David Tennant gives some insights into his Broadchurch character DI Alec Hardy. Read this new interview with ITV where he talks about the difficulties of filming a drama about such sensitive subject matter and the benefits of not knowing what is coming next.
David Tennant is DI Alec Hardy
David Tennant was hooked from the first time he read an episode
of Broadchurch and knew he wanted to play DI Alec Hardy, a big fish in a Dorset
backwater in the ITV drama.
Talking about his character David says: “He is a cop from a big
city – presumably Glasgow – who for reasons that become evident as we go through
the story, has been moved to a small out of the way police force where hopefully
he can go under the radar. Events conspire fairly early on in the story which mean
this isn’t the case and very soon the national spotlight will be shone on him. He
is not without some secrets and troubles which is why he has ended up in this little
Dorset town.
“Hardy is good at what he does and he’s very motivated and driven
to solve this crime, and we come to understand that is more than just a professional
drive as the story unfolds. He is not the most sociable chap; he doesn’t have a
myriad of social skills so he is someone who expects things to be done a certain
way and can’t quite understand why other people don’t always meet his exacting standards.
He lacks people skills – that’s his main problem.”
During the investigation Hardy has to work alongside local DS
Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) which isn’t always an easy alliance…
“He and Ellie are not particularly similar as people and I think
Hardy initially has a sort of big city disregard for small town police practises
and imagines that they really don’t know what they are doing. He thinks he has to
whip them into shape single-handed as he continues to be exasperated with the way
things are run in Broadchurch.
“They come from very different places, and circumstances have
thrust them together and the way the plot develops by default they end up working
much more closely than they imagined they would be able to at first.”
What initially drew David to the role?
“I have worked with writer Chris Chibnall before and I am a big
fan of him both personally and professionally. And I was always keen to work with
director James Strong again so when the scripts arrived with their names attached
it was already something I would be inclined to be involved with. Olivia was already
signed when I first heard about it which was another great appeal to me. I had two
scripts to look at with the knowledge that subsequent scripts would be appearing
throughout the process and we wouldn’t get final scripts until months into the shoot
– which is a gamble. But the fact I read it from cover to cover in one pass and
was left at the end of the first episode desperately wanting to know what happens
next was telling. That initial response is always worth noting; the first time you
read the script is the closest you will be able to watch it as a viewer. If it grabs
you and you want to know more, and if you’re intrigued by the characters in that
first moment, that’s always something to be pursued.”
And the parallel between actors and viewers didn’t stop there
as the story unfolded before the cast on set…
“If you are playing someone who is investigating a crime and
the crime is actually unfolding as you go from
an acting point of view, that’s very helpful as you can’t second guess. When you’re
playing those initial interviews with characters and you genuinely don’t know what
the truth is you can’t load those scenes with ‘actorly’ tricks; you have to play
it for what it is which can only make it more real. You can be as exasperated about
the mystery of the characters as the audience will be.”
How do you approach a drama with such sensitive subject matter?
How realistic should it be?
“I think you have to be very careful. The truth is it’s a drama
of course so for us to compare it to any real life event just looks opportunistic
and in rather poor taste. Obviously it reflects the world and human experiences
– that’s what drama does – I hope it does that truthfully and effectively. As we
are hoping to intrigue and entertain I don’t think we are making an effort to present
what it’s really like or to make too many references to what people have seen in
the news. That would make us a hostage to fortune.
“But as an actor our job is to always empathise and think yourself
into the emotional situation whatever that may be. The script has great humanity
and I think Chris Chibnall shows immense understanding of the human condition in
all the different characters and the way it impacts on the community. I think it
will have emotional empathy which is what pulls the audience in whatever it is –
whether it’s a murder mystery or something set in the future on Mars – it’s always
that recognition of the human experience. That’s what makes us enjoy watching other
people’s stories. I think the range of characters and the range of their responses
to this extraordinary, horribly heightened situation is what will make this compelling
as a piece of drama.”
Overall has David enjoyed filming Broadchurch?
“It’s been a very happy time, subject matter aside. What’s been great
is working with the varied and talented cast. It’s great to be part of a genuine
ensemble; dramas are often described as ensemble dramas, when they are not. It’s
great to be part of something where all the characters have equally powerful stories
to tell. There’s the whodunit aspect but there are other stories going on at the
same time and such wonderful people portraying those parts and seeing those characters
and worlds develop.”
The eight episode crime drama series Broadchurch is due to begin on ITV some time in late February to March. David Tennant co-stars with Olivia Colman, Arthur Darvill, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Vicky McClure and Pauline Quirke. The drama was written by Chris Chibnall, was directed by James Strong and Euros Lyn and produced for Kudos by Richard Stokes.
Thanks to the ITV Press Office. The full press pack is available for download here.
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