We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Blanche Baker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Blanche thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I played Anna Weiss in one of the first the mini series “Holocaust”. The project had special meaning for me and though, a bit of a soap opera it had a profound effect on people and changed the politics in Germany. Before shooting “Holocaust” I decided to deeply explore my personal connection to the material. My father, Jack Garfein, was a Holocaust survivor and I went to Poland and retraced his journey through the concentration camps. He was liberated from Bergen Belsen at age 14. In an odd twist after visiting Bergen Belsen, I stumbled on Jerzy Grotowski’s Mountain Project. His revolutionary approach to theater influenced a generation of the avant garde. I have been incorporating his insights into my work and teaching ever since.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I come from a strong lineage of acting and acting instruction. My mother is Carroll Baker, who first made her mark in Elia Kazan’s film of Tennessee William’s “Baby Doll.” My father, Jack Garfein, was a director and acting teacher. My parents met at The Actor’s Studio and I was born in NYC but after “Baby Doll” was released we moved to Hollywood. It was a bumpy road for my parent’s marriage and their careers. My father helped set up the Actor’s Studio West and became a full time teacher. My mother broke her contract with Paramount studios and was blacklisted in Hollywood. She divorced my father and started her career over in Italy. I was fortunate to grow up in Rome, Italy and have a childhood far removed from the chaos of Hollywood.
I didn’t know anything other than the arts! The big decision for me was whether to be a poet, a sculptor or an actress, with never a thought as to how I would support myself.
I had the good fortune to study with Lee Strasberg at the Actor’s Studio and with Uta Hagen’s in her Master Class at HB Studios. For many years, I didn’t appreciate the education I’d been given and didn’t tap into the self-reliance it affords one. If you know the history of acting and film it gives you roots so you’re not easily toppled. If you have learned technique, you can work on your acting for your own betterment and be your own judge of how you are doing. These things help to keep you on an even keel in a business that has a lot of ups and downs.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I got resilience from watching my parents and from growing up overseas. As previously stated, my father was a holocaust survivor. I was never allowed to feel sorry for myself and deeply understood how important it is to appreciate life. We travelled wherever my mother got work as an actress after she was blacklisted in Hollywood. I had to start over numerous times in new schools and new cities so resilience was essential.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The films I have written and directed have been about social issues, including freedom of speech, sexism and gun control. I like having something interwoven into a story that is relevant to what is going on in the world today and makes people think about social issues. I’m excited about the current film I’m writing/directing, “Girl in a Glass Box” based on a book by Raf Lindia. I was drawn to the story because of the way it explores psychological manipulation. The fact is, someone loved and trusted can gas light you. The term was made famous by the 1940’s film “Gas Light”. An abuser instills self-doubt in the victim, making them feel confused, unstable and irrational. In the story, friends and professionals alike are blind to the control the manipulator exerts. I want to shine a light on the trauma inflicted by those seeking to control others so we can better understand the warning signs of abuse.

On a personal note, I like to play tennis whenever possible. I really enjoy the community of friends united by a shared interest. A family pastime is beekeeping in our backyard. Capturing swarms, caring for the bees and harvesting honey is one of our favorite activities. This hobby helps you feel connected to nature plus you are doing something good for the planet. We need our pollinators! My youngest son, James, is an Environmental Studies major at Pace and this summer he had an internship at the NY Botanical Gardens which will included helping take care of their bees.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: blanche_baker
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Blanche-Baker/pfbid0kb1KjvuQprjpBaXK5GR4fY9qNBJnooCAp9CdFhmNFnirGaLMJUZBxatFqCk4J99kl/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blanche-baker-5aa024304/

Image Credits

Jessica Osber, photographer od headshot and gardening photo
Dorothy Shi photographer of beekeeping photo