Croatian born Zrinka Cvitešić is currently starring as ‘Girl’ in the West End premiere of Once at the Phoenix Theatre. After receiving rave reviews for her performance, last month Zrinka was nominated for a West End Frame Award for Best West End Debut. Following an exciting two week voting period is was revealed that Zrinka had won the award, with over 50% of the final vote.
Although this is the first time Zrinka has worked in the UK, she has had a hugely successful career in theatre, film and television. She has been a member of the Croatian National Theatre since 2005 where some of her roles have included: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Irina in Three Sisters, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gwendoline in The Importance of Being Ernest, and Jenny in The Threepenny Opera.
No stranger to winning awards for her performance in What is a Man Without a Moustache? she won several awards including The Heart of Sarajevo Award and Best Actress Awards at the Sarajevo Film Festival, the Golden Arena Festival and the Pula Film Festival. For her performance as Luna in the award-winning On the Path she was named the Croatian Shooting Star at the 2010 Berlin Film Festival and also received a nomination in the Best Actress category at the 2010 European Film Awards.
Zrinka’s other film credits include: The Horseman and My Beautiful Country. In 2010 Cvitešić won Ples sa zvijezdama, the Croatian version of Strictly Come Dancing.
Recently I went backstage at the Phoenix Theatre to present Zrinka with her award and to discuss the win. We also discussed her time in London so far, how she thinks she’ll feel when she eventually leaves the show, her close bond with co-star Declan Bennett and what the future holds for her... including talk of some album plans and a potential return to classical theatre...
How has your time in London been so far?
It’s unbelievable. When I came here in January to be honest I was like “Oh my god”. This was the only city that I thought I would never live in because every time I came here it was always grey and rainy and I’m from Croatia where it’s always beautiful and sunny! But now it’s weird, because recently I went for a vacation in August and then when I came back to London it felt like I was coming home.
Prior to opening in the West End, Once had a short run in Ireland? How did that compare to being in London?
Completely different! We went there with our pants full because we were bringing their show to them! But from the first preview it was unbelievable and then when we came into the West End we were so spoiled. It felt like we were the Rolling Stones!
Fans love Once. Certain people really seem to identify with the show. Why do you think this is?
I think there are three things. One is the simplicity of the whole show, everything is simple – the light design, the costumes, the staging and we don’t have that any more on stage, especially in musicals. Usually everything has to be big and shiny and full of effects. This is almost like a naked stage with naked actors who only have their feelings in the palms of their hands – that’s it. The second thing is the story itself. I’ve been an actress for fifteen years now, both in movies and I was mostly doing classical theatre like Shakespeare and Chekov and so on, and I feel that Once is one of the most beautiful love stories ever written. For me it’s like the Casablanca of nowadays. I think it’s because it could happen to anyone. Whether you’re in love, married, alone or recently split up with somebody I think anybody can find something which relates to them. And the third thing is the power of music. Again, the music is so simple; there are only a few chords in every song.
And there’s nothing else like that in the West End!
Exactly! There’s no huge orchestra. We had a Q&A after one of the shows recently with a big group of American tourists who came over here on an organised theatre holiday week. We were the first show they saw and during the Q&A one lady said, “oh my god, it will be so hard to see other musicals after this because it felt like we knew you. It felt like we were looking in somebody’s house and somebody’s room. I feel like I have read twelve diaries. I felt like I knew you all but then I read your biographies in the programme and I didn’t know you. So how come I know you?” That was one of the most beautiful things anybody has said about the show.
Zrinka and Declan Bennett
It’s such a raw piece and you’re so exposed – there really is nowhere to hide on that stage!
Yes, and it’s very hard for us actors because there’s really is nothing you can hide behind because the costume is the same, and it’s in a second hand shop so that can’t be interesting for two and a half hours on its own [laughs]! Then the staging never changes; only a few chairs and tables move around – so you can’t amuse people with that. We only have our instrument and our soul... and that’s it. It was really hard for me because personally I’m not very open – I’m quite a closed person and need to spend a lot of time with somebody before I open up. But my character is like “woah”, an open book with everybody! What she feels, she tells! It was so hard for me at first, but I’ve learnt so much while playing this role.
When did you first hear about the show?
I didn’t know about it before I was asked to play the part. For this year I had actually been offered two movies and my agent called and said “I know we’ve got these two movies planned” because movies are like my first love. But he said “I think you should check this musical out.” I was like “Umm, a musical, I’m not too sure! I love to be in the audience watching musicals but being in one... I’m not sure if that’s my cup of tea.” He said “I think you should see it, it’s unbelievable, there was a movie” and so on. I arranged to meet the director but I decided not to see the movie or the Broadway production and not to listen to the music. Nothing – usually I Google everything to prepare myself but I just wanted to start with a blank piece of paper. I met the team and I decided they were a dream team and that I needed to do this show.
You could just tell that it was special?
Yes, I was kind of like at a point in my career where I wanted to try a different field and this was perfect for me because I’ve never done anything like it before because it’s a musical, I had to play on stage and say hi to my instrument after fifteen years!
What was that like?!
Woah, when rehearsals started, basically, everybody else in the cast are ‘real’ musicians and I was the only classical actor. It felt really weird and during the first week I felt like running back home! I was sitting in the corner feeling small [laughs]. But the team were amazing, it’s as if they’re not from this world and I realised that I had enough time and that I would be fine!
Zrinka and Declan Bennett at the Olivier Awards
What was it like meeting Declan [Bennett] for the first time?
Well he’s from the music world and I’m from the acting world so we both dragged each other into each other’s worlds! The first time we met was so unbelievable. I’m going to tell you something that I don’t think we’ve ever told anybody before! During the whole process of rehearsing we never, ever went into a room to practise. Ever! We met in December last year. He came to London and I had already been cast in the role but they were still searching for a ‘Guy’. They told me Declan was coming to London to audition with me. He walked into the room and Martin (Lowe, Musical Supervisor) gave us the sheets for ‘Falling Slowly’ and we started to play and sing and straight away we had the same breathing, the same musical phrasing, the same volumes and it was incredible. It was natural!
And you must have become very close over the past few months!
At first I was afraid of letting myself into the music and he was afraid to let himself go into the acting. We had fences to climb but after rehearsing and after Dublin everything fell into place. Friends for life! I was shooting a movie two years ago for which I was nominated for a European Oscar and went for the Awards ceremony with my co-star. During an interview somebody asked him “what’s it like working with Zrinka?” And he said “You know what, you know the feeling when you’re standing on top of the cliff and you know that you can throw yourself down because she will catch you every time, well that’s what it was like working with Zrinka.” And with Declan, I have the same feeling for the first time in theatre. I feel that I can be stupid, clumsy, emotional, crying, teasing – whatever – and he will be there to catch me.
And what about the rest of the cast, is it like a big family?
It is, it’s because of the roles in the show - there is a Mum, a Dad, kids, friends cousins and so on! That’s one of the miracles of John Tiffany because he knew that he had to cast first great human beings, and then great actors and musicians because if just one of us had ego issues or was a jerk it would be a disaster. It’s like I have my family here! We are constantly solving each other’s problems, it’s special.
The cast of Once
How will you feel when you eventually leave the show?!
I can’t think about it because I will have a panic attack. I’m aware that I’ve already done six months, it’s gone quickly. Recently Declan’s understudy, Stuart Ward (who was nominated for West End Frame’s Understudy of the Year) left the show. He had done maybe 15, 16 shows and when he left he couldn’t stop crying! A few weeks ago we celebrated our 200th show and... I don’t know... I think it will be terrible... the last show will just be terrible for everybody!
What would you like to do next? Would you consider staying in London?
To be honest I feel really at home here now, especially working here. This was my first project in English and I feel like it’s the language I’ve grown up with, I found it so natural. I would like to stay here and work... yes! We’ll see...
Would you consider doing another musical?
I think after this I will have to go back to shooting or maybe do a more classical piece of theatre. I need to go back to my original soul! Variety is the best for me – it works every time! Last time I did a play, straight afterwards I was like “ok, now I need to shoot something.” And I did a German movie and then after that I came to Once, so variety is definitely the best for me!
What about an album? Would you ever consider exploring music?
Well... our Musical Director came to me with the idea and we’re cooking it up at the moment. I think that it’s something I will do in the future... definitely!
So... let’s discuss you winning the West End Frame Award for Best West End Debut! Where were you when you found out you were nominated?
I was on holiday! At the time I think I was in Montenegro in the mountains! I saw a call from one of the producers but I decided not to answer it because I thought they might be phoning to say “you need to quit your vacation and come back because something has happened” and I didn’t want that to happen! But then about an hour later I got a text from a friend telling me she had been on the internet and seen I was nominated for an award. I was like “no way.” So I made a call and found out it was true and was just like “oh my goodness, this is so weird!” Because I came here from the movie world, people know me after I was nominated for a European Oscar but in the theatre world nobody knew me outside of Croatia. So I came here thinking I was going to be an alien and that nobody would like me. I had lots of respect for British actors and for British theatre and I never thought the audiences would like me, I was really, really scared. But Dublin gave me some wings and I realised they could actually understand what I was saying on stage which was a start [laughs]! And then we had three or four weeks of terrific previews in London so then when the opening night came I was full of joy and felt more secure. But I still wasn’t sure if I had my own audience... so being nominated for the award was very weird for me!
Well the award was about celebrating all the new people who have recently come into the theatre world.
I know, and I think it’s so unbelievable. I’m so grateful.
Did you think you would win?
No! No, no, no, no, no, no! When I found out I was nominated I realised that I have my audience, which I’m grateful for, but I saw that people were nominated from The Book of Mormon, A Chorus Line and all these huge, big musicals and I was like “no way, no chance, they already have their own, big audiences.” It was a shock!
And then I believe your agent told you that you had won the day before it was announced?
Yes, and I hate that! We had a Wednesday matinee and he text me saying “give me a call during the interval” and I was like “ok?” So during the interval I called him and he told me I had won but that I couldn’t tell anybody because the guys from West End Frame said it can’t be announced until tomorrow – and I was in the middle of the show with my people! I was like “don’t do this to me, I have to tell someone!” He was just like “no, you can’t”. I wasn’t allowed to be joyful and happy, so I just screamed really loudly and one of the girls came into my room and was like “are you ok?” and I just said “yeah, everything’s fine.” It was terrible! Every time it’s like this! For the last film I did I won like nine awards around the world and they always tell you the day before and you can’t tell anyone for a day! It’s so hard with the adrenaline! I told my agent “next time, please just don’t tell me!”
So then when the news was finally announced I believe you celebrated with the cast?
It was so cool, we all had champagne on the stage and they brought a cake and flowers and we were all singing and dancing. It was really lovely.
The cast of once celebrate Zrinka's win on-stage at the Phoenix Theatre with champagne!
Finally, what would you like to say to everybody who voted for you?
(Pause) I had so far in my career only two people who were kind of guiding me and making me choose ‘this role, that role’. Those two people were myself and the audience. So, knowing that I have this connection again in a different country, in a different language and in a totally different field is... when we opened next door to us was Helen Mirren in The Audience and Judi Dench in Peter and Alice and then there was me... and I couldn’t believe it was happening! It is so huge for me and for every actor and student of acting in my country that you can’t imagine. I just don’t think that the people who voted for me over here are aware what they did. Because Croatia is so small and the field of acting and theatre is so small. My understanding of people born in small countries is that these are the borders and you have to achieve in-between those borders. But now I have so many messages on Facebook and Twitter from people and it feels like they now have a new dream to dream. I already know people who have come to London, searching for agents and doing some auditions and for me this is... this is it! Thank you so much!
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Once is currently booking at the Phoenix Theatre until 31st May 2013.
Click here to book tickets (no booking fee at selected performances).
Click here to read West End Frame's interview with Declan Bennett.
Click here to read West End Frame's review of Once.
What an awesome interview!!!!!!! Love you Zrinka!!!!!! xxx
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful interview. I have seen the show in London about 16 times and cannot get enough of it. You could say that I love spending time with this on-stage family.
ReplyDeleteOnce is the best show in London by far and Zrinka is the most incredible actress I have ever seen on stage. What touching and inspiring words from an international star.
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