Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 06.03.2010 Angel Coulby is the actress that currently gives life to Gwen on the hit BBC television series, Merlin. Gwen is also the Guinivere of Arhturian legend. Ms. Coulby studied acting at Queen Margaret University and has also appeared on such British television shows as Doctor Who, The Visit, and Talk To Me. Merlin was recently commissioned for a third series, which Ms. Coulby was in the midst of filming in Wales when she spoke with 411mania for an exclusive interview:  We were recently able to speak with Ms. Coulby for an exclusive interview to talk about the show: Jeffrey Harris: Some interesting things have been going on with Gwen and Arthur recently. Is there something going on there? Angel Coulby: Well I guess there is something going on there. They've begun to kind of realize that they have feelings for each other and whereas in the first series there wasn't really any of that to see. And anyone who is a fan of the Arthurian legend knows that they eventually get together and Gwen will eventually become queen. But at the moment, for them, that will never be because she's a maid and he's a prince and that's just not allowed. They kind of have a secret love and affection for each other which they have to keep quiet which is kind of sad. Jeffrey Harris: Even though the series is classic Arthurian legend and myth, it turns the circumstances and parts of the story on its head. In this series, Guinivere is not a noble woman; she starts as the lady in waiting for Morgana. Through your performance, Gwen has great integrity and a strong character and Gwen also brings up politics with the common people. From that, do you think Gwen could be a good queen? Angel Coulby: Yeah – and I think that's kind of the important thing in my version of Gwen is that she is this kind of humble maid-servant. But you need to kind of be able to see that sort of inner sort of nobility and the future within her. Otherwise the story doesn't make sense. Arthur is the prince, and he probably wouldn't look twice at a servant in that kind of day and age unless she had something else within her to offer because of her personality and her character. So that's one of the characteristics that I like about playing Gwen . . . is to let that come out slowly and gradually, so we are moving the story on but not too quickly. So yes, she could be a noblewoman -- just not quite yet. Jeffrey Harris: What can viewers expect from Gwen in terms of growth in the third series? Angel Coulby: She's still on that journey with Arthur; I mean I don't want to say too much. But there are challenges thrown up along the way in their relationship that kind of test their feelings for each other in terms of what is allowed in that day and age, in terms status and marriage and that sort of thing. So, you can kind of see Gwen moving more toward being Guinivere and the future queen. So yeah, without saying too much, you can expect a bit more kind of "joust" between Guinivere and Arthur. Jeffrey Harris: Are you going to be doing any sword fighting in the new series? Angel Coulby: I hope so, *laughs*. Actually, of what we've shot so far, I haven't done any. But I don't know what, following yesterday, they'll have in store. So, fingers crossed, there will be some sword fighting. Jeffrey Harris: Where we are with the series right now in the US, originally Gwen was the handmaiden for Morgana. What is Gwen doing in the castle now that Morgana has left? And what will happen if Morgana comes back? Angel Coulby: Well, it's kind of business as usual for Gwen. She's obviously not a lady in waiting for Mogana but she's still working in the castle. She's still a maid in a castle, so she's getting on with her job, basically. But I don't know. Who knows if Morgana comes back? I guess that would be interesting to see how their relationship develops now. I guess there would be some stage where Morgana and Gwen perhaps start going in very different directions and having been friends and having grown up together I think Gwen will begin to notice that there's something up with Morgana. I'm not sure she'll notice exactly what it is, but maybe something that kind of perhaps hints they are not as friends kind of thing. Jeffrey Harris: Since Gwen and Arthur in this series is my OTP or One True Pairing, and Merlin in this series is a Shipper On Deck for Gwen/Arthur and Gaius is also a Shipper On Deck for Gwen/Arthur; how do you think the lower kingdom of Camelot would feel about Arthur and Gwen getting together? Angel Coulby: Well I think that they'd be pleased because they've seen the good sides of Arthur. They've seen him stand up against his father who I think everyone is starting to think is actually more of a problem than anything else. He's quite a pretty ruthless King, and maybe Camelot could do with someone who is a bit kinder and cares about the people more. And Gwen is obviously known throughout the village as someone who is kind and caring. They'd see that as a good coupling. She'd be a good influence on Arthur I think. Jeffrey Harris: What do you think will happen with Gwen and Morgana's friendship with the path Morgana is going down -- as a person with magical powers? Angel Coulby: I know . . . I think that she's starting to realize there's something up already, because Morgana who has always been kind and gentle is . . . I think their relationship will start to disintegrate. But I don't know if there will be any kind of big moment that happens or if it will be a kind of slow burn thing. But I think it would be interesting if there is something big that happens that makes Gwen realize perhaps not that she [Morgana] has magical powers, but she [Morgana] has changed. She has changed and maybe can't be trusted as such. Jeffrey Harris: Do you know what Gwen's note from Arthur says in the episode, "Sweet Dreams"? Angel Coulby: Oh . . . I can't remember! I can't remember what it says, no! It's like a pop quiz, you can't remember. No. *Laughs* I can't remember what it says, I really can't. I can see the writing, something about "at sunset." Something like that, "I'll meet you at sunset." Jeffrey Harris: They are going to meet somewhere at around sunset and snog or something? Angel Coulby: Something—sort of—maybe. That's what the note says anyway.  Jeffrey Harris: Fans were also curious about the video diaries and wanting to see more on the DVD's. Do you think they'll get shown more later on? Angel Coulby: Yeah, they give us a kind of little camera every series and we kind of shoot stuff of us larking about. And we tend to do that when we're out in Prague because we're all together in the same place, kind of one location is a bit more exciting, whereas [in Wales] we're kind of in a studio the whole entire weeks and have to go back to our dressing rooms and hang out in there rather than larking about on the set. So hopefully there will be more of that then. Yeah definitely, because it's so popular. Jeffrey Harris: What is it like getting the role of Guinivere and how did that happen for you? Angel Coulby: Well, I've been acting professionally for like the last 9 years or something. So really it was just another audition. I got called and it just sounded really cool. I've been enchanted by and always been a fan of fantasy films. And also the Arthurian legend has always intrigued me. And I've seen something called Merlin actually which is on Channel 4 with Sam Neill. I really loved it. I really enjoyed it. And I kind of thought, I'd love to play Guinivere; that's amazing. So when I got called to play this Guinivere, I thought "Oh that's going to be brilliant! I'm sure I won't get it. They're probably going to be seeing every girl who has ever acted." But then I went in and had an audition and luckily one audition because auditioning is not my favorite thing in the world. And I got the job and I was really happy. And the writers are so good and I knew it was going to be a really fun job. You get to dress up and do the horse riding. The horse riding stuff and the script is so fun to work on. Jeffrey Harris: This series is not like the traditional Merlin. Merlin is not an old man with a long beard and a pointy hat. At first in the series, Gwen was making cow eyes at Merlin. Gwen had a whirlwind romance with Lancelot, and now appears to be starting a relationship with Arthur. I'm curious for you, Angel Coulby . . . what type of guy do you find more attractive or exciting? Angel Coulby: Me. I like someone who is funny, intelligent, creative, sensitive, a good cook. Jeffrey Harris: So more like a Merlin right? A little nerdier, but sensitive and not really a jock— Angel Coulby: And he can have a laugh as well. Jeffrey Harris: So you like nerdier types more like a Merlin, yeah? Angel Coulby: Maybe more like a Merlin. Maybe, yeah. *Laughs* Jeffrey Harris: How do you get on with Colin Morgan (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur)? Angel Coulby: Really well, we get on really well. We are all kind of different personalities, but we really enjoy working the show and we all have quite a good sense of humor in common, and we kind of gel really well actually. Because it's such a long time to be working on a show, an eight month shoot. And it's long hours and stuff so it's really important you got people with a good sense of humor and kind of don't take everything too seriously. And yeah, we definitely have a good laugh together. Jeffrey Harris: Do you think Gwen has any idea of Merlin's powers? Since the series is set in a time where people with magical powers are outlawed, do you think Gwen has any idea about Merlin? Angel Coulby: No, I think she's slightly ignorant. I think she doesn't have any idea at all. Because she's grown up thinking that magic is wrong, I think she's still in that side of the story. She hasn't learned to have her own kind of opinion on whether that is true or not. But I think if she did find out that he was magical, I don't think she'd condemn him. I think she would still care for him and want to protect him, knowing Gwen. Jeffrey Harris: Do you think Gwen might learn anything about that in the new series? Angel Coulby: I honestly don't know. I'm not making it up. We've only been told about the episodes we've been filming so far. At the moment, there hasn't been any of that, but for me, that would be an interesting storyline . . . . So maybe, potentially. Jeffrey Harris: Do you think there's any chance of Lancelot showing up and igniting the classic Lancelot/Guinivere/Arthur love triangle? Angel Coulby: I think there's always the possibility that he'll turn up like he does. He tends to just turn up and then disappear again. So he may well turn up again and it would be interesting to see how that affects Arthur and Gwen's relationship which is moving on slowly. Although it's not actually a relationship. It's the idea of a relationship and their closeness as friends, and the fact that they have to hide their love and affection for each other. Jeffrey Harris: Have Colin Morgan or Bradley James ever played a prank on you on set? Angel Coulby: Not on set, but right at the beginning of the first series we were in France, we stayed all on the same floor, our doors right next to each other. And there'd be the odd occasion where you wouldn't have to be in at 6 o'clock in the morning and could lie in. But Bradley, he would pretty much always be in early in the morning, come past my door, and turn my sign around so it would say, "Please come in and clean my room." Every single time I got to lie in, which is kind of annoying. So that is one thing. Jeffrey Harris: Anything you would like to share with your fans across the world? Angel Coulby: Thank you for watching so far. And I hope you keep watching and keep enjoying because there's more fun stuff to come. Jeffrey Harris: I hope there will be more of you fighting dragons and trolls and stuff in the new season. Angel Coulby: Yeah, there's more of everything. There's more of everything to come. Jeffrey Harris: Thank you very much Ms. Coulby, and good luck with the rest of filming. Angel Coulby: Thank you very much.  New episodes of Merlin are currently broadcast on the SyFy channel in the US. The third series is expected to drop on the BBC some time in 2010 in high definition.
|
Read more at http://www.411mania.com/movies/columns/140936/411mania-Interviews:--Angel-Coulby.htm#dMLepiuD1I8c6rgV.99
No comments:
Post a Comment