“Most women have a lot of rage”

As a Jewish actress and writer who has navigated through a career spanning both comedy and tragedy, I find myself deeply moved by Tracy-Ann Oberman’s journey, her resilience, and her unwavering commitment to standing against bigotry and hatred. Her experiences, rooted in the rich tapestry of her family history, have undoubtedly shaped her into the strong woman she is today.

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Gather at the Queen Victoria Pub: Chrissie Watts is returning. “I can’t reveal any details about what transpires,” remarks Tracy-Ann Oberman coyly, “but her hair looks fantastic. It’s not as curly as it used to be.” It has been 19 years since the iconic EastEnders episode where Chrissie murdered her husband “Dirty” Den, and Oberman subtly implies that the character spent her time in prison contemplating and becoming “more resilient”.

When Chris (the executive producer of “EastEnders”) called and told me about a dramatic plotline, I responded enthusiastically by saying: “Absolutely! Sign me up for that!”

After her debut in 2004, Oberman’s 218 episodes of the soap opera established Chrissie as a household name: cutting off her rival’s hair, smashing a chair through a window, ending it with Pauline Fowler’s iron doorstop, and being shoved into an open grave by Barbara Windsor as Peggy. “That was fun. There was something very vintage-Hollywood about it all. I gained a large gay following.” She also received another recognition: “I made it into Vogue, [for] managing to get a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress into Albert Square.”

The essence isn’t about her stunning hair and wardrobe; rather, it’s Chrissie I adore because she’s a complex character, portraying both victim and villain. Soap operas are fantastic for their intricate female roles, particularly those of strong working-class women. Back in the day, shows like Coronation Street and EastEnders introduced realistic worlds with powerful matriarchs, characters such as Chrissie, Bet Lynch, Hilda Ogden, Dot Cotton – their beauty wasn’t based on appearance or high glamour, just genuine, authentic, living, strong women who held families and communities together.

“Most women have a lot of rage”

She felt delighted about returning to Albert Square, noting some of the team were familiar faces. However, there was a slight hesitation about stepping into Chrissie’s shoes once more after such a long time. Yet, within just a couple of minutes, she found herself there, much like rediscovering a coat from the attic that still fits perfectly.

Over the years, Oberman has enjoyed portraying strong female characters, whether they were light or more complex roles. This is evident in her radio plays that she’s written about prominent figures; she played Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, and Katharine Hepburn. In a play about Anne Bancroft, she took on the role of Bancroft, who significantly altered Hollywood norms by portraying the older seducer opposite Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate.

Over the weekend following the Monica Lewinsky scandal, I conceived an intriguing narrative centered around Bill and Hillary Clinton: “A blazing, passionate, political negotiation scene unfolded. Interestingly, Hillary was my gateway to Chrisette Watts – a portrayal of a strong, intelligent woman who stood by a man with a fatal flaw; one who couldn’t keep his indiscretions in check. She forgave him time and again, thus her tragic flaw lay in the depths of her love for him.”

At the age of 58, she has a deep appreciation for classical studies and the subtle nuances that come with them. She shared her insights about women in ancient Rome during a game of “Celebrity Mastermind.” These women lived in a patriarchal society where they had to appear submissive but were also capable of manipulating their men, whether through persuasion, seduction or poisoning. They embodied the essence of female power while harboring intense anger beneath the surface, as they navigated a society that often made them feel powerless. It seems plausible that many women carry a significant amount of suppressed rage within them, don’t you think? We are generally taught to hide our emotions and it is not often seen on stage or screen.

In 1936, your location was in a radical adaptation of Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice,” transposed to London during Oswald Mosley’s fascist movement and the marches against Jews in the East End, culminating in the Battle of Cable Street. The performance received applause at the RSC before embarking on a tour, including Wilton’s Music Hall (nearby Cable Street, where it is rumored that anti-fascist activists used the hall as their base). Now, the play returns to the West End and embarks on a national tour.

In a different context, the aristocrats from Venice who ridiculed Shylock later became followers of Mosley, and Oberman herself portrayed the Jewish moneylender as an “immigrant matriarch, similar to the ones I knew growing up, my great-grandmother from Belarus; my aunts, one who smoked cigars, another involved in the clothing trade. My grandmother was at the forefront of the Cable Street protest; my grandfather Alf was thrown through a plate glass window. However, when fascists arrived to tell the Jews they weren’t welcome here, the local working-class who fought alongside them – Britons, dockworkers, Somali sailors – all declared: “If you’re coming for the Jews, you’re coming for us all!””

Six years ago, at the onset of the project, she never fathomed that it would become strikingly relevant today, witnessing a spike not just in antisemitism, but also a disturbing form of prejudice dubbed “othering,” directed towards Muslims and immigrants.

I’ve never been fond of “The Merchant of Venice,” a play Hitler admired for valid reasons. It was poorly taught in school, neglecting the underlying themes of racism, hypocrisy, and the church and state serving the elite. As a Jewish girl, I was compelled to read Shylock, only to later witness both pity and hatred towards him during breaks… Ever since then, I’ve seen it portrayed in ways that evoke pity for Shylock and stir up hatred.

I like complicated women; villains aren’t born, they’re made

Instead of agreeing with those who think it’s wrong, I chose to view it differently. Picture an immigrant grandmother determined to give her daughter a life better than the one she had. A formidable woman, perhaps not always likable, but villains are not born, they are made. And that leads us to Chrissie – if we label someone as a villain, they will become a villain!

Absolutely, a particularly impactful scene in the performance involves Oberman portraying Shylock. In this courtroom setting, he aggressively enforces the “pound of flesh” clause in the contract that Antonio agreed to, asserting his rights despite the potential consequences to himself.

Due to recent protests against British Jews, Oberman has been provided with round-the-clock security during the performance of the play. “This has become routine, yet it’s unjust. The play isn’t about justifying the existence of a centuries-old state like Israel. Of course, it’s essential to question the Israeli government and examine their questionable wars. However, when you resort to using Nazi terminology – ‘Zios’ was a term Nazis used for Jews before the establishment of the State of Israel – it’s hazardous.”

She lamentably describes herself as an “unintended activist,” also a performer and author who’s been vocal against misogyny, harassment, and racism for a long time. She never aspired to be in politics, but she publicly parted ways with the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn following an incident where a woman who tagged pro-Gaza messages on the walls of the Warsaw ghetto was invited to address its conference. “That’s the burial site of my family,” she emphasizes, “where my great-aunt and her entire kin perished.”

In her words, “Rabbi Sacks once noted that antisemitism isn’t only about Jews; it reflects a sickness within society itself. Any society that allows its Jewish community to feel threatened is likely to harbor other forms of evil as well. This is why the 1936 adaptation of The Merchant of Venice concludes with an optimistic message, depicting various communities uniting against those who promote division, because unity makes us stronger, more resilient, and more proud.”

In a casual and clear manner: EastEnders filming sessions conveniently fell between the plays’ performances, leaving me pondering about upcoming episodes. She dreams of playing Lady Macbeth, and enjoys the balance between humor and serious drama. “Good writers understand that there’s tragedy in every comedy, and comedy in every tragedy.” Her daughter Anoushka, who is a teenager, is also venturing into acting, so I wonder what words of wisdom she might share for young women navigating this sometimes unforgiving industry?

“Obtain education, maintain focus, and avoid getting swept away by fame and wealth. Instead, pursue this path because you wish to weave tales, bring characters to life, and experience the magic of the opening rehearsal. There’s little place for vanity here.”

2024-09-04 02:38

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