Amanda Simons Danger 5 Interview

Amanda Simons Danger 5 Interview

Set in a bizarre, 1960's inspired version of World War II, action comedy series Danger 5 follows a team of five international, super skilled, super good-looking spies on a mission to kill Adolf Hitler (Carmine Russo). Danger 5 are the finest group of special operatives the Allies have to offer: Jackson (David Ashby) from the USA, Tucker (Sean James Murphy) from Australia, Ilsa (Natasa Ristic) from Russia, Claire (Amanda Simons) from Britain and Pierre (Aldo Mignone) from Europe. In each episode Danger 5 unravels another of Hitler's diabolical schemes as they travel across a myriad of exotic locations to the farthest corners of the globe. The action and offbeat humour is relentless as Danger 5 mounts a series of thrilling missions which include discovering Josef Mengele's (Robert Tompkins) perverted Antarctic death circus, busting down Erwin Rommel's (Brendan Rock) golden murder casino and posing as exotic dancers in an attempt to take out Hitler at his own birthday party.

Danger 5 evokes a fusion of James Bond action, Thunderbirds miniatures, 1960s cigarette commercial sex appeal, Power Rangers monsters, afro-cuban jazz grooves, Star Trek sets, Mario Bava lighting, New Hollywood pathos and more than a touch of Adam West Batman all into one captivating audio-visual experience. All of these elements combine to create a distinctly unique fantasy universe providing an oversexed interpretation of what the world would look like if the Second World War happened in 1968.

Danger 5 screens on SBS. For more details see www.sbs.com.au/danger5

Interview with Amanda Simons

Question: What is the series Danger 5, about?

Amanda Simons: Danger 5 is an action black comedy set in the bizarre 1960's when World War II is taking place (laughing) with things seeming quiet obscure from fighting dinosaurs to there being a rainforest in the Antarctic. You have to watch it with a very open mind.


Question: How does it feel to be acting in a show set in the 1960's?

Amanda Simons: It's awesome! It's a rare opportunity as everything is moving forward in 3D and I was able to go back. It's very fun and something that I don't think will come up again.


Question: Was it difficult rehearsing the lines of a show set in the 1960's?

Amanda Simons: No, we were quite tight on budget and time so we only had a few days of read-throughs and running around in a park to get used to bouncing off the other Danger 5 members. We had a uniform on and the sets were so elaborate that it was so visually stimulating that I fell into that world and I felt as if I was actually in the bizarre bubble and could play out all the fantasies.


Question: Can you tell us about your character, Claire?

Amanda Simons: Claire is English, the lady of the group, who generally has a plan and so does everybody else which causes a power battle especially between her and Tucker.


Question: How can you relate your character, Claire?

Amanda Simons: No (laughing) we are both blonde and that's about it! Claire is a lady and I am a tomboy; it was nice to play somebody with manners, decorum and posture. I definitely built a character and performed somebody else; there is not much of Amanda in Claire.


Question: What inspired you to enter the acting industry whilst you were modeling?

Amanda Simons: I always intended to act, I was in a specialist program at High School and then I won a modeling competition that I entered with my best friend who is also my cousin. The prize was an international modeling trip and a contract, I took that opportunity and it happened to work out really well for me, I travelled the world modeling for about eight years. When I came home I went to Arts School and I began thinking what was next, sometimes when you pray for direction you get an awesome answer and I have found my way.


Question: Can you talk about INAH?

Amanda Simons: I'm Not A Hero Productions was created when I, a few fellow actors and a student filmmaker worked together on a project and we clicked very well and since then we have been making short films and entering them into short film competitions. The group is made up of budding filmmakers and I am studying Creative Writing at the moment and looking into the production side of this industry.

I am enjoying working with such great, young and creative people and people who are generally following their passion and ambition.


Question: How is it working with Dario Russo?

Amanda Simons: Dario Russo co-wrote Danger 5 with David Ashby who plays Jackson. It was fun and interesting working with people who created the show and are also in it. I think I learnt a lot about production from the directors Dario Russo and David Ashby because they have been there from the genesis of Danger 5 all the way through. I really got to know them and their sense of humour because the cast and crew were all having breakfast, lunch and dinner together. This wasn't just another job or character for me; I gained a lot of passion from the crew and really felt like part of a team.


Question: How did you become involved in Danger 5, in the first place?

Amanda Simons: The casting director Angela Heesom found me on a website and I fit the bill, I was the last to be cast and the rest of the cast had already had a couple of months with their characters, Claire was a little bit harder to cast. I ended up doing a Skype audition because they had done all their open auditions in Victoria and Sydney and they couldn't come back to Melbourne and I couldn't get to Adelaide. I was in my lounge room with a hairdryer running around and the director, Dario Russo was laughing at me and I must have done something right because two weeks later I was in Adelaide for the filming of Danger 5.


Question: What was the highlight for you, working on Danger 5?

Amanda Simons: Guns (laughing)! I loved all the action, that was probably more my style! I enjoyed worked with Grant Page who is an amazing Stunt Coordinator, infamous for Mad Max; I learnt to throw a fake punch and flip people - it was fun and the highlight. My character pretty much goes through every expressed human experience in this bizarre world which enabled me to cover everything as a storyteller and an actor.


Question: How have your friends and family taken to Danger 5?

Amanda Simons: (laughing) my friends love it but I don't let me nieces and nephews watch, they are a bit young and they don't like watching anything bad happen to me. My friends really liked it and they always have questions, for the week after an episode airs. My Mum loves it, she is always quoting my lines from the show. It's great to see my family and friends really getting involved and know they aren't just watching it because I'm in it!


Question: What are you currently working on, now?

Amanda Simons: I am working on another short film with INAH, I have a lot of things in the pipeline and I am auditioning for many different roles.


Interview by Brooke Hunter