We've asked
Montana actress
Chantal Stanfield to write a special guest column for us about her experiences on the show. Chantal plays rich-witch Dalene Phillips, who uses her cash to promote her dubious, often sex-andalous agendas. Here's Part 3 of her column series: The Wicked Witch of Montana ...
Ah yes. We love it when a plan comes together, don’t we Dalene? Who me? Of course I do, especially when I’ve orchestrated it single-handedly. It really is delightful, isn’t it Dalene? Yes, it is!
Last week’s episode saw Dalene putting her plan into action, ensuring through the robbery at the Khula Centre that she’d be able to steer the business in Charles Johnson’s favour and thereby seal her revenge on Richard (or so she thinks).
A scene I found absolutely crazy was the one in which Dalene speaks to herself in the third person as a way to illustrate to Victor and Nolitha her ‘kind-hearted ways’. I loved it. I had so much fun with it! Honestly, have you ever heard someone talk to themselves like that?
Dalene is such a ‘big’, bold character she gets away with it. I think that’s why I love her and so many people love to hate her – many wish they could do and say half of the things she does! She even went as far as insulting her brother’s fiancé, Nolitha, with “lelik is lelik maar dom… (ugly is one thing but stupid…)”
In the later scene Dalene brings Charles to meet Nolitha and Victor at the Centre. They’re all standing while Charles explains his plans for the golf-course. If you looked closely, you might have seen me wobbling on those stilettos.
(
stilletto blast-back!)
You see, walking, striding and sauntering around in those heels and channelling Naomi Campbell is great. It’s when I’m standing still that it’s an issue, surprisingly! And I can’t even explain it! My feet weren’t sore and it wasn’t the end of the day so I wasn’t tired either.
Look out for future scenes where I’m supposed to be stationary. It probably has to do with being unnaturally off-balance in high heels...
I promised to answer a few ‘frequently asked questions’ in the last column. Those who commented on the column didn’t ask questions so I’ve taken some from experience. These are questions people always ask when they meet me at the mall or when I’m out on the town, wherever.
• Are you anything like Dalene? Well, I’d really like to say absolutely not. But there are some elements in Dalene that I possess. Not the back-stabbing, cut-throat attitude! The thing is, quite often you’re chosen for the role because what you naturally possess is present in the character.
My friends will tell you I’m a diva in the sense that it’s all about ‘giving the people moments’. That’s where Dalene and I blend, we both like sparkly bits and having stylish moments with our outfits, we love entertaining people and having lunch moments, we both pay very fine attention to detail thrive on attention.
On a personal level, I think we both share a focused driving force, we know what we want and what’s needed to get there. Dalene goes about it in a very different way though. And, of course, we both wear those gorgeous heels…
•
What’s it like kissing all those men?
The most basic answer is it’s part of the job. Really. Of course, many would say but that’s like prostitution, isn’t it? No, it’s not because, as much as it’s Chantal playing the character of Dalene using real emotions and real physicality, it is still Dalene doing all the kissing.
The trickiest and most important part of being intimate with another person on screen or stage is knowing where you end and where the character begins. So I’m very clear about that.
Kissing three guys in one day isn’t something everyone does as part of their career but it’s just that – it’s a small part of it. So it’s okay kissing fellow actors on screen because it’s part of my craft and I have respect for them, myself and Dalene’s character.
What makes it better is having really lovely co-stars who have the same level of respect. Jet (who plays Richard) and Langley (who plays Charles) were quite pleasant, it was my first time meeting and working with them. They’re both quite experienced in the industry so I learnt a lot through watching them. What to do and what not to do.
I’d already met Az (who plays my husband) before but this was our first time working together. We got on very well and were stupid-funny on set –we were even told to keep quiet a couple of times.
Our first scene together was actually the love-scene where Dalene goes to Winston’s office to make amends – that kind of scene will make any uneasiness disappear very quickly!
What was really funny was trying to keep the wig on because it kept slipping off…
If you have any more burning questions, do ask. Last week’s episode saw Dalene get the news from her mother about Richard being heavy-handed with Vatiswa which resulted in her miscarrying the baby. Dalene looked a bit gutted.
Once again, you think you know what Dalene’s going to do next? I can guarantee you’re wrong…