Актриса Зои-Мари Танкер возвращается в Королевский зал с новой постановкой «Скандал в Седросе»

Zo-Marie Tanker is a 49-year-old actress, multimedia producer, TV presenter, singer and dancer who can soon be seen in the play Scandal in Cedros, which is back at Queen’s Hall next Saturday. Originally from Maraval, Tanker started performing in commercials, dance and school plays from a young age. “I started taking on main-stage theatre roles at around 15, after the late John Isaacs saw me perform in the end-of-camp production at a Queen’s Hall Theatre Camp. My first role was an ensemble part in One of Our Sons Is Missing at the Space Theatre during the Fringe Festival, and I never looked back.” “What I loved was the magic of becoming someone else, bringing a character and the whole story to life, and connecting with an audience in a special way­—that feeling of completely transporting them into the scene.” Real Housewives of Port-of-Spain, Ladies Room, Dis Little Piggy Is Tired, Love Is Ah Wuk, Lotto Madness, Dats Extravagant News and Married & Mischievous are just some of the productions Tanker has starred in. Asked which of the roles she loved, Tanker was hard-pressed to name just one. “I love all my characters because they challenge me to bring something different to the table each time, but I give special mention to Faith in Real Housewives. She was ditzy, yet on a journey of self-discovery. People would come up to me and quote her famous line—‘You want a piece of plantain and sada?’ “Suzette in Dats Extravagant News because she was so extra, everything was larger than life. I also opened the play with a monologue phone call, which was so much fun. “Last but not least, Anna in Lotto Madness. I had to be vulnerable, yet strong, emotional. There is one moment where I pelt my Rosary and burst into tears. I really grew as an actress with the many dimensions of that beautiful role.” Describing herself as focused, organised and disciplined, Tanker balances her acting career with her job as an advertising professional. “I ensure that I give my energy to each one as evenly as possible.” Her co-workers, she said, love her acting adventures and have always been supportive of her theatre work. “Many have attended my productions and I am very appreciative.” What is your state of mind at the moment? Positive, excited for the future and my next few projects What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is not having enough time to tick everything off my bucket list. There is still so much I want to do, experience, create and explore — I’m certainly not done yet! What makes you laugh the most? Many things make me laugh: my son showing me a funny video, backstage antics by many of my hilarious colleagues when we are doing a rehearsal line run. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? There are a few things I could choose, but I think I’d go with being a police detective for a day. I love a good mystery, and I’d enjoy the challenge of putting the pieces together and solving a case. What song would you sing at karaoke night? Carly Simon — “Coming Around Again” If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chinese style—jasmine rice with all the meats, Hong Kong shrimp, beef & brocoli, chunky veg, noodles and shrimp har gow—yummy! What is your pet peeve? When people don’t follow instructions and just do their own thing. It applies to driving not using an indicator or properly staying in the right or left lane, not reading a brief properly, etc… It can be annoying. How many pillows do you sleep with? Four What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of love? Leave the UK and come back home to be with my then-boyfriend — who I went on to marry and spend 18 years with before we eventually divorced. So, I’d say that qualifies as pretty crazy in the name of love! Are you closely or distantly related to anyone famous? Yes, I am blessed to be the daughter of the late, great Andre Tanker, the great-great-granddaughter of renowned Trinidadian painter Michel Jean Cazabon, and the granddaughter of Olympian Emmanuel McDonald Bailey. What celebrity would you like to meet up with for a cup of coffee? There are so many! But if I had to choose one, I’d say Meryl Streep. She’s one of my favourite actresses, and I’d love the opportunity to hear about her life, career and experiences in the industry. Give us your three top songs on your current music playlist. My List is always very mixed: currently, Chronixx — “Most I”, Voice — “Cyah Behave”, Coutain/Tano — “Blockbuster”.