Ananda Everingham, Transvestite Cabaret Dancer in ‘Me, Myself’

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Author: teropong | August 10, 2007 - 2:53 pm

ananda everingham me myself thai movie transvestite Ananda Everingham is constantly on the lookout for roles that challenge him as an actor. He finds that in Me, Myself. IT IS interesting that Ananda Everingham’s foremost concern about his latest project is whether Malaysians will take to it or not. Me, Myself, a Thai romantic film which opened in Malaysia yesterday, tells the story of a transvestite cabaret dancer (Everingham), who loses his memory in an accident. Taking pity on and feeling responsible for him, the young woman who hit him takes him in.

One may assume that Everingham’s uncertainty is due to the fact that the Thai-based actor – who is perhaps best known to Malaysian viewers for horror fare Shutter – has “two left feet” and is “100% straight”. But that would be too easy. Everingham is always on the lookout for roles that challenge him as an actor, and sometimes these roles naturally mean unconventional films. Unconventional films and box office hardly meld.

Well, the thing is, Me, Myself is the No.1 romantic film in Thailand this year. Everingham, who was in Kuala Lumpur to promote it, admits that even Thai folk were initially quite doubtful about the film.

“After they’ve seen it, they say it’s a love story and they come away feeling liberated. It’s a feel-good film.”

In person, Everingham looks just as good as he does on film. So it comes as a surprise to hear that he plans to work behind the camera in future. He puts it down to career progression.

Everingham speaks with a faint Australian accent (his father is Bangkok-based Australian photojournalist John Everingham and mum is from Laos). He has a relaxed demeanour, is happy to smile, is honest about what he was, and sure of what he is and wants to achieve.

Looking at him now with his easy personality and well-mannered ways, it is hard to believe that he used to get into trouble in school.

“I was a naughty kid,” he recalls. “I was kicked out of school when I was 14. So dad enrolled me in an old English-style boarding school in the Himalayas.”

“I was waiting tables at my father’s restaurant when this agent came in and asked me if I wanted to be a movie star. It sounded better than boarding school so I told him if he could convince my father, then I was all for it.”

Travel bug

His father agreed, and although the then 15-year-old Everingham did not have a clue about what acting entails, he became a part of the industry.

From having no money, he soon had plenty. This he used to travel for six months; his favourite holiday destination is Nepal. This year alone, the 25-year-old has four films out – two independent movies and two commercial ones.

One reason he feels he wants to go behind the camera is that he had been assisting his father with the latter’s work since he was 11, so the camera is no stranger to him.

Another is, “… it’s as if I have been at school for 10 years; I have picked up a lot (about filmmaking) along the way.”

“I want to direct because there is just so much garbage out there. I want to make a film that I want to watch. It has to be character-driven.”

“I feel there are many pre-conditions to a character in a film, whereas in a book the story revolves around a character. Have you seen Closer? That film revolves around these four people.”

One project he has set his heart on is a film based on the book, A Father’s Affair by Karel van Loon, that was given to him by his co-star in the Singaporean film, Leap of Love.

Pet project

“I read it and it seemed like a movie script. I passed it to several directors but they never read the book. When I asked them, they told me, ‘Why don’t you do it?’ That basically sparked it.”

Already he is showing some interest in how a film takes shape. According to Everingham, Me, Myself started out as a slapstick comedy, something that he was not really keen on.

Whether it was his insistence that Me, Myself could be a good love story – “almost a tragic romance” – or the fact that the drama bits played out better than the slapstick elements during filming, the movie became being more dramatic and turned into an examination of the character instead.

“With Me, Myself, we were trying to get the message of acceptance across, really, and not talk about gender; we’re just trying to get down to the fact that two people can fall in love. The film is ambiguous, it cannot be defined by gender, sexuality and all that.”

While researching his character, Everingham observed drag queens and cabaret dancers.

“As far as they are concerned they are women, so we focused on women’s mannerisms. And in the film, my character is my version of a woman, not so much of a gay and cabaret dancer.”

Me, Myself is not the first film in which Everingham has pushed himself out of the comfort zone. “Roles that probably won’t make it to cinema,” is how he describes his other parts, including a male prostitute. His requirement for accepting a role is real easy, though: “If it is a good role and a good script I will probably do it.”

He smiles when asked if his parents had a problem with his choice of roles.

“I come from an unorthodox family, so they are really proud. Just last week, my father asked for a photo of me in cabaret costume.”

Hence, maybe his concern for the audience stems from his need to challenge them, just as he is constantly testing himself professionally by taking on roles that are completely different from who he is.