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Showing: UK... Coming
soon to ITV1
What attracted you to the role?
It was very different to the last role that I played in The Stepfather, which was incredibly emotional, because my character’s daughter went missing and as a mother myself, it was an upsetting role to play. Although this is also an emotional story. It’s incredibly heart warming, so this was a much easier journey both for my character and me.
I was fascinated by the Chernobyl disaster and completely saddened by the fact that we live in such a wealthy country, whilst this horrendous catastrophe still lives on in Belarus. To have the opportunity to star in a dramatization, which will hopefully help to expose the disaster again was a fantastic opportunity.
I was also really looking forward to working with Alun.
How would you describe your character Julie?
She’s an extremely kind, optimistic and altruistic woman. She’s trying to adjust to the ‘empty nest’ syndrome, so at this moment she’s feeling slightly lost and empty. Her relationship with her husband has always been solid, but as their daughter was leaving home, the cracks in their marriage were becoming more evident.
I really warmed to Julie’s, sensitive and emotional side. It’s great that she truly cares for the children.
What was it like taking on the role of Julie?
It’s been fun playing a northern character and having to put on the accent! Although we filmed The Stepfather in Manchester, it was based in London, so my character Maggie had my voice. Julie is always made up with lots of make up, so it’s been a great challenge.
Would you consider getting involved in a charity scheme to help the children of Chernobyl?
I’d like to think I would get involved and I do really like children. Having read this script, it really made me think about finding a month in my year to take in a Belarusian child, to try and make their life a little bit better. Although as an actor you never know where you’re going to be, so it wouldn’t be fair on the children if I wasn’t at home. I think I might investigate it further. The woman who plays the interpreter has already taken part and she said it’s amazing, but exhausting. I get attached to children very quickly, so I would find it difficult to send them back. If it boosts their immune system for two years then that would be fantastic.
Did you research much for the role?
I read all about the Chernobyl disaster again to refresh my mind, because it’s nearly twenty years since it happened. It’s in their gene pool now, so children are born with these horrible genetic disorders. One in four children have thyroid cancer, which is really rare for young children in the rest of the world.
Has it made you change your life in anyway?
It makes me very grateful that I live in a clean country and have healthy children and also more choice in life.
What do you think audiences will take away from this drama?
Hopefully, it will make people more aware of the disaster and realise that it’s still a major issue today. But it’s not just about the sadness. The children give so much back to the families that they stay with over here, which I hope we clearly portray through the drama. Nadia and Nelli bring so much to Bob and Julie and really help to fulfil Julie’s needs. |
It would be great if the series was followed up with a documentary on life in Belarus, which I’d like to get involved in. Through our dramatisation, we tell one family’s story, but there are so many more people suffering in Belarus. A documentary really would give people an insight into life in Belarus and bring it to the forefront of people’s minds. Hopefully, it may persuade more people to get involved and give to the charities.
How have you enjoyed working with the rest of the cast? Have you worked with any of them before?
It was great to work with Alun. I really admired his work, and he’s very easy to be with. Sam’s lovely and those two little girls, Anastasia and Anna, are fantastic, just little gems. It made my job so much nicer to be with people I enjoyed being with.
Do you prefer working in a certain genre, film, television, radio or theatre?
I’m happy to do whatever comes my way, but I would love to do more film. After this I’m going to do more theatre, when it comes to theatre work you have to wait for the right piece to come along that really suits you.
It would be great to work in London again! I was working in Manchester on The Stepfather as well as this production. I do like Manchester, though, because I’ve never lived in another city other than London. I’ve been here a couple of times and I feel like I know the area. I’ve got a couple of friends in Manchester now.
What were your favourite scenes to film?
There’s a nice scene in the hospital cafeteria that I liked with Alun, where they recapture what they liked about each other in the very beginning. That scene is a really nice, tender scene, where all the façade is down and that shyness and intimacy comes back.
I also like the scene when the girls leave to go back to Chernobyl. That’s quite a sad part. Little Anastasia is just crying on cue, as she’s a very sensitive little girl. Realistically, you’re sending them back to not a very nice place again. Although they’re going back to see their parents, which they’re pleased about, they do have to face up to the reality of their lives. Their life over there couldn’t be further removed from our life in England.
Is there a role you would love to play which hasn’t come your way yet?
I’d like to do something totally huge in terms of caricature, maybe some comedy. I’d also like to do a musical.
I do like doing dramas that have some sort of voice and give people something to think about.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently starring in The Street on the BBC, alongside Jim Broadbent and Jane
Horrocks.
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