Interview Are Alex Kingston’s days on ER numbered?
Series Magazine
Tired of playing Elizabeth Corday since 1997, the English actress is seriously considering leaving the series after filming the tenth season, currently airing in the United States. In a candid interview, Alex tells us why playing on the series satisfies her less and less…
ALEX KINGSTON After more than six years on ER, do you still get the same enjoyment from playing on the show? I’ll be completely honest with you: right now, I’m thinking about my future, and I’m not sure I’ll stay on after this season. My contract ends at the end of the tenth season and I’m not sure I want to renew it. Playing on ER no longer brings me the same pleasure as before. Initially, I was attracted more by the realism and intensity; now, my motivation has somewhat waned…
For what reasons? Has the atmosphere on set deteriorated that much? No, it’s not that. Firstly, during the years of playing the same character, you inevitably fall into repetition, and you want to do something else, to freshen up your creativity. And then there’s also the fact that, for three years, I’ve gradually felt marginalized by the screenwriters who focused more on other characters. For example, I no longer had the beautiful scenes I used to get with Elizabeth and Mark Greene. In this context, it becomes hard to stay truly motivated. She was a doctor, a mother, a wife… Later, after Mark died, Elizabeth lost a lot of depth. I felt that the screenwriters didn’t really know what to do with her anymore. All my scenes became quite dull, my stories were repetitive and lacked substance. My character slowly became superficial and less interesting.
In the series, you got the chance to kiss Eriq La Salle and Anthony Edwards. So, which one of them kisses better? [laughs] Both kissed very well, but I might have a small preference for Eriq’s technique, because Anthony, like Eriq, kissed me like a gentleman, while I was longing for something a bit less formal. When we kissed, I always had the feeling he was just placing his lips gently against mine!
How did you handle Anthony Edwards’ departure two years ago? It was very sad. Filming the last scenes where he agonized and eventually passed away was truly traumatic. I didn’t have any trouble crying because it was really sad that the tears flowed naturally, especially when we reflected on all those years spent filming together. Afterward, I felt even more strongly that Elizabeth was losing something important, forced to remain without any real storyline.
Do you remember your first two days on the show? Yes, perfectly. The first episode I filmed was when I debuted on ER, the famous episode set during hazardous weather conditions in Chicago. It was really wild, filled with action! I was immediately thrown into the chaos. Nobody really explained anything to me, and I felt I was completely immersed in the turmoil without any preparation. I felt like I was stuck in ice for hours [laughs]. It was all the more intimidating as, at that time, I didn’t know the other actors yet, nor they me. But the ice quickly melted away between us.
What aspect of the job do you like least? Without hesitation, photoshoots. I absolutely hate them. I don’t like posing, having to look stylish. Honestly, if they were candid shots, I’d find it less difficult. But posing like Salome, I really struggle to look natural. I have a stylist friend who offered me a poncho to hide under until the photo was ready! After this unpleasant experience, I do less and fewer photoshoots.
You seem to have gone through a difficult personal time. Can you talk about it? After my divorce [from actor Ralph Fiennes in 1997], I was completely devastated, morally shattered. Ralph had been the love of my life, and suddenly everything stopped. It took me many years to begin to live again, and to regain confidence in myself. I’m better now, and it’s thanks to this series, which gave me stability, and my family, who supported me. However, I must admit, I’m fundamentally shy, and if the fame associated with my job seems enjoyable, deep down I would prefer to hide in my house with a book rather than go out.
Thank you Assia_Song for translating for me