Thanks to a starring role in the hit TV sitcom The Inbetweeners and its big-screen success, Emily Head has had an amazing start to her career. Deputy Editor Chris Franklin went to the Curve theatre to speak to Emily about her latest role in Abigail’s Party.
After a busy day of learning lines and rehearsals, you would forgive Emily Head for looking tired and ready for bed. It was quite the opposite, from the moment she entered the room, she radiated a calmness and captivates the room with her beauty. It is easy to see why she was cast in her latest role as Angela in director Suba Das’ play.
It’s the kind of look that set off adolescent fantasies in The Inbetweeners, the E4 sitcom in which Emily starred. The show followed the fortunes of a quartet of suburban teenage boys as they negotiate friendships, females and growing pains in a no-holds-barred fashion that made it a huge cult hit. Emily played Carli, object of an unrequited crush on the part of Simon (Joe Thomas).
The Inbetweeners has made stars out of all its young cast, but Emily, 25, hails from acting royalty: her father, Anthony Head, was the smoothie in the Gold Blend adverts of the 90’s and has starred as Rupert Giles in Buffy The Vampire Slayer and as the Prime Minister – the object of a serious crush himself – in Little Britain. And, as she discusses life before and after The Inbetweeners, it quickly becomes apparent that, unlike the hapless kids in the series, Emily has a pretty wise head on her shoulders.
Why do you think the Inbetweeners was such a huge success?
I guess the show is so loved because it’s true to life. In some ways, it’s the anti-Skins [the E4 series where all the sixth-formers are cool and good-looking]; this is what the teenage experience is really like, in all its messy, fumbling, clueless chaos. But the biggest surprise is that parents enjoy it as much as their kids, and they watch it together. I guess everyone remembers being at school, and they can identify with one or another of the characters and their problems and longings and highs and lows. We’ve all been there. I think some people still are… That’s a chilling thought!
Do you have fond memories?
I’m really going to miss it now it’s finished – well, we’re guessing it’s finished. Nothing’s set in stone but the second film kind of ties everything up neatly, and we can’t all be stuck in the sixth form when we’re getting into our mid-to-late 20s. But it’s been four great years of my life. I love everyone on the show – the boys are like my brothers – and I’m already feeling bereft. A lot of actors have big embarrassments on their CV, but this is something we can look back on and be proud of.
Do you all keep in contact now it is over?
For most of us, this was the first major job we’d done, so we all felt it intensely. A couple of us had acted before, but most hadn’t, and we’ve all come out of the other side together. So we try to make it to each other’s birthdays, though we don’t see as much of each other as we hoped we would. Life gets in the way. We’ve tried the Inbetweeners reunion thing a few times, and Blake Harrison (who plays Neil) and I are the only ones who’ve turned up to every single one. In fact, there was one reunion where it was just the two of us and a couple of our friends who were nothing to do with the show. Commitment levels have varied.
How do you think the show will be remembered?
By pointing out all boys are dweebs and girls run rings round them. It’s true. Girls mature much earlier than boys and that’s when it all gets a bit witchy, because they’re aware of their power over them, and it’s all about how they exercise that. Do they play dumb or do they wield it for all it’s worth? At my school, there was a group of 11 of us that were really close friends. We were considered the popular girls, but we weren’t cliquey – at least, I hope we weren’t cliquey. And the guys we were friends with were the same. I was never the subject of an intense Simon-style crush, but, of course, there were hormones flying back and forth, and sometimes crushes were reciprocated and sometimes they weren’t. But no borderline stalkers, no.
What Attracted you to this role in Abigail’s Party?
The complexity of the character was really interesting. She is absolutely hilarious when she doesn’t intend to be! Despite my role in such an cult comedy, in a lot of my scenes, I was playing the straight character opposed to the boy’s comedy lines. It will be nice to be the one getting the laughs for once! The original was a combination of scripted lines and also improvisation. this has all now been transformed into the amazing script we have today. It all just feels genuine and is a real honour to work with.
What can students expected from the play?
A laugh from start to finish and the chance to see a great cast at work. Everyone is working around the clock to make the show the best it can possibly be. The script is incredible and I cannot wait to start performing. The bar here at the Curve also does a fantastic gin and tonic!
Abigail’s Party runs from 17th Oct – 8th November.
