Jessie Cave discusses “Love Sick” book, comedy, and “Potter”
Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown) has certainly been busy recently with a new book of illustrations, Love Sick, out today, July 2, in the UK; roles in TV shows; an Edinburgh comedy show; and more book projects to come. In a new interview with the Independent, Jessie Cave discussed Love Sick, as well as her Harry Potter fame, and other projects that are in the pipeline.
In the interview, Jessie discusses her career and the different paths she has taken, saying that after Potter had finished she went to secretarial college:
I didn’t complete the course. I was dressed like this,” she points at today’s outfit – an oversized Hawaiian shirt, her trademark owlish glasses, a baseball cap and two very long plaits, done up with multi-coloured bobbles. “And everyone else was in office clothes. I thought I’d be a PA to a millionaire, and then he’d buy me stuff. But in reality you’re in a shit office in Notting Hill with a worn-out Word Excel guide. So I gave up. I made things.”
Discussing her book of illustrations, Jessie said that completing a drawing a day had become important to her:
It felt nice having something that I had to do every day. I’m a complete sucker for routine. If I’ve done nothing else [-] if I’ve not gone to the gym, not had an audition, not accomplished anything [-] at least I’ve done a drawing. Last year I did 350 drawings out of 365, but this year I am doing 365 unless I die.
Jessie will also be taking a new comedy show to this year’s Edinburgh festival. She says that the show, called I Loved Her, is about stalking her boyfriend’s exes and
the ridiculous shock of being in love when I’ve never really been in love before. And now I have a boyfriend and a baby.
On the Potter tag, she says,
I’m still thrilled. I think if I [were] a Rada graduate, and I [were] just an actress and acting [were] my life, I would be a bit more eager for people to notice me for other things.
She also discussed bumping into Daniel Radcliffe a couple of years ago, where he didn’t recognize her at first:
I just felt very sorry for him. It made a situation that was really normal – bumping into someone you’ve worked with – into something slightly formal.
As well as taking a show to Edinburgh, filming roles for many TV shows including Call the Midwife and Trollied, and working on her own art and projects, Jessie also has three more books in the pipeline.
I’m ridiculously ambitious and eager to share things I’ve made myself. As an actress I’m aware of the realities of the business. I understand that I might never work again. And that’s OK, really. If I hadn’t got Harry Potter, I don’t know how things would have turned out… but I feel like I’m now in the right place.
Phew! Busy, busy! We’re certainly looking forward to reading Love Sick – and seeing what Jessie comes up with next.
If you’re in London, Gosh! Comics is hosting a book launch for Jessie’s book tonight, July 2. Find out more here.
Love Sick is released in the UK, today, July 2, and is available to buy in bookshops and online. Tickets for Jessie’s Edinburgh show are now available. Jessie also recently recorded an audiobook of Giovanna Fletcher’s novel, Dream a Little Dream. You can listen to a preview and buy the audiobook here.
Have you ordered Jessie’s book? Are you looking forward to reading it? Are you going to Jessie’s Edinburgh show? Don’t forget to let us know in the comments!
