Entertainment | Film & Cinema
Hazlewood makes a breakthrough
The role of Zara in Kissing Cousins is a big one for Rachel Hazlewood in many ways, but on a personal level it helps that it doesn't make her cringe.
- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:32 December 15, 2008
- Hazlewood says the festival marked the first time she thoroughly enjoyed watching herself on screen.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
The role of Zara in Kissing Cousins is a big one for Rachel Hazlewood in many ways, but on a personal level it helps that it doesn't make her cringe.
The 5th Dubai International Film Festival will always hold a special place in the heart of the Indian-born UK-based actress Rachel Hazlewood.
Hazlewood says the festival marked the first time she thoroughly enjoyed watching herself on screen.
Although one commonly thinks of actors as being narcissistic, Hazlewood clearly isn't.
Watching herself play the role of the wicked Zara in the romantic comedy Kissing Cousins without cringing was an experience in itself, says the actress.
"If there is one thing I hate doing, it is to watch myself on screen. I took my first steps during San Francisco's recent 3rd I South Asian Film Festival. Though I did not last more than 10 minutes before shrinking back in my seat then, Saturday night in Dubai was a lot different. I actually found myself enjoying the movie and my role in it. I sat through it without bolting for the door," says Hazlewood, toying with the silver ring in her hand.
Still in the process of finding a toe-hold in the industry, the actress has played some bold roles on soap operas, such as an inmate in the TV series Bad Girls.
She has also made cameo appearances on the hit medical drama ER, where she plays the role of Jaspreet, a relative of one of the doctors.
"To me, if a role is not tokenised and is scripted well, I would be happy to take it on. But very often, because I am Indian with a Western accent, I am given the role of a confused identity-crisis-wracked Indian on foreign soil. But that's all beginning to change now," she says.
"For instance, when I was young there were hardly any Asian faces or role models on the small screen. Now, you see a lot more of the Indo-Anglian characters on screen. So I think my timing could not have been better."
Bollywood
Hazlewood has also set her creative sights on Bollywood and feels that she would be completely at home in flamboyant musicals.
"Kaizad Gustad, the director who introduced Katrina Kaif to Bollywood, is a dear friend of mine. And he keeps asking me why I have not ventured into Bollywood.
"And my only response is that I am still on the look-out for a good role. But yeah, I would love to do all that dancing and singing," she adds.
For now, Hazlewood is content to make the most of the indie projects coming her way. In her next release, Ode, Hazlewood plays the role of an over-protective mother.
"Ode is a film based on the acclaimed novel by Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla and it explores the turbulent relationship between a son and his mother. I play a woman twice my age, which was challenging," she says.
Though Hazlewood is not bogged down by challenging roles, it is the economic recession that worries her.
"For actors, it's always a constant struggle and things are going to get even tougher with the economic recession and a possible writer's strike. But, like I said, it is a path I chose."
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