Interview - Morag Macbeth, January 2013

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

“And welcome back New York. For those of you just tuning in, my guest for tonight’s interview has just arrived. Morag Macbeth is an actress and rising star of the theatre in the city. Most people I talk to know her name and very little else, so I’m really looking forward to hearing more about her straight from the source. Welcome to the show, Morag. How about we start with where you’re from and what brought you to our fair city?”

[MORAG MACBETH]

"Thank ye for having me on the show, Siobhan, it's awfy good to be here! Weel, as yoursel' and our listeners tonicht can clearly tell, I'm no frae America! [laughs] I wis born and raised in Scotland, in Glasgae tae be more precise. However, there wis no future for my husband and me there, so we used whit money we had at the time tae move tae New York. I wonae bore ye wi' the details - its a long story."

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"I know exactly what you mean - it's never a simple story [chuckles]. So did you come to New York with the intent of being an actress or did that just happen?"

[MORAG MACBETH]

"I haftae admit it wasnae intentional, so the fact I'm getting so much praise for my wirk is really quite something! I hadnae acted much when I wis young either - I just ended up going tae a couple of auditions when I wasnae getting on wi' finding a job and, as they say, the rest is history!"

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"That's quite the story. And with how big a hit you are now, I'm sure there's nothing but success in your future. So, what do you think of The Big Apple?"

[MORAG MACBETH]

I've bin living here for quite some time now and one of the things I like most about the city is the way things're alwiys changing - there's alwiys somethin' new and different going on. Its also very diverse - a nice change fae Scotland, I haftae say!

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"That's definitely the truth. I swear, I have a new mail man every few weeks. But you know, change is definitely the spice of life. So, you've mentioned you're from Scotland. Is there anything you miss about it?"

[MORAG MACBETH]

"Ye'd expect there'd be an awfy lot I'd miss about Scotland, wouldn't ye? To be quite honest, I dinnae miss all that much. I ken New York and Glasgae are way different but they're both cities, in the end. I kinda miss aabody's accents though, I have tae say! [laughs] Though, if I were tae pick one thing I really, truly miss fae Scotland, it'd have tae be my faither."

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"Oh believe me, I understand completely. Every city is pretty much the same, but you only get one dad. And that New York accent! You wouldn’t believe how often I have to pause and try to figure out what some of them are saying. I actually grew up with parents who had thick Irish accents, so I completely understand you, but when some guy on the street yells ‘cummoffit!’ with the upper east side accent on full blast, it throws me [chuckles]. But I suppose its all part of the experience. Speaking of which, now that you have some Broadway experience under your belt, will you be moving up to the silver screen any time soon?”

[MORAG MACBETH]

"It's all part of the experience, aye. [laughs] I have tae admit the New York accent does take a wee bit of getting used to, but then I reckon it must be hard for people to ken whit I'm saying! [laughs] The number of times I have tae repeat myself... As for the silver screen, again, I never really thought about it. I'm happy where I am... for now, at least. Who kens whit the future has in store?"

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"That’s a good outlook to have. I’ve always found being optimistic gets you further than not. [pauses to grab a clipboard] Well, I know our time is limited and I have a few questions from our audience. Bobby from Queens wants to know what you would do for a living if you couldn’t be an actress? Essentially, what’s your Plan B in life?”

OOC: Sorry, this took FAR too long!

[MORAG MACBETH]

[Morag nods as Siobhan produces the clipboard and explains her reason for it] "Whit's my Plan B in life? Weell, Bobby fae Queens, if I'm gonnae be honest, I hadnae had any other job before I became an actress, so I cannae really imagine doin' anything else other than tha, ye ken? That bein' said, I wouldnae mind running a wee business of some sort - I'd like to be the one who makes all the decisions! [laughs] I guess ye could say I hae a wee bit of a Queen complex!"

ooc: Not to worry! By the by, I got the idea of the Queen complex from here:

analyticalpsychology.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/types-of-psychological-complexes/

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

[Siobhan chuckled a bit at the comment] “Well, how apt a complex to have with your current role, which leads us to our next caller question. Jayda from the Bronx wants to know if you personally connect with your character because of your heritage, and how do you feel about portraying such a powerful Scottish historical figure?”

[MORAG MACBETH]

[Morag grinned at the question] "I have tae say, Jayda, I think that's a richt insightful question! I'm a woman who's very proud of her heritage and so I feel that, aye, I do hae a personal connection to Mary. That being said, she felt a stranger in her own country.... though, I have tae admit, I felt that way masel', hence moving to New York. As for how I feel about playing such a famous figure, I didnae think I wis richt fae the job, tae be honest - but I like tae think I'm more at ease wi' the role now!"

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

[Siobhan nodded along, happy with the answer, her eyes straying to where her producer was tapping his watch exaggeratedly in the next booth]

“It sounds like you’re truly a remarkable woman, Morag. It would probably take us hours to get to know you properly, but according to my watch, our session is almost over. I’d like to thank you for coming in and talking with us tonight. I’ve enjoyed this interview very much. I’m sure I, like all my listeners tonight, will be ordering tickets for your show.”