Anca Dumitra plays Ana
Written by Gwyneth Hughes and directed by Lynsey Miller, Doing Money is a shocking true story about slavery in modern Britain.
Published: 31 October 2018
It’s a tremendous, horrible, powerful story. I hope everyone will watch it with their soul.
What do you think makes this drama so powerful?
Because it’s a true story, working on this has really stayed with me - it has changed and shaped me in a way. Ana is a hero, I think she is one of the most powerful people that I have come across. And for me personally, because Ana is a Romanian girl, she’s from my country, she was studying abroad, she had dreams, she was at the beginning of her life at only 21 years old - I feel like it could have been me. If I moved to London to try to become an actress there, you get a job to pay your bills and at some point, walking down the street, this horrible thing happens and your life changes forever. It could have been any one of us.
What attracted you to taking on this role?
When I read the script for my casting tape it made me cry. If the script alone brings you that emotion, you can only imagine how it will look acted out. As an actor, you want something powerful and emotional - you want something that will reach the audience… I always say that emotion is the base of acting and if you can inspire an emotion in the audience then you have done your job well. This story reaches the soul.
Did you have to do any research in order to prepare for the role?
For this particular role, I only wanted to use the script as my bible. Ana also wrote a book, which I read the moment I finished filming. The script is so well written and very powerful so it was my main source.
How was working with the rest of the cast?
I had the opportunity to work with my Romanian colleagues… I had my Romanian people with me! I knew of them but I hadn’t worked with them until now. I was glad they were there and that we shared this experience. I’m very proud of their work.
Were you quite shocked to discover this story?
Yes for sure. I think you know the information and you know that this happens all the time, but when it was in the script in front of me in detail… it shakes you from head to toe. It’s a tremendous, horrible, powerful story. I hope everyone will watch it with their soul.
What do you hope that audiences will take from this?
Hopefully people will use their eyes to look outside more… not only at your own job or daily life, but also at others. I hope that the show will reach people’s emotions and their humanity. This is what we want, especially with everything that is happening in the world right now.
