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.