We got to chat with Helen Johns who played Mrs. Eliza Barry in Anne With an E.
What did you learn during your time at Mountview Academy of Dramatic Arts that you apply to your career today?
Lots! I think overall, it taught me that to get the most jobs, I need to be ready for anything. We were paired with many different directors and performed many different styles of work. It was wonderful to be able to stretch myself. We had great coaches who gave us ideas that would help inspire our imagination, rather than prescriptive acting techniques with dos and don’ts. If I get stuck with preparing a character now, I go back to those ideas all the time. I was also trained in voice, movement, singing, dancing, stage combat so that none of that seems scary when I’m faced with it. And they were tough on us about timekeeping…if we hadn’t signed in for class 10 mins before it started, we weren’t allowed in all day!
You first started doing work in the theatre, were you nervous to take that initial leap to tv/film?
I had been hoping to start working in film and television, so it was more excitement than nerves. That said, I think auditions for film and television were more nerve-wracking at first because it was something new. I had been performing on stage since I was very young and so theatre auditions always felt familiar to me. Also, I find the first days on set a little intimidating because you know you have to deliver your performance that day, but you don’t yet really know where you fit in the jigsaw puzzle.
Were you a fan of the book Anne of Green Gables before getting involved with Anne With an E?
I knew of the novels, but I hadn’t read them. It was a joy for me to delve into them after I had been cast. I love Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, and I love Lucy Maud Montgomery. They are both role models to me now.
What about Mrs. Eliza Barry stood out to you as a character? Why did you want to play her?
What stands out for me is how much she wants to do right by her family. She sometimes gets it wrong, but she’s always trying to do what’s best. I love working on period projects, I was thrilled to be working for Netflix and CBC and the head of our show – Moira Walley-Beckett – is brilliant. So all round it was an exciting project for me to get involved with.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Some people are really lucky and get great big jobs as soon as they start out. But for most people, it takes a lot of persistence. My advice is to get a good agent, then be prepared to stick at it. And be nice to everyone along the way. It’s a small world!