Sally Phillips – of numerous comedy roles including Miranda and Bridget Jones – is undeniably a hoot. But for once, she’s not laughing.
The actress, comedian and writer is talking to us about the late Kelly Preston, the US actress – aka Mrs John Travolta – who passed away last summer from breast cancer.
Kelly posthumously co-stars with Sally and Jenny Seagrove in Off the Rails, a comedy drama about three 50-something women – pals since their teens – who embark on a train trip across Europe, retracing the journey they undertook as 18-year-olds.
The three are joined by Maddie (18), the daughter of their friend, Anna, the fourth member of the girl gang who took the trip, who has just passed away. From breast cancer...
“It’s a horrible, horrible irony,” says Sally. “When we made the film in 2019, Kelly had stage three breast cancer. We had no idea she was ill. No one knew, except Bill Kenwright, our executive producer. Kelly kept it quiet.
“I think this is standard practice in the US, due to insurance issues, plus TV and film-makers over there seem to think you won’t be capable of doing the job if you have cancer. Kelly was more than capable. She had so much energy on set and was a bit like a mum to us. She kept our spirits up and was always laughing and joking.”
The cast and crew found out about Kelly’s illness when they started post-production work on the film.
“It was a massive shock,” Sally Phillips reveals. “By then Kelly was too ill to do anything. It was pre- Covid and I desperately wanted to see her, but when someone is that ill they need to be with their family. We did have some really interesting chats away from set. My eldest son, Ollie (16), has Down’s syndrome, while Kelly and John’s son, Jett, who died in 2009 aged 16 from a seizure, was on the autistic spectrum and had learning difficulties. Jett was still very present for her.”
The importance of female friendship is at the heart of the new film. “Whatever would we women do without our friends, our girl gangs?” ponders Sally. “Never mind the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, they are the rainbow.
“Men come and go, children grow up, but good friends are forever. My friends are probably the thing I’m most proud of! The one thing I’m really good at is picking fantastic friends – although I’m sure many women feel the same. Mine are totally the scaffolding that holds this crumbling building up. They teach and support me and I love them to bits. Any woman who’s been through a challenging life situation will have groups of women coming round to hold her up. I don’t think this is the case with men, although my partner was in the Army and his friends rally around, so perhaps they learn that kind of unity in the Forces. My friends go above and beyond.”
It’s the same for the friends in Off the Rails – Lizzie played by Sally, Kate played by Jenny Seagrove, Cassie played by Kelly Preston
and also young Maddie played by Elizabeth Dormer-Phillips. They have each other’s backs but, as it is for even the best of friends, they also have their spats. The acting between them is particularly natural and lifelike in this respect.
“We improvised a lot and were able to add to the script,” Sally explains. “So, the banter is real and sounds so natural.”
The film is based on a period in the life of its director, Jules Williamson. “Jules was one of three old friends who really did recreate their teenage inter-railing adventure,” says Sally. “And they really did take the 18-year-old daughter of their friend who had passed away.”
If the cast was having as good a time as the characters on screen, it must have been fun to make.
“Oh, it was,” says Sally (51). “It was a blast. When you’re on location, a close family feeling develops. You’re all in the same hotel, have breakfast and dinner together, go sightseeing together on days off. You just don’t get that kind of camaraderie when you’re filming in London and you go home every night. I took Ollie and his younger brothers, Luke (13) and Tomas (nine), on location to Majorca with me and we had an absolutely brilliant time. It was one of those jobs where you create real friendships and relationships. Whether the film sinks or swims, it was worth it just for that.”
Off The Rails is in UK cinemas.
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