Having a Laugh
As an actor and voice actor, I've spent countless hours talking and jabbering away. So why not put my talking to good use and start a podcast? Get ready, babes, and join me for some spicy hot tea, generational TRAU-MA (Jamie Lee Curtis voice), and some hilarity. My therapist always told me I should do stand-up, and this is the closest I’ll ever get. I've also roped in some guests to join me in discussing acting, mental health, and behind-the-scenes magic. Welcome to the wild world of my podcast, where sarcasm reigns supreme and laughter is the best therapy.
https://linktr.ee/havingalaugh (FOR MORE)
Having a Laugh
#18 Starting Season 2 with Alabama Boatman | Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
In our Season 2 Premiere, we're chatting with London actress, Alabama Boatman! Get ready as we catch up with each other, gossip, and dive into our acting adventures. We swap stories about the wild ride of drama school, compare life in London vs. the States, and chat about the role of family in our journeys.
You’ll get to hear our personal take on everything from favorite shows like Golden Girls, Sex and the City, to the impact of dark movie themes, like in Trainspotting.
Then we play a rapid-fire game revealing secrets, regrets, and star-studded encounters. Don't miss out on our first episode of Season 2!
Alabama - @alabamab
Shayla - @shaylatharp_
shaylatharp.com
Having a Laugh - Instagram
Shay (00:00)
Hi everyone. This is Shayla Tharp and you're listening to Having a Laugh. Today I have Alabama Boatman. Miss Alabama. She starred as Tina in Tony and Tina's Wedding off the West End, which is where we met. How are you doing? You're still living in London, enjoying life.
Alabama (00:21)
Yeah, enjoying life. I mean, I would like to trade with you. I wanna, I wanna, I just wanna be in the States. I feel like it's.
Shay (00:26)
Why?
my god, then come on over, babe.
Alabama (00:33)
it's a whole ordeal. if you find me a husband, and he's going...
Shay (00:35)
in it.
Girl, I mean that was my whole issue with the UK. was like, I just need to get married. well now you tell me.
Alabama (00:43)
I would have married you.
Shay (00:49)
So I haven't seen you in like a year. Can I ask how you're doing?
Alabama (00:49)
you
Mm.
Doing good, doing good, missing you.
Shay (00:58)
Well, that's good. well, yeah. I mean, I would assume.
Alabama (01:01)
I mean, do you think you'll come back? You'll come back visit?
Shay (01:05)
I would love to, I mean, like, I would love to move back eventually. I miss England so much. I really do. I mean, but yeah, it's hard. It's hard. You get it. I mean, I miss it more than anything, but I, the healthcare man was rough. Babes, babes.
Alabama (01:17)
Do you? You miss London?
Wait, our healthcare's good! Sorry, what? Babes, sorry, your healthcare is like through the roof,
Shay (01:36)
It's expensive, but it's good care.
Alabama (01:38)
Yeah? Well, yeah, how many of you are paying?
Shay (01:42)
Exactly, and I like that. I'm loving it. But yeah, I mean, was just hard though. I mean, it so expensive as well. You get it.
Alabama (01:54)
Yeah, do you think it's more expensive?
Shay (01:57)
In ways, think it's, man, it's apples and oranges. They're just so different, but so, I don't know, but I absolutely loved it there and it was just so beautiful and I just always felt, I don't know, so cozy and at home there.
Alabama (02:14)
Yeah, it's nice when autumn hits as well. Like this is the season now where it's like nice and cosy.
Shay (02:17)
Yeah. I know. Are you in central London or have you moved?
Alabama (02:26)
I'm so I am I'm like, should I should I give out my address? No, I'm like West London. So St. John's would kind of vibe, which is nice because I'm near Abbey Road was getting more and more specific now. So, yeah, so I'm near Abbey Road, you know, with the Beatles and stuff. So that's always kind of cool to see.
Shay (02:34)
Yes.
Yeah.
I'm right outside.
Yeah. I bet. I bet. I wouldn't even drive there. I never even visited there and I lived there for like five years. I was like, I'm not going over there.
Alabama (02:56)
annoying to drive past because people are always crossing it. my god, just...
Yeah, it's kind of underwhelming to be honest.
Shay (03:08)
I mean, it's literally a zebra crossing.
Alabama (03:11)
It's a zebra crossing, like they're not gonna be there. If they were there, that would be amazing.
Shay (03:16)
I'm there. So we met at Tony and Tina's wedding, which was a quick run of a show. And I mean, that was a special production for, I mean, I'm still triggered.
Alabama (03:24)
Mm -hmm.
my God, that was for so many reasons. It was roller coaster. It was a roller coaster. I I loved it. was, it was weird. Yeah, I loved you guys. It was such a nice cast. Like, cause we were actually really good friends.
Shay (03:39)
Absolutely rollercoaster.
Mm -hmm. I loved you guys.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah.
Alabama (03:54)
And I feel like people always kind of say that and you're like, and then you find out like 10 years later, the cast all hates each other, but like we really got along. So it was nice. It was like very cozy, especially for my first job. Cause that was also, was my first audition was Tony and Tina.
Shay (03:59)
Yeah, yeah.
Mm -hmm.
I didn't know that.
Alabama (04:14)
Yeah, it was my first audition. I was so nervous. I was so nervous. And then I kind of lied a little bit in the audition. I mean, I kind of had to like, so sorry, so sorry Larry. He was like, I remember at the end of the audition, I was like, okay, I can feel this, this went well. Like, I mean, I was hoping it went well, but I was up for Tina, right? So this is like a lead.
Shay (04:19)
Really?
Don't we all?
We all.
Mm -hmm.
Alabama (04:43)
And he was like, so what have you kind of done before? Like, have you like headlined anything before? And I was like, if I say no right now and say, hey, I'm at drama school, then the pandemic, I've done nothing. He might be like, hmm. Also in the waiting room was someone from Love Island. So I was like.
Shay (04:53)
Mm
Yeah.
man.
Alabama (05:08)
or like they can say I've got kind of this experience of this and that. So I thought if I had notes, so I was kind of like, yeah, yeah, I am done some fringe, done some fringe. I was like, I've done a few plays here and there. I've done some stuff. great, great, great. I was like, if they look at my spotlight right now, just clearly a lie, but you killed it.
Shay (05:15)
Yeah. Mm -hmm.
You know, just... yeah.
Well, you killed it.
Well, I mean, we all killed it to the ground. It's dead. I mean, it was a hurt and a half. I really did actually enjoy everyone. And I think that's why it was sad when it was done. I was like,
Alabama (05:38)
you
I know it was very emotional. Yes, yes. And it was like, I mean, hey, who knows? Vegas? Shall we just?
Shay (05:52)
It was very emotional. The whole ride was emotional.
I'm saying Vegas. Let's bring it to Vegas. I'm here now. I'm actually moving to LA in like a month
Alabama (06:10)
So what?
Shay (06:12)
you got a visit! Yeah, I lived there.
Alabama (06:14)
You're moving to LA. And your signer's saying about London, you want to come to London, LA?
Shay (06:21)
That do be expensive as well. I mean, that's not a lie. There's sunshine. There's just, I mean, I already have some friends over there because I lived there for like five years. So I am a little more familiar. Yeah, but yeah, it is very, very expensive, but I don't need a visa to go there. So that's the difference.
Alabama (06:24)
Yeah, but you got the sun, you got the sun!
Yeah, nice.
What made you choose between LA and New York?
Shay (06:49)
See, yeah, I just visited New York and I I loved it because it had so many aspects of London but I got a job offer in LA so I was like Yeah, I was like I need to go where I will be paid to live
Alabama (06:58)
Mmm.
Well, okay then.
So wait, then you're gonna be in LA when I'm in Vegas?
Shay (07:13)
When are you going?
Alabama (07:14)
Two weeks? No, okay, well, that's brought me down. Before, I think this will be like my 10th time now.
Shay (07:16)
no, I won't be there yet.
I guess you'll just have to come back. You'll just have to come back. Have you been to Vegas?
Mm
What are you doing there?
Alabama (07:35)
Well, it's kind of, it's weirdly like a family, it's a family thing. Because my dad was a poker player, still is, and my uncle. So when my mom and dad were together, like Vegas was kind of their moment. I mean, they eloped in Vegas, and he proposed on the casino floor. He was like, yeah, it was very romantic. was, the romance was kind of ruined, and he was like.
Shay (07:39)
Okay.
Alabama (08:03)
He was like, let's get married tonight. And she was like, my God, yes. And he was like, as long as I can gamble after, like, afterwards, please, I wanna go play poker. And she was like, okay, fine. I'll allow it. So then, and then when my parents split up, me and my mom still just kinda kept going. And then friends came out, like my best friend when I was in primary school. Now I go like with my uncle and aunt who are in Seattle, like.
Shay (08:13)
Have
Aww.
Alabama (08:32)
We all just kind of meet up there, see a lot of shows, lot of good shows.
Shay (08:34)
end up there. That's cute. There, I've never seen a show that, well, that's a lie, I Celine Dion. That was pretty epic. That was pretty top tier, but.
Alabama (08:43)
Okay, you kind of, it's pretty epic. I saw Lady Gaga. Very good.
Shay (08:52)
Ooh, is it her jazz show kind of thing? She's doing one right now where it's really jazzy and I was like, ooh, yeah.
Alabama (09:00)
Yeah, she's super jazzy because she does, she does songs with like Tony Bennett and stuff, didn't she? Yeah, maybe I, I didn't, I don't think I saw her then. I saw her more like pop, full pop era. And then I saw Jonas Brothers. Such a, yeah, huge crushes on all three. And then Britney Spears.
Shay (09:05)
Yeah, she's kind of saying those songs and I was like, maybe I will see it.
Okay. Mm -hmm.
Classic. Classic.
Mm -hmm.
Okay, all right, that's a good one. You've you've topped it Yeah, I Mean she's just another level. I mean that's just you can't even touch that Call even touch it So we're gonna miss each other, but that's sad You'll have to just come visit me in LA and I'll take you around Hollywood. That would be fun. Have you been to Hollywood?
Alabama (09:31)
That was a good one, Yeah, did I top it? Well, silly you, no, no, you're up there, you're up there.
I went to LA like maybe last year for the first time.
Shay (10:02)
I was gonna say I think I f - I remember you going, yeah.
Alabama (10:04)
Yeah, think it was, no, was two years ago, but I went in winter.
Shay (10:10)
Yeah, well they don't really have a winter. okay.
Alabama (10:13)
It was winter. It was so cold. I mean, it wasn't like here's winter. If you're going to LA, like I think I was there November. So.
Shay (10:21)
Yeah. You want the sun.
Okay. And you, yeah, you're fine with the warmth. Like, I remember in our dressing rooms, I was like, I had like five fans on me, windows open, I was like, I'm dying. And you were just like, I'm fine. Another layer of makeup? Yes, please.
Alabama (10:43)
Yeah, no, I was plastering it on for those shows because to be fair, I get caved in at the end and it was just like...
Shay (10:48)
It was supposed to.
That's true. That is very true. So speaking of acting and all that stuff, is that always something you wanted to do? I know obviously your dad visited us. He's a East Ender resident. And so he seems supportive of what you want to do. Has your family always been supportive?
Alabama (10:54)
Yeah.
always been very supportive. Yeah, like I wanted to be an actor really since the get go. What's weird is like even like home videos of me when I was a kid, like my mom used to bless my mom, like the patience she must have had. She used to film me and like I would do like a little dance to like Tony Bennett actually.
Shay (11:37)
Hahaha
Alabama (11:44)
or I would be singing like the yellow submarine. And like there's one where I'm singing the yellow submarine. I pretty much only know the chorus, right? So I sing the chorus and my mom's like, that was amazing, that was wonderful. Okay, like say goodbye to the camera. And I'm like, no, no, more, more, keep going. And she's like, okay. She's like, go on, do another one. And I'm like, we all live in it, like again and again.
Shay (11:52)
Aww.
Yeah.
Alabama (12:14)
Not even a different song, no change up to the exact same song. So I definitely like, I loved being in front of the camera. Like a little bit too much. I remember it was so embarrassing. I was actually like such a little diva. Like I have, I have recordings of, I remember there was one show we did like a school show of the Nutcracker or something.
Shay (12:14)
my god.
You don't say.
Alabama (12:43)
And one of the mums had said to my mum, look, I forgot my camera. Could you please film my kid as well? And my mum was like, yeah, of course. So my mum's like filming me and then she goes to like the other girl and then she goes back to me and I'm stood there going like.
Like, so awful. But yeah, no, they were always really supportive. They're both very like creative. My mum was a huge inspiration for me because she had done a lot of acting as well as a kid. Like she went to stage school instead of like, I guess maybe secondary school for us.
Shay (13:02)
You
Alabama (13:26)
and she was in this BBC TV series called Children's Island. Actually, a banging show.
Shay (13:32)
Gosh. I'm thinking Love Island but for children?
Alabama (13:37)
No, that's terrifying. Horrifying. No, no, was like a BBC six part or something series of these British children who are on their way to America and they get trapped on an island. So it's like all kids stuck on an island and she was so good in it. Like she got to become best friends with like a monkey.
Shay (13:42)
what's the trick?
Okay, cool.
Aww.
Alabama (14:06)
Love the monkey. Pretty sick, right? And so I would just watch that over and over and over. Like I thought it was so amazing. I was like, wow, like you're incredible. And so, and then she did a bunch of like, nineties music videos and she was like, did extra work and Batman and things like that. So she would show me all of that and like that inspired me massively. And then
Shay (14:07)
That's pretty sick. Yeah.
Alabama (14:34)
My dad's I couldn't watch back then because it was lit.
Shay (14:37)
I don't really know his like, I guess, resume. Yeah. So has he, was he doing stuff as well when you were young?
Alabama (14:40)
Right here, yeah.
Yeah, he was doing a lot of, it was a lot of gangster stuff. A lot of gangster stuff. And I was pretty, it is now. Now I've watched it. Like he did this film called Hard Men, which I love, great film. But back then I couldn't watch any of that, like six. He did do this TV series called London's Burning, which I guess I could have watched. It was like a fireman show, but I was very squeamish.
Shay (14:49)
Okay.
So not up your alley. Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Alabama (15:15)
And I remember I saw one scene, like bless him, he tried to show me one scene and it happened to be like someone got caught under a train. And I was like, well, actually I'm never watching. That's it's for me. So I couldn't really watch his stuff, but he always encouraged me. I loved, like I just love making people laugh. That was always.
Shay (15:29)
That's it.
Alabama (15:43)
That was always what I loved about acting. I loved being the class clown. I loved the attention a little bit. mean, we had a school show where we had to do some sort of duet. We were all doing a duet of a whole new world from Aladdin. So everyone was like, the teachers were like, okay.
Shay (15:50)
Yeah.
No.
Alabama (16:08)
You can pick any character you want. can be either Jasmine or Aladdin. So obviously everyone's picking their favorite character, right? Like, I wanna be Jasmine, like, yeah, Aladdin. Me, I sat there at like seven years old and I was counting the lines. I like, who's got more? And I was like, yeah, Aladdin, Aladdin, like, I'll be Aladdin. So I did like to be the star of the show, which is so weird. It's like that part of you as a kid.
Shay (16:24)
my god.
Alabama (16:36)
Like everything I loved about acting as a kid, like I lost for so long, like wanting to be like to do comedy and wanting to make people laugh and being like the center of like doing a whole show. Like I suddenly ended up like hating and I was like, no, I can't do that. So, but as a kid loved all of that. And wait, what was I gonna say? Gone.
You'll find us back here. Gone. Gone.
Shay (17:06)
It's gone. It's gone. It's gone. Well, did Tony and Tina bring out any of that child -ness in you? Because the role was super out there and funny and, like, you were hilarious. It was very improvisational.
Alabama (17:20)
Bye!
Yeah, do you know, I think like drama school was such like a low for me that I really like, at that point especially, I was like, there's no way I can do comedy. And I was like, then there's no way I can do improvisation. I was like, these are things like that. And so when I went for Tony and Tina, I was like, it's comedy and it's improvisation.
Shay (17:33)
yeah.
Alabama (17:52)
But I kind of like, self -esteem had gotten like better by then, but I was still like, this doesn't really seem like something that I could do. But I really faked it. Like I just proper faked it. Like faked it. And then I was like, my God, like once we were doing it, I was like, I love this. Like this is why. So that's why Tony and Tina, like that was such an important moment for me because I was like, wow. Like this is why I loved acting. Because at drama school,
Shay (18:03)
That's what you gotta do.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Alabama (18:21)
I completely fell out of love with acting.
Shay (18:24)
Not gonna lie, when I went to East 15, I got my masters in England. They just sucked the love of acting from me. I was like, my God, just fucking, sorry, edit out. I just hate it. I mean, they just sucked the life out of me. And I don't know, maybe that's an English drama school thing, but.
Alabama (18:33)
Hmm.
Well, I mean, for me, it's so frustrating, right? Because I'd always been like, I really, really wanna go to drama school. And I applied to all of them when I was maybe 16. I applied to all of them and I didn't go to a single audition. I was like, no, I was like, I really convinced myself, like, no, I wanna do the university thing first. Like, that's what I wanna do. But really I was just terrified. Like, I just was like, no, I can't do it.
Shay (19:02)
wow.
Alabama (19:17)
And then once uni finished, I was like, okay, like, this is the moment. I'm gonna go for drama school. And I had this real feeling about this one that I got into. And I loved it. I was like, this is it. And I got in and I was so happy. And then it was like, gone. It was like straight away, I was like, like, this was a fluke. This was a fluke.
and I'm not good enough, I'm not pretty enough, I'm gonna get in that costume, I'm gonna act, and they're all gonna see straight through me and think, what is she doing here? And I don't know if I'm really old, but this felt like before imposter syndrome became a thing that people were talking about. So I didn't know what this was. I wasn't like, this is just imposter syndrome. But I was like, no, I can't do this. And I never...
at drama school, like I had moments where like I would do a show and I would get good feedback or I was happy doing it. And like, I would have moments where I would kind of begin to feel good about it again, but I just couldn't get out of that head space. Like the entire time I was like, no, like this isn't for me. And like, I don't deserve to be here. yeah, but I mean, the teachers were amazing. Like the class was amazing, but it's also very,
It's very exposing. And it's very also like, do you know what I found? I found that they emphasize certain ways of learning. there was a lot of like, did you do all the kind of stuff like, know, like swish flick kind of like a dream characters? Like if you like say a line, like, is that a punch? Is that push?
Shay (20:48)
Yes.
Mm -hmm.
Yes, I think that's called Laban. Laban, which I absolutely detested, but I mean, I like learning all the different ways to do stuff, but when they heavily, heavily suggest doing Laban all the time, was like, ugh.
Alabama (21:13)
get all love on.
For so many people, it totally clicked. People were like, and I felt like for most, almost all the class, I just felt like, and I could see it working for them. They would say a line and then the teacher would be like, right, say it again, but do it with a flick and a punch and move it with the push and say it with more of a direction of to belittle that person. it was also, it felt like kind of mathematical for me. And because my,
Shay (21:52)
Yeah.
Alabama (21:58)
brain just doesn't work that way. I was like, wow, this is what acting is and it's connecting for all of them and they're killing it with it and I can't. And I was like, no, I'm done.
Shay (22:11)
can't do Lob on, it's over.
Alabama (22:13)
It's over, like, clearly, clearly I'm done. So, yeah, so like it was a weird, like a weird experience for me. I just don't think drama school is for everyone.
Shay (22:17)
Yeah.
Yeah, it's tough and I think that if you go to a certain school, sometimes they will emphasize on doing certain exercises more than the other or, you know, some people do Meisner, some people do the other stuff. So it's like, it just depends on what they're heavily influencing and if it works for you. And yeah, I had the same issue because I was like, I don't want to float when I'm saying this word. Like, that's not how I'm connecting.
Alabama (22:52)
Yeah, yeah, Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like it didn't connect for me. Like I'm like, I just want to feel something. I know, I understand that that's the way you get to like, it's a way of getting there. But for me, it was like.
Shay (22:56)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Mm -hmm. It was too logistical. Like, I was like, okay, I'm just thinking. I'm thinking too much.
Alabama (23:08)
That's the word. I'm thinking too much. And that's the last thing my brain needs is to overthink another thing. cause I would have done it. And then I'm like, and also my problem at drama school, which I refuse to do anymore, which I didn't do for Tony and Tina, right? Is I asked too much, like, is that right?
Shay (23:14)
You
Mm
Alabama (23:35)
Is that good? Is that what you meant? Did you see a punch there? Was that a flick? Or like, just even doing a show, like, I remember one of the directors would say, okay, do the scene this way. And I would do the scene. Clearly not, you're really not in it if this is the way you're going about it. But I would do it and then I to be like.
I'm okay I'm not sure, like what do you think? And the teachers were great because they picked up on it and they said to me, like, you're asking for permission all the time and you seem to like, you know the answer. You know what you want to do and what's the right thing to do for you and for the character and for this and that.
Shay (23:58)
Yeah.
Alabama (24:22)
but you are too scared to just do it because you don't wanna look dumb, which has always been my thing of like being worried that I'm gonna come across as dumb. So then I kind of, which I've always, then they also picked me up on this. This is why it's brutal. It really more like a therapy camp because, you what I mean? Then they were like, what you tend to do is you play dumb because, and I already kind of knew this at this point.
Shay (24:27)
Yeah.
Yes, it is.
Alabama (24:51)
that I would kind of play a bit dumb. I don't really know what I'm doing here because I wanted to beat people to the punch. Because I thought if I say, ha ha, I'm dumb, then no one else can be like, she thinks she's so smart, but she's actually really dumb. And that's so crazy because all you are is dragging yourself down and making yourself smaller. So it didn't make any logistical sense. yeah, God, it was a...
Shay (25:07)
Mm -hmm.
Mm -hmm.
Alabama (25:21)
It was a rough road.
Shay (25:21)
No, it does make a logistical sense. It's also something about being an actor. You try to protect yourself in so many ways because you are being so vulnerable all the time. I mean, I'm pretty comfortable with just like when people are changing clothes or something around me or we're changing clothes, I'm just like whoosh. Because I'm like, everyone's already looked at me.
Alabama (25:35)
Yeah.
Shay (25:49)
You know, I've been through it already. I'm just like, whatever. You know, and people are like, can you go over there? And I'm like, no. Like, I'm so, I've been so seen now at this point. I just, whatever.
Alabama (25:58)
I get that.
Yeah, no, literally, yeah. I think for drama school as well, God, I must have seen pretty much everyone naked. Literally naked, I'm like, everyone, everyone, like, you're not like, like, like, is getting naked in the scenes and like everyone, I remember we did one, I don't know if I can say this, we did one class where we all like, doing this physical theatre thing.
Shay (26:10)
I know, exactly, like, it's
It's like a requirement.
Alabama (26:30)
We were doing like this for ages, we all doing all these movements. At the end, we were just a big sweaty pile on the floor. And we were like, was that an orgy? What was that?
Shay (26:38)
I've done this.
I did that at my masters and we were like, guys, this one right. Why, what? Yeah, no, been there, done that. It's weird. Being an actor is just weird. It's so disgustingly vulnerability and I hate it, but I also, part of me loves it.
Alabama (26:58)
It is so weird.
Yeah.
part of me loves it, huge part of me loves it, otherwise why would we be here? But it is, yeah, I mean, but it is super exposing. mean, it does feel like a therapy session. I remember like one of the first things we had to do at drum school was write a little speech or something, poem or some sort of thing about our voice and what that means to us. And I remember, I remember writing
Shay (27:12)
Exactly.
Alabama (27:37)
this speech about how for a long time I'd lost my voice. I think when I was like 16 to, I mean, not literally, but from like 16 to maybe 19, I had the worst social anxiety and I could not talk. Like I remember at school at one point, this girl was like to me, she was like, say something. And she was like, talk, go on, say something, just talk, say anything, say one word.
Shay (28:07)
Rude.
Alabama (28:07)
And right now I'd be like, dude, what's your problem? Like, mm. Then I couldn't even say something. I just literally froze and was like, my God, I want the ground to follow me up. I can't say a single word. I couldn't even say like, bye. Like nothing. And so I like wrote this speech on that and the tears, the tears got every lesson. Someone's crying about something about their childhood, about like the way they look, about the way they feel, about what they've been through.
Shay (28:28)
The tears.
Mm -hmm.
Alabama (28:38)
A lot. Some good memories, some really good memories to be fair.
Shay (28:41)
It is a lot. It is really like a therapy camp. I've done more crying, more yelling, more, you know, than I do in real life. Like I'm not yelling and crying and screaming and talking about how you took my baby. You know, it's like I get to do so many wonderful, exciting things. What I find interesting is our bodies really cannot tell when we're acting. They think we're in severe distress.
Alabama (29:09)
Hmm.
Shay (29:09)
And my body has taken a hit, like mentally, physically. I'm, you know, there was one time, not to talk about me, but one time in my undergrad, I had a really tough time with crying on cue, slash just in general in front of people. was just like, hmm. And so what my teacher did is he took me and put me in the middle of all the students.
Alabama (29:23)
No, wait.
Shay (29:39)
And he was like, okay, so we're just gonna stare at you until you start crying.
girl I was like no no I was literally like okay fine and I got like two minutes in and all of a sudden I was just like I just started crying because I was so uncomfortable and I was just like I just started bawling and I was like stop looking at me but like why do we do this what is that why are we doing that
Alabama (29:46)
Like that's me out.
You
It's insane, isn't it? Why are we doing this? it is rude. I remember we had one director come in and was like, listen, I don't agree with directors who tried to make people cry. Like, this is not what this is about. You're not all here to start crying and la, la, la. Like, two little workshops in, I remember he had a girl on the floor.
And he just basically, it was like poking a stick at her. It was like, okay, feel it. And you could see she was feeling it. She was feeling the emotion of like being rejected by her lover. Yeah, feel it more, feel it, go. Come on, you're not feeling it until she was literally hysterical. And I was like, dude, like, didn't you say you weren't gonna try it? And by the end of that little workshop course thing we did with this director, everyone was a state.
Shay (30:59)
No.
Alabama (31:00)
And it is weird because your body can't tell the difference, which probably is what made it harder for me at drama school as well, because I'd kind of gotten into my head, improv is too hard and comedy is too hard. So I was like, but I can do serious. I can do the serious roles. can cry and scream and all of that. And that was probably just like doubling my anxiety 10 times over, because all I was like trying to do was that kind of stuff. And...
Shay (31:03)
Mm -mm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Alabama (31:28)
It really, like it does take a toll on you to do it, but like.
Shay (31:31)
Mm -hmm.
I think Tony and Tina was the first funny thing I had done in like eight years. And I was like, okay. That's so nice. Wow.
Alabama (31:39)
Yeah. It's so nice. It's, it is like a great feeling. And it was nice because like seeing, like making people laugh and them happy. Like I just loved that. Like it really filled me up. Like I felt like I was doing something really good. And like, it was a nice change than just like hearing sobs in the corner of the room.
Shay (31:54)
Mm -hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah. And we didn't have to memorize a script, really.
Alabama (32:09)
Yeah, no, we could kind of go for it, which was nice.
Shay (32:12)
Yeah, I'm a big fan of that. Would you come over here to the States and do a show if you could?
Alabama (32:20)
yeah. yeah. I would love to work in New York. Like I would love to do like a stint there. I went for the first time last year for a week and I just fell in love with it. Like I just.
Shay (32:21)
Yeah!
Yeah.
Yeah, I went recently and I really liked the, it's, no, but the first time as an adult, like I think I went when I was like 16 and, you know, with my dad and we went and saw a show and that was about it. But this time I'm 32 and I was like, okay, I'm going to go by myself and venture and see what the city has to offer. And I really did like it. And it has a lot of London -esque type things.
Alabama (32:40)
For the first time.
I'm going take that.
Mm
Shay (33:04)
which the rest of the states don't have. Like they had a Pret there and I was super excited and you know, I was like, my God, Pret! And yeah, they just had more European things, which obviously, because they're closer, but I was like, a little bit of home.
Alabama (33:09)
You
Mm.
Yeah, I felt that like it was, it was, it was, yeah, it was more chaotic than London. But then I like, I like that. I almost don't know why. Sometimes I think my brain will be better like in the country or something, like really quiet. But then, but then no, like it's too late. Like I'm a girl now, so it's just too late for me. Do you know what mean? But New York, was like, it was like so alive.
Shay (33:24)
Chaotic. It's chaotic, baby.
Mmm.
No. No, I'm the same.
Alabama (33:50)
Like it was just like constantly going and you felt like performances and acting and comedy and everything was just going on everywhere. Obviously we have the West End and the West End is amazing. But nightlife.
Shay (34:01)
Yeah. Yeah. I think New York, New York is like just London on crack. Yeah. Yeah. Mm -hmm. Yeah, everything.
Alabama (34:08)
It is fully, like it's open like 24 seven. Like I, I had a guy who, a friend of mine who was working from New York, Vegas, and then he came to London and he was like, he was like, nothing's ever open. He was like, why does your like everything it closes at like 12? Like what is going on here? And I was like, I was so used to that.
Shay (34:30)
No, it drove me nuts.
Yeah.
Alabama (34:38)
But for him, devastating.
Shay (34:41)
I mean, when I moved there, was like, how am I supposed to get stuff done? Because also your regular business hours stop at five, and I would get out of school at six. And I was like, well, how am I supposed to get anything done? And then we'd go to the pub after school or whatever, and they close at 11. And it's like, well, come on now.
Alabama (34:59)
Like for me, wake up at three. So just the day is done.
Shay (35:03)
That's so true. my God, if you're ever missing Alabama, if anyone wants to know, she's sleeping. 100 % sleeping. All the time. Everywhere.
Alabama (35:10)
Mm
No, I have to get better at it. I have to get better at it. It's just so hard. It's like my safe space.
Shay (35:17)
I don't, I think you're, that's it. Honestly, that is my safe space as well, even just being in my bed. I'm like.
Alabama (35:26)
And I can lucid dream. So like, if I'm having a bad day, like I can just meet up with Evan Peters in my dream and be like, hey, what's up? Do you know what mean? Like.
Shay (35:31)
Bye, baby.
Sup. Sup. Well, yeah, yeah. I scared him once at Halloween Horror Nights. I didn't, I mean I did, but I mean it was like five seconds of my life and I never saw him again.
Alabama (35:40)
So, how you doing? I play it very cool with him obviously, you know.
No you didn't.
Was it a moment that you look back on and you think, wow, that was highlight of the career, really?
Shay (36:05)
I mean, really, peak.
Alabama (36:07)
I mean, yeah, I didn't want to say it, but that is the peak.
Shay (36:11)
Literally, I was like, well, I can go home.
Alabama (36:13)
You basically worked with Eva Peters. let's just, I think, put down the CV.
Shay (36:17)
Honestly, put it on the IMDB. It's in there. My cat just came in. You just got a cat, right? What's his name? I love that name.
Alabama (36:24)
my cat's chilling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Frankie. Thank you so much. I mean, it was you. So I went with Frankie Bright because it was kind of like inspiration from Frankie Valli, Frank Sinatra, like two of me and my mother's favorites. However, you kind of stole my dream name.
Shay (36:44)
Mm -hmm.
Remi?
Alabama (36:53)
That's what your cat's called.
Shay (36:56)
Which one, JR? Really?
Alabama (36:58)
J -R.
JR, I love JR. Call Frankie JR as well, could be two JRs.
Shay (37:03)
I gotta tell him that!
yeah, because you know about Dallas. That's right, I remember this. And I was like, yeah, my cat's name is JR. And you were like, like JR Ewing? And I was like, yeah.
Alabama (37:15)
Wow
was like, it was honestly my childhood, like was JR Bobby.
Shay (37:25)
That is so strange. mean, I mean, as a British child.
Alabama (37:28)
Yeah, well, it was all from my mum. That's what she watched growing up.
Shay (37:34)
Wow.
but we had to do New York accents, and you were very good at it.
Alabama (37:36)
Last accent I've ever done in life.
my God, I binge watched so much before that audition and then during the show. Yeah, because I remember saying to my mom, was like, like this, my agent sent me a thing for Tony and Tina. And I was like, mm, accent. And she was like, you can do that accent. Like you watch the like Goodfellas and Godfathers and all this kind of stuff. And so then I just binge watched like Sopranos.
Shay (37:46)
Did ya?
Yeah.
Alabama (38:10)
everything with like Marissa Tomei, all that kind of vibe which was kind of amazing like what a great set, have you seen Sopranos?
Shay (38:13)
Yeah.
I've tried. I know. I've seen good fellows. I just, I don't know. Sopranos was rough for me. Slow.
Alabama (38:28)
Slow, slow. I mean, for me, I think I've got one season left. Because I was binge watching it during Tony and Tina, I was like, okay, like I'm watching like five episodes a day of this and everyone is dying. Everyone is dying every second. Like I love this character dead. So I was like, I need a minute. Like my anxiety's through the roof. Like you really need to pace that show out a little bit.
Shay (38:34)
okay.
You
Yeah.
Alabama (38:57)
Because everyone you do learn to love will die.
Shay (39:01)
Yeah, yeah, then I can't do that. I will jump.
Alabama (39:05)
What kind of series do you watch?
Shay (39:07)
it just depends. I don't know. It just depends, don't it? But I have a lot of anxieties when it comes to watching shows or anything like that. I struggle to watch people act because I feel stressed about it.
Alabama (39:09)
I'm sorry.
Right, okay, okay.
Shay (39:26)
I can't, like if it's a real TV show like The Sopranos, I'm just gonna sit and watch their acting. And I'm like, I can't do it. It stresses me out.
Alabama (39:33)
Is in your critiquing their acting or is in you are comparing yourself? A comp, all right, okay. So double learning.
Shay (39:39)
Both.
I'm a full worker, yeah, got it. All cylinders on fire. Like I can't, it's really frustrating actually because like there are shows that I want to see and I'm just like, I can't do it. Because I can't enjoy it. I'm just gonna sit there and think. Breaking Bad? Haven't seen it.
Alabama (39:47)
Okay, that's intense.
Hmm.
Yeah
Do you know what? I haven't seen that either, but...
Shay (40:05)
Good. Good.
Alabama (40:09)
Good, good. But I've heard it's like the best show.
Shay (40:12)
I've heard it's like life -changing and I'm like, no, I don't want to change my life.
Alabama (40:16)
It's good for you. Yeah, be that girl. Be unique, you know? Not like other girls. I don't watch Breaking Bad. I had that weird, for me, with Breaking Bad, it's like the drug element. That's the one thing for shows or TV. That's the same thing. And film.
Shay (40:19)
Yeah. Unixies.
Really? Weird question. Have you had a problem with any substances or anything?
Alabama (40:41)
No, no, it's just something that like I find, do know what it was? I was really triggered when I went to go see a play of Trainspotting. And I think...
Shay (40:53)
well, yeah. It's train spartan.
Alabama (40:56)
It didn't help that I was like sat in like, I don't know you call them, like the rafters or whatever. it's like, yeah, and this like hot air was coming up at me and I was hung over, right? So now that's already, I'm already like, like this is not a good situation. And then there's like, do you know the very famous baby scene? I don't wanna give spoilers away.
Shay (41:01)
huh. like the high up, yeah.
Yeah, I don't know.
Alabama (41:21)
A baby dies, okay? A baby dies and the actress on stage, amazing, screams, like a visceral scream, and a girl in the audience faints. And I thought, that's me. I'm out. I was like, that's the final straw. She's fainted, I'm leaving. I think it's just like, I think for a lot of like, I don't mind if you just put like a little, you know.
Shay (41:23)
Okay.
That's me out.
Alabama (41:51)
a of, know, Wolf of Wall Street, Goodfellas. There's always a little something in there, but a full film of just people on it. Like, I just feel so bad. I just feel...
Shay (41:53)
Mm -hmm.
on drugs.
Would you do a role that involves you being like an addict or?
Alabama (42:09)
I genuinely thought you were gonna say, would you do heroin? I was like, this is the strangest question. Would you consider? No, yeah, I would do it. I think it's always different doing it than watching it for some reason. I...
Shay (42:15)
might be next. Maybe that was the next one.
Yeah, I do struggle to watch. if anyone, this is another thing, if I'm watching TV, if I see someone have a cigarette, I'm like, white knuckling it over here. I'm like, my God, that looks so good. I can't handle it. What's wrong?
Alabama (42:37)
and you're like, you're like hand that over right now.
I know. Yeah, no, I
Yeah, yeah, I mean, I don't feel the same way about people shooing up on us. my God, give me that.
Shay (42:49)
I'm like, yeah
Alabama (42:52)
No, I think it is different because I've played characters before with like drug issues, with really like triggering anxieties or like really dark circumstances. It's just, I don't know why it's different to the way that they do it so good on film. They just do it so believable. Like you're watching it and you really feel, I think I also had that for horror. Like horror.
Shay (43:12)
Mm.
Alabama (43:21)
I've never seen a horror film, right?
Shay (43:23)
was gonna say, I feel like I tried to get you guys to watch one with me and you were not about it. I am. Yeah. Yeah.
Alabama (43:28)
Are you a horror, you're like a horror fairy? Yeah, are you? Okay, I... Horror for me, I... I am so scared of jumping out of my seat.
Shay (43:40)
Where do think you're gonna go? To the ceiling? I'm out.
Alabama (43:42)
I'm gonna fly to the moon because, again, I'm out. No, I think the biggest step I made was in it's not horror at all. I, do know, I was working as a waitress in a cafe and this was actually so embarrassing. But there was this guy in there and I was serving him and
Shay (43:49)
I'm out.
Alabama (44:11)
I was like, like, what do you get up to kind of thing? And he was like, I'm an actor. And I was like, my God, me too. I was like, and this was before Tony and Tina, like long, long ago. And I was like, me too. And I was like, my God, we're in the same boat. I was like, it's tough out there, right? And he was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, like a hundred percent. And I was like, have you like done anything? He was like, this show called Stranger Things. And I was like,
shit. I was like, David Harbour. I was like, my God. And I was like, like that's incredible. I was like, I really thought we were like in the same boat right now. it's like hugely successful. And I hadn't seen, I hadn't seen Stranger Things at that point because I was, yeah, well, yeah, exactly. I was too scared to watch it.
Shay (44:42)
Bye!
own.
Clearly.
Alabama (45:09)
But he was really sweet as well. He was like.
Shay (45:12)
He's really handsome. Sorry.
Alabama (45:15)
Well, no, I don't know what you're talking about. I wasn't in love, but he said, I was like, do you have any advice for actors kind of thing? God, he must say that all the time. They must all hear that so often. So he was like, tenacity. And, baby, I was like, thank you so much. I went home, Googled the word. I was like, yeah, I was like 100%. I think.
Shay (45:26)
Mm
Yeah.
I don't even know what that means.
Tenacity.
Alabama (45:45)
And now I've already forgotten what it means. I think it just means to keep going. Like you keep going at a you don't stop kind of thing.
Shay (45:46)
Yeah, tenacity. Like...
Surely not. Surely that's not what it means, eh? Tenacity. The quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly.
Alabama (45:55)
Ha ha ha ha!
There's a tenacity, like you don't stop, you keep going.
No, I feel like you're looking at the wrong thing.
Shay (46:09)
I'm not!
Alabama (46:11)
You are, it's not that, it's like...
Shay (46:13)
okay. It says, well, that's like the sheer tenacity. So you're gripping it firmly or the fact of being very determined and with determination.
Alabama (46:18)
Yeah!
Yeah, determination, basically. He used to fancy work for determination. Let's go. But then I watched Stranger Things, like maybe a couple of weeks after, maybe like a month or two after, I was like, do know what? Like, kids are watching this. Kids are watching this. Come on, get a grip. So I watched it, loved it. Can't wait for you be seeing it.
Shay (46:25)
Okay, okay. We're learning. We're learning.
You can do it.
Aww. I've seen the first season.
And I've seen part of the last season. Yeah, I did. My flatmate was watching it and I was like in the room and I was like, wow, I feel like I'm watching a lot of spoilers. I don't care. It's not, I mean, it's good. But it's just, I don't know. I don't like watching kids. It's the whole acting thing again where I'm like just.
Alabama (46:50)
He just jumped a hole.
Mm -hmm. It's not your vibe.
Is it like, my God, they've made it at 10 years old? What am I doing?
Shay (47:16)
That too. That too. I'm like, I'm just a waste of space. And then I'm like dissecting what they're doing. I'm like, look at them. Little kids don't know what they're doing. Making millions.
Alabama (47:29)
Wow, this brought out a really dark side of us.
Shay (47:33)
Yeah, yeah, it's there. It's there. I've tried really hard to get better, but I guess I really just watch a lot of like 30 minute sitcoms.
Alabama (47:44)
Okay, okay, so favourite sitcom would be...
Shay (47:47)
Golden Girls, I love Golden Girls.
Alabama (47:49)
No way. I love Golden Girls. Love Golden
Shay (47:51)
Yeah.
my god! I knew that we were fuckin' soulmates.
Alabama (47:59)
I knew, I knew, after the Dallas thing, I knew it. It's so like.
Shay (48:01)
I knew it! I knew it! Well, too bad. We never had chance to watch TV.
Alabama (48:07)
I know, like it's such a heartwarming, cozy, just love show. I, Sofia is my like, such a good actor, like amazing, love that, great show.
Shay (48:12)
That's what I want.
You
Yeah, yeah, I just love it. It's comforting. I know what's coming. I know the laugh track by heart at this point. Like, just, I find it so comforting and they're all legends at what they do. I'm not dissecting what they're doing. If I am, it's more to learn. I'm like, interesting. That was a good choice. But, you know, it's still hard, but it's also like 20 minutes of your time. And so I don't really have to think too hard. It's all about not thinking.
Alabama (48:30)
Mm -hmm.
Mm -hmm.
What about film? Yeah, that's always the goal. films are you like a...
Shay (48:50)
Yeah.
Disrre me.
Alabama (48:57)
Frankie come here, I'll show you. Frankie, don't you want to be famous Frankie? Get in here. I love how my mum responded because she thought was talking to her.
Shay (48:58)
A cat off.
Franksters!
Yeah, films I can do films, but they I want cozy like You've got mail or like, you know cozy
Alabama (49:17)
Yeah, okay.
Have you seen Sleepers in Seattle?
Shay (49:20)
Of course, of course, that's another good one. Put it on the background, I'm happy. I'm all about the cozy life.
Alabama (49:25)
Yeah, okay. Yeah. I love the cosy life. Yeah, okay, yeah, so you're very two different...
Shay (49:30)
and horror, apparently. But that's because there's not much acting that really happens in the horror thing. It's like you're just running for your life and you're scared.
Alabama (49:40)
But if you had to pick a horror film for me to watch, this is my first horror
Shay (49:41)
It is hard.
oooo
I would say literally the first Halloween.
Alabama (49:49)
Is that with someone called like Mike Myers or something? Is that the character set?
Shay (49:51)
Yes it is and it's with Jamie Lee Curtis and legend but it's her first one she's like 17 years old and literally the whole movie is not scary at all. I mean maybe one second at the end you're like okay.
Alabama (49:56)
likely.
Well, how about to be fair, I watch Psycho. One second at the end, you're suddenly terrified. Yeah.
Shay (50:13)
Yeah, exactly. It's along those lines. It's... Yeah, it's like, it's very 1970s, ooh, it's, we're kind of scary, but it's not.
Alabama (50:24)
Okay. I think I could handle scream.
Shay (50:27)
yes, that's very true. Scream, I love those movies. I really do.
Alabama (50:31)
Because I have also I have a crush on the guy.
Shay (50:34)
Which one? David Arquette?
No.
Alabama (50:39)
I'm thinking of the guy who is... Doesn't he play Shaggy in Scooby -Doo?
Shay (50:41)
The killer? Yeah, okay.
Matthew Lillard, absolutely! I would die for him, hands down! I am laying my life for him.
Alabama (50:49)
my god, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's in good girls too, if he's in good like... yeah, dreamy, dreamy!
Shay (50:58)
I have for him. I just love him. he's so good. Yeah, okay. Go watch Scream after this. You'll love it. He really makes it. I absolutely love him. So usually on this show, I talk about like mental health and things like that, but we spent the whole hour just gossiping. So we're going to keep that. We covered some, just that I have it.
Alabama (51:08)
Okay.
Okay.
I think we covered some mental health. We covered. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got into it. I got into it.
Shay (51:29)
Right there with me. I'm gonna ask you some rapid fire questions. Right. What's something people get wrong about you?
Alabama (51:36)
Okay, here we go.
I think that would go back to like, I think, and I hadn't helped myself in the past, but now do you know what it is? It's like, I can be like quite a bubbly person. I quite like bubbly outgoing and like a little bit like flirtatious and like woohoo. And people think, dumb, dumb. And like they think they can say things around me that like I won't get like.
I won't get like you're jiggling at me and it's like, no, I, I, I, I know what's going on here. so maybe that, or like, maybe I could like, they could think because of that, like maybe I'm a bit of a pushover, but, yeah, like I'm not, I am like, no, so yeah, probably that like, I'm really smart. I'm really smart.
Shay (52:12)
I get you.
Mm
Like, I'm not.
Good. Yes, you are. What is your, well, speaking of TV shows, what's your guilty pleasure TV show?
Is it Love Island, something?
Alabama (52:42)
No, do know what it was going to be?
Golden Girls, because I'll tell you why. For me, it's not, like, I don't even get guilty pleasure, right? Because I think I'm not having guilt about any pleasure I have, right? So I, for me, it was never a guilty pleasure, but I think there was a lot of shows I watched as a kid that I was like, like people don't think this is cool. Like Golden Girls, Dallas, Frasier.
Shay (52:46)
Bless.
No, god no.
Mm.
Yeah, my god, we are kindred spirits!
Alabama (53:15)
Lambo, like all of these like banging shows that like, I remember they made a joke once in a TV show, they were like, haha, what do you watch, Golden Girls? And I was like, I was like, Golden Girls isn't like the dream show, like the cheesecake, the fun, the joy. The joy, just the joy. Yeah, that was actually gonna be my guilt.
Shay (53:25)
RUDE
Yeah. The joy.
That's so interesting. mean, maybe it's because they were more American classics and your British classic.
Alabama (53:46)
Yeah, yeah. I'm just always wanted to be in America and I'm trying to come over. my god.
Shay (53:47)
I think that's probably why.
I'll marry ya.
What was your favorite childhood movie?
Alabama (53:55)
See, I think, okay, you should be, you should be, yeah, yeah, because of course, I mean, amazing, but I feel like you should, like, have you seen Letterbox?
Shay (53:58)
I the one you gave me.
I haven't.
Alabama (54:08)
You haven't seen letterbox? Like that.
Shay (54:10)
the app? No. Letterbox?
Alabama (54:12)
Yeah, get on the app. I'll send it on over after. Yeah, so basically it's this film app where you can, this is really like a little plug. If they wanna sponsor me, But it's like an app where you say your four favorite films and then you can say what films you've watched, what films you wanna watch. like, there's all these reviews, la la la. It's like Goodreads. seen Goodreads?
Shay (54:24)
Right on, yeah.
yes, yes.
Alabama (54:41)
It's like good reads for film, but everyone always says four favourites, four favourites. You can't keep me one. Like one is like, one is a madness. Like, have you said yours yet?
Shay (54:42)
Okay.
I don't even... No, I can't. No.
Yeah. Huh.
No, I haven't because I literally can't pick a favorite anything. So I hate these questions that I provide.
Alabama (55:02)
So could you do four? Could you do your top four?
Shay (55:06)
Probably. No, and then I always forget. So it's like, I'm like, you ask for my favorite anything and it's like, I forgot every movie I've ever seen in my entire life. It's just gone.
Alabama (55:18)
Okay, look, I'm gonna give you four and then you can be thinking about your top four. Or if you want at least give us one because we're all waiting. These are my top four. Okay, Nightmare Before Christmas. Such a sleigh. Wizard of Oz.
Shay (55:21)
Okay.
Okay. Are these your top four? Okay, give them to me.
slay.
way.
Alabama (55:36)
Willy Wonka
Shay (55:38)
like you like the weird, you like weird kind of like just weird. Like they're not weird as in like, I mean like mystical slash fantasy, you know, because Willy Wonka is so out there and oddball and so is Nightmare Before Christmas and so is, well, Wizard of Oz isn't odd, but it is kind of fantasy and
Alabama (55:40)
Harry Potter. Yeah. What think?
kidding them yeah
Let you guys see that.
Shay (56:08)
Yeah, otherworldly.
Alabama (56:09)
I yeah, I love that kind of stuff. And I think as well as a kid, like I always felt like a little bit like odd, like not like, my God, I was so weird, but I'm so weird. So quirky. But I think like, cause as well, like I had like a lazy eyelid and stuff. Like I felt like I always looked different as well. So I kind of liked the stuff that was a bit out there and a little bit quirky.
Shay (56:17)
Mm -hmm.
I'm so quirky.
Yeah.
Alabama (56:38)
like timber and land and all of that. yeah, that would be, that would be my bad. Yeah. Have you thought of one? Give me one.
Shay (56:42)
-huh.
I like that. Yeah.
Out of those four, I would pick... no, see, can't, I love them all. shoot. Yeah, I might have to say, I don't know, I think I've seen all of those maybe each 100 times. But something's telling me Willy Wonka.
Alabama (56:58)
Mm -hmm.
Yeah.
Shay (57:10)
I love Gene Wilder.
Alabama (57:11)
I love Gene Wilder. So...
Shay (57:13)
It's just the bat shit stuff that he does. I'm like, yeah.
Alabama (57:18)
like incredible and like the fact that a lot of it like he was improvising coming up with like the flip that he does at the beginning. I mean there was do you remember the boat scene? Like I don't know what was happening like that. I hate horror. I was like, I was like what?
Shay (57:23)
-huh.
Yeah. Yeah, of course. Don't know what's happening.
Honestly, that scene is scarier than All of Scream. That scene.
Alabama (57:40)
What was that scene? Why did they do that to King? He was going insane and there's bugs everywhere. my God. Honestly, so weird, but such a wonderful film. The music and it, like, dun dun. Except for Cheer Up Charlie. That could have gone for me. I thought you were gonna write What the Hell? Cheer Up Charlie.
Shay (57:53)
Yeah, absolutely terrifying.
Mm -hmm.
Yeah.
Agreed. I hate that song. Hate it, Charlie. Hate it. Ugh. Literally. If that song got out of there, I think it would be a perfect film.
Alabama (58:10)
Like, why are you tracking us down here? Like, let's keep the beat up. Like, you're making me so desperate, kid.
Yeah, and also, you know, if Grandpa Joe wasn't such a crook, like...
Shay (58:26)
That's true. Yeah. Facts. You're a liar.
Alabama (58:28)
Like, you liar. Like, you straight up liar.
Shay (58:35)
What was your last Google search?
Alabama (58:38)
wow.
Shay (58:38)
besides tenacity.
Alabama (58:39)
So what, you want me to actually like look at my phone? Okay, let's have a look. My last Google search.
Shay (58:42)
Yeah, go for it.
Mine are always really in depth and like, am I dying?
Alabama (58:52)
In... my god. In uncut gems.
Shay (58:57)
On cut gems.
Alabama (58:59)
In Uncut Gems, why couldn't Howard just give the gangsters some jewellery?
Shay (59:07)
Why couldn't he? And what did Google say?
Alabama (59:09)
Why Google doesn't get it man because I was just straighted because I was like, why do they have to kill him? Like if they, I also, my God, Judy Fox that film. didn't realize she was actually in the film. I knew she was amused. I didn't know like, so I watched it the other night and I was like, my God. I was like, this film is incredible and she's amazing. And at least I'm hoping she got the money at the end. Cause otherwise, have you seen the film?
Shay (59:14)
Yeah.
Godamn!
I -
I've actually never seen it. I just know, I just know Julia was the muse.
Alabama (59:44)
You've spoiled the film. Yeah, no, you should, you should, you should. You've ruined the thing, but you don't know exactly what happened, It's definitely, it's definitely anxiety film though. Like it's super fast paced, super fast paced. The whole time I was like, like, so it's a lot. that speaks to you.
Shay (59:45)
I probably won't watch it.
I've heard, I've heard it was good. I won't remember.
Yeah, and I won't remember.
see,
Okay, maybe.
Yeah, I don't know why. The faster pacedness of it. Yes. Yeah. If it's slow and anxiety -ducing, I'm like, come on. I'm out. But if it's a continual like, like, let's go, let's go, let's go, then I'm like, okay, I'm with you there. I'm on the journey. Do you have any regrets?
Alabama (1:00:14)
you don't like slow because that's where you overthink. OK.
No, because have you seen that episode of Sex and the City where Samantha's like coulda woulda shoulda?
Shay (1:00:37)
Which one?
yeah. Coulda, woulda, shoulda, baby.
Alabama (1:00:42)
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Like, yeah, okay, if I look back, I wish, you know, like, I was kinder to myself. I wish that I'd thrown myself into that opportunity. Like, I wish I'd trusted that friend and I wish I hadn't trusted this person as much or whatever. But like, coulda, woulda, shoulda. Like, what is it really like? You're here now. So no, no regrets. Forget regrets. Regrets, I think, and guilt.
Shay (1:01:01)
Mm -hmm. Yeah.
Yeah.
Alabama (1:01:11)
I like an anxious person's, like, worst nightmare. Because it's stuff you can't control, it's already done, and it just leads to all this overthinking of like, well, if I've done this and I've done that and da -da -da -da -da. So I'm like, eh, you know, what's fun? We're here now, let's move it along.
Shay (1:01:15)
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah. Speaking of Sex and the City, I did just binge that for the first time and finished it maybe two weeks ago. Yeah, it was amazing and that was right up my alley. I didn't even really think about their acting too much. I was just like, is what it is, enough time has passed. I was able to just enjoy it and it's funny.
Alabama (1:01:36)
No way
Hmm.
It's super funny and it's a nice like it just feels cozy. It's got that cozy element that people are clicking on.
Shay (1:01:54)
Yeah, I love it. It was so cozy and I was like, I want to be in New York walking around.
Alabama (1:02:01)
yeah, they're having so much fun. mean, if you, okay, if you were one of the characters, who do you think you'd be?
Shay (1:02:07)
I would definitely, unfortunately, be a Miranda.
Alabama (1:02:12)
No, do know what? No, I'm not gonna say unfortunately, right? Because Miranda, because I'll tell you why, Miranda is the character to be. She's like feminist queen, straight talking, to the point, bish bash bosh, not taking any nonsense. Who do you think I would be?
Shay (1:02:16)
Yeah, no, true. They're all great.
This could be tough. would say...
Alabama (1:02:39)
It be, it could be like, you know, game over. This could be I click off this right now.
Shay (1:02:42)
This.
man, ooh, I don't know. You're kind of like a weird mixture. I wanna say you have like the personality of Samantha where it's very out there and I'm like, yes, and I am like luxurious. Like you are a luxury and you know it, but you also kind of give Carrie. I would say Carrie.
Alabama (1:03:12)
wow. Do you know what? Those two, I never get those two. You say you're the center of the universe.
Shay (1:03:16)
You are the center of the universe. Really? I could see Charlotte.
And Carrie is so main character and you are so main character, but I could also see a bit of Charlotte because she's perfect and pretty and... I don't know.
Alabama (1:03:32)
wow, okay, okay, my ego is just like, tearing the roof. I think I get, the most I usually get is Charlotte for stuff like relationship -wise. Because like I love hard, like I love hard, but I'm a romantic. Slap me.
Shay (1:03:36)
Okay, great.
You are such a sappy, yeah, yeah, sappy.
like sappy it's taking a turn
Alabama (1:03:55)
the podcast has really taken a dive. Yeah, yeah, So basically I'm all three. No, Yeah, like, I'll give you that, okay? I'll give you Miranda.
Shay (1:04:01)
I could definitely see that.
Yeah, not Miranda though. I can't give you that.
Thanks. Thanks.
Favorite celebrity you've ever encountered besides David Harbour?
Alabama (1:04:14)
Mm
oooo
Shay (1:04:19)
and your dad.
Alabama (1:04:19)
Okay, I think a good friend of the family, he's actually a family friend because he went to drama school with my dad. And then he was like living with my grandma for a while. Like when he was starting up as an actor was Clive Owen, who is in, yeah, right? Like just the the loveliest guy, like,
Shay (1:04:30)
Mm.
That's a pretty solid choice.
Aww.
Alabama (1:04:48)
So lovely, I understand I'm probably biased because he is a family friend, but you just get the vibe from someone. He's just really lovely. I went to go see him in a play once with my friend and he was like, come back, stage after show. And he was chatting with us both about acting. And I remember once he came over for a Christmas dinner.
Shay (1:04:52)
Eh.
Alabama (1:05:15)
And my cousin, Troy, was like, yeah, apparently friends come over for Christmas dinner. And I was like, yeah, it's Clyboan. And he was like, okay. He was like, what, Brad Pitt's at the door as well? He was like, yeah, sure, Robert De Niro's coming in. I was like, no, I'm serious. He was like, you're such a liar. I was like, go into the living room. He walks into the living room, just like froze. He was like, my God.
Shay (1:05:43)
That's crazy. I literally saw him on TV yesterday. was flipping channels and he was there. Yeah, so this is kind of weird, but...
Alabama (1:05:45)
Yeah.
Really?
Yeah, he's really lovely, like really cool guy. I've said love you about 40 times. He's not. I'm so sorry.
Shay (1:05:53)
Great, is he single?
He never stopped me before. No, just kidding. Just kidding. Fine, I guess he's happy, whatever. Good for him, I guess. Well, that's a good one. He's a handsome man, a talented man.
Alabama (1:06:04)
Good for him!
What about with you? Gotta be Evan Peters.
Shay (1:06:16)
Obviously,
Alabama (1:06:18)
That would be my choice.
Shay (1:06:19)
It's so hard because, I mean, living in LA, I literally saw people all the time and then I was doing extra work every day. So I saw someone almost every day. But the two that stick out to me were Jessica Lange and I guess Susan Sarandon and Jamie Lee Curtis. Those were all great.
I did do an episode of American Horror Story. So I did see, I didn't talk to Evan Peters, but he was there and very kind to everybody. I'm trying to think. Yeah.
Alabama (1:06:54)
can think of two for you. I can think of Grace and Frankie. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Shay (1:07:01)
yes, yeah, yeah. See, that's what I'm saying is like when people ask me my favorites or things like that, I'm like, I'm just like, I don't know. I don't freaking know, but that is very true. Lily Tomlin was beyond adorable and sweet. And I guess I got to throw in the woman I usually work for, Kristen Johnston, who was on Third Rock from the Sun.
Alabama (1:07:09)
You've had so many! You've had loads!
Love her. my god, incredible. Yeah.
Shay (1:07:31)
That's a homie. That's a homie. I'm actually going back to work for her in a month, because she's starting a new show. Yeah. Yeah, come on over,
Alabama (1:07:38)
Really?
I might just pop by, I might be in the neighbourhood, so if you just want to hand me over a little drink...
Shay (1:07:45)
Yeah, come on over. Yeah, she's pretty awesome. I guess I haven't met any men that stand out. Sorry about it. Sorry about it.
Alabama (1:07:54)
Well, yeah, well, well, yeah, that is that is life. So love me.
Shay (1:08:02)
Yeah, they don't really stand out.
What is your favorite hobby?
Alabama (1:08:07)
Ooh, favourite hobby. I mean, I love reading. I'm a big like book nerd. Love reading, love watching films, writing.
Shay (1:08:20)
What do you write? Are you writing like, screenplays or do you write your own like novels or?
Alabama (1:08:20)
Yeah
Yeah, screenplays. feel like, I don't know if it's like every actor is writing a screenplay, but like, during the pandemic, it was like another thing I was like, like, I can't write. I mean, I remember when I was a kid, I used to write like little plays, which were like the most naff things in world. I remember they used to be always like Victorian.
Shay (1:08:28)
Cool.
No, I don't know.
Hahaha
Alabama (1:08:54)
Victorian children at Christmas time. was always, it was always scrooge. It was always like some sort of like father at like, so British. And so then I was kind of like, yeah, like I really bright. And then during the pandemic, my drama teacher who I love was like, hey, like if you're writing, I know this great guy who will look at your work.
Shay (1:08:55)
Why Victorian children?
You're so British.
Alabama (1:09:24)
who was also a student but in the year above me. And I sent him some stuff and he was just like, yeah, this is great. Like keep going. And so I've probably been working on this one screenplay for like three years or something, four years. And it's like, it's so difficult because I mean, I remember I sent it to like a BAFTA competition. To be fair, it was like runner up. So I was like, okay, like let's go. Let's go. And then,
Shay (1:09:38)
Ain't that how it works, yeah.
Good for you.
Alabama (1:09:54)
And then ever since that, was like, ooh, I could change this. Ooh, I could change that. Ooh, but this will be better. this dialogue works better. That character's gotta go. This character comes in. It's just like, it's so tough with writing because when you act, you go on stage, you do it. There's nothing you can do. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Done. Done. And then with writing, you're like, well, I can just keep changing this and I can make it. So I need to like get past that and just be like, right, that's it. I'm sending it out. Like, let's go for it.
Shay (1:10:12)
Yeah.
Mm -hmm. Yeah. Well, good for you. I didn't know you were a little writer. My God, many skills. Finally, what songs are you having on repeat lately? What's on the playlist? Are you a Spotify girlie? Apple music? Yeah. No.
Alabama (1:10:24)
But yeah, right. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Okay, I am a spell fight girlie. Do I have the membership? No. So I put those ads streaming on through. I know, I know. I get the looks. If I'm having a night, a little party, the avid, people look at me like, God, come on. But what do I, okay, well, I have a weird,
Shay (1:10:50)
My god, how do you survive?
Yeah.
There's an ad.
Alabama (1:11:10)
combo, I would say. Like on one side, especially right now, cause I'm going to Vegas. So I've got like the Elvis, Frankie Valley, Frank Sinatra build up just kind of everything Vegas -y. I like to listen before I go. So it gets me all hyped. And then on the other side, I just went to the era's tour. So it's pretty much Taylor Swift. It's just like, my God.
Shay (1:11:15)
Mm.
cool.
Mm -hmm.
How was it? I'm not a Taylor, I'm not a Swiftie, sorry, but I think it would be a cool show to see.
Alabama (1:11:33)
I know, I know you're not sweet.
Yeah, no, I would love to bring you. I'd love to bring you. I I don't know why I'm saying this, like I've got sort of like unlimited tickets. Like I waited one year to go to one show. Yeah, I mean, it was hard because I'm so short. I was in the pit and when the tickets went on sale, it was like,
Shay (1:11:40)
I would love to go.
tickets, yeah.
Jesus.
Were you in the pit or like on the floor then?
Alabama (1:12:04)
All that was left was VIP, right? So was like, you know what? This is once in a lifetime. Let me give myself this. So I did the VIP and then I arrived really early. I got there and they were like, right, stand behind the pink line. And then about, you know, like 20 minutes into the show, someone goes, why are you here? Like VIP is way up front. It was too late, too late. And we kind of hustled and bustled. We did the hustle bustle, but...
Shay (1:12:07)
Right.
Alabama (1:12:33)
There were so many, so many phones, so many phones in my face that like, she was kind of a blur. But it was amazing, yeah. It's like little spectacle, super empowering, so you can like just belt out all of your, I'm the person that you look next to and it's like, my God, shut up. Like let her sing, like why? Yeah, come on.
Shay (1:12:46)
I think it, yeah, the spectacle would be cool.
That's what the VIP section's for. Yeah. The last concert I saw in England was Michael Buble at the O2. And I was not in the VIP section. was the first row of seats after the VIP. I was the only one standing and just screaming the lyrics. And I was just like, what's wrong with you people?
Alabama (1:13:07)
wow.
How can you not stand on saying? Are we the worst people in the world or are we where it's at? I don't, I'm not sure. I'm gonna stay in the delusion that we're the people that you gotta be. We're fine. I went to see Tom Jones once. I've actually seen him a couple of times. I saw him in Vegas and I saw him in London. my God, he was so good. But I can hear my mom laughing because she probably heard me saying that.
Shay (1:13:23)
How can you not?
I -I -I'm not sure.
We're fun, yeah. We're fun. fun!
I would love that.
Alabama (1:13:50)
And everyone was like seated and I was like, dude, it's what's up pussycat? It's not unusual that you got to stand up. It's not unusual.
Shay (1:13:54)
No!
It's not unusual. It's not unusual to be loved by anyone. That's great. It's unbelievable. Well, you survived all the questions I had for you. Thank you so much for being here. You're like the longest person I've talked to. The longest person I've talked to? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You feel me.
Alabama (1:14:06)
I'm gonna go now.
Thank you, thank you so much.
Yeah, it makes sense. I get you.
Shay (1:14:26)
Well, come back anytime. I love chatting with you and I hope you're doing fabulous.
Alabama (1:14:34)
Thank you, baby. I love you so much. I'm so proud of you. We both start crying at the end. I love you so much. I'm so proud.
Shay (1:14:37)
thank you.
I love you. I love you.
