Gabrielle Anwar was the naughty young thing in "Scent of a Woman" and, more recently, the naughty less-young sister of Henry VIII on "The Tudors"; also, she plays a former IRA super-spy lady in "Burn Notice," now in its third season. We caught up with the England-born actress on a recent Friday afternoon in Miami.
Are you almost done with this Season 3 shooting?
We are presently shooting Episode 310, and we have 16. Can you hang on one second? I'm so sorry! [Some time passes.]
--
Who was that?
Oh, my God, I'm having the craziest day. My ex-husband is in charge of travel plans. We're leaving first thing in the morning, and suddenly it turns out my son doesn't have a passport. It's unforgivable. If I could divorce him, I would, but it's too late.
--
Is there a way to actually fix such a situation?
I'm calling in favors from anyone who's ever said they know someone in immigration. Even getting a human on the phone takes hours, and I'm not sure I can devote hours to this predicament.
--
Are you going to leave the kid behind?
I guess that's always an option, isn't it? It's not about him -- it's about the entire family having to cancel the vacation. Anyway! Breathing through it.
--
Are they U.S. citizens?
They were all born here. They were all produced in this country.
--
Where were/are you going?
Well, we're going to Virgin Gorda in the Caribbean. The whole system is so bloody antiquated! That one has to carry a book with a photo? Surely we could have chips in our brain like at the supermarket. I'm all for it.
--
Apart from major stress, how's your life in Miami?
When I'm not trying to get a passport in less than 24 hours, it's pretty good! It's an idyllic tropical dreamscape of a place to be.
--
Do you have friends and a life there since you've been part-time relocated?
I don't have very many friends. But I'm not really looking.
--
People do end up isolated on set.
It is a very isolative environment. It forces a sense of autonomy, and I suppose, I think, I may thrive on that kind of loneliness! That's the creature I am. It's so hard listening to myself talk about myself sometimes.
--
We can talk about other stuff! Did you ever become a U.S. citizen?
I have very recently. I felt it was my duty since I produced so many offspring here, to have some semblance of a say to be where their future may lead. But that just may be wishful thinking. I listened to too much John Lennon growing up.
