Tamzin has many things in the pipeline for 2012
Tamzin Outhwaite found fame in 1998 when she was cast as feisty Melanie Healy in BBC1's flagship soap Eastenders. Since then, Tamzin has gone on to have an exciting career, starring in everything from West End theatre to award winning films.
2012 will see her feature in the remake of the famous Charles Dickins' novel Great Expectations.
If you could tell us a bit about what you've been up to recently?
Well recentely I've just finished Great Expectations which Mike Newell directed and that's with Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane and Ralph Fiennes. It was a really small part but it was lovely to do. And then I did a Silent Witness afterwards, which was just before Christmas and now I'm trying to spend the beginning of the year training for the National Lottery Olympic Park Run, which is on the 31st of March and it's a 5 mile run. It's the most I've ever run and I'm not very good at running. Just before November I went to bootcamp and that was really hardcore it was brilliant and it kicked me off into thinking differently about health. I'm very into exercise but not necessarily running, so it's opened my eyes to running and made me realise I can run, I don't have a mental block over it.
How's training going for the run?
Just before November I went to bootcamp and that was really hardcore it was brilliant and it kicked me off into thinking differently about health. I'm very into exercise but not necessarily running, s
Quite slowly but I'm getting there. I'm not giving myself a hard time about it, I'd just like to finish if possible!
Going back to the flim, what was it like working with stars like Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane?
Well I didn't have much to do with her (Helena), most of my stuff was with Robbie or Ralph Fiennes but it was lovely; really, really good. I only had a small part but I really enjoyed it. I had a great time.
You appeared in Law and Order on Friday night, what was it like playing a barrister?
I've never played a barrister before, in fact I've never been in a courtroom before so it was all quite new to me, and they say that lawyers and barristers are pretty much like actors and the courtroom is like their stage so I tried to treat it like that really. Thinking it's a performance everytime you're on a case and that is your task to perform because you're acting most the time. But yeah it was great, a great cast so I really enjoyed it. It was such a long time ago it was nearly a year ago so it's weird that it's taken that long to come out.
What's been your favourite role to date?
There's no favourite, they've all got reasons why I love them. I loved Mel (in Eastenders) because it was for 3 and a half years, it was the longest I've ever played a character. I loved playing Charity in Sweet Charity in the West End because it was a whole new different thing. I loved my character in Out of Control just because it was all improvised so everything came from the character as opposed to the script. And I loved Hotel Babylon because I got to wear amazing clothes and shoes, you know every character's got a good reason to love it I suppose.
How've you found juggling your career with becoming a mum?
Priorities have definitely changed and you do a lot more juggling and spinning plates. I am probably less likely to work away for a very long time. But apart from that, so far it's fitted in quite well. As an acting couple you have to juggle it with being parents. It works sometimes and other times it doesn't work so well but I think being a working mum is difficut enough so the good thing we do about acting is we do intense jobs for a while and then we get lovely periods off so I do get to spend a lot of time with her (daughter Florence).
Have you had much time off over Christmas?
Yes I did an episode of Silent Witness and we finished that just before Christmas and Great Expections finished so I had a lovely break over Christmas and now I'm just doing bits and pieces it's quite nice. There's lots of things in the pipeline but nothing definite.
Is there any future plans to move away from television and go into film completely?
I don't think there would be enough work for me if I went into film completely. I couldn't be that fussy, I couldn't afford to be. I love being able to do a bit of theatre, do a bit of telly and do a bit of film. So I'm really not in that priveliged position to say I'll only do film because I only do a film once in a while, it's quite rare.
So you mentioned running, have you got any other tips for staying healthy and in shape?
I love yoga and I think that's more about being holistic so it helps you emotionally and mentally as well as physically. I think dance is making a massive comeback, because of how big Strictly (Come Dancing) is and all that. For me, if I can dance and not really realise I'm keeping fit but I am then great, dance is a good one. You know I also love swimming. Tips wise, I'd say drink as much water as possible and I always think if you can do half an hour of exercise everyday, or at least get your heart rate up for half an hour veryday even if it's a power walk, it's good.
Tamzin Outhwaite is supporting the launch of Covonia’s new Double Impact Lozenges. "I always keep a pack of Covonia Extra Strong Lozenges handy, especially before a performance."
Available from pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide, priced at £1.79 for a 51g pack. Covonia’s Double Impact Lozenges are available in Berry Blast, Cool Menthol and Extra Strong Original.
Alexandra Baracskai
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