The Wylde Interview: Pippa Bennett-Warner
ACTRESS PIPPA BENNETT-WARNER LIGHTS UP A ROOM, NOT LEAST WHEN LAUGHING HER WAY THROUGH A WYLDE FASHION SHOOT. IN BETWEEN GIGGLES SHE TELLS DAVID NEWTON ABOUT COLOURBLIND CASTING AND HER “DREADFUL” MUSIC TASTE
Portraits by Etienne Gilfillan
Purple velvet tailored suit: The Deck / Bracelet throughout: Pippa’s own
To describe British actress Pippa Bennett-Warner as prolific is akin to calling Boris Johnson amorous… something of an understatement.
First spotted treading the boards at the age of 11 in the original London production of The Lion King, her career trajectory has encompassed some of the meatier Shakespearean roles, Restoration comedies and modern dramas in some of the capital’s most prestigious spaces, including the National Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse and the Almeida. Moving effortlessly into TV and movies, Pippa has appeared with Richard Gere in MotherFatherSon (2019), alongside Bryan Cranston in Wakefield (2016), and in ITV romp Harlots (2017-). With five new productions (and counting) this year alone, we decided we needed to find out what makes this fascinating actor tick, and invited Pippa over to Wylde HQ for a chat and a hilarity-filled shoot. Let’s just say we have never begged a model to please stop laughing so much during one session!
Floral embroidered maxi dress with rope belt: Dior
Wylde: Pippa, what do you do in your time off, apart from hilarious photo shoots?
Pippa Bennett-Warner: When I have time off I tend to do very little because when I work it can be quite full-on. I read, go for walks, do hilarious photo shoots, and just try and relax. I’ve learnt to really enjoy my downtime.
When an actor does a fashion shoot, do you treat it as just another acting job?
I hadn’t really thought about this but, do you know what… I think I do. I’ve had to create an alter ego of sorts, otherwise I think I would be crippled with embarrassment. I’m an introverted extrovert so I need all the help I can get!
Green bow silk Turbo Frill dress: Simone Rocha
You said during the shoot that you love fashion. Do you have a favourite designer?
I love Phoebe Philo. I was so sad when she announced she was leaving [Céline]. She makes women feel powerful in her clothes, like we can conquer the world. They’re also discreet, wearable and quietly chic, which I love. She’s incredible and I’m so excited to see what she does next.
I am fascinated by something you’ve said about actors of colour being “freer” on stage, as there are far fewer rules about who can/can’t be cast in a particular role. Can you expand on this for me?
Yes, of course. What I meant by that was that colourblind casting has a rich history in the theatre. It is not unusual to see an actor of colour playing a role traditionally written for someone that doesn’t look like them. Audiences tend to be able to focus on the character more than the colour. This is more of an – understandable – challenge with TV and film but I have been interested to see the opportunity to do this with franchises. The Star Wars and Marvel franchises are both taking chances and pushing the boundaries when it come to diversity and I commend them for it.
Angelo dress in sea-green: Roland Mouret / Earrings: Pippa’s own
You’ve done a lot of meaty classical roles on stage; does anything particularly stand out for you?
Hmmm, if I had to pick one, my favourite would be playing Cordelia [in King Lear] at the Donmar Warehouse. It was such a long and enjoyable job and I made friends for life.
You have a ton of stuff coming up in the near future, including Sky Atlantic series Gangs of London, indie Brit-flick Real, E4 comedy series Maxxx, BBC Windrush-themed movie Sitting in Limbo and David Hare-scripted political thriller Roadkill. Give us one or two words that encapsulate each one, please!
Gangs of London: gripping, cool. Real: touching, real (!) Maxxx: funny, watchable. Sitting in Limbo: important, touching. Roadkill: thrilling, exciting.
Angelo dress in sea-green: Roland Mouret / Earrings: Pippa’s own
I believe you originally wanted to be a doctor; what caused the shift to acting?
I did! Well, I shifted to singing first and then acting came after that. I was quite young when I realised that this was what I wanted to do.I think I just really, on a very simple level, enjoyed dressing up and pretending to be other people.
Any other actors in the family?
No, just me.
What do your family think of your career as an actor?
My family are really supportive and happy that I’ve found something I enjoy doing.
You are straddling both stage and screen; do you have a preference for one or the other, or do they fulfil you in different ways?
I haven’t done a play for a while now. I’d like to go back and do something before stage fright kicks in! They’re fulfilling in different ways. The thrill of having a live audience and the show and your performance changing nightly is sort of unbeatable but then the luxury of screen and getting to “go again” when you’ve made a mistake is wonderful and sometimes very much needed! I like them both.
Green bow silk Turbo Frill dress: Simone Rocha
What does it mean to be black and British in 2020?
We have a voice and we’re not afraid to use it!
What music are you into?
OK, so, this is when I expose myself; I like all kinds of music. But those closest to me know I have dreadful music taste. I never know what’s new or in the charts, never. I’m literally in a time capsule that’s stuck in the early 2010s, which suits me fine!
What are your favourite movies? Anything that you would recommend we check out?
I love Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility – probably one of my favourites. Very recently I watched Un + une, which is a French film by Claude Lelouch, starring Jean Dujardin and Elsa Zylberstein. It was fantastic. Definitely check it out, it’s on Netflix.
You’ve worked with some pretty big names in the industry. Have any of them given you any memorable advice?
Bryan Cranston said to me: “Every time you get the opportunity to work, just keep working”, which I love.
Floral embroidered maxi dress with rope belt: Dior
Styling: Yamine Daaboul
Hair and make-up: Paul Rodgers
Photographer’s assistant: Paolo Navarino