Candyce Hinkle is a local Arkansas actress who got the part of Mrs. Floyd, the boarding house owner, in the Coen Brothers’ True Grit (my review here). She is terrific and has a line that has made me laugh each time I have seen it (twice so far). It’s a simple line, “God bless you”, but the context in which she says it is so funny. Mattie announces to her that she “feels like Ezekiel”, for such and such a reason, and Mrs. Floyd really has no idea what this young child is talking about, but it sounds Biblical, so she responds, warmly, and yet with some confusion, “God bless you.”
This is very specific acting.
I love her comments about working with the Coen Brothers: “They are a character actor’s dream.”
Interview with her above on a local Arkansas news station.
“Some of my friends have seen it and they told me that I didn’t totally suck,” said Ms. Hinkle.
No, you don’t suck.
You’re wonderful.
Some background about her here.
Thank you so much, Lisa, for the link!
OMG, is she not WONDERFUL? I love how “if there’s a part for a little old lady” she’s always ready! And she gives Murry’s a shout-out, which is like. . .well, it’s hard to describe. It’s dinner theater, which I know SCREAMS tacky (and it is), but it’s OUR tacky, if that makes sense. My in-laws go there all the time. It’s a Little Rock institution.
The Rep is much more prestigious. My former boss is a huge supporter — he used to be on the board — so I have a lot of friends involved in their fundraising and stuff.
My husband has a huge crush on that reporter. Her name is Dawn Scott, and one time we followed her around Home Depot. Hahahahahaha.
Lisa – sorry, your comment went into moderation because of the links.
First of all: “we followed her around Home Depot” – hahahahaha. I actually really like her too: she lets her guest talk, asked the good questions (at least the ones I want to hear the answers to) – very good interview!
I love Hinkle’s excitement about the talent in Arkansas. Warmed my heart. I have no doubt she is right. And I think it’s great that the Coen Brothers gave her a shot – when it sounded like they weren’t even LOOKING to cast Mrs. Floyd locally. She obviously was perfect for it. I mean, doesn’t she lOOK just great? Here, on the news show, she looks like a modern lady, a kind of hip cozy grandma – but in the film, she is formidable, in that black dress and bonnet, with her jowls and serious yet warm eyes. She looks like an old daguerrotype of a pioneer woman. Nobody’s fool.
And I’m a big supporter of local theatres, tacky or no. It’s a great thing for any community to see live theatre, to have that kind of culture available. I grew up with great community theatres in my small town, and some of those people were A-plus in terms of acting. You know? Just fantastic actors who could do ANYTHING. Shakespeare, children’s shows, murder mysteries, musicals – whatever, they were game, and they were great.
I LOVED how she said she was ‘greedy’. Spoken like a true actress. Alex will love this interview.
Oh, I know. Murry’s has like this Dick Wolf-esque stable of actors (except for when it’s a tribute, like Always, Patsy Cline — I think that’s a touring company thing) that do the shows. Local actors and kids from UALR’s drama program. It’s not the *acting* that’s tacky, it’s the whole atmosphere. They’ve been in the same location since time began, in a part of town that USED to be the shopping mecca and now is. . .um. . .not. The stage is in the center of the room, so the action is right on top of you while you’re chewing on your surf-n-turf. It’s an experience, honestly. I love it. It’s very Mad Men.
I wonder if she taught drama at the Arkansas School for the Deaf (which is next door to the Arkansas School for the Blind) (hee). They have a great program there, touring local elementary schools and stuff.
// It’s very Mad Men. //
Sounds like a blast!
I also notice that The Rep is now doing the musical version of A Christmas Story that Tracey was talking about!
I know, I can’t believe we missed that. They even had a “Pay What You Can” night! Shoot.
This is the story Mattie refers to when she says she “feels like Ezekiel.” It was after she spent the night with all the corpses at the undertakers.
Right! Dry bones! Mrs. Floyd has no idea what she’s talking about. hahaha
Love that the undertaker was Irish, too. It made him even more spectral and bizarre.