Page 8 The Skanner November 16, 2016 News Interview cont’d from pg 7 acter. And that was a very American part, too. I believe Jeff just trusted us both as actors to do our jobs individu- ally. And we both professed such love for this couple that he was confident that we’d try as hard as possible to recreate their love and their chemis- try. He also knew, intrinsically, that we were two actors who don’t act in isolation but very much rely on other actors. And Joel and I both very much felt that this was something that we could do as an ensemble. KW: When I saw the film, I thought that this was the first time I’d seen you. Then, when I looked at your resume, I realized I’d seen you in “World War Z,” in “Of Mind and Music,” in “Jimi “and in a few other productions. So, that shows how much you do disap- pear into a role. I was very impressed. I had no idea you weren’t American. RN: Wow! that’s a lovely thing to say. Thank you! KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turni- er asks: How did you prepare to play Mildred? What research did you need to conduct to capture the character accurately? RN: Great question, Patricia! Lucki- ly, Nancy Buirski had made the docu- mentary, “The Loving Story,” for HBO. She first found out about Mildred Loving by reading her obituary. Being the excellent documentarian that she is, she then began digging and doing research, and she found archival foot- age which had been discarded that was originally intended for a contem- porary documentary. And she creat- ed a documentary about this couple, weaving footage into it. So, I basically studied that and all the archival foot- age that we could find. The Loving Story was really a gift, because it let me sort of unlock Mildred, her phys- icality, the way she spoke, the timbre, tone and pitch of her voice, the way she moved, and the way she was with Richard, her kids, and the rest of her family. It really was invaluable, which is why I always quip that Nancy did my homework for me. PBS Journalist Gwen Ifill Dies of Cancer Colleagues remember her as a standard bearer for change and justice KW: What message do you think people will take away from the film? RN: I don’t know what people will take away from the film, but I would hope they take away the idea that it’s very important that we don’t for- get those in history who might have been quiet agitators, people who might have changed the world in a way which was unexpected. And that should remind us that we all have the capacity to do that. Even if you think that you don’t, this couple proves oth- erwise. KW: I agree. I found the film to be very powerful in an understated way. It’ll be interesting to see how people respond to it. RN: It will be. You’re right. KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would? RN: Gosh, that’s a good question. Hmm... [Pauses to think] I don’t know, but that’s a brilliant question, I must admit. But I do love talking about this couple. KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic films being re- done, is there a remake you’d like to star in? RN: Someone’s already asked me that, Kam. I answered “All About Eve,” because I think it’s just such a brilliant film. I doubt that it could be remade any better, but I just love the character Eve Harrington. KW: Finally, what’s in your wallet? RN: Credit cards, stick gum attached to pennies, and an unhygienic tooth- pick. Honestly, my purse is just a mess. Constantly. In this June 1, 2016, file photo, President Barack Obama removes his suit coat as he participates in a televised town hall event at Lerner Theatre in Elkhart, Ind., with PBS NewsHour co-anchor and manager editor Gwen Ifill, left. Ifill died on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, of cancer, PBS said. She was 61. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) By DAVID BAUDER AP Television Writer NEW YORK— Gwen Ifill, co-anchor of PBS’ “NewsHour” with Judy Woodruff and a veteran journalist who moderat- ed two vice presidential debates, died Monday of cancer, the network said. She was 61. A former reporter for The New York Times and The Washington Post, Ifill switched to television in the 1990s and “ said Sara Just, PBS “NewsHour” execu- tive producer. “She was a mentor to so many across the industry and her pro- fessionalism was respected across the political spectrum. She was a journal- ist’s journalist and set an example for all around her.” NBC News’ Pete Williams, a former colleague, struggled to keep his compo- sure Monday when announcing Ifill’s death on MSNBC. “She had so many awards in her office She was a mentor to so many across the indus- try and her professionalism was respected across the political spectrum covered politics and Congress for NBC News. She moved to PBS in 1999 as host of “Washington Week” and also worked for the nightly “NewsHour” program. She and Woodruff were named co-an- chors in 2013. She moderated vice presidential de- bates in 2004 and 2008 and authored the book, “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.” Ifill took a leave from “NewsHour” for a month this spring for health reasons, keeping details of her illness private. Her health failing, she left “NewsHour” again shortly before an election night that she and Woodruff would have cov- ered together. “Gwen was a standard bearer for courage, fairness and integrity in an in- dustry going through seismic change,” you could barely see out the window,” Williams said. Shortly before moderating the debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin in 2008, Ifill brushed aside concerns that she might not be fair because she was writing a book about Obama. “I’ve got a pretty long track record covering politics and news, so I’m not particularly worried that one-day blog chatter is going to destroy my repu- tation,” she told The Associated Press then. Ifill, who was Black, also questioned why people would assume her book would be favorable toward Obama. “Do you think they made the same assump- tions about Lou Cannon (who is white) when he wrote his book about Reagan?” she said.