OSCARS: Janet McTeer Albert Nobbs

On the morning of Oscar nominations, most actors wait nervously to hear their own name announced. But Janet McTeer, Best Supporting Actress nominee for Albert Nobbs, was hoping to hear another name first: Glenn Close, who stars as Nobbs and has spent 30 years trying to bring this unusual tale to the big screen. The British actress got her wish: Close was nominated for best actress, so the two can enjoy the moment together. She spoke with AwardsLine contributor Diane Haithman. AWARDSLINE: You were nominated for a Golden Globe for portraying Hubert, a woman living as a man in 19th century Ireland, but Close was not nominated for playing Nobbs, also a woman masquerading as a man. You are also in the cast of Closes FX series Damages. You must have breathed a sigh of relief when both of you made the cut for the Oscars. McTEER: If she hadnt been nominated I would have cut my wrists. Oh, yeah. That would have been horrible. I wouldnt have wanted it either. I was watching the announcements on the sofa in the green room at the Todayshow, and I was just sort of holding my breath to see whether Glenn was nominated, and she was. Then I was very excited. AWARDSLINE: I guess for a film like this, awards mean more than they do for, say, a hit film like The Help. Are the nominations alone enough to spur box office for Albert Nobbs? McTEER: Absolutely. All it needs is for people to be made aware of it. Theyll say, “Ooh, gosh, if its got nominations, it must be really good.” Weve already won. AWARDSLINE: We talked to Close before the Oscar nominations, and she spoke about the challenge of promoting the film but still maintaining some elements of surprise, particularly in the case of your character. McTEER: These days were on the Internet — you cant keep things secret in a film anymore. Once you realize the secrets out, you might as well go with it and not pretend that its not there. AWARDSLINE: Glenn described the scene where you reveal yourself as a woman to Nobbs as the surprise appearance of your incredible breasts. Its a very bold move, so opposite of the way the timid Mr. Nobbs would behave. Did you have any hesitation in doing that scene? McTEER: No, not at all. I pushed for it to be as funny as we could make it, like smoking the cigarette, so that the whole thing was funny instead of, “Oh, my God!” — hitting you over the head with a hammer. And it wasnt for cheap thrills. The audience has to understand Albert, the idea that Albert might be exposed by somebody, and how scary that was for him. AWARDSLINE: You have said that in creating the character of Hubert you tried to appear as large as possible, to take up as much space as possible. Were there any costuming or camera tricks employed to play up the contrast of your stature and Glenn Closes Albert? McTEER: The thing is, she actually is just really little, and Im really tall. Im 6 foot and a half-inch and shes 4-foot-1 — no, but shes 5-foot-4 if shes lucky. And she was wearing flat shoes, which she normally never does. But because shes so powerful, you think of her as being bigger than she actually is. I also bought quite big boots, with quite big heels. And I used quite a lot of padding. AWARDSLINE: In interviews, Glenn always seems to refer to Albert Nobbs as he. Do you refer to your character, Hubert, as he or she? McTEER: He. Really. Yeah. I think Hubert just thinks of Hubert as Hubert. I mean, if she had a choice she would still live as a man, so I think Hubert thinks of herself as more male than female. What I wanted to create was somebody who was a little bit the best of both worlds, who had all the great qualities of manliness, you know, that freedom and the confidence and the Alpha maleness, but also the great qualities of femaleness, the nurturing and kindness. AWARDSLINE: Your character is so much less tragic than poor Mr. Nobbs. McTEER: My character isnt tragic at all. He suffers a tragedy, but isnt a tragic character by definition. I think Hubert is upbeat. AWARDSLINE: Even though now weve seen you at the Golden Globes and other awards shows, people will surely be more curious to see you in your evening gown than they will the other actresses. The who are you wearing thing will be elevated to a whole new level. McTEER: Yeah, because the difference will be extraordinary. AWARDSLINE: Have you written a speech? McTEER: I havent even found a dress. Just let me get over this week. (McTeer photo: Getty Images)