Emilia's Diary
Part 2



By Emilia Fox
People Magazine
People News
November, 2000




Week Three, Oct. 4 - Oct. 10, Tokyo



Wednesday 4th October


Emilia Fox: Having had no sleep at all on the plane, I stumbled into rehearsal with Vic, Bob and Metin Huseyin, director of Tom Jones and new to this series. I pretended I was absolutely fine and then had to keep my eyes open with a caffeine intake that by rights should have put me in hospital. Fortunately Vic and Bob were happy throwing jokes at each other, and I could sit back and laugh in a bewildered sort of way. I'm not sure if Metin knows what he's let himself in for - we never did any character discovery on the first series, so the three of us looked blankly at him when he asked about our characters' histories. It was a really enjoyable day though, and I can't wait to get started.


Thursday 5th October

Had to do an extra bit of filming to advertise a monologue I did for Carlton about the homeless. I play a street junkie (if you can believe it) in the good company of actors such as Art Malik. After filming I went to see Toby - better known as Toby Pimlico, designer of the T-shirts which bear slogans such as 'I must not chase the boys'. These are very popular among the Notting
Hill crowd, although they are now a worldwide phenomenon according to the glossy mag I am reading . Lucky I went out with him and managed to collect a whole cupboard full of them - the envy of many other females who would like his writing across their chest.


Friday 6th October

Spent a gorgeous evening with my neighbours last night. I was delighted that Vicki Russell (daughter of director Ken Russell) liked her 2001 spectacles so much. Today, however, didn't start so well, with the doctor telling me it was more than likely I would develop an ear infection on the plane, to go with my now fully installed flu. Visited Portobello Market for a last London
pleasure, and I went home armed with excellent clothes from Betty Moon. Having succeeded in putting off packing for as long as possible, I panic-packed before leaving for an evening flight to Tokyo.


Saturday 7th October

Eleven hours of flying and a two-hour bus ride later, we reached our Tokyo destination - the Excel Hotel. All of us ran out of our rooms immediately with cries of 'Is yours as small as mine?' The bed is a generous four-feet long, which I can cope with, but where are my shoes and clothes going to live for three weeks? Played with the loo for a while, which can shower you in every area imaginable. The first button shot a jet stream into my eyes - I
think it was meant for boys. Our first introduction to Japanese food was Gyn-Ron: a yakitori establishment where we sat cross-legged and ate barbecued beef and chicken. Thanks to large quantities of sake we had a hugely successful first night in Tokyo.


Sunday 8th October

It was with apprehension that I pulled back the curtains to look down onto the Shibuya Crossing. Vast expanses of concrete buildings, shops, malls, gaggles of people and constantly flashing neon signs were more reminiscent of Piccadilly Circus than scenes from a willow-pattern plate. Determined to
escape this urbanism, Ralph, Dannie, Stephen and I set out for the Imperial Palace and East Garden, ending up rowing in Kitanomarn Park. I proved to be a rowing champion and chauffeured Dannie round the lake, while the boys splashed about, no doubt wishing they too had learnt to row at school. The end of the day was spent in the Lion, a surreal establishment where you silently drink coffee and listen to Mozart and Beethoven. Good for the jet lag.


Monday 9th October

New theatre; new audience - same plays. We tackled the subway - a baffling expedition considering one can't even vaguely make sense of Japanese lettering - arriving at a complex that, from the outside, resembles an industrial business centre. Inside it has an extraordinary, cavernous studio-like theatre. And so we began working for Hori-pro at the Akasaka ACT Theatre. We were all slightly apprehensive as to what the audiences would make of three and half hours of Shakespeare, but although they sat in
silence, the Japanese apparently love English theatre. I hope so - although, fortunately, reviews come out after a play has closed - a procedure which I sometimes wish our western press would adopt. It would save a lot of actors from sleepless nights.


Tuesday 10th October

Lost a huge portion of my Tokyo wages in a game of poker that lasted until 5.30 this morning. The male future of Britpack acting - Olly Ryan, Stephen Campbell, Ed Waters, Stephen Finegold, Damien O'Hare - cleaned me out with glee. I was doing so well when we were playing with sweets but something happens to actors when they see their per diems disappearing. They have a
competitive gene that totally overcomes novices like me. Dannie and I explored Akasaka and concluded that the Japanese were extremely lucky to be so small-boned. Their slight frames must mean they can eat everything and never have to exercise - how envious am I?


Week Four, Oct. 11 - 17, Tokyo



Wednesday 11th October

Emilia Fox: Why Nicole Farhi was at our first night in Tokyo is as baffling as the extraordinary politeness of the Japanese. They sat through the opening night of Coriolanus in absolute silence. God knows whether they had a good time or not-- their manners would disguise their feelings anyway. There was a
polite ripple of applause from the 900-strong audience at the end, but it's very unnerving not knowing what they really think, let alone whether they understood. They all had translations being fed into their ears. I wonder if we changed the lines whether it would make any difference? Real excitement of the day was an earth tremor with predictions of more to come, and the promise of a huge earthquake before the year is out.


Thursday 12th October

Actors are chameleons. They adapt to their surroundings as a survival instinct. Having been a little unsettled by the language barrier at first, and unable to connect with people even after five days, I have now decided Tokyo is a seductive city. The Japanese conduct their everyday lives with amazing efficiency, even the mirrors in the bathroom have a heater behind them to protect them from steaming up. Streets, shops and houses are
spotlessly clean, yet if you explore the backstreets, you come across love hotels, massages, whatever you fancy: an underworld.


Friday 13th October

At last night's performance we had in a Japanese actor in the audience who visited us backstage afterwards (the name escapes me). His family has been in the business for 300 years! It makes the questions I get asked in interviews about being a member of the Fox dynasty pale into insignificance. What a
pressure though, if you wanted to become say, an electricity-pylon engineer or a bus conductor; how on earth would you tell your dad that you were going to go against three centuries of family history? Or what if you were really bad at acting, or your sibling was getting parts you wanted? I thought I had troubles.


Saturday 14th October

Now I know I swore that I wouldn't do any shopping in Tokyo because it's so expensive, but I'm surrounded by women wearing awesome shoes and it seems crazy not to investigate Japanese footwear. There is a huge fashion over here for girls to have their hair dyed blonde-ish, frost make-up, miniskirts and
cripplingly huge platform boots. The blonde I can do, and the lipstick, but the clothes... I did find, however, the best pair of flat wellington-like boots, and the most gorgeous fake fur-lined fitted khaki jacket. I think it's important you get a distinct idea of everything here, so I shall attempt to explore Tokyo fashion further for your benefit.


Sunday 15th October

We were taken to a party under the wing of a Japanese commercials producer, Sawako. The event was dominated by westerners, and the designer Marc Newson
was exhibiting. Travelling dancers dressed in gold underwear greeted us at the door, gyrating and fondling ropes and bannisters, as well as men. Apparently Japanese women love Englishmen, so our boys are in Tokyo heaven. I tried to get a picture of the genius behind Comme des Garçons, but backed off when she didn't look too pleased! Afterwards we went to Blue – the place to be seen in Tokyo. Three designers approached me to comment on how much they loved my dress. Oh, how I laughed, it was from Warehouse. Long live high-street fashion.


Monday 16th October

The British Ambassador invited us all for supper. It was like a scene from a novel - or a chocolate advert, a troupe of actors, all dressed up, arriving at the colonial residence to be entertained and waited upon on the beautiful Embassy gardens. One of the Embassy workers enlightened us on the subject of unusual Japanese food, such as fish-sperm sushi and the sexual organs of sea urchins, as well as telling us about the insides of love hotels; apparently one of them has a bed that you have to swim to. I think a solo investigative mission will have to be made. We invited two other guests, a hugely famous Japanese actor and an equally famous director, at the Embassy to come for a night of karaoke. Amazingly they agreed, and we had a raucous evening singing English songs with the Japanese equivalent of Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg.


Tuesday 17th October

Spent the day at the temple of Asakusa with Shoji (the Spielberg one), his wife and their baby. Incredibly, Japanese people don't seem to mind taking people to tourist traps, whereas we would moan at the thought of a trip to Buckingham Palace and then onto Madame Tussauds! Shoji and his family, however, seemed more than happy to guide us through praying, wishing and
picking fortune cards before going to the Hamarikyu Gardens. Once again we were strolling through carefully laid out gardens, but this time 1930s music was blasting out from stereos hidden within the plants. Unfortunately the camera drowned in a sinkful of water, so I can only describe all these places and people. I hope to be able to show you Shoji and Horoyuki Sanada (Tom
Cruise equivalent) next week. Tonight is the opening of Richard II.


Week Five, Oct. 18 - 24, Tokyo



Wednesday 18th October

Emilia Fox: For the first-night celebrations after the performance of Richard II, we were taken to a restaurant that served a great deal of tofu and fish. Linus Roache and others among the cast who are vegetarian are finding it extremely hard to find good meatless food that isn't tofu. We've all had a bit of an overdose of the tasteless stuff that seems to be so popular over here. Apparently miso, which also comes with every meal, is immensely good for smokers - supposedly diluting the effects of nicotine. My other piece of newly discovered trivia is that the Japanese get drunk faster than us due to a different composition of enzymes. We westerners, therefore, make much more
expensive dates. It's an excellent excuse for why I haven't been asked out by anyone and I may try and use it back in England.


Thursday 19th October

Last night we spent two hours wandering the streets looking for a curry. I know it sounds bizarre seeing as we're in Japan, but I'm raw-fished out and longing for some comfort food. Unfortunately maps and road signs are completely indecipherable, so by 1.30am we were starving and exhausted.
Eventually we ended up in a joint that served horse sashimi. I can see it's going to be a week of culinary experimentation.


Friday 20th October

It was a torrentially rainy day - Dannie and I were going to attempt some exercise, but fortunately the gym was closed and that only left shopping. You know how we endlessly complain about our inability to deal with English weather conditions - well here, the Japanese have thought of everything. Every shop you go into gives you a bag for your umbrella so you don't get
anything wet. If you are trying on clothes you have to take your shoes off so you don't get the changing room dirty. I made full use of these facilities and came out with two beautiful skirts - one is a granny-like thick tweed - perfect for combating the encroaching Tokyo autumn.


Saturday 21st October

Shoji came to see the play tonight. It was fascinating to hear a Japanese director's opinion of an English production of a very English play. I think he thought we could have been a little more free, but then aren't the English renowned for being the opposite? He makes his actors dance in their auditions to see if they have any rhythm. If directors did that in England I would
never work again. Two shows today: the audience is full of women who all run up at the end of the performance to lay flowers at Ralph and Linus's feet. Ralph even got given a camera. Unfortunately the men are not so responsive -
they seem to sleep through most of the show and Dannie and I are still waiting for presents.


Sunday 22nd October

Already the faxes are piling up about what needs to be done on my return to London, and have I been practising my kickboxing for Randall and Hopkirk? I know that Japan is meant to be a martial-arts epicentre, but it's immensely hard to explain what it is exactly that you want to do. I think they see a small, obviously unfit English girl and purposely pretend they don't know what I am on about in order to avoid going through the painful procedure of breaking me in again. My character in Randall and Hopkirk may well have lost her kickboxing skills for the next series, otherwise I fear being dislocated all over after the first day of filming.


Monday 23rd October

Our last day off before the end of the tour. Stephen Finegold, Dannie, Stephen Campbell-Moore and I, after discovering the delights of a Shot Bar last night, pondered the appeal of our day trip to Kamakura. It was also pouring with rain and the third book in the Harry Potter series was beckoning. Finally we pulled ourselves together and set off to the mini-version of Kyoto, to see the beautiful temples of Hokokiyi and Jomyoji, some shrines, a bamboo grove and to take part in a tea ceremony. In fact, we
managed to have two tea ceremonies without realising - a big mistake. I've always been led to believe that green tea is extremely good for you - well it looks like algae, tastes rancid and my stomach is still recovering. I would rather put a straw to pondweed than go to that particular tea party again.


Tuesday 24th October

Huge missed opportunity today. After doing fantastic shopping in Omote-sando, raiding the Oriental Bazaar (a bit like Neal Street) and an exquisite vintage Kimono shop, Dannie and I left to go back to the hotel while Stephen Finegold went on to the serious shops. Whilst trying on a scarf in Issey Miyake he
stepped backwards and bumped into none other than Sting. They got chatting about being on tour and the fact that Sting had also just been in NYC and went off to have a coffee together. Dannie and I are still mortified and berating ourselves for not being there. We are going to try and make up for it tomorrow night when Lou Reed plays the next-door venue.


Week Six, Oct. 25 - 31



Wednesday 25th October

Emilia Fox: Extremely jealous - My friend Dannie watched Lou Reed all night while we performed another Coriolanus. Apparently the audience were similarly silent until the end when they went wild, calling him back onto the stage again and again, until he finished with an encore of Perfect Day. Sting told
Stephen Finegold that Japan is great for musicians, and especially songwriters, because you can feel the audience listening. Even so, from our experience, it's very weird playing to silence. We watched four and a half hours of Kabuki theatre today - not at all what I expected; it's more camp than Widow Twanky and the ugly sisters - but fascinating to see what effect
it has on the audience. Unlike the silent response we get during a show, they shout, scream, clap and laugh at every opportunity. Seeing the difference between Kabuki-style and English theatre, I now know why they're so quiet in Coriolanus.


Thursday 26th October

Ralph came bouncing into the dressing room after the matinee with cries of 'Sting's been to see the show'. Indeed he had. After meeting Stephen Finegold the other day, he came with members of his band to see Richard II. He'd picked the wrong day though and got Coriolanus instead; but there he was, on a Thursday afternoon in Akasaka, walking down the corridor looking extremely handsome. Another two shows down and we're now in the final straight. I think everyone's quite excited, but I'd be happy to stay another couple of weeks - for the shopping of course.


Friday 27th October

The last shopping day, so I made the most of it, starting in a gallery in Omote-sando. Unable to resist the publicity posters, we went to an exhibition of Playboy Nude Art from which I got most of my Christmas presents - look out boys! I then managed to find the most expensive department store in Tokyo (typical) and invested in a new winter coat. I'm not sure my bank manager is ever going to let me come back here. Anyway it's stunning - cream with red embroidered stitching all over it like in Beatrix Potter's the Tailor of Gloucester. Typically the boys made fun of it - this is what I've had to put up with for seven months.


Saturday 28th October

Have had to buy a new bag in which to carry my purchases home. When I said I was going to have to invest in some luggage I thought I was joking. It's the last of our double shows today - Coriolanus matinee and Richard II evening. God knows how I am going to fill my Saturdays once this is over - I can't think what I'd do with a free weekend. In between shows we went to a
reflexology parlour where you lie in a room with nine other people all having your toes pulled about. It was heavenly - I wanted to ask the lady if she'd like to come back to England with me and have full charge of my feet. Somehow I think I know the answer.


Sunday 29th October

Seven months of Shakespeare came to an end today in the most spectacular way - the theatre was packed, even the aisles were full of people standing. Once more they were a silent audience until the curtain call, when 1000 people went absolutely crazy; jostling and pushing each other in their desire to get to the stage and reach Ralph and Linus. Both boys were garlanded with flowers - I have never seen so many - and combined with the noise and flash photography it was like being at a rock concert. An amazing and exhilarating end to the tour, that we then celebrated with Horipio at TBS, the TV company who have been our hosts and have financially made the Japan tour possible.




Monday 30th October



Smoke has only just stopped pouring out of my ears. Having had minimal sleep
following our celebrations last night, I rose at 6.30am with an unpleasant
thumping sensation in my head. Dragging the new luggage to the check-in desk,
Dannie and I are told that we are so overweight that we will have to pay the
equivalent of £1800 each before they will accept our bags. There were two
options: 1. to cry. 2. to scream. Fortunately the rest of the company were in
the same boat as we had all thought that Japan was shopping-friendly, never
dreaming that they wouldn't let us out of the country because of it. Even by
upgrading I would still have had to pay £1000 for excess luggage. Eventually
a deal was struck that still leaves us with a farewell bill to pay, but at
least we're on the plane home. Beware of travelling to Tokyo, shoppers.




Tuesday 31st October



Arrived back last night to storms so it took forever to get back to my flat
from Heathrow. Dannie is staying with me so we went to the Cow for some
proper English food, and bored two friends of mine senseless about our time
in NYC and Tokyo. There was something exciting about being able to
communicate and speak the same language again - we couldn’t stop ourselves.
Off to Devon to rehearse tonight, and to start filming Randall & Hopkirk
tomorrow.

 

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