JULIE WALTERS – LIVE WEBCHAT on Thursday 5th Nov from 1.15pm - 2.15pm.

[RachelMumsnet]

We are incredibly thrilled that Julie Walters is coming in to Mumsnet Towers to join us for a webchat on Thursday 5th November (yep, TOMORROW.)

Fuelled by an unwavering passion for her craft and considered a national treasure, this superstar actress has blessed us with her talents for decades.

On Thursday we're lucky enough to have her full attention for one whole hour! Julie will be chatting about her new film BROOKLYN adapted from Colm Toibin's stunning novel of the same name as well as her quite frankly amazing career. You can ask her that burning question you've always dreamt of - so please join us on Thursday for the webchat, or post your question now!

BROOKLYN is the stunning period film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Julie Walters and Jim Broadbent. It follows the story of Eilis, a young woman who moves from small-town Ireland to Brooklyn, New York where she strives to forge a new life for herself, finding work and first love in the process. When a family tragedy brings her back to Ireland, she finds herself confronting a terrible dilemma - a heart-breaking choice between two men and two countries.

BROOKLYN is out in UK cinemas this Friday 6th November

Hello everybody, I'm here! So let's get cracking.

@ShowOfHands

Oh brilliant.

Julie, you are absolutely smashing. You have made me laugh and cry in equal measure. You know those 'fantasy dinner party guests' ordinary plebs have? You're one of mine. Only, I'm quite in awe of you so if you do rock up for a Sunday roast, I'll be blushing a lot and stuttering and while it would be torturous for anybody invited, it'd be the best night of my life. Actually, being a bit of a curmudgeon in real life, my fantasy dinner party involves me alone on the sofa with a gingerbread man, a cup of earl grey and the dinnerladies boxset on repeat.

In absence of anything worthy to ask, at the aforementioned fantasy dinner, would you prefer to sit next to Victoria Wood or Enjolras (the fictional revolutionary leader from Les Miserables)? It's important that I know this stuff for my seating plan.

Do you have your own fantasy dinner party guest list?

Since I have no idea who Enjolras is, I would obviously choose Victoria!

My fantasy dinner party list would be my dad, as he died when I was young so I would be able to ask him questions that I can’t ask him now.

Hi Julie! waves

@stareatthetvscreen

i love everything that you and victoria wood have done together

are you best friends in real life? :)

who starts giggling first when you are filming ?

Yes, we are really good friends in real life. I guess it's probably me that starts off laughing, if anything.

Off work ill and this is cheering me up already!

@wannabestressfree

Forgot the bloody question... Which piece of work do you think your parents would be most proud of?

It would probably be Educating Rita. But I think my mum would love Brooklyn because she was Irish and it’s set in the 50s, not long after she herself came to England.

@TiffanyAtBreakfast

Hi Julie! waves

waves back

@Weloveoptimus

Hello Julie Do you like doing stuff like this (answering questions on the net) or do you prefer face to face questions? Is this weird and pressured because it's 'live'

How many takes did it take to do the 'two soups' scene?

We love you in our house. Thanks so much for the pleasure you bring with your work xxx
From Jane

It’s difficult to say - it’s different. It’s less pressured on the net because you have a choice of what you answer and you have time to think about your answer and see it in writing. Live television and radio are much more pressured because you have little time to think of your answers.

It was just the one take because if we did it again, you’d lose the laughter and spontaneity.

@TanteRose

yay!!

Julie "Legend" Walters! Hello!

Right off the bat...Menopause.
I don't mince my words.

Any top tips to get through it?

(like Badders above, I'm def in perimeno territory)

Yes, definitely. Don't do HRT, cut sugar and alcohol right down. Red meat and too much carbohydrate make you sweat. Live as healthily as you can, if you can get through it healthily, you'll have so much more energy at the end of it.

thanks Julie!

@GwynethPaltrowIamNot

What's the best advice you've been given and not acted on ?

When I was starting out as an actor, I was advised several times to take up Alexander technique for my posture but I ignored it and I wish I hadn't. I might have a nice, straight back today - but I have made a good living out of not having one!

@OverScentedFanjo

Julie Walters you are amazing. Always make me laugh.

Love Dinnerladies, it looked like you had so much fun filming.

what was it like filming "Who do you think you are?" It was a gripping and sad story.

Also as no one else has asked yet....."what's your favourite biscuit?"

I quite like millionaire's shortbread - but is that a biscuit? If not, then I'd go for Jammy Dodgers.

@Badders123

Right...I've wracked my poor perimenopausal old brain and come up.with this.. Julie...with the lack of funding for the arts now, what is your best advice for working class kids who cant access stage schools or university who want to get into acting/writing/producing?

First of all I'd say that there is some funding out there, but I am not an expert on that. But that would be worth looking into. Then I'd try to get into some student films, things like that. I'd write to everywhere like the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare and to soaps and film companies. You can try agents, but that will be really hard without a showreel of some kind of acting. It is a bad situation. So many people I know wouldn't be in the business if it had been like it is today.

@mollyonthemove

Gibber gibber gibber. I love Julie sooo much Can I ask her (re the new film) has she ever been in a two men choice situation? I have and it was bloody hard work

I should be so lucky!

Hi Julie

Thanks for doing this chat!

Can't wait to watch Brooklyn, it looks so good!

What was it that drew you to the script/part?

@Badders123

Oooooh! Hello Julie. Petula gordino from dinnerladies is probably my favourite character that you have played.

Is it possible for you to choose your favourite role from amongst your career?

Mrs Overall.

"Mrs Overall"

Hi Julie,

Massive fan of all you have done, you never fail to make me laugh/cry all when you're supposed to Educating Rita is an all time favourite.

Was Mamma Mia as much as a laugh to film as it looked?

Also, cheeky but can you say a very quick Happy Birthday to my sister who is a big fan?

@Icecreams1

Hi Julie

Thanks for doing this chat!

Can't wait to watch Brooklyn, it looks so good!

What was it that drew you to the script/part?

First of all, I'd read the novel and loved it long before I was offered the part. I loved the part because it reminded me of my mother, who was Irish, and all the Irish women that were around me as a child. The script is beautifully written by Nick Hornby.

Thanks! I'm far too old to do it now of course....

Like others who quote Dinnerladies, me and my brother and sister always quote Mrs O

"Slice them finely, or someone might choke to death..."
"Sometimes that's god's way of telling you to look sharp and think on"

Thanks Julie x

@RhubarbRhubarbRhubarb

Hi Julie,

Its hard to ask you just one question so I'll risk two. You're so wonderful to watch and I've loved so many of the characters you've brought to life.

Is there a character you have a hankering to play?

Also, have you seen any dramatic improvement in how women are treated in your industry? Is it getting better?

Thanks!

No, I don't have a hankering to play any particular role. I don't choose things in that way. It depends on the script and who the people are that I will be working with.

I have been in the business for 40 years, so yes, I have seen an improvement. There are more camerawomen, more women writers, more women directors, more women producers, more women Heads of Drama than there ever were when I started out. But we've still some way to go!

Hey Julie

I know I haven't actually asked a question. It's weird, I think some of us feel like we know you, so don't need to ask, if that makes sense!

Can't wait for your new film. Hope it's a smash.