do some comedy because i always loved Jennifer Aniston in "Friends". She was so likeable and funny."
Next stop Hollywood, in the footsteps of Naomi Watts, Melissa George, Isla Fisher and Isabel Lucas.
Samantha Jade's first appearance in "Home And Away" airs on march 03rd at 07pm on Seven.
Credit: [X]
No comments:
Post a Comment