INTERVIEW: Stella Baker on the research needed to bring ‘Patriots’ to life
Photo: Stella Baker stars in Patriots on Broadway, along with Michael Stuhlbarg (background). Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy / Provided by The Press Room with permission.
Stella Baker and the company of actors around her have a tall order eight times a week at the Barrymore Theatre on Broadway. They are tasked with the difficult job of bringing the network of connections surrounding Vladimir Putin (Will Keen) to life in front of an audience who is trying to piece together how such a man could rise to power. Baker plays the pivotal role of Marina Litvinenko. Joining Baker and Keen on stage are Michael Stuhlbarg as Boris Berezovsky, Luke Thallon as Roman Abramovich, Ronald Guttman as Professor Perelman and Alex Hurt as Alexander Litvinenko.
“Well, it came through my agents, like almost every job,” Baker said in a recent phone interview on how she got attached to the play, which is written by Peter Morgan and directed by Rupert Goold. “I had heard really wonderful things about it in London, so when it came through as an appointment, and I found out they were doing it here, I was really excited. Michael Stuhlbarg is an actor I have admired for a long time, so when I saw that he was attached to it, that was exciting to imagine being in a room with some of these actors and working on a Peter Morgan play and working with a director like Rupert.”
Baker is an accomplished actor, but she hasn’t performed in a play in quite a while, ever since her days in drama school. She said getting back in the rehearsal room was a goal of hers for years, but welcome diversions stood in the way, including starring in the title role of CW’s The Republic of Sara.
“Some nerves, some nerves definitely,” Baker said about her Broadway debut. “There’s so much energy in that theater with however many seats there are in there. There’s so much history in there, and the first week, it felt like so much adrenaline and really, really special to be participating in that. I was a bit nervous that first week, but very excited.”
For the actor, studying the trajectory of the Litvinenko family was her main research to better understand this story and how they came to impact modern-day Russia. Baker said she read a book co-authored by Marina that details some of the plot points in Patriots. “That was a great read and really informative for me,” she said. “There’s a fantastic Adam Curtis documentary called [Russia 1985-1999:] TraumaZone that sort of tracks the fall of communism and the rise of capitalism and the fall of capitalism in Russia, this period of history. I think it’s seven parts, so I watched that the first week of rehearsal. The second I got the job I started watching that, and that was really informative. There’s a couple of other documentaries and a few podcasts. The first month I was deeply immersed in the history, anything I could get my hands on.”
She added: “I think as you start to research these things, there are specific events in these people’s lives that you can kind of latch on to that feel potent and meaningful for you as the actor portraying it. … I can focus on things like the fact that they had to start over and start a new life in London. The idea that Marina was away from the rest of her family and starting anew in this new country and didn’t know many people. It doesn’t matter that they are Russian, what year it was; that’s an event in a person’s life that feels accessible. … You parse through trying to find moments that feel like you can identify with that or try to imagine what that experience might have been like to cut through all the details that you maybe don’t identify with much.”
Also helping Baker on this journey are the actors who surround her each night at the Barrymore Theatre, where the acclaimed play runs through June 23. This Broadway engagement follows the London premiere, courtesy of the Almeida Theatre.
“The company is amazing,” Baker said. “Everyone has been saying this at work — and pinching ourselves — how did we find ourselves with such a great company of actors? It’s so special to go into work every day and get to hang out with people who are just smart, talented, wonderful people to be around. I think Rupert chooses his company really well, and working with Alex [Hurt] specifically has been fantastic. He’s a very devoted actor. He’s really collaborative, really wants to talk through everything. He has a great work ethic and an open mind and an open heart. It’s been a really positive experience working with him.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Patriots, featuring Stella Baker, continues through June 23 at the Barrymore Theatre on Broadway. Click here for more information and tickets.
