Sarah Ewing 

Joanna Page: My family values

The Gavin and Stacey actress talks about the joys of being an only child and getting homesick at drama school
  
  

Joanna Page
Joanna Page: I loved being an only child. I loved ­being in my own world, playing with my toys and being in my made-up magical world. Photograph: Karen Robinson/Guardian

My earliest memory is being in Auntie Iris’s house on the coast when I was four. She did lots of amateur dramatics and had a massive ornate cupboard in her bathroom filled with emerald green feather boas, beads and shoes. I’d go in, close the door, dress up and then swan downstairs and play on her giant piano. She’s definitely the one I get all my creativity and acting skills from as no one else in the family is into it.

I grew up in the countryside near Swansea. My dad, Nigel, was a mechanic, and Mum, Susan, worked in a bank. We lived near the sea so I was always down by the beach or going on adventures on my bike. Mum and Dad are complete opposites. Mum is very neat and organised, which is perfect for working in a bank, having to follow strict rules. Dad was very artistic, especially drawing.

They raised me to be conscientious, confident, kind and to have a very strong work ethic. I knew I wouldn’t get anything unless I really tried. I was so loved and looked after. Because of it, not a lot knocks me and I don’t panic about what people think of me. That helps in the acting profession.

We were a really stable, close-knit, extended family. Dad has seven brothers and sisters, and my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all lived nearby. That’s why it’s strange for me now, living away from Wales and not having immediate family around me. I find it difficult, so my parents come and visit my husband, James, my two-year-old daughter, Eva, and me all the time in Oxfordshire.

I loved being an only child. I loved being in my own world, playing with my toys and being in my made-up magical world. I had a massive dressing-up box and throughout the day I’d change around seven times. I had an imaginary friend called Daby, who I’d blame for things that I’d done. I love my own company now. I don’t like being with people all the time. I like having quiet days at home.

From an early age I was dead set on what I wanted to be, but acting wasn’t considered an option. School pushed me to go down the academic route and on to university because drama school was looked down on. But I was determined to be successful and told them, “It will work out, I don’t need anything to fall back on!” I didn’t see the point in wasting my life planning to fail.

I was very homesick when I went to Rada. I was a very young 18 and everyone else was a lot older with more life experience. I phoned home every night in tears for two years, wanting to leave. Maxine Peake was in my class and I used to sob regularly in her room.

My relationship with my parents hasn’t changed much as I’ve grown older. I’m more independent, but still very close to them. Their lives are really intertwined with mine, staying with us and taking care of Eva while I’m on set, so I can work.

I wanted to be an instinctive parent, rather than one driven by “shoulds”. When I was pregnant, I read all the books, including Gina Ford’s, which just seemed so regimented and structured. It sounded ridiculous and I knew there was no way I could do that. I’ve just fallen into our own routine with Eva and discovered what worked for us.

We’ll definitely have more kids. James is one of four so he wants to get breeding again as soon as possible. As an only child, if we never had any more I’d be perfectly happy because Eva is everything to me. We’ll aim for between one and four then!

Joanna Page is in Q Pootle 5: The Great Space Race and other Adventures!, which is available on DVD and digital download from 6 October

 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

*