If brooding looks, floppy hair and sexy lips are your thing then meet the next big hotty making an appearance in Life Goes On. Meet Misha Crosby
BY SUPRIYA DAVDA | MAR 11, 2010
Q. How did you find yourself in the realm of acting?
A. I guess I first got interested in acting when I was about 7 or 8; my dad’s a musician and he used to take me along when he was playing in the orchestra for musicals. I remember looking at the actors on stage and being amazed by the impact their performances had on me. When I hit secondary school I started to take drama more seriously. I was fortunate to have a very good drama teacher that encouraged me to take it further and he suggested I audition for the National Youth Music Theatre.
Q. You’ve appeared on popular TV shows like The Bill and Hollyoaks. What is the transition like from TV to films?
A. I try to keep my approach to the work the same whatever it is. The speed at which you shoot television can be much quicker; with any continuously aired show there’s a lot of jumping back and forth and filming different episodes simultaneously. Whether it’s television or film I’ve never been on any set where time isn’t an issue to some extent. I’m happiest when I’m busy. I get to read some brilliant feature scripts week in week out. Feature films are what I’ve always wanted to do since I started working, so even though I’m not as busy on set every day as I have been, I’m happy with the quality of work I’ve got to be a part of recently.
Q. How did you bag the role of Abbas in ‘Life Goes On’?
A. I got a call from my agent saying there was a feature I had a meeting for, I read a couple of scenes with her, we had a chat and a few weeks later I was offered the part. I was filming Hollyoaks at the time so I was up and down from London to Liverpool a lot. There were some days I spent the morning in Childwall, the afternoon in London and I’d be back on the train to Lime Street in the evening for night shoots.
Q. Tell us about your character Abbas?
A. He’s a musician; he’s loved music for most of his life and is in a band with some of his closest friends. Abbas is at an age where he’s quite impressionable and is presented with very conflicting ideas about how to live his life. On the one hand he has the Mullah in his mosque telling him things like music are forbidden - on the other he’s got the people who’ve been around him his whole life and are unhappy with his new beliefs. He has to make a decision about the person he wants to be.
Q. 'Life Goes On' won Best Film award at Pravasi film festival, that must be a great feeling?
A. I am really happy for everyone that worked on the film. When you work on an independent feature like that everyone’s there because they’re passionate about it. It’s nice it got some recognition in that way.
Q. You’ve worked with veteran actors like Girish Karnad, Sharmila Tagore and Om Puri in the film, what's the working experience like?
A. Anytime you’re around experience like that it’s a joy. I just try to learn as much as possible from them, you can pick up so much from the years other actors have on you. Having people like Om Puri around was amazing. I still remember watching 'East is East' when I was 14 and thinking how brilliant this guy was.
Q. Although 'Life Goes On' is a British film, the star-cast are predominately from the South Asian continent. Was their working ethic different from yours?
A. In terms of commitment, not at all. From what I’ve seen everyone’s there because they really want to be. Most actors are willing to go the extra mile to create what we think is best for the scene at the time.
Q. How do you think audiences will receive this film?
A. I’ll have to let you know after I’ve seen it.
Q. What’s next for you?
A. I’ve had meetings for a few of the new pilots in the States and a few new features over here that have looked really promising. I have got a list of directors I dream of working with at some stage in my career with the Cohen brothers and Scorsese somewhere near the top of it. There’s a film company called "Oil” I set up with my one of my best friends Laurence Fuller. We’ve produced a couple of short films so far; one of them 'Possession(s)', starring Laurence, is set to be broadcast on ABC later this year. We’re working on getting together a feature at the moment.
Click here to view exclusive pictures of Misha Crosby along with Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore at the London screening of 'Life Goes On'. You can also visit www.lifegoeson.info to read more on 'Life Goes On'.
