Sweeney Todd Forum

Especially for STF's Birthday Edition, Jayne Wisener (Johanna in Tim Burton's movie) answers questions posed by BB. Thanks also to some of our Associate Members for some of the questions.

BB: How did you come to be cast as Johanna in Sweeney Todd?

JW: I was in a production of West Side story in the Millenium forum in Derry, Northern Ireland with a company called Music Theatre 4 Youth. Jeremy James Taylor who was the director of the National Youth Music theatre came to watch the show as he was scouting for Susie Figgis the casting director. I wasn’t playing a lead role but I did sing the song somewhere and was asked to come back the next day to audition for him along with a few other girls. I then got a call to go over to London to audition for Susie Figgis.
 
BB: Were you familiar with the stage show?

JW: Yes my friend Jamie from drama school sang the song Johanna one day in our singing class. Then a production of Sweeney Todd came to the theatre beside our drama school so my friends Emma and Jamie and I went to see it. It was a terrible production and I fell asleep! How very rude of me but it’s a real shame because I do love the show and I love the soundtrack.
 
BB: Do you think Anthony and Johanna were really in love,and do you think that, if the story continued, Anthony and Johanna would stay together and make each other happy?

JW: Well they didn’t actually say I love you to one another in the movie. I think their relationship was quite innocent and they found companionship with one another. If the story continued then I can only hope they fell deeply in love and lived happily ever after!
 
BB: Was it your choice to not sing Green Finch And Linnet Bird operatically, or was it a directorial decision?

JW: I tried to sing it more like a young girl who felt trapped. I don’t think an operatic voice would have been appropriate for the Johanna portrayed in the film. The director seemed to like what I did so that’s the main thing anyway!
 
BB: What are you planning to do next? More films? Musical theatre?

JW: I would like to do more films right now. But in a few years I would love to perform again in the west end. But it’s not really a career where you can plan too much so I will just have to wait and see what the future brings.
 
BB: What are your memories of the first day of filming?

JW: Well I remember getting up at a stupid hour of the morning and getting my hair and make up done which I loved! It was amazing to watch myself get transformed into someone else! Once I was ready to go Tim Burton came to my dressing room and was so nice to me and told me everything would be fine. So I went over to the set and watched them filming a scene so as I could get a sense of the atmosphere. The set was just incredible it really transported me into a different world. The rest of the day I spent singing and just enjoying every moment of the experience.
 
BB: My daughter Katy and I were lucky enough to meet you at the Premiere party at the Royal Courts of Justice. Katy wants to know where you bought your shoes! She loved them!

JW: Lol! Brilliant. I got them in Kurt Geiger. They are lovely actually quite a few people have asked me where they are from.
 
BB: What was the reaction of your college friends to you being in a movie with people like Johnny Depp and Alan Rickman?

JW: They were all really delighted for me. Alan rickman is such a legend and of course I have been a huge fan of Johnny depp for years. I reckon every female was a touch jealous of the fact that I was going to meet him let alone work with him!
 
BB: What was Johnny like to work with?

JW: He was just lovely. Very friendly and down to earth. I was in complete awe.
 
BB: Do you have one funny story you’d like to share from your experience of being in the film?

JW: Well…. I don’t really know if it’s a funny story…but when we were filming the scene in the mad house where Johanna and Anthony run out I was actually wearing a straight jacket so my hands were tied behind my back and the floor was all wet and I lost my balance and fell slap bang on my ass. But the problem was… because my hands were tied behind my back I had no way of getting myself back onto my feet! So I had to just sit there with everyone staring at me until Jamie came over and picked me up. Actually I think that’s more of an embarrassing story than a funny one.
 
BB: Sweeney Todd being a story with such dark themes, what was the atmosphere on the set like? Did you (and/or the other actors) try to stay in character, or did you have fun between takes and scenes?

JW: No the atmosphere wasn’t dark at all. Plenty of laughs I can tell you. I did try to stay in character in my head most of the time though just because I was so afraid of messing it up when they decided to do a take! But the atmosphere in general was quite relaxed. Everyone was lovely to me anyway!
 
BB: Given this was your first experience of this kind what was it like to work on such a huge, professional, A-list production?

JW: Completely mind blowing. I still haven’t quite got my head around it. It’s very exciting and I am so thankful for the experience.
 
BB: What other music theatre (or other) roles would you love to play?

JW: I don’t really want to say because they are like my dreams and wishes and if I tell a wish it wont come true!

BB would like to thank Jayne and her agent Michael Symons.