Mickey Sumner: "Star Wars is all I want in life"

Bumping into cool people at parties is yet another joy currently lost to us. 

Of course, seeing cool and acting cool are two very different things. 

Take the time Mickey Sumner saw her current obsession Phoebe Waller-Bridge – she hid.

"That’s my general go to when I see people I admire and would love to talk to," says Sumner. "Don’t make eye contact, make myself scarce and preferably hide myself in the loo."  

Which of us cannot emphasise? But lockdown resolution: next time we're lucky enough to attend a party, the day must be seized.

Life's too short for hiding in the loo. 

Life

What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?

“Snowpiercer”!! I’ve been working on this project since 2017 - and it’s finally coming out - it’s been a long, long crazy journey and I’ve had the best time making it. The entire cast feels like family at this point and now we are just so ready for everyone else to enjoy it!

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

Every time I book a job I pinch myself. It’s a privilege to get to do what you love and call it work. I think the first time I got my name written on a cast chair - that was a pretty big day for me.

If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?

I don’t regret anything. I would love to do more theatre - it’s where I started and I miss the nightly thrill, the adrenaline, the evolving nature of a play.

What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?

Two words: Star Wars. It’s all I want in life.

Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?

Ugh so many, I don't know if I have a definitive answer for that.

Currently I’m pretty obsessed with Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I love her writing, her acting, her humor, her vulnerability - I love her. I saw her at a party once - my immediate reaction was to hide; in case she saw me.

That’s my general go to when I see people I admire and would love to talk to - don’t make eye contact, make myself scarce and preferably hide myself in the loo. Completely counter intuitive and illogical.

Some other inspirations: Bette Davis, Gena Rowlands, Dolores Huerta and Bernie Sanders.

Tell us something nobody knows about you…

I got fired from my first and only band. It was our first concert at the school disco, (I “played” the bass) - I was so nervous I mimed the whole set.

Lockdown

How are you finding lockdown?

A roller coaster of emotions. I wake up every morning feeling incredibly lucky that my family is safe and healthy right now and that I’m living in a remote place in British Columbia surrounded by nature. But also incredibly sad and anxious for the global suffering that is unfolding at a rapid and brutal rate.

My heart goes out to everyone on the front lines who are risking their lives for others, for everyone who have lost their jobs, and all the service workers out there - what incredible heroes.

My heart breaks for everyone who has lost someone to this virus. It’s an incredible and unprecedented time. I'm trying so hard not to live in fear - attempting to stay strong, positive, grateful and ultimately kind.

Best thing about lockdown?

I'm enjoying being forced to slow way down, and also perhaps it’ not enjoyable but it definitely feels important right now to surrender and let go of the things that are so easy to cling to: ambition, vanity and control.

I’ve been filming “Snowpiercer” since October so I'm really grateful for this time off and spending every waking hour with my three-year-old son, which is exhausting, but also really beautiful. These are precious times and I'm soaking it all up.

Also, I don't think I've been so social in my life! I’ve spoken to so many friends in the past few weeks – it’s lovely to realize how much you love and miss people.

I made a ridiculous little video on Instagram about picking up FaceTime - it goes "Pick up FaceTime, pick up FaceTime, we all look like shit, we all look like shit", I suddenly got tons of FaceTime’s from old friends - but now it means I have to pick them all up!

Worst thing about lockdown?

Being separated from my parents, all my siblings, my in-laws and my dog. We are all spread out across the world and I keep wishing we were all under one roof and all the kids could be playing together.

The anxiety - but my remedy and recommendation to anyone else with bad anxiety - binge watch “Schitt’s Creek” - I can’t fall asleep without it – it’s funny Xanax.

Top tip for surviving lockdown?

Clean your dishes as soon as you are done. Do not say you will do them later, you will not, and then the next meal comes, and you're totally screwed. (We don't have a dishwasher, so this rule is imperative to not filing for a divorce post-quarantine).

Also don't read the news after 7PM. And take your vitamins. Oh and pick up FaceTime - face to face is good.

If you could be locked down with one person, alive or dead, who would it be?

Besides obviously my husband, child, parents, siblings and dog (I love you all).

I think I'd like to be in lock down with Pema Chodron. She wrote a book called "Comfortable with Uncertainty" and "Welcoming the Unwelcome" - I think she would be a pretty awesome housemate - I also imagine she would wash her dishes promptly after every mealtime.

And if Pema was unavailable I'd take Baby Yoda.

What are you most looking forward to doing once lockdown is over?

Shaking strangers' hands, squeezing the crap out of all my friends, going to the movies and eating anything I personally have not cooked.