Cathy Tyson: I tell them to go back where they came from
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Miss Tyson is far too famous to talk. Eyes hidden by massive wraparound shades, she just strides past on her way to the pool where Brad and Angelina are waiting. In another life.
That is the life Cathy Tyson could have been living, had she had done things differently after the film Mona Lisa made her a star at 20. "Oh, I have a lot of regrets about all that," she surprises me by saying in this life, the real one in which she seems prepared to talk for as long as anyone could wish, in a cold and empty cake shop in north London.
LA is far away. Two decades have passed. Tyson still has extraordinary presence, though. Her lime-green dress, leaving her arms bare, defies the rainy day. She speaks in a deep, clipped voice that says "I Am a Serious Actress". And she is one of our best, who has played many of the great stage roles since 1986, when Neil Jordan's film gave her Hollywood potential.
"I act as if I don't have any regrets at all about my life, but of course I have," says the woman who acted Bob Hoskins off the screen. The critics raved about the newcomer's remarkable skill and androgynous beauty. The daughter of a man from Trinidad and an Irish woman from Liverpool, she had a look that was becoming hugely marketable: Tyson could have been as big as Halle Berry, drinking tequilas under the LA sun instead of which she is sipping lukewarm cappuccino near her home, remembering turning down big roles.
"I didn't speak about my fears at the time," she says, and this is the first time she has done so since. "I was frightened Hollywood was going to ask me to lose a lot of weight and change me. I am fiercely stubborn, really. I didn't want to be exploited and take my clothes off to sell the physical."
There were other reasons why she didn't take all her chances. Good, honourable ones she will talk about in a while, but they came at a cost. "For years I have had regret about what I haven't done there. It was killing me. The regret was a weight on my shoulders." That sounds like depression, but I'm only guessing. "Over the last few years I have been learning to let go of it. New challenges help."
The latest, and most unusual, is to play a tyrannical version of Herod in the BBC's live outside broadcast Liverpool Nativity next Sunday. It is a follow-up to 2006's Manchester Passion, which drew huge crowds and controversy for its odd use of modern pop songs from the city. This time the Beatles and the La's will provide tunes.
The angelic host will include Jennifer Ellison, an actress who could probably do with some advice from Tyson about how to become known for more than your looks.
Age has replaced Tyson's youthful street swagger with a calm magnificence. Her Herodia is a murderous minister in a police state who sends her forces to pursue the asylum-seeking Holy Family. She seems to begin our interview in character, retaining poise even when revealing that she has to sing "You Spin Me Round" by Dead or Alive, a high-camp helping of Eighties froth allegedly transformed by its use in this setting. "It's all about getting an asylum-seeker's private number, baby," she says, in an almost convincing way. "And the 'baby' is to do with Christ."
Of course it is. But isn't the BBC acting a bit like a trendy vicar by making Mary and Joseph into asylum-seekers? "I haven't seen many dramas about asylum-seekers," Tyson booms. "When do they get a bloody voice in our country? Why can't they be centre stage? God bless 'em." Joseph and Mary were asylum-seekers, she insists. "They had to flee Egypt. They fled a brutal regime."
Tyson is no innocent; she knows why the BBC would be attracted to casting her in this role. "It's a black person tyrannising another black person's life, not a white person. Perfect for the BBC." So she must also know that, despite what she says, it's not some foreign dictator but Labour's approach to asylum-seekers that comes to mind when she says Herodia "goes for the weakest members of society to drum up support".
She expects to feel strange when her character addresses the crowds from St George's Hall, in the city where she grew up. "My family are outsiders," she says. "So it's ironic that I'm now saying lines like, 'Go back to where you came from!' That is what was levelled at me as a child."
Tyson's father, a lawyer in Trinidad, was mostly absent when she was growing up. Her mother was a social worker in Toxteth. "It was a vibrant place, but the black people were anti-white and the white people were anti-black." That put her right in the middle then? "Hmm." Asked what Liverpool gave her, she remembers the seaside, "the beauty of the Wirral", the mountains of north Wales and discos run by the Catholic church and the police. "No alcohol, just music and lots of beautiful boys I could never access." Why not? "I didn't look like a Sindy doll."
Mountains, music and the sea are all means of escape. That's what she did at the age of 13. "Liverpool was just rows and rows of bleak estates and I thought, 'I've got to get out of here.'" She fled to London with a friend. "We found a hotel and got jobs. I changed my name, began a new life. Some girls are very independent, aren't they?"
Three things happen while Tyson says this. Her accent becomes dramatically more Scouse. She starts worrying at the back of her neck, elbow up in the air. There's something vulnerable about the sight of an armpit. And her eyes glisten. She excuses herself for five minutes, then explains this is not something she has talked about much. "I went to work as a chambermaid. I was not very good at it! I managed to clean one room in a day." There were appeals for the two missing girls, and police searched London hotels. One officer spotted her in a corridor. "He said, 'Are you Cathy Tyson?' I said, 'Yeah.' Then I went, 'No, I'm not, I'm Stacey Smith!' But he had caught me off guard."
She is grateful now. "I was in a lot of danger. People tried to abuse me twice. My Catholic upbringing saved me on that account: I was like, 'No, aren't we supposed to be married?'"
When she returned after a week "such a long time at 13" her mother barely mentioned it and her friend never spoke to her again. "Maybe she was told not to. It's bringing up emotions in me now. Gratitude for the policeman ... I've never felt that before."
If he saved her, acting changed her life first at school, then at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. "It got me out of trouble. I was a very cheeky schoolgirl but I started to find my voice in drama." She pauses, knowing she has a good line. "Liverpool gave me a mouth. But Shakespeare gave me a voice."
The Bard also kept her away from Hollywood, after Mona Lisa. "I wanted to go back and do the great plays of the country." She has, too, for the Royal Shakespeare Company and others. "I've done Pygmalion, Educating Rita, The Merchant of Venice..." Her performances have been critically acclaimed. She has also made a lot of very good television, including Band of Gold. Far from being a disaster, her career saw her named alongside Lennon and McCartney as one of the 800 people who put Liverpool on the map during its first 800 years.
The other good reason she didn't move to America was Jack, the son she had 19 years ago with her fellow actor and then husband Craig Charles. They got divorced, and Charles went on to star in Red Dwarf and a series of tabloid scandals involving sex, drugs and chat lines. But Jack has been the love of Tyson's life and she has no regrets about turning down any work to be with him. "I owe a lot to my son. His love and his personality, and being a mother, shaped my work."
Something strange happens now, as we wind up. Unprompted, Tyson goes into a thank-you speech. "I'd like to dedicate this interview to my friends and my family," she says. "They have been there through the most difficult times. I wouldn't be here without them." Halle Berry would expect an Oscar after that. Cathy Tyson, letting her shoulders drop and smiling for the first time, seems happy with her cappuccino.
Further viewing: 'Liverpool Nativity' is shown at 8pm on 16 December, BBC3, and 10.45pm on 23 December, BBC1
Interesting?
Saijiaaohala not look beautiful, but men like the Tarleton home for the twin brothers fascinated by her charisma, would not think of. She faces a two features, and the other is her mother s Jiaorou, from the French Riviera aristocratic descent; one is her father s rough, from the vanity Suqi Ireland, and this mixing of the two characteristics is not coordinated But this face and pointed chin bone Quartet gum, it is noteworthy that she her badly in the pure light green eyes brown without the slightest, accompanied by black mascara and Qiaoqi the corner, is charming , the top two Mohei Nongmei ramp, where she spent as Mulan is zoned white skin is very clear the slash, this white skin of the South women is extremely precious. They are often used hat, veil and gloves to protect the skin against the hot Georgia sun exposure.
April 1861 a sunny afternoon, Sijia home with the Tarleton twins Stewart Brent Tara sitting in her father s farm in the shade of the corridor, she is even more beautiful in the beauty of the picturesque. She was wearing a green Huabu clothes, the long skirt in the stretch of hoop skirts, and accompanied her to her father from Atlanta to the new Green sheepskin slippers, it is proportionate. But her 17-inch waist, and the nearby county of the three small, which are more clothes to more complete Yaoshi background, and inside the case stretched tightly small vest so that her 16-year-old But development has been very good They ran the show. However, regardless of her dress is how disperse honest, it Finely comb how dignified behind her badly Xitou overlap in the small hand is how quiet she was, after all, the true colors of the Cangbuzhu. Her badly green eyes born in a sweet face, and is still a willful, and full of vitality, and her attire instrument quite different. Her behaviour by her mother and Theresa severe discipline imposed on her, but her eyes are her own.
Her side of the twin brothers Lanlan LEANING in the chair, ramps looked through the window from a face-lift On the sun with a smile, four wearing high boots and riding because often the legs and bulging overlap there. Their existing 19-year-old, stands six feet two inches, the long bone, muscle solid, sun-black Liantang, dark brown hair, eyes flashing happy face. They wore the same blue T-shirt and trousers Shenhuangse, looks like two Miantao like.
Outside, the sun Yezhao on the scene, the mapping of a Chuochuo in green and white flowers appear in the background of exceptionally bright. Twin brother up on the horse and fastened the driveway, which is two high first Malaysia, as a master of color red hair; next Matui Chaochaorangrang has followed a group of the owner s dogs.n
In these dogs, horses and between the two twin brothers, with a more than usually close relationship. They are young and healthy without thinking of the animals, also sleek, elegant, the two lads and their spirit, like riding a horse, but with a dangerous, at the same time for those who may know how to manage their people is lovely.
While sitting in the corridor and that all the people with a favourable Pengwanzhu born in the family, serve up by the servant carefully, but they face is not lazy. They like living in the wild life, few books in the Xiangbalao, Fu is strong and vibrant. North Georgia living in the Clayton County, Augusta, Savannah and Charleston are compared with that rough style. Kaihua earlier in the southern quiet Mainland residents impertinent remarks, Georgia, in the North Zuoya here, people do not use the lack of shame elegant traditional education, as long as those they think are important things in the smart school on up. In their mind the concerns of the thing, it was kind of good cotton, riding horse well, Daqiang accurate shooting, dancing jumping lighthearted, decent and good at chasing women, drinking like a gentle gentleman.
This twin brothers are proficient in these areas, but they learning book knowledge is incompetent superior. Their home county other than people have more money, more horses and more slaves, but the two brothers with their neighbours than with the majority of the poor, ignore the Wenmei much less.
I think that you do not care about the two is also being removed from the school, Tom is the case, she said. But Boyd how do? He also favors education, and you two successive him from the University of Virginia, University of Alabama, University of South Carolina drag out now and then from the University of Georgia back. Under such He is unable never will be his education! Well, he can go to the side of the Fayetteville firm Parmalee judges just to learn the law, Brent carelessly replied. And is no relationship.
Anyway, before the end of the study we have to go home. Why? War! Idiots! War may begin at any time, after a war starts do you think we will stay in school? You obviously know that there will be no war, said Sijia angry. It was just, you just talk about. Just last week, Yixili Wilkes My dad also the father said, Let s presence in Washington will be the same Mr. Lincoln reached - Southern Union reached an agreement on it. Moreover, in any case, Beifanglao fear from us, there will not be any fundamental war, what about it, I hate to hear about the war thing. There will be no war! They were twin brothers as a bully like the shouting.
Dear, a war will certainly play up ah! Stewart said. Let Beifanglao may be afraid of, but since the day before yesterday Beierge General them out of Sumter fortress after they had to fight again, either as a coward will be ashamed in front of the whole world. What Southern Union - heard Here, Sijia very impatient to Duqizui to.n
I entered the house to the doors, I had never had this life as the war is the word hate, unless that word means from the Federation . Father always early Late talk about war, war, all of the gentlemen he also clamored what Sumter fortress, state power, Ebailinken, it bored me to a screaming! and all these boys also discussed but also their armed forces. spring of this year, in any event have not heard what this happy, because boys again about anything else. me most happy is that Georgia has to wait until after Christmas before announcing from the Federation , or else Christmas will also spoil the evening. if you talk about war as soon as I entered the house, went to. She did what, because she can never tolerate not to the theme of her speech. However, she said, always with a smile, the dimple deliberately deepened face, at the same time as two laps like butterfly wings and hard black mascara and Shandong up quickly. The lads to obsessed, This is exactly what her mind, so they apologize to her, because she is not interested in the war and the slightest ignored her. Instead, they had more respect for her. That the war is a man s thing, nothing to do with women, so they put her attitude as is a woman full of flavor characteristics.
They hate war to the topic Qishi open later, she will return to them with great interest the current environment.
For you both once again expelled from the mother of the things you said what? Is the young Point uncomfortable, or perhaps three months ago from the University of Virginia were invited to go home when the mother s remarks performance.
Well, she had not had the opportunity said, Stewart replied. Today Yiqingzao her not to get up, and Tom will be having a go out. Lafontaine forward Tom halfway home, and we will try to come here. Last night when your home Shenmahuayemei Does she said? Last night we will have luck. home in the threshold of the time, my mother in Kentucky last month bought the Naya sent to the horse at home is busy lot, actually. original animals that - it can be really powerful and longer, Sijia, you have to tell your dad, tell him to quickly look at the journeys that animals have to bite the two pimps mouth, and my mother had bad riding two black kid, they are encountered in Qiongshiboluo and, in our home just to the time, it almost to our Mapeng Tidao, also to my mother somewhere, the Naya husband Ma also played a strawberry s heart. our home, the mother is mother with Peng Li in a pocket of sugar to coax it, it slowly calmed down, really takes effect. black slaves were Duode far, Dengzhe it to the terrified eyes, the mother is still with the animals cordial words, it seems got is a person like that it is in her hands, things to eat it. whom the world can not be matched, as my mother will be dealing with the horse, when she saw us, they said: Gosh, you come back to do another four ah? you simply than the plague of Egypt also is disgusting! That s when the horse started Naya vertical spray from the nose She immediately said: Go away from here stop Could you do not see in the life of this baby? I come back tomorrow morning, and so you serve four! So, we have a bed to sleep. Today early in the morning, when we seize She also too late, we slip out, leaving only one person to deal with Boyd her. Do you think she would play Boyd? Sijia know, the thin Tarleton wife several of her adult son or very rude, and she will be considered when necessary to whip lots of them back for this situation, and the county Sijia Other people are a little less accustomed.
Atelishidaerdu than is a busy person, she running a large cotton, 100 black slaves and eight children, but also of her equine often irascible nature, very easy to four sons often quarreled and Dafaleiting . On the one hand while she beat her any person riding a slave or a, on the other hand, believe that she occasionally hit the children, they do not have any disadvantages.
She has not played Boyd. This is not only because of his age the most, or is it because he is a Dwarfs, Stewart said, is their own six feet of a head proud. This is why we stay in the home of his mother account for the whereabouts of the reasons. Understand God, we have 19, 21 Tom, we also can be her six-year-old children look at. Mother should not fight us! You Naya tomorrow will be riding his mother bought a new horse to take part in the Wilkes-Shuyan? She wanted to ride, but God Naya riding too dangerous. And, in any case, the girls will not agree with her riding. They said, at least let her like a Lady, as a horse-drawn cart to attend the banquet. I hope it rains tomorrow another, Si Jia said. It rains almost every day a week. If the Shuyan into home meal, but it is disappointing the matter. Well, tomorrow-sunny, but also as hot as the June days, Stewart said.
Come early spring, with a few field to the warm spring rain, then suddenly pink peach blossoms have bloomed, Cornel white Fanhua also like wetlands and the river will be decorated with Yamaoka. Towards the end of spring plowing has been, humid land hunger like waiting for the people to open it and sprinkled cottonseed, which plough ditch evidence that the top pink in place on both sides of the channel is showing a red and chestnut to. Painting the white farms to that of brick buildings fell, as a vast island in the Red Sea, it is a crescent waves formed by the sea, but when those red with pink steeple of the wave split spray, it had an immediate rigid. Not here because of the yellow as Georgia and Central waterfront land or farm land and the moisture as the long straight plough ditch. North Georgia rolling foothills Strip by the plow numerous winding to a longitudinal groove, so to say, that is their own fertile soil will not be washed go to bed.
This piece of land in dazzling red, red like blood after the rain more generally, the drought has become Montreal s red brick powder, which is the best in the world in cotton production. There are white housing, tilling the fields, slowly flowing over the Huangnihe water, but also a bright and sunny and overcast TB-17 (yi contrast to a deep place. Yet to be planted at the open space and stretching miles of cotton fields in the bare smiling sun. In these fields on the edge of a virgin forest has, even in the hot noon They are also dark and cool, and somewhat mysterious, a bit less good, Sousou those sound like the pine tree with the elderly patient waiting, as if gently sigh: Beware! you originally us. we will be able to come back to you. sitting in the corridors of the three young people A sound in the Horseshoe, MA with chain link and the lantern acoustic sound is the laughter of black slaves; those who do farm work Luoma from Lane back. Then came Sijia Congwuzili mother-love Lunaohala Voice, she calls to a key basket black girls, the latter with a sharp crisp tone replied: his wife, Laila, then came from behind Smoked hang on to the footsteps of La Room, Ellen must go there to the home field workers distribute food. Then we heard Dangdang porcelain and silver tableware Tintin beep, and then the clothing and feeding the matter Nanpu Berkshire has a dinner table in the place.
Hear these sounds, the twin brothers know that they left the home. But they do not want to return to The mother s face, then Tara farm in the corridors of wandering, looking forward to the invitation Sijia Left eat dinner.
What? Sijia chanting, heard a secret is the word moment like a child become active again.
Related: Cathy Tyson: I tell them to go back where they came from
Additional information:
From news.independent.co.uk:
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