As ‘out there’ as it sounds, I firmly believe in the power of synchronicity. Certain people are meant to cross our paths at particular times in life, whether to inspire, challenge or assure us that we are on the right path.
Over the last few weeks, at this transitional time in my life, I have bumped into people and have been asked to take part in events which have led to conversations which have made my hair stand on end.
The Cinemagic Festival continues in venues all over Belfast until November. For the 35th year, the programme is full of film screenings, workshops and masterclasses aimed to inspire young people to engage with the moving arts.
Bafta award-winning actor Suranne Jones has been a patron of the festival for many years. Out of the blue, I was invited to interview her for a festival event last week, and I revelled in the opportunity. I have been a fan for many years, and admire how her career has evolved.
Although I was aware of her work on the likes of Scott and Bailey, Dr Foster, period drama Gentleman Jack, and Vigil, I had to bring myself right up to date ahead of our chat and subsequently found myself consumed by some of her most recent work.
The semi-improvised drama I am Victoria, which is still available on Channel4.com, is compelling viewing. Suranne doesn’t shy away from the difficult subjects. She goes there.
Her character, Victoria, tries to give the impression that she has it together, but is crippled with anxiety and constantly on edge. She needs to be in control of everything in her life, she wants nice things, wants people over to the house, to have a nice time, to like her house, to like her.
The character piles the pressure on herself to live and maintain a perfect existence. She is constantly looking in the mirror, complaining, talking to herself, mostly talking herself down. She wants to have the perfect family – and she does, but so consumed is she with chasing perfection that she misses that which is right under her nose.
This drama is uncomfortable to watch and highlights the issue of high-functioning anxiety and depression, a very brave move from Suranne to take on the subject shortly after she had a breakdown herself after one of the most difficult periods in her life.
When we spoke about it, Suranne told me that she couldn’t believe the feedback had she received from women who recognised themselves in Victoria. Women who were living on the treadmill of life, muddling through from day to day, piling expectation and pressure on themselves.
She said many recognised that need to be in control of everything, even the uncontrollable, and they could identify with this character whom she and Dominic Savage had created.
The power of that representation on screen is never to be underestimated or undervalued. Suranne understood that by showing her vulnerability and her empathy for what the character was feeling and going through, she has undoubtedly helped others.
In order to bring authenticity to this particular role, Suranne brought some of her own life experience to this story which made it all the more impactful.
Suranne Jones first appeared on telly as Karen McDonald in Coronation Street. Over 20 million of us tuned in to see her marry Steve. She used that platform as a springboard, and now has an illustrious career which sees her act and produce high-end drama. She has also presented a TV series on witch trials. The complexity of life through the female lens is a narrative she is drawn to.
I loved how her eyes lit up when she talked about leading workshops with budding, young, local actors. She loves to see them reach their full potential. Like many others, her acting career began when a teacher identified that she needed an outlet for her limitless energy. That turned out well, didn’t it?
While she said that her participation in community workshops wasn’t about giving back, we did get around to talking about what she was like as a 16-year-old. She admitted that she was lost, vulnerable. She suggested that taking part in the workshops was like giving her younger self the big hug she needed. Finding that outlet gave her real purpose.
The more I researched her, the more inspiring I found her. She did not disappoint when we met. A special evening with a truly inspiring woman.