Interview with Susannah Wise

Interview with Susannah Wise

OQ 1984-1991

WRITTEN BY EMILIE SITLANI

Susannah Wise’s varied career includes

acting on TV (including in Eastenders and Peep Show) and on stage. She’s published two novels: her latest, ‘Okay Then That’s Great’ is inspired by her time at Queen’s. Susannah discusses her career so far with current I Senior, Alena K, and Emma Wyles (OQ 2021).

AK: What led you to pursue a career in acting? Did you take part in any productions at Queens?

SW: Both my parents were in the film industry. They told me it’s horrible and I would be poor and miserable. Of course, I completely ignored them. However, once I got into Drama School, they were very supportive.

At Queen’s, I particularly liked playing Caliban in The Tempest. Later, my friend and I directed a play called Funeral Games by Joe Orton. On the day of our first performance, the main actress broke her leg. Then I had to play the main part! I had a place at UCL to do Philosophy but, while on my gap year, I auditioned for Drama School and I got into LAMDA instead. After I graduated, I started working professionally in theatre, TV and radio.

“I remember Queen’s really fondly. There was a sense of the world opening and seeing endless possibilities.”

EW: Do you have a favourite genre? And which is the most challenging?

SW: My favourite is comedy, I love making people laugh, going back to the talent shows I did at Queen’s. I get recognised for Peep Show, even now. The most challenging is Chekhov, as you have to make your (translated) lines sound embodied and real.

AK: Are there any transferable skills from acting for writing?

SW: The main one is dialogue. I love writing it and I think that’s because of my background in acting. I learned to listen to rhythms and the way people use speech.

EW: I see your new novel has references to Queen’s and Katherine Mansfield. How did your time at Queen’s influence this?

SW: Queen’s influenced the novel in every way. I remember Queen’s really fondly. There was a sense of the world opening and seeing endless possibilities. I made a wonderful group of friends here. The teachers inspired us to feel really empowered, become independent thinkers and to feel very optimistic about the future.

The book was inspired by hearing about someone seeing a therapist who was losing his memory. So every time she goes to see him, she’s unsure if he can remember what she said last time. However, the book itself is dedicated to some friends of mine who are no longer with us. So it’s partlyabout things gone and lost, but also people who are gone and lost.

Read a longer version of this interview on OQ Connect here: https://www. oqconnect.com/news/alumnae/32/32-Old-Queens- Series-Susannah-Wise and enter our Prize Crossword competition on page 22 to win a copy of Susannah’s book inspired by Queen’s!

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