Karen David
Karen David has worked in U.S. and UK projects in recent years moving from the big screen to TV with ease.
She has just begun working on new British indie film Amar Akbar & Tony - which is currently filming in London.
We caught up with her to chat about the movie, the character that she is playing and what lies ahead for the rest of the year.
- Amar Akbar & Tony has just begun filming in London so can you tell me a little bit about the movie?
I am working on indie film Amar Akbar & Tony and the title pay homage to the legendary Bollywood film but it is a little different as it is a fresher depiction of Asians today. It’s a film about them trying to fit in, embracing their cultures and finding their way in life.
I play Meera and I am excited to play such a character as she is complicated and there is more to her than meets the eye.
Without giving away too much this is a very different role for me as there is a lot going on behind those eyes and she is a bit mysterious - which people don’t know but do find out eventually.
She arrives, I don’t want to say fresh off the boat but I do say that endearingly, from India coming to her new in London and trying to fit in.
- You are playing Meera in the film so how did you get aboard this project? And what was the attraction for you?
There is a good team of people and a great director who has a great vision - Atul Malhotra certainly does have plenty of that - so that was a huge push. On top of that I really liked the script and the character of Meera too.
On so many levels I can relate to being part Asian and trying to fit in in a very Western society - I was born in the Himalayas and I came over to Canada and then to England when I was fairly young.
I consider myself very lucky as my parents aren’t terrible traditional - traditional when it comes to romance as they still use words like courtship and education - but they allowed me to embrace this new life in a Western country.
So I was lucky in that way but with some other Asians families it can be more challenging as some families are deeply rooted in their culture and traditions.
I come from a very mixed background and so nothing was normal about my upbringing (laughs). I am getting married in a couple of weeks to a Swedish guy (laughs).
What was so endearing about this script is it was a refreshing take on young Asians, a second generation perhaps or maybe even a first who are settling into a new way of life and embracing it.
In some films we see them running away from it but we are actually seeing a depiction of where they actually embrace their roots, and that is really nice.
- So how are we going to see Meera develop throughout the movie - without giving too much away?
I know it is so tempting. Meera comes in and Meera is… normally you would say that she was a breath of fresh air but the minute that you look at her you know something is going on and you immediately want to know what is going on as there is more to her than what she is telling.
Then I think being jolted so abruptly from her life with her family and friends back in India and coming to London and meeting a whole new family is very different for her. I have never really played a character like this and it was fun just to work with the accent.
Having gone to Mumbai and other parts of India working with A.R. Rahman for my music it was really interesting to see how man of the girls are very fashion forward and very sophisticated
With Meera she is an arts teacher and a painter and so she is very bohemian and I just love that about her. First of all I can’t paint to save my life and so to play someone who can paint and has this very none traditional look on life is exciting.
But then you see her and something just doesn’t add up and so she is a bit of a mystery. But all will be revealed about her background and why she came to England.
- You are on set at the moment and the shoot is just underway so how are things going so far?
It is always fun, especially on your first few days of shooting, as you are just gelling with everyone. The wonderful about indie films is that there is a sense of community and camaraderie and everyone is looking out for each other and everyone has the sprit of wanting to make a great film.
So there is a lot of laughing (laughs) in between takes - which doesn’t help my character because she is not allowed to smile initially as she is a big reserved and conservative.
It does make it challenging but at the same time it has been… this is not work. It is so much fun and everyone is so lovely on set and we are just trying to make a really special film.
- You have mentioned Atul Malhotra already and he is in the director's chair for the film so how are you finding working with him? And what kind of director is he?
Atul is a visionary and I think you are more than half way there in accomplishing a really special result when you have someone like that on board.
His enthusiasm is infectious and when he is explaining the scenes and doing the read throughs he would draw examples from classic movies - so he would be like ‘well this bit reminds me of When Harry Met Sally.
He just drew on all these examples which would just give us an idea of what the scene would be like. I just love his enthusiasm and he has such vision. I am so excited to be able to work with him.
- 2013 is a busy year for you and we are going to be seeing you star in Jack Ryan at the end of the year so can you tell me a little bit about that?
The Jack Ryan movie I am playing a Michelle Rodriguez type of character who is very tomboyish and she is one of the top FBI agents. I have some great scenes and working with Kenneth Branagh was such a treat. I also got to do fire arms training for the first time in my life and it was a bit surreal.
Quite understandably our views and our relationship towards guns is such a touchy subject and to think I am in a room… Kenneth really wanted us to know what it was like to use an actual gun or a machine gun.
My character has to look like she has been doing this her whole life and so I cannot look scared out of my mind. So I went for training and pure fear just crossed my face as I thought ‘this is a real gun’ - of course you are in protected environment but it was a bit surreal.
Then I moved onto the machine guns and it was so much fun. It just helped me get into character and she is the type of woman who has no fear and is there to get the job done.
- Branagh is an actor as well as a director so how much does his understanding of being in front of the camera help his directing style?
With Kenneth is was one of the best master classes in acting that I have ever ever had as he has so much acting experience. He is an actor’s director and he pays attention to every finite and minute detail and he is very focused on every detail.
He just brings the best out of you and he is so wonderful and charming and so wonderful to work with. I thought drama college all those years ago was really great but working with him you just learn so much from all of his experience. He works with you so closely with you on every detail and that attention to detail just blew my mind.
- You have also done some work in U.S. TV recently with Castle and Touch so how was that experience? And how does working in U.S. TV compare to working in UK TV?
I think it is because it has been bred in me since I was in drama college that it is all about your craft and being a working actor and you go wherever the work takes you so I am so blessed that I am able to work in America as well as back here in the UK. They are different experiences as each set is different.
They are similar in a sense where it is very fast pacing and there are fifty million things going on at the same time and you have to just go with it.
I know that the sets in America can be quite bit and lavish where no expense has been spared and it is quite mind blowing and the professionalism is wonderful. But then it is the same thing over here to.
When you walk on set you automatically get a feel about what it is going to be like and, touch wood, I haven’t really had any horrible experiences.
It has just been really lovely as everyone on set loves what they do and they enjoy what they do so they are all there for the common good - which is to make a great movie or TV show.
My Castle episodes will be airing on Alibi in July, I think. I am in a two part story in a special story arc. It’s nice that my family and friends over here will be able to see them.
- Finally what is next for you for the rest of the year?
I am getting married in less than three weeks. I had just finished Castle not too long ago and I was doing a few commercials with Jessica Simpson for Macy’s and I asked my manager ’when is a nice quiet time to get married?’
And unanimously it was May - which meant we only had five months to plan it. Low and behold this comes up and I was like ‘great when do we start?’ and they were like ’May’ and I said ’you do know I am getting married at the end of the month? I am pretty sure that if I don’t turn up at the alter I will be in the dog house’.
But they were so wonderful, I really didn’t think that it was going to happen as I thought asking them to work around the wedding would be too much, but they did. I have a wonderful fiancé who is just so supportive and said ‘go and do it’.
He said ‘do you like the script?’ and I said ‘yes’. He said ‘do you like the director?’ and I said ‘yes’. He said ‘do you like the character?’ and I said ‘yes’. He was like ‘well that is three yes’s you have got to do and do it’.
I have then got an EP launch coming up in August and I am doing a gig on August 23rd to release the EP on iTunes at the Old Church, St Pancras - I am excited about that as it is great to get back into my music.
Castle episodes are airing in July and Jack Ryan is released in December so I can’t complain as it has been a good year. It has been busy and we are only half way through it. I guess when you are getting married you are happy and you are in a good place (laughs).
