Interview: Laura Clifton as Susanna Dickinson in The Alamo

By TheAlamoFilm.com

*Note: The following is a brief and detailed biography of Susanna Dickinson taken from The Handbook of Texas Online. An original interview with actress Laura Clifton, who portrayed Susanna Dickinson in The Alamo, follows below the biography.

Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson (Dickenson), survivor of the Alamo, was born about 1814 in Tennessee, perhaps in Williamson County. Her first name has also been recorded as Susan, Susana, and Suzanna; her maiden name is sometimes given as Wilkinson. On May 24, 1829, she married Almaron Dickinson before a justice of the peace in Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tennessee. The couple remained in the vicinity through the end of 1830. The Dickinsons arrived at Gonzales, Texas, on February 20, 1831, in company with fifty-four other settlers, after a trip by schooner from New Orleans. On May 5 Dickinson received a league of land from Green DeWitt,qv on the San Marcos River in what became Caldwell County. He received ten more lots in and around Gonzales in 1833 and 1834. The Dickinsons lived on a lot just above the town on the San Marcos River, where Susanna took in at least one boarder. A map of Gonzales in 1836 shows a Dickinson and Kimble hat factory in Gonzales. Susanna's only child, Angelina Elizabeth Dickinson,qv was born on December 14, 1834.

Susanna and her daughter may have joined other families hiding in the timber along the Guadalupe River in early October 1835, when Mexican troops from San Antonio demanded the return of an old cannon lent to Gonzales four years earlier. The resulting skirmish, the battle of Gonzales,qv was the first fight of the Texas Revolution.qv Susanna said goodbye to her husband on October 13 as the volunteers left for San Antonio under command of Stephen F. Austin. She remained in Gonzales through November, when newly arriving troops looted her home.

She joined Dickinson in San Antonio, probably in December 1835, and lodged in Ramón Músquiz'sqv home, where she opened her table to boarders (among them David Crockettqv) and did laundry. On February 23, 1836, the family moved into the Alamo. After the battle of the Alamoqv on March 6, Mexican soldiers found her-some accounts say in the powder magazine, others in the church-and took her and Angelina, along with the other women and children, to Músquiz's home. The women were later interviewed by Santa Anna, who gave each a blanket and two dollars in silver before releasing them. Legend says Susanna displayed her husband's Masonic apron to a Mexican general in a plea for help and that Santa Anna offered to take Angelina to Mexico.

Santa Anna sent Susanna and her daughter, accompanied by Juan N. Almonte'sqv servant Ben, to Sam Houston with a letter of warning dated March 7. On the way, the pair met Joe, William B. Travis's slave, who had been freed by Santa Anna........

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The Alamo Site: How did you find out about the Alamo movie and how did you end up getting the part of Susanna Dickinson?

Laura Clifton: Almost every actor in Austin had been hearing rumors of the Alamo for about a year and a half before it actually came to pass. My agent called me while I was working on another film, and said that I had a read for The Alamo. That call came as kind of a shock because I assumed that most of the roles were male and would come from Los Angeles. I originally read for the role of Rosanna', Travis' wife. When my agent phoned me to let me know that I had a callback, he mentioned that they would also be considering me for the role of Susannah Dickinson. Knowing who she was and her association with the Alamo, I didn't think that I would be a serious contender for the part. I went in for my callback , met John Lee, did my best and returned to the other set. The very next day (which never happens ) my agent called and said, "They would like to know if you would accept the role of Susanah Dickinson?" ---There really is no way to express in words the surprise and elation that I felt upon hearing that. Of course I said yes and the rest is history !

TAS: Did you get to work with any actors in the film? How was it working with Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric, and Patrick Wilson?

LC: I was able to work with all of those gentleman and so many more ! This is such an amazing cast of thousands! Everyone was really committed to giving this project everything they had, and it was so amazing to work with that kind of energy. I could go on and on about each individual in the cast. Billy is exceptional in his performances and his kindness, Jason is a beautiful talent to watch and to see Patrick take on the challenge of his role was quite a treat. It was an honor to work with all of them, and I would do it again in a
heartbeat.

TAS: People say that this is an all-male film and there is no love story involved. What do you think will attract the female audience to this film?

LC: Oh, but there ARE love stories in this film ! To say that it is an all-male film would negate the amazing performances of actors like Estaphania LeBaron ('Juana'), Lanell Pena ('Ana Esparza') and Emily Deschanel ('Rosanna Travis'). This movie has something for everyone - history, love, epic battles, heroism, growth of character and lots and lots of really great looking guys! There is a great deal for female movie-goers to enjoy!

TAS: Were there any surprising, funny, or exciting moments that you could share with us?

LC: Wow - there are so many ! There is a scene that shows the exodus into the fort and you see all of us and then a stampede of cattle and oxen pulling carts. Let's just say that there are a few of us who narrowly escaped disaster! We had to time it just right to miss the horns and in one take Stephen (Bruton, who plays Almeron Dickinson) and I slipped and had to almost fall out of the way so as not to get trampled! Talk about realism on film!

TAS: What do you hope people will gain after seeing The Alamo?

LC: I hope that they will appreciate the comfort of their lives by realizing how much of an impact these early settlers really did have on the shaping of America. I also hope it touches people and demonstrates how a small, unified group can make a big difference when they stand up for what they believe in, even if the odds are stacked against them. I hope people leave the film with a sense of history and wanting to learn more.

TAS: Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on?

LC: I have a couple of possibilities in the works, however, none are historical epics of this size!

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