Bojana Novakovic Interview

Bojana Novakovic

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Interview With Bojana Novakovic By Chris 5/9/05

Bojana Novakovic is probably one of the best young actresses

working in the Land of Oz right now.

From her powerful performance in the mini-series Marking Time

which rightfully won her an AFI to working with Colin Friels.

She is an actress who will go from Strength to Strength

and one who won’t be forgotten easily.

So read this interview with this talented actress who will go oh so far.

Trust me on this one.

1. What made you want to be an actress?

I wanted to be a social worker or a doctor when I was little. Like many pre puberty girls I thought the world needed a bit of help. The best way to go about that was to become a princess. Then I would be famous and everyone would listen to me and when I said things had to be done, they would get done. Children would be fed, nuclear testing would end, and you name it. I watched a documentary on Grace Kelly and found out she had become a princess by being an actress. And that, I though at ten years of age, was a logical first step in my idealistic quest to do rescue the world from it’s own evil.

2. Who were your idols growing up?

Oh, I’m still growing up. I mean my idols were my Kindy teacher and then my English teacher and then there was Prince and then Paula Abdul, Doogie Howser MD, Vanilla Ice, then Princess Di, Van Gogh, Chagal, Monet, Brecht, Beckett, Tom Stoppard, Shakespeare, Chekhov, Jodie Foster, then we get to Martin Crimp, Carol Churchill, Sara Kane, Nick Enright (they shouldn’t be listed next to each other but they come to mind like that) Ibsen, now its people like my Mum, Iraqi poet Hussein Al Hashimi, who know lives in Sydney, Martin Martini and Eddie Perfect (both those guys are from Melbourne), My sister, Playwrights (they’re my greatest most favourite idols) Jon Fosse, Ben Ellis (you must list him, he’s Melbournian also) Space Cowboy the sword swallower with whips from the Happy Side Show, actors: (which is probably what you want to know): Juliette Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Rebecca Massey, Geoffrey Rush Directors: Michael Heneke, Emir Kusturica, Goran Paskaljevic, Ivan Sen (ozzy),

3. Were you annoyed when The Cooks was cancelled?

Yes and No. I think that show was good compared to the shit we see on commercial telly and the hard work of the producers and actors went to waste in a way. And No because my performance on that was shit- bar that great sex scene on the park bench.

4. Did you enjoy working on the show?

Yes.

5. What was it like working on Marking Time?

Marking time was the most selfless set I have ever been on. EVERYONE somehow knew that we were participating in a story that was bigger than us, bigger than the ABC, bigger than telly and we all got I together to make every day work as best we could. The cast was fantastic and fun, Cherie Nowlan was so committed to every moment of film and I have nothing but extraordinary memories about the teamwork on that show. And we all had to be so open to each other, which adds to the care taken, which rubs off on the work.

6. Do you think you gain a lot from working on it?

Of course. I’ve never worked harder in my life off set and had to make it appear as though I was doing no work when the camera was on.

7. What was it like working with Abe Forsythe?

Funny and challenging at first. He loves his toilet humour and I was very serious at the time. When we got into each other’s groove it was heavenly. But I think the clashing of work ethic worked for the story and the characters.

8. Did you enjoy working with the cast and keep in contact?

Yes. Yes yes.

9. What was it like working with Colin Friels?

Very exciting. Again it seems every fucking actor I work with is more relaxed than me, so when I saw that Colin was laid back, I though, hey perhaps that works for him. I’ll give it a go. I did give it a go. It worked for me too. And he is wonderfully opinionated so chatting with him was wonderful. He’s also incredibly generous and supportive.

10. What has been your favourite role to date?

Randa in Marking Time and Billie in Solo (the film I just did with Colin) and also in theatre: Irina in Three Sisters, the daughter in Death Variations

11. Who have you enjoyed working with the most?

Cherie Nowlan and Nick Enright. Pashing Heath in Blackrock wasn’t too bad either.

12. What movies you have seen lately you have really enjoyed?

I just had 17 hours sleep. I’ve been working on a film for a month and came to Belgrade to work on another. I have not seen any movies worth mentioning. Actually one on DVD: just saw Michael Henekes CODE UNKNOWN for the third time. That is one of my favourite movies of all time.

13. Any one you most like to work with?

Sean Penn as director. And all those idols I mentioned above.

14. What kinda role would you most like to play?

Anything unusual, unpredictable that is well written. That’s like asking a lawyer whom he or she would most like to represent.

15. What are your thoughts on studio remaking movies?

Well they’ve yet to remake a film that was shit in the first place so I save my thoughts for better things.

16. What is your favourite genre of movies?

Psychological drama, thriller, erotica.

17. If you could remake a film what would it be?

Blackrock

18. What your view on realty TV? Good Or Bad?

Bad