Helen Hunt to make RSC debut in 'The Cherry Orchard': 'You’re never good enough to get bored'
Oscar winner Helen Hunt is preparing for her Royal Shakespeare Company debut as Madame Ranevskaya in Chekhov’s classic, starring alongside Kenneth Branagh and Bill Pullman.
Helen Hunt, the 63-year-old Oscar-winning actress best known for roles in 'Twister' and 'As Good As It Gets', is currently in Stratford-upon-Avon preparing for her first performance with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). She will play Madame Ranevskaya, the Russian aristocrat and matriarch who returns home to find her family estate in jeopardy. The production also features Kenneth Branagh as Lopakhin and Bill Pullman.
In an interview, Hunt explained her reasons for joining the play: 'One of the great playwrights, an impossible part, a wonderful director [Tamara Harvey], and the opportunity to work with Branagh.' She recalled being deeply impressed by Branagh’s 'Henry V' as a child, saying, 'The verse came to life so clearly and passionately, it was as exciting as any action movie.'
Hunt believes 'The Cherry Orchard' is about the universal fear of change. 'We all want the best for others, but we’re terrified if it costs us something. My character is rich, generous day-to-day, but also profiting from a system that causes suffering. On a personal level, how do you move through life after trauma?'
She avoids direct political parallels, calling the play 'more timeless than the current political situation.' Hunt also addressed audience behavior: 'Phones have changed everything. We must guard against them keeping us from being present. If you watch Rosamund Pike through a five-inch rectangle, you’re not doing yourself the favor of being open to the moment.'
Hunt’s last London stage appearance was four years ago at the Old Vic. She admitted she still studies acting, saying, 'You’re never good enough to get bored.' Reflecting on winning the Oscar for 'As Good As It Gets', she noted it was 'a dream-come-true moment mixed with stress about clothes and speeches.' She dismissed impostor syndrome: 'I’m proud of my work and impressed by others’ – you can’t compare them like an Olympic relay.'
On the current political climate, Hunt said: 'It’s a hard time to be a human being, certainly in my country. But I’m not sure how to translate that into working. It’s a challenging time for sure.'
