BWW Interviews: Daniela Lavender Of A WOMAN ALONE

Why have you chosen this particular play for your UK stage debut?

This isn't strictly my UK stage debut (just my London debut) as I first appeared as Titania and Hippolyta in Shakespeare's a Midsummer Nights Dream. I chose to interpret both my roles as women seeking to empower themselves. Maria's struggle is just that: a woman seeking to empower herself against cruel odds. Maria touched me because she is a woman so vivacious and full of life simultaneously having the life crushed out of her but she fights back. It's the fightback I find so appealing.

Casual theatregoers probably know Dario Fo mostly for political engagement and commentary - does 'A Woman Alone' have a political message?

Although this is not a political statement but an evening's entertainment any really good writing will have political integrity and Fo is no exception. Domestic violence is high on our political agenda as a society but I would stress that Maria fights back; this is her triumph.

I see you previously trained as a journalist - what pushed you away from our trade to acting?

I believe both trades are related. They both involve examining and reflecting our society, our condition. Acting was always my first choice as a career but of course I gained a lot from my training in journalism as I enjoy investigating my characters. I was working as a journalist in Brazil whilst at university and when I graduated I knew I had to leave Brazil otherwise I'd become a journalist and I'm not in this world to tell stories through journalism but through acting, so I came to London.

You've recently been touring in A Midsummer Night's Dream - are you a big fan of the classics? I understand you used a Shakespearean monologue to get into drama school...

I am a fan of the classics. I'm intrigued and amazed by their lasting message. I'm attracted by art which stays with me after I leave the museum, the theatre, the cinema or after I put a book down... I love when I'm deeply affected by a form of entertainment. Whilst rehearsing and performing Shakespeare I was struck by how contemporary he still is. That's a thrilling discovery. My audition piece for the drama school in London  was Queen Anne in Richard III. I didn't understand most of it at the time, I was almost stopping English people on the streets to asked them for help, but in the end I searched, found the meaning and passed the test. 

You've also trained in dance - do you think a move into musical theatre might be on the cards at some point?

Actually I did work with a choreographer on this show and found it a key to my character; it liberated part of her. I open the play with a dance. Musical theatre? I welcome any opportunity to stretch and grow as a performer both on stage and on screen.

A WOMAN ALONE runs at the Tabard Theatre from tonight.

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