Actor Of The Month : Daniel Donskoy
Olja Dakich for Classi©fication / LolaWho
Daniel Donskoy is an actor, musician, model and as we can see now, also producer. He graduated from the The Arts Educational School of London and has trained at The Lee Strasberg Institute in New York.
Scene : the bookstore Foyles, 5th floor, London . People try to read and enjoy their coffee at the late afternoon , but they have no chance. We talk (loud) about the art , cultural influences and artistic identity, theater and film, struggle and advantages of being an artist and about his new show “You wont succeed on Broadway if you don’t have any Jews” at the Garrick Theatre in the WestEnd, London, premiering on 8th of February, where he is also the producer.
Where you are coming from is an irrelevant question - Especially for an artist. But you must explain : why are four languages listed on your actor portfolio as your native language (German, Russian, Hebrew and English)?
Sometimes I wish it was irrelevant - but how can it be if it’s the first thing one asks you, no matter where you go and introduce yourself. But I actually started to love the question - people base their first impressions often on your outer appearance but of course also on heritage. I have to admit that having the privilege to be able to “decide” where I’m from makes life a little bit more fun. And to a certain extend it is really a decision. I have a multitude of cultures in me as I grew up in Berlin and Tel Aviv in a Russian family that made me learn English from a very early age. Honestly, I never felt foreign anywhere I lived. People might treat you like you don’t belong but if you believe that you belong, then you do. It’s as simple as that.
I think we should be past all this heritage based defining (Yes, I know that live in a fantasy world and I like it). Sometimes when I walk around in Berlin I love to be the British actor who came to visit the “coolest city in the world “ And there’s nothing better than being from Berlin in London as people here really seem to love Germany – “Oh you’re from Germany - wow that’s the best country”; “From Berlin , no way! Do you know the Berghain?”
I have to admit that I mention Israel slightly less often than the other places I’m from as that normally gives one more problems than benefits - unfortunately .
If someone asked me today where I’m from then I’d say that I am from Moscow.
How do all of these cultural influences reflect on your artistic expression?
Cultural influences are really hard to point out in oneself. I believe that, borders on self-psychoanalysis and even though I watched every Woody Allan movie out there, I’m not quite there yet - Il’l give it a go though: I have the Russian love for good times, a good drink and heartfelt music. The German pragmatism, The Israeli straight-forwardness and love of a passionate argument . And I am still working on my British properness.
But what I gained most from the cultural mix is to be open to learn about different cultures and get to know people from all over the world and collaborate with them . I also accumulated the need to move around constantly.
It’s a blessing and a curse. Once I feel that I’m finally settling down somewhere my inner voice says – ‘Daniel, there’s so much more of the world out there! You don’t really want to stay here for too long, do you now?’
That’s exactly the question my entire family asks me before exhaling deeply whilst putting on a very sad face. “You could have been a scientist, a doctor, a lawyer (yes, those three are indeed the jobs every Jewish mother wants her son to take on.)
I still can’t give one definite answer.
It was quite a long and very interesting way that led me to acting and God knows where it’s heading, but that’s the beauty of life isn’t it?
Let’s say that my three years at The Arts Educational school of London weren’t my first attempt to study. I feel like I should explain.
At 18 I graduate from High school in Israel and I desperately wanted to move back to Berlin and live like a ‘free soul’ (cliché, I know, but still true). My gut said ‘go for it’ but my head said ‘try to compromise’. Media Management Studies combine the arts with something useful - management. I lasted 5 weeks in that program. I had brought my guitar with me to a presentation that I was giving about freedom of press and I accompanied the presentation with a song I had written. It wasn’t very good but in my eyes this was the best way to catch the attention of the half asleep auditorium. Well, let’s just say the presentation didn’t quite live up to the expectations and I was advised to seek education elsewhere.
After that I was one step closer to my true wish of becoming an artist BUT I suddenly felt my strong love for mother earth and after “careful” consideration, I started my Biology Studies the following semester. My ecstasy, fuelled by the thought of becoming an all day diving marine biologist somewhere in the Maldives didn’t last long and so this attempt too ended in resigning.
Once I gathered the balls to actually go the artists way I started with classical singing where a very hot tempered Korean/Russian singing teacher taught me all I needed know about “manning up” and “not being such a little wimpy nothing” and after another year of lessons, courses, reading many books on acting, and taking basic ballet classes (it was the first time in my life that I was taking ballet classes and I was 20 years old. Yes, all the little girls in class laughed at me) I started to audition for Drama schools. Berlin, Munich and finally also London.
Why did you choose London over Berlin to study? What did this last move bring to you as an artist and as a person?
Having secured a place in London the choice was still hard but I knew what I had to do. I gave up my apartment in Berlin.
I gathered two suitcases two guitars and a digital Piano and moved to London. The move freed me up, made space in my head for what was coming : I was on my own - but this time it was more for real since I had no understanding of London, the English culture, the food… It was the first time living in a country where I had absolutely no family or relation too, which made it challenging from the first day but also such a valuable lesson.
My first shared house here was a wonderful combination: lesbian pharmacologist and a religious Muslim Phd Student - oh yeah and to finish that off ,the Landlord with a strong OCD - Welcome to London.
Being in this big city by myself really made think about who I am, what I like and where I wanna be when I grow up.
As an artist I gained insight into a completely new culture, new literature, and the great ‘British Politeness’ or so called ‘Properness’ … Jokes aside I love it to be able to read Shakespeare’s works in their original language and understand them – well, some of them – well, parts of some of them …
You studied as well at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York. What was your experience like there and how did it influence your approach to the performing arts?
Spending a summer in New York and attending the Lee Strasberg Institute was just what I needed after my first year in London. New York captured me from the first moment I landed there. The energies lifted me up so much and I immediate felt at home. Getting insight into a completely different learning atmosphere and learning new approach to work with text and characterizations were extremely helpful. Reading a play a day, rehearsing scenes in Washington square park and spending the hot weekends upstate or at the beach - I lived a dream for a summer and it left me wanting more…. New York I will be back, sooner than later!!!
Musical vs. Drama Theatre ?
Not an easy question. It’s like comparing two relationships you had. You can never love two people the same way. I love, respect, and appreciate both genres but they are totally different.
Being a superb actor in a musical theatre production often demands more skills from you - being able to act, dance, and sing - all in the most professional level .
Whether an actor decides to do Musical theatre or straight drama, film or TV, s/he is first and foremost a storyteller. For straight drama it’s the norm but musicals live and die off the acting. I really believe a lot of plays could do with a bit of music in them. As a matter of fact both genres would possibly benefit from learning from one another.
I think one should try and dive into as many varied things as possible and I was super lucky to get a view into musical theatre, straight drama and film within my first six months out of college.
My debut play “Porn Virgins” by Maud Madeline and Sharlit Deyzac played at the Camden Fringe festival last summer and was built upon improvisation. The rehearsals were a dream: we played around, talked a lot about sexual terminology, created characters and everything just seems to grow together organically. I played Stan, a not so bright surfer dude, who followed his Girlfriend from the States to London and after being dumped decided to join the porn industry.
Following this play I worked on a musical production called “The Apple Tree”. It was entirely different to suddenly work within a given framework of text, choreography, and songs, but nevertheless I enjoyed this production just as much if not even more. I got to touch up every single cast member, move around the stage in an extraordinarily sleazy manner and create a lot of chaos - FUN!
Working on a WWII based feature film, paying a German Jew on the run from the Nazis required a slight adaption after two months of heightened musical theatre. Upon entering the set on the day and seeing an entire house filled with swastikas and Soldiers in SS uniforms - I didn’t really have to “act” - I felt the fear in every fibre of my body, felt the heavy history of Europe in the last century, and went to bed with a very heavy head.
All three of these experiences have given me something for my future - three completely different skill sets I had to bring to the table, none of which is better or worse, easier or more complex, than the other. All three gave me the chance to challenge and prove myself and gather experience in order to become the versatile actor I want to be.
You are also a model, scouted as a teenager. What are the prejudices and advantages of „model goes acting“ ?
(laugh) Well, I think if you google my name you can still find a picture of my bare bum BUT - in order to have to deal with those prejudices you mentioned one to be a successful model before going into acting and let’s just say that I wasn’t quite Kate Moss. (laugh)
Modelling is a great way to earn money and travel the world when you’re young or out of acting jobs and I think that if one has the possibility to do it, one should.
I still model at times but it’s nothing that ever took over my life.
Being a successful model is a really tough full time job though. I think people don’t realise that - it takes a lot of discipline, hard training, strong will and dedication .
Preparing a role. Your personal „method“ ?
Doing a lot of research, especially on the other characters in the piece as they are the ones that make the character who he is. I’m always trying to go around my neighborhood to some coffee shops as the character - walk around my apartment as the character. But I don’t have an actual method. I normally prefer to draw from my own emotions and experiences but like I said, I really have no set rules and love to be surprised by where a character might take me or how a director wants me to approach a piece.
You just finished filming the movie „Prometheus Rising“ in Scotland and now filming your new movie project in England and Russia. Acting in front of camera vs. stage? What is your impression from the movie set(s)?
Shooting in Scotland was incredible. It was the first time that I actually got the see the country. Glencoe, the main location and our base during the shoot and its surrounding areas have the most astonishing scenery. “Prometheus Rising” was a project that challenged me in every way - it was the first time on screen that I had to fight & shoot and after working with our fantastic stunt coach Carter Ferguson, I realized that I have a passion for the action and would love to shoot a full on action movie. I’m taking up martial arts in the new year!
Tell us more about producing your new show “You wont succeed on Broadway if you don’t have any Jews” at the Garrick Theatre in the WestEnd, London, premiering on 8th of February. Tell us more about it.
Basically I haven’t slept for the last couple of weeks - partially cause I’m so exited to be putting on a show in the WestEnd and partially because there’s just so much work to do. Sometimes I think I should have really listened in those few weeks of Media Management Studies so I would have at least known how to write a proper invoice
The show itself is a celebration of Musical Theatre’s Greatest Hits and the ongoing Jewish Contribution towards Show business. We are honouring the works of legends such as Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Leonard Bernstein, and many more. This is the first show that I am producing with my newly-founded production company - Collaborative Artists LTD (follow us on @collaboartists). Let’s see where the way will lead us but we already have our eyes set on two plays for 2015!
What is the story behind the „Collaborative Artists“ ?
Collaborative Artists was found earlier this year with my co-founders Michaela Stern whom I met whilst working together on a production last year and Rosanna Harris. Together we wanted to create an environment where actors, producers and creatives work together , more than just in a team - we want to create everything together - we want everyone of our cast members to produce the show with us. The totalitarian way of producing is nothing we want to associate ourselves with. This means more communication and henceforth more work. But already now it has been so rewarding that I’m grateful to be able to be working for something that I truly believe in with a team that loves to collaborate. (laugh)
What is in your opinion crucial for the success of a young actor ?
Love, hard work, utter dedication, the ability to take critique and handle disappointment and I hate to say it but coincidence and a pinch of luck. You never know where you could possible meet the person who perhaps knows a person who might be looking for a tall ginger actor to be the star of their new movie - HELLO - IF YOU ARE THAT PERSON, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!
Upcoming projects and hopes?
2015 is going to be an exciting year. I have moved to a new agency in London and am now represented by my wonderful agent Lindsay Kutner at Stevenson Withers and have been very fortunate to now also be represented by the incredible Georg Georgi at Das Imperium Agency in Berlin. Some very exciting projects are coming up but I can’t say much more than that. I am holding my fingers crossed though.
The production company is hopefully going to grow and prosper but I want to take this moment to wish you all a wonderful new year full of creative energies, inner peace and a lot of laughter.
“You wont succeed on Broadway if you don’t have any Jews” at the Garrick Theatre in the WestEnd, London , 8th of February
http://www.nimaxtheatres.com/garrick-theatre/you_wont_succeed_on_broadway_if_you_dont_have_any_jews
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