SETTING
the STAGE
N
atalie Paul is absolutely inspirational. She went
from stage acting with theatre groups such a
The Classical Theatre of Harlem to writing
and directing her own short films, Everything
Absolutely and Sweet Tea. Now, she’s an incredible film
actor who has taken on roles in Crown Heights, The Deuce,
Show Me A Hero, and most recently Heather in The Sinner.
Natalie has been impacted by many tough female actors
and loves to play strong women with complex personalities.
Through her film career and work with the Epic Theatre
Ensemble, she hopes to help change the film industry for the
better. BY CELIA SPANA
Have you always been interested in acting? Who’s your
biggest inspiration?
Natalie Paul: I've always been interested in storytelling-
whether it was through acting, writing, dancing. My biggest
inspiration has always been the women in my family -
listening to them tell stories, hearing them make everyday
dramas to be larger than life. I was always in awe of them; I
think that was the beginning of it.
Photo Credit: Jai Lennard
What has your experience been like working on a stage
compared to working on a film set?
On stage you get the instant knowledge of whether you've
got the audience or not. In film, you often have to wait
months! Sometimes the crew will come up to you and say,
"good work." after an exceptionally difficult scene - that
can be sweeter than any round of applause at times, because
they see you day after day and they're working really hard
right alongside you.
Theater is more athletic; it takes more energy to keep
something fresh night after night. I love both mediums
a lot though.
How is playing Heather in The Sinner different from any
other role you’ve had?
In so many ways, Heather has a lot going on. Our
showrunner, Derek Simonds, said to me early on that
because Heather’s a junior detective she has to clean up a lot
of messes in town. She knows the different sides of people
that they try to keep hidden. I'm not sure I've ever played
a character like that before. But at the same time she's got
things to hide herself, as you 'll see in the show. So I guess
juggling that professional side with the personal side of
Heather has been really juicy and complex.
What goes into acting on a crime series? Do you have to
do a lot of research to prepare for such an intense role?
How does it affect your everyday life?
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