The State Within
Neil Pearson plays Phil Lonsdale
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Neil Pearson plays Phil Lonsdale, one of Sir Mark Brydon's (Jason Isaacs) most loyal and senior aides. He runs the British Embassy in Washington.
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Neil, who has over the past decades shone in pieces as diverse as Bridget Jones' Diary, The Booze Cruise, Trevor's World of Sport, The Whistle-Blower, A Lump in My Throat, Fever Pitch, Crossing the Floor, Rhodes and Between the Lines, says he was bowled over by Lizzie Mickery and Daniel Percival's script.
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"It doesn't matter what the genre is, if the writing is good - and this writing is really good!" he exclaims.
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"It's beautifully textured and as complex as the world it portrays. The characters are not mere ciphers - they are living, breathing human beings."
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The 47-year-old Londoner expands on his own character. "You don't get to do a job like Phil's without being near the very top of the tree. He runs the Embassy in Washington, and the only place you can go from there is Ambassador. But he won't make Ambassador because he's too good at what he does.
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"He's the safe pair of hands behind the safe pair of hands. He's the Ambassador's minder, who makes sure that everyone stays on message. He carries a huge responsibility, which is why he will never get the very top job. That's ironic, but true."
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Neil continues by praising the plausibility of The State Within. "It was the same when I read Between the Lines. I knew the research had already been done - and all you, as actors, have to do then is populate that research with believable characters.
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"It's important that you get the little things right, otherwise no one will believe you on the big things.
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"That's why in the Embassy you have to use the right terminology and etiquette. This drama is not just poignant and incisive and witty; it also exists in an utterly credible universe.
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"I only want to write when the script's not good enough and direct when the filmmaker can't direct traffic. When both jobs are done really well - as they are here - you think, 'Thank Christ, I can just get on with my job!'"
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In addition, Neil admires the sheer timeliness of The State Within. "We're at a heightened state of alert - and the drama reflects that. It's especially hot on the constant tensions between so-called allies. There's a lot of jockeying for position between agencies on both sides of the Atlantic.
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"They all want credit when things go right and instantly pass the buck when they go wrong. No one is suggesting we've made a documentary here, but top-quality drama can add to the debate or ensure it continues. That can only be healthy."
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Can drama actually help to alter people's opinions, though? "You could make a case for Cathy Come 成人快手," reckons Neil, who first came to prominence as the charming wastrel Dave Charnley in the celebrated newsroom sitcom, Drop the Dead Donkey, in 1990.
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"That film helped to introduce worthwhile legislation about the homeless. It was an extremely rare example of where drama can make a difference to society.
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"However, I wouldn't want to make grandiose claims about The State Within changing the world. A little TV series is not going to upset the Pentagon or bring down the Bush administration any time soon - anyone who thinks otherwise should seek help!
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"But perhaps it can help to nudge the discussion along. If drama is done right, it causes a fuss. This has been done right, and I'm hoping it will ensure that important issues are kept on the front pages.
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"It should prompt such questions as: who really governs us? What is the nature of the special relationship? And are we lapdogs or allies to the Americans?"
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Neil, who is currently rehearsing for Sir Peter Hall's production of Old Times, which after a national tour is due to come to the West End in the spring, is delighted that such a sophisticated series has made it to our screens.
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"The State Within is a very responsible piece of work, both socially and politically. It is also a highly effective thriller. These days there's a poverty of output that credits the audience with much intelligence.
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"So when something really thought-provoking like this comes along, viewers fall on it like thirsty nomads in the desert. When something like The State Within or State of Play is produced, it is greeted with mass
hallelujah-ing. And quite rightly so!"
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Finally, did Neil find the shoot, which lasted several months in Canada, very draining?
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"Obviously I'm exhausted right now. Every few days I had to go on set and say to another character, 'I want that on my desk first thing tomorrow'," the actor deadpans, before adding with a loud laugh: "The rest of the time, I'd go to Niagara Falls to play poker!"
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