[ad_1]
She made global fame for her role in one of the most famous festive films of all time, Love Actually.
And Martine McCutcheon has revealed that the role saved her from a burnt out period where she felt ‘exhausted and unwell’.
The actress, 46, had been working non-stop for several years due to her role in EastEnders, leading to the decision to quit showbusiness before landing the Christmas role.
Big break: Martine McCutcheon reveals she was battling ‘exhaustion and felt unwell’ due to massive burn out before bagging role in Love Actually
During a new interview with The Mirror, Martine explained that she had made the decision to quit the business and would come back if she was signed to a large role.
The star had been playing Tiffany Mitchell in EastEnders from the age of 17 until 23, and felt the toll of the busy schedule.
She explained: ‘It was a relentless schedule of 22 scenes a day, six days a week, alongside my pop career. There was a lot of pressure, a lot of touring and I battled with exhaustion and felt unwell.
Continuing that she decided not to continue, Martine shared: ‘I was only 23 and lived on my own – it was scary.
Leaving: During a new interview with The Mirror , Martine explained that she had made the decision to quit the business and would come back if she was signed to a large role
Too much: The star had been playing Tiffany Mitchell in EastEnders from the age of 17 until 23, and felt the toll of the busy schedule as she was ‘exhausted’ and preparing to leave the industry (pictured on EastEnders in 1998)
‘I just thought, “I love what I do but I don’t love what comes with it’, so I called my agent and gave up the industry. I remember thinking, ‘If I’m meant to stay in it I’ll get a big sign.”‘
Taking time off, Martine explained that she went to stay with a pal in Spain and ‘slept for three days straight’.
But it didn’t last long, with director Richard Curtis calling and offering the actress the part to star alongside Hugh Grant in Love Actually just a week later.
Who would have thought: But her time away from the industry didn’t last long, with director Richard Curtis calling and offering the actress the part to star alongside Hugh Grant in Love Actually just a week later
‘I literally dropped the phone. That film completely changed my life because I wouldn’t have been in the industry any more,’ she added.
Despite becoming a household name from the blockbuster hit, Martine doesn’t like to watch herself back in the film.
Admitting that most of the cast were ‘squirming in our seats’ during the premiere as they watched themselves on screen, the actress shared that she doesn’t like to see her own mannerisms and expressions on a big screen.
Looking back: It comes after she told MailOnline that although the world has changed a lot since the film’s release, she thinks the rom-com was ‘not about ticking too many boxes and being PC’
In response to director recently Richard saying he felt ‘a bit stupid’ about some moments regarding the lack of diversity and inappropriate comments, Martine had a different viewpoint.
Martine said: ‘I think, honestly, it was 20 years ago, and the world has changed a lot but I also think that part of the charm of the film was the fact that some of the love stories and the characters weren’t perfect.
‘And they admitted or we saw their flaws, their insecurities whether they were real or they weren’t. That’s what made it so human.
‘For me, part of the reason that I love the film is because it was so honest and it wasn’t about ticking too many boxes and being PC, it was about being human and I think it was really sweet and innocent of Natalie’s character and who she was to speak to the Prime Minister about that [her big bottom] of all things!
‘Uncomfortable’: Martine’s comments come after Richard Curtis said he felt ‘a bit stupid’ about some moments regarding the lack of diversity and inappropriate comments at the Love Actually reunion with Diane Sawyer
[ad_2]
Source link
