British actor, writer and comedian Ali Cook made his directorial debut with The Pearl Comb, which has been shortlisted in the Live Action Short category at the Oscars this year. Here, he shares his points of reference, inspirations, and daily rituals.
An actor and writer who has also worked for fifteen years as a comic, Ali Cook made his directorial debut with The Pearl Comb, a short film set in 1893 as an endearing Cornish fisherman’s wife captures the attention of the medical profession as the first person to ever cure someone of Tuberculosis. A doctor (played by Cook) is sent to investigate her miraculous claim, hell bent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine… only to discover the source of her unearthly power.
In addition to being shortlisted for an Oscar, The Pearl Comb has taken home awards for Best Short Film at the Cleveland International Film Festival, Best After Dark Short at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and the Horror Audience Choice Award from the Indy Shorts International Film Festival.
Below, Ali Cook shares his cultural life.
Was a career in acting something you always aspired to?
It is, but I also love stand-up comedy and have been a comic for fifteen years.
How do you go about taking a story or character from the page and bringing it to life on the stage?
I read the script hundreds of times and then imagine myself in the circumstances of the story.
Tell us about The Pearl Comb.
In 1893, a fisherman’s wife becomes the first person to cure someone of tuberculosis. A doctor, intent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine, investigates — only to discover the source of her unearthly power.
Who is someone you look up to in the world of cinema?
As an actor, I love Willem Dafoe. As a writer, I love Peter Straughan, who wrote Conclave, and as for directors, I love George Lucas and François Truffaut.
What is one thing you wish everyone knew about working as an actor?
You are always frozen! It is not sexy.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone hoping to have a career in the arts?
If you hang around long enough, something will happen.
Ali Cook’s life in culture
The last thing I saw and loved… I only recently saw Dirty Dancing. It was incredible.
The book I keep coming back to… The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
I find inspiration in… Walking in old forests.
My favourite film is… The Last Temptation of Christ and The Empire Strikes Back.
My career highlight is… The premiere of Kajaki, which was a true story. At the premiere, we all stood next to the real soldiers who we played in the film.
The song I listen to to get in the zone is… ‘Poison’ by The Prodigy.
The last show I recommended is… Severance.
I never leave the house without… Forgetting everything!
The piece of work I still think about is… Al Pacino’s monologue in Scent of a Woman.
My dream role would be… A MI5 agent in Slow Horses.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… Your biggest problem will always be awareness.
The art that means the most to me is… From when I was younger, the moment in Platoon when Willem Dafoe gets shot!
My favourite moment in this film is… The opening scene and realising how brutal war is.
The most challenging thing about being an actor is… You usually get your dream audition when you are on the plane or on your honeymoon!
After a day on set, I… Learn lines and sleep!
If I wasn’t an actor, I would be… A magician.
The magic of acting to me is… When something out of the blue just happens in a scene. No one was ready for it, it comes from nowhere, but it lights everything up!
The Pearl Comb is available to stream on Disney+.
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