Michael Tudor Barnes

"Willie Roper"

Michael Tudor Barnes Tells All About His Career And Willie Roper

Questions Faxed By Aaron S. Berman - Answers Handwritten by Interviewee

QUESTION #1) I'M SURE YOU GET ASKED THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT CAN YOU TRACE YOUR ANCESTRY BACK TO THE ROYAL HOUSE OF TUDOR? (IN ALL JUSTICE, SHOULD YOU BE THE ONE IN BUCKINGHAM PALACE?)

TUDOR BARNES -- As far as I am aware, no royal blood flows in my veins. "Tudor" is a fairly common Welsh name and was my mother's family name.

QUESTION TWO) WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

TUDOR BARNES -- In a home called "Kismet," in Petsall, a small and obscure town in The English Midlands.

QUESTION THREE) HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET INTO ACTING?

TUDOR BARNES -- My voice broke early. I was the only 13-year-old I knew with a dark baritone. At the same time, I discovered Shakespeare and started in my bedroom to declaim the plays in what I thought were "thrilling" tones. This coincided with the release of Olivier's film of "Richard III" and his stirring performance co nvinced me that was the path I wished to follow.

QUESTION FOUR) WHAT OTHER TV SHOWS/FILMS HAD YOU DONE PRIOR TO EASTENDERS?

TUDOR BARNES -- Before EastEnders, my TV experience was very limited -- my work had been mainly in theatre and radio. TV appearances had included "Merchant Of Venice," with Olivier as Shylock (I also appeared in the stage production with him), plus various appearances in "Poirot" and "The Bill," along with "The Gentle Touch," "Hope It Rains" and "The Last Place On Earth," the last-named being a seven-part series about Scott Of The Antarctic, part of which we filmed on location at Frobisher Bay in C anada.

QUESTION FIVE) ARE THERE INHERENT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACTING IN A SOAP AND MORE MAINSTREAM FORMS OF DRAMA?

TUDOR BARNES -- Apart from the obvious differences of technique between TV and stage acting, no. Whatever the part, the actor tries to discover the truth about that character and convey it with the means at his or her disposal.

QUESTION SIX) WHAT WAS IT LIKE JOINING AN ENSEMBLE CAST THAT HAD BEEN TOGETHER FOR SO LONG? DID WILLIE'S PRE-DETERMINED ROLE IN ARTHUR'S DOWNFALL GIVE YOU ANY SPECIAL CAMARADERIE WITH BILL TREACHER?

TUDOR BARNES -- The answer to the first question is -- Terrifying.........Having said that, I was most fortunate in having Bill Teacher as a colleague. (I don't know if the feeling was mutual!) Nobody could have been more welcoming and helpful than Bill. He was totally professional and unfailingly cheerful, no matter how tough the going got. A fine actor and a fine gentleman. Even though I was the instrument of his departure, I was very sorry to see him go.

QUESTION SEVEN) COULD YOU RECALL FOR US THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR FIRST DAY ON THE SET?

TUDOR BARNES -- All I remember is my extreme nervousness and great relief when it was over. Also, sheer amazement at the total authenticity of The Albert Square Lot. It is indistinguishable from a genuine working class area of The East End Of London .

QUESTION EIGHT) Had you ever appeared in any of Britain's other soaps?

TUDOR BARNES -- No.

QUESTION NINE) ON THE SURFACE, WILLIE SEEMS LESS A VILLAIN AND MORE LIKE THE SOLDIER TOBEY GEORGE IN WILLIAM SAROYAN'S "THE HUMAN COMEDY" -- A LONELY PERSON WHO HAS FOUND A READY-MADE FAMILY AND JUST SORT OF MOVES IN. IS THAT AN ACCURATE PERCEPTION?

TUDOR BARNES -- I'm not familiar with the Saroyan work you mention. He's a very neglected writer in Britain (although, in my university days, I appeared in his play, "The Cave Dwellers.") But that seems to me a fair description of Willy -- a lonely, desperate and unfulfilled man.

QUESTION TEN) HOW LONG DID IT TAKE PEOPLE IN THE STREET TO BEGIN IDENTIFYING YOU AS WILLY? IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHO IS THE TYPICAL EASTENDERS VIEWER IN BRITAIN?

TUDOR BARNES -- Given that there is a six-week gap between shooting and transmission, then allowing a further period for the character to become established, I would say about three months.... I don't think there is a "typical" EastEnders viewer. Interest in the series seems to transcend all barriers of age, sex, class and e ducation.

QUESTION ELEVEN) WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE SHOW? WAS THE LENGTH OF YOUR STAY ON EASTENDERS ALREADY KNOWN WHEN YOU FIRST SIGNED ON? IS THAT SHOW'S INTENSE WORKLOAD SOMETHING YOU WOULD CONSIDER TAKING FOR YEARS AT A TIME?

TUDOR BARNES -- Initially, I was on a six-month contract. This was extended by a further six months as the storyline developed. I always knew that Willy would not be a permanent character, as he was in so many ways an outsider and was there for the specific purpose of engineering Arthur's departure. I was quite happy to be in the show for one year only, as I have always wanted to play as m any different parts as possible and be as versatile as possible. Having played roles that range from Pinnocchio to Adolf Hitler, I have achieved that ambition (though they both told lies.) So, to get back to your question, it wouldn't be the workload th at worried me (acting is always hard work) but the fact of being stuck with one role for a long time.

QUESTION TWELVE) ANY NEW PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON?

TUDOR BARNES -- Recently, I have played the title role (onstage) of Cardinal Wolsey in the world premiere of "The Devil's Cardinal," also the villain Abanazov in Alladin. I am currently touring in Peter ("Amadeus") Shaffer's "Lettice and Lovage. This continues until July. No plans after that, except a holiday, possibly in Greece.

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