Welcome to the January issue of CIL

Interview with Danira Govic

This month, we exclusively interview Danira Govic, a Croatian actress who regularly stars in the
major new 8 part BBC drama Hotel Babylon (BBC One, Thursdays at 9 PM from 19 January) as
Tanya Mihajlov.

The BBC describes Tanya as, “Chambermaid, 24. Hails from somewhere in the Balkans but nobody
quite knows where (or cares). She’s sulky and refuses to clean anything beyond her call of duty.
Would love to move to a front of house job, but has a long way to go. Her attitude, if nothing else,
would have to change!”
Danira is set to become one of the best known Croats in the UK, so CIL has a chat with her.

Tell us about yourself.

I am from Sibenik. I got into acting through waitressing - when I got here (in the UK) I got a job as a
waitress in a hotel. I worked there for a year. I then worked in the National Theatre where I got
exposed to the theatre, which I wasn’t exposed to back home. I fell in love with it, and did a short
course in acting and got encouraged to take it further.

I managed to get a place at the Arts Educational Drama school. It’s not easy to get in but I did. I couldn’t pay for it - it was very expensive. I sent about 200 letters to everyone in the business. One person who was very kind to me paid for the whole course and some of my living expenses. I was waitressing at the National while I was still studying.

When I finished I got an agent. I got parts in ‘Sex Traffic’ and the feature film ‘The Mother’. I was in ‘Manchild’ (BBC series) which was also shown in Croatia. Then I landed this job which hopefully will open a few more doors.

How did you get it?

I went to the casting. I think they were impressed with the way I got into acting. I was very natural for the part. It was originally Russian, but when I got it they decided to change it to Croatian to make it more authentic.

The great thing about the part is that she is not a victim, and somehow on British TV I usually get cast as prostitutes and illegal immigrants and it was so nice to play someone who is not a victim, who is tough, who kicks arse!

She is also a hard worker who wants to climb to the top. An opportunist - but very charming, not in a bad way.

The Stars of Hotel Babylon - Danira is second from the left, seated

For our readers who are soap opera fans, how was it working with people like Tamzin Outhwaite (who plays Rebecca Mitchell) of ‘Eastenders’ fame?

Tamzin Outhwaite is a wonderful and generous actress. She is really nice. I have to say that I’ve never been on a project for this length of time, but everybody was so nice, so wonderful, we got on really well. Everybody was really professional.

My super favourite is Dexter Fletcher (who plays Tony Casemore). I think he’s everybody’s favourite - he’s that kind of guy!
I got on with everyone.

I would supply everyone on set with Bajadera and Ledene Kocke chocolates. Everyone got to know about Croatian chocolates. Everyone on set knows where Croatia is - I kept talking about it.

I was star struck with Joan Collins (who guest stars in episode 7).
I had a scene with her. She was wonderful and very sweet. She was in a picture with me for my mother when I asked her.

Tell us about the scene where you fill a bath with champagne - it features in the trailer for the series.

It wasn’t real champagne of course. We had to pour loads. It was much easier for me than the poor guy in the bath - we didn’t do too many takes.

What are you doing next?

Hopefully, series 2. I am doing some student films at the moment.

I’d really like to work with Dalibor Matanic (director of the acclaimed Croatian film ‘Fine Dead Girls’).

I would really like to work in Croatia. I would love to do some stuff in my own language.

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Noticeboard

Only events run by known and reputable bodies will be listed here.

Vlaho Bukovac paintings exhibition

This exhibition has been organised to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Vlaho Bukovac.

Mercer Art Gallery Harrogate 14 January - 19 March 2006
www.harrogate.gov.uk/museums

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