Lucie Barât
Encyclopedia
Lucie Barât is a British actress, writer, lyricist and musician. She is the lead singer of rock group The Fay Wrays.
The sister of successful actor/guitarist and singer Carl Barât
of The Libertines
and Dirty Pretty Things
, Barât won a scholarship to drama school as a teenager. Upon graduation, she started a theatre company with her friends, recruiting Dame Judi Dench
as its patron.
During 2002 and 2003, Barât starred in lead roles in several theatre productions, including Julia in the Duchess of Malfi, Ginny in Relatively Speaking
and Robin in Under the Yum Yum Tree
. In 2003, she played a bit-part as Helen's handmaiden in Wolfgang Petersen
's Hollywood film Troy
. Following these appearances, Barât put her acting career aside to concentrate on songwriting and music.
Barât founded the band The Fay Wrays at the beginning of 2005, penning lyrics and melodies for pop singer Alice Temple
, who had been looking for a writing partner. The pair subsequently recruited as a second guitarist Cameron "Cammy" Angus, who had previously played in hardcore rock bands Engage and J Loveless and the Heart Attacks. A painter and decorator by trade, Angus had moved from Dundee to London to become a full-time guitarist. Angus and Barât went on to form a writing partnership of their own, with Temple leaving the group to concentrate on her own solo career. Barât and Angus recruited various musicians between 2005 and 2007 to play live sets and on recordings.
Their debut album, War Cry, was recorded with only one guitar track and no overdubs, other than a short piece of feedback on the first track. Nick McBrain played drums with Tom "Robbo" Robertson of The Frake on bass guitar. The vocals are almost completely dry throughout, in line with the producers' intention to reproduce the band's live sound. It was produced by Tom McKay and Mark Plati
, mixed in New York and mastered by Greg Calbi.
Barât also founded the company, Little Episodes, which publishes literary anthologies (with contributions from people such as Sadie Frost
, Melvin Burgess
, Todd Swift
, and Clint Catalyst
) and puts on artistic ventures such as art exhibitions and poetry nights. "Little Episodes is an organisation started by professional writers, editors, artists, musicians and actors aiming to use the arts as a platform to raise awareness for people who suffer from depression, addiction or mental illness."
The sister of successful actor/guitarist and singer Carl Barât
Carl Barât
Carl Ashley Raphael Barât is an English musician, actor and author. He was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and recently debuted a solo album, but is best known for being the co-frontman with Peter Doherty of the garage rock band The Libertines.-Early life:Carl Barât was...
of The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
and Dirty Pretty Things
Dirty Pretty Things (band)
Dirty Pretty Things were an English band fronted by Carl Barât, a member of The Libertines. The formation of the band was announced in September 2005, after a dispute between Barât and Pete Doherty led to the breakup of The Libertines in 2004. Barât had worked with Vertigo Records and had...
, Barât won a scholarship to drama school as a teenager. Upon graduation, she started a theatre company with her friends, recruiting Dame Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
as its patron.
During 2002 and 2003, Barât starred in lead roles in several theatre productions, including Julia in the Duchess of Malfi, Ginny in Relatively Speaking
Relatively Speaking (play)
Relatively Speaking is a 1965 play by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn, originally titled Meet My Father. The London production of Relatively Speaking in 1967 at the Duke of York's Theatre helped to launch Richard Briers' career, and it also featured Michael Hordern and Celia Johnson.-Setting:The...
and Robin in Under the Yum Yum Tree
Under the Yum Yum Tree
Under the Yum Yum Tree is a 1963 comedy movie that stars Jack Lemmon, Carol Lynley, Paul Lynde, Dean Jones and Edie Adams.This sex comedy was one of the successful small comic movies that Lemmon despised making . It first ran on Broadway in 1960-1961.-Plot:Jack Lemmon stars as the playboy landlord...
. In 2003, she played a bit-part as Helen's handmaiden in Wolfgang Petersen
Wolfgang Petersen
Wolfgang Petersen is a German film director and screenwriter. His films include The NeverEnding Story, Enemy Mine, Outbreak, In the Line of Fire, Air Force One, The Perfect Storm, Troy, and Poseidon...
's Hollywood film Troy
Troy (film)
Troy is a 2004 epic war film written by David Benioff and directed by Wolfgang Petersen based on the events of the Trojan War. Its cast includes Brad Pitt as Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector.It was nominated for the Academy Award for Costume Design.-Plot:...
. Following these appearances, Barât put her acting career aside to concentrate on songwriting and music.
Barât founded the band The Fay Wrays at the beginning of 2005, penning lyrics and melodies for pop singer Alice Temple
Alice Temple
Alice Temple is an English musician, singer and songwriter, born in London. She is best known for her collaboration with Eg White under the name Eg and Alice. She is also notable for having been the first female UK and European BMX champion.-BMX:...
, who had been looking for a writing partner. The pair subsequently recruited as a second guitarist Cameron "Cammy" Angus, who had previously played in hardcore rock bands Engage and J Loveless and the Heart Attacks. A painter and decorator by trade, Angus had moved from Dundee to London to become a full-time guitarist. Angus and Barât went on to form a writing partnership of their own, with Temple leaving the group to concentrate on her own solo career. Barât and Angus recruited various musicians between 2005 and 2007 to play live sets and on recordings.
Their debut album, War Cry, was recorded with only one guitar track and no overdubs, other than a short piece of feedback on the first track. Nick McBrain played drums with Tom "Robbo" Robertson of The Frake on bass guitar. The vocals are almost completely dry throughout, in line with the producers' intention to reproduce the band's live sound. It was produced by Tom McKay and Mark Plati
Mark Plati
Mark Plati is a New York-based musician, record producer, and songwriter, widely acclaimed for his work in the 1990s with David Bowie. An in-demand producer, Plati also has worked with Spookey Ruben, The Cure, Duncan Sheik, Hooverphonic, Robbie Williams, Joe McIntyre, and Natalie Imbruglia...
, mixed in New York and mastered by Greg Calbi.
Barât also founded the company, Little Episodes, which publishes literary anthologies (with contributions from people such as Sadie Frost
Sadie Frost
Sadie Frost is an English actress, who currently runs fashion label Frost French and has designed the kitchens for a new development in the East End of London.-Biography:Frost was born Sadie Liza Vaughan in London...
, Melvin Burgess
Melvin Burgess
Melvin Burgess is a British author of children's fiction. His first book, The Cry of the Wolf, was published in 1990. He gained a certain amount of notoriety in 1996 with the publication of Junk, which was published in the shadow of the film of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, and dealt with the...
, Todd Swift
Todd Swift
Todd Swift is a Canadian poet, editor, cultural activist and university lecturer based in the United Kingdom.Swift was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and raised in Saint-Lambert, Quebec. He received a B.A. in English from Concordia University and an M.A...
, and Clint Catalyst
Clint Catalyst
Clint Catalyst is an American author, actor, spoken word performer, and stylist.Catalyst has covered music, fashion, LGBT issues, and popular culture for magazines including LA Weekly, Frontiers, Out, Surface and Swindle.-Early life:Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Catalyst was raised an only child...
) and puts on artistic ventures such as art exhibitions and poetry nights. "Little Episodes is an organisation started by professional writers, editors, artists, musicians and actors aiming to use the arts as a platform to raise awareness for people who suffer from depression, addiction or mental illness."