Actress Cassie Bradley as gone from the Corrie cobbles to the Hollywood highlife and she has opened up on what it’s like to star alongside showbiz royalty like Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic 2
From the Coronation Street cobbles to a glitzy Hollywood role, Cassie Bradley is living the dream. The Nottingham-born actress had a stint in Weatherfield back in 2019 as scheming Natalie Watkins, who scammed Audrey Roberts.
Fast-forward seven years and the 32-year-old is sharing the big screen with showbiz royalty Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. She is playing a young witch called Hannah, a member of the Owens family, in the sequel to the much-loved 90s movie Practical Magic.
Here, Cassie talks to new about working with A-listers, how she hopes her working-class background can help inspire the next generation and her latest stage role in one-woman play My Name Is Rachel Corrie…
Congrats on your movie role, Cassie. What a part to get!
Oh my goodness, it was such a joy. It’s a real privilege and it was such a great experience filming. It’s got such a strong fan base and I’m so excited for people to see the film. Standing on the blue carpet of Practical Magic 2 in Leicester Square was a surreal moment in my life.
What was it like working alongside Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock?
It was an amazing time, such a large-scale project. My character exists in a different century to them. She’s the originator of the Owen witch family. It was incredible to be on that set and have the responsibility of telling that story, both from a perspective of the Practical Magic franchise, but also the weight of history in terms of witchcraft in this country, because its roots are in England.
Did it add to the pressure, working alongside such big names?
It was exciting, really. I feel like I just bottled the excitement and really went for it. I think you have to almost strip away the world surrounding it and approach it like I would any other character on stage or screen.
What were Sandra and Nicole like in the flesh?
A lot of my filming took place in a different century to them – but they are fully involved in the project. And they’re executive producers. They are such funny, wonderful people with an amazing work ethic. It was a privilege to be part of a project that they’re both in and pioneering. There was a lot of strong female representation. That was such an amazing thing to do in a film about sisterhood.
It must be worlds away from your days on the cobbles…
I had such a wonderful experience on the cobbles playing Natalie Watkins. That was a dream of a character. She was so spicy and witty and such a wrong ’un, as my family say.
The pace is very different on a soap too…
Yeah, they’re across so many units at one time. So you were filming six weeks of storyline in one day sometimes. You were in the Rovers Return on a Monday afternoon, going to Tuesday morning, six weeks earlier. You had to be so on top of your own storyline and where the character was. And I got to work with all the Platts, which was just a great household to jump into and cause havoc with.
Did you ever think back then that you’d be in a Hollywood film?
The amazing thing about acting is that you never know where it’s going to take you. It always feels like an adventure. When I was doing Coronation Street, I was also filming a drama for Amazon and flying back between Morocco and the cobbles – such different weather conditions! But I remember on the plane once thinking, “These are the moments you live for as an actor.”
It sounds like you’re living the dream…
I really am. And it goes right back to when I was five, standing in my living room, putting on shows and trying on different costumes. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I’m not from an acting family and I do feel like I’m doing this against the odds. If I can raise awareness for working-class actors, and for people to just chase their dreams, find a way – there’ll be people on the way that will help you out.
What would your advice to others be?
Don’t let anybody dim your light. If you want to do it, keep that fire in your belly and surround yourself with people who will nurture and encourage you. I was so lucky going to Nottingham Youth Theatre. I learned so much. It challenged me to be a better actor, but also told me that it was possible.
What’s next for you? Will your role in Practical Magic 2 open more doors?
At the moment, it’s all systems go on Rachel Corrie, which is a one-woman play about the American peace activist. I’m so excited by that. It’s just in my head, and we’re deep into rehearsals now. It’s wonderful to have Practical Magic 2 out alongside that. With any project, I hope it leads to further adventures. Who knows? But I’m excited about the future.
My Name Is Rachel Corrie runs from 29 September to 18 October at Greenwich Theatre Studio, tickets available to purchase at greenwichtheatre.org.uk
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