Interview with Bernard Kearns

©2001 by Tom Brouwers

by: Tom Brouwers on December 8, 2000

1. How did you like to act in Mirror Mirror?

"I loved it. It was a bit of colour in it. The Old Man had a

strange relationship with the girls, because of the secrecy.

The scenes in the antique shop and in Jo's bedroom were

fun"

2. How did you start with acting?

"I started at an University, it was Canterbury, in the time of

Dame Ngaio Marsh (see also interview with Judie

Douglass). That was in '64"

3. What was your favourite scene in Mirror Mirror?

Probably the scene in which he (the Old Man) tells Jo where

exactly to place the mirror. He was showing something of his

strangeness. Also the scene where he disappears, my body

really had to be in an exact place, so that they could let my

body disappear. That was with Peter (Peter Bensley) I

believe, he was also a nice actor to play with"

4. What is your age/birthdate?

"My 70th birthday was when we started to record 'Mirror

Mirror' in January 1995. So I'm going to be 76 in a few

weeks"

5. If there would ome a third series of Mirror Mirror, would you like to act in it?

"I think I finished doing long angagements. I'm going to be 76

in a few weeks, remember. But I did help the children with

their lines in the second series"

It's unbelievable, but actually you could've guessed it:

DOUNHO became site of the month December as well! I

have to say it's a great honour to me to be site of the month

for two months in a row. I can promise you that I'll start with

'adopting' sites which are almost dead and make them alive

 again. I also have plans for a new site of Australian and New

Zealand Actresses: DAKYA. But you'll hear more of this

ASAP! Keep on visiting my site, I should say. Any questions

or suggestions? Just mail me! It's important what visitors 

think, so I'd like to hear what you got to say!

I started my Homepage with only 'Mirror Mirror' Later

'Spellbinder',  'Thunderstone' and 'The Wayne Manifesto'

were added. When my Homepage came online at

Bizland.com I added 'DOWNUNDERtoday', the news

category. Later I added 'The David Hoflin and Jeffrey Walker

Homepage'. And today I added 'Shorofky's Zbych Site',

which I haven taken over too. As you can see DOUNHO is

growing. I have big plans for the future: to start a new Aussie

and Kiwi Actresses Site. So look out for:

DAKYA

DOUNHO's Aussie and Kiwi Young Actresses

in association with GAKYA

1. How was it to act in 'Mirror Mirror'?

It was fantastic!! I was third form at the

time and it was my first role containing

dialogue so I was very excited! I have

since had a small role on Jackson's

Wharf (NZ TV) and I'm hoping that will lead to more.

2. How was it to act together with Petra Jared? Do you still have contact with each other?

I didn't have many scenes with Petra (didn't really have many

scenes at all - grin) but those we did have I found her really

down to earth and easy to get on with. Petra was very

observant - turns out we both have small scars in the corner

of our left eyes (how's that for an interesting bit of trivia?!)

We intended to keep in touch but these things don't always

happen when you move in different circles - you sadly tend

to lose contact - who knows, we might work together on

something again one day, that would be nice.

3. How long did it take to film the scenes in the hospital?

I can recall working one day at the Hospital. It was a hard

days work too - lying in bed can really take it out of you - 

haha!! Initially there was call for me to have my top undone

so they could perform the act of restarting my heart so to

speak (not sure of the medical term, but you get my drift) but

considering I was the one wearing the bra, it was thought

more suitable to let Jesse have that honour! 

4. If there would come a third series of 'Mirror Mirror', would you like to act in it?

Yes and direct and write - I'm very optimistic - haha just

joking! Yes I would love to (does the casting director get to

see this - hint hint - LOL!!)

5. What's the name of the hospital in 'Mirror Mirror'?

The Hospital scenes were filmed in Lower Hutt, I'm not sure

what it was called in Mirror Mirror.