The debut of Richard Gadd’s ‘Half Man’ introduced audiences to an engrossing storyline and showcases a rising British star in the form of actress Julie Cullen. Undertaking the complex role of Joanna, Cullen (who kickstarted her career in theatres before transitioning to television), caught up with The Real prior to the premiere to discuss working with Emmy-award winners, her similarities with her character and what this casting could mean for the future.
You made your professional acting debut with The Comedy About A Bank Robbery – how have you taken the lessons you learnt in theatre and translated them to onscreen acting?
Theatre is the most wonderful training. Anything can happen on stage and you have to respond in the moment, being extremely self-sufficient. I think it helps build stamina and mental attitude towards the work which is a really valuable thing to have when you’re on set. Being a company member has also helped me become a better actor as being on set is just like theatre, it’s much bigger than yourself, it is totally about working as a team.
Your role as Joanna in Half Man has been labelled as your breakthrough performance, what does this mean to you personally? Has it added any additional pressures, or is it something you prefer to embrace?
It’s a bit overwhelming for me personally to define it as “my breakthrough”, however it definitely feels like a shift for sure and something I am extremely proud of. I think the reason I don’t want to label it as my “breakthrough” is to reduce any pressure on myself; this industry is so crazy and can change overnight so I think trying to keep as grounded as possible and embrace everything is hopefully the way forward.
Dress: De La Vali
How did it feel to work with Emmy award-winning creator Richard Gadd?
I was very honoured to be welcomed into the cast. Richard is extremely hardworking, knows exactly what he wants and is extremely dedicated to the work. His work on Baby Reindeer proves that. So being part of the production of Half Man was honestly an amazing experience especially for this being my first supporting role in something. To be around these incredibly talented people on and off camera was a joy.
How have you found the increased scrutiny that comes with having more high profile roles?
I haven’t actually experienced that yet. I guess at the end of the day we are all just humans trying our best so I hope people don’t have different expectations of me than they did before – we are all still learning.
What was your initial impression of your character in Half Man? Were you immediately drawn to her?
I was drawn to Joanna because we share a lot of similarities. I really love how the show lets us watch her grow into a stronger female presence. She starts off as this carefree, pretty naive student but over time she evolves into Niall’s moral compass. Her character arc is really compelling.
Coat: Entire Studios
Rings: Tilly Sveaas
How did you prepare to undertake the role of Joanna, given that she is an integral part of the storyline? Did you immediately connect with any aspects of her character, or did it require more work?
Richard’s writing was so brilliant that Joanna was there from the get-go. I instantly felt like I knew her so characteristically it didn’t feel as difficult as other characters maybe would. Again, I think we share some similarities which really helped me get into her mindset. All in all, she was a joy to play and I hope she can bring some lightness to some of the darker parts of the story!
What do you hope audiences take away from your character’s journey and experiences?
A takeaway from Joanna is definitely not to underestimate her. It’s easy to box her into one idea in episode two but by episode three you can already see how much she’s grown and how much more confident she is. She ends up playing a big role in shaping Niall’s decisions later on, which I am really proud of her for.
Looking ahead, what lessons have you learnt throughout this whole process that will aid you in landing other significant roles in the future?
To try my hardest not to let imposter syndrome kick in. It’s very difficult when you are on set with such talented people to feel out your depth. I had to have a very strong word with myself to get out of that head space as I don’t think it’s conducive to my best work. I was better at doing that on this job than I have been on previous ones, so I hope I can try and maintain that for future projects.
Photographer: David Reiss @davidreissphotography
Stylist: Sarah Harrison @styledbysrh
HMUA: Charlotte Yeomans @charlotteyeomansmakeup
Follow Julie on Instagram @julieecullen
