DDW sat down with Rosalind Eleazar for our Conversation Skills series to discuss all things that make the Slow Horses actress tick.
As part of our Conversation Skills series, DDW sat down with Rosalind Eleazar, who’s been keeping busy with her latest venture: playing the continuing role of Louisa Guy in Apple TV’s Slow Horses alongside Garry Oldman.
Whilst Slow Horses (latest season out on the 2nd of December worldwide) sees Rosalind’s most badass side, he acting depth is is contrasted with her more caring role as Agnes Wickfield in Armando Lannucci’s award winning The Personal History of David Copperfield, or through her Harold Pinter theatre ventures as Yelena in Uncle Vanya.
DDW sat down with her to talk all things aliens, role models and salted caramel popcorn.
Why do you act? What keeps you going?
For me acting is 3D anthropology. I’m obsessed with wanting to understand human nature. And of course, you will never fully understand it, it’s an endless labyrinth. The more you dive into a character the more you understand yourself, weirdly. The other part, is having genuine connection with whoever is with you in a scene, on stage or screen. When two people properly connect, it’s electric to watch and also experience.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Salted Carmel popcorn. Anything that combines sweet and salt really. One basic Neanderthal over here.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
Music
If you could pick three dinner guests, dead or alive, who would you pick and why?
Cher, Bob Marley and James Baldwin.
All of them represent a freedom of spirit in different ways. A knowingness of who they are, and unapologetic of who they are.
Who do you look up to?
My mum. Cheesy may be. But she’s a badass woman, exceptionally vulnerable, wildly generous, eccentric as hell and has sacrificed everything, as single mum, to give me a life she didn’t have. All with a wicked sense of humour. She’s incredible.
Do you have a mantra you live by?
Emancipate your self from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.
Still working on that.
How do you want people to remember you?
“Well, grandma was quite the character wasn’t she?”
If you could do just one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Dance
What are your go-to places to find peace of mind?
Walks in the park settle me. I have to take frequent walks to clear my mind.
What do you not want to Die Wondering About?
Did we ever make contact with life on other planets? And would they’ve have like my Greek lemon potatoes?