Emma Bell Instagram – I remember walking into my callback for ‘A Quiet Passion’ which was located in a tiny room off the lobby of a West Hollywood pool party hotel, about to attempt to step into the shoes of Emily Dickinson. The location was the antithesis of what I had constructed in my head of Emily. The bombast, the indecent, the loud music and revelry- Emily was brooding, mysterious, thoughtful, she’d certainly be undone walking into this hotel. She was a woman of intense imagery that only lived in her mind.
I did not want the loudness of the hotel to shake my resolve so I decided to take a minute and use the bathroom. As I stood in line a man walks past me to use the bathroom door. I, already feeling that the clientele was an affront, snapped ‘ I’m waiting.’ To which this man turned to me- rosy cheeked with a child like face and in a very posh British accent said ‘My apologies, but I really must go.’ To which I said rather haughtily, ‘In this country, men show women respect and wait their turn.’ The bathroom door opened and I went in.
When I was done, I gathered myself and walked through the lobby and into the audition room. When the casting director introduced me to the room, a very posh British accent said ‘ Why yes, we’ve already had the pleasure of meeting.’
This man was the director of the film, an avid Emily enthusiast and the same man I had given a piece of my mind. I truly do not remember the rest of the callback as I think all I could manage to do was stay alive instead of dying of complete embarrassment.
When I got the call I booked it, I stood in disbelief until the first day of shooting when he told me he knew I was Emily the moment I told him off in the queue for the loo. I remember his Cheshire cat grin inside his elvish face when he said it.
Terence Davies was a once in a lifetime person. He was as jovial as he was articulate, he loved what he did with a quiet passion very rare in this industry. He was rather a lot like Emily. And I am blessed to have known him and dear god, grateful for my big mouth in that absurd hotel lobby.
RIP Terence Davies, you will be very missed.
Nov. 10th 1945- Oct. 7th 2023
#terencedavies #aquietpassion | Posted on 25/Oct/2023 10:06:14
