Avoidance | Interview with Lisa McGrillis (Courtney)

Tell us about Avoidance and what audiences can expect from the show? 

Avoidance is about a man who is separating from his partner and trying to protect their child from being affected by it, by completely avoiding the situation. In fact he avoids any type of confrontation or difficult situation. 

Him and his son end up living with his sister and her wife and they have to learn to live alongside each other and it isn’t easy for any of them.

Do you have any similarities to your character? 

I’d like to say no, but truly the difference between myself and Courtney is that I have a filter and Courtney doesn’t. She unashamedly says exactly what she feels, she doesn’t dampen the blow. She thinks Jonathan is pathetic and needs to grow a back bone and she doesn’t hold back from telling him because that’s what she thinks. Simple. I’d probably be much more empathetic. 

How was filming with your fellow cast mates? Have you worked with any of them before? 

Romesh and I worked with each other in King Gary, the rest of the cast were new to me but will remain firm friends whether they like it or not! It turned out that Mandeep lived literally around the corner from me for years and we never knew it. But she’s moved to LA now which is sad because I would definitely have made her my BFF. We are going to have to be pen pals now instead.

What were your first impressions of the script?

I loved it!

How does Avoidance compare to anything else you have starred in?

I really love the simplicity of it. I also like playing someone who the audience might not necessarily warm too straight away. It’s fun playing someone who really doesn’t care about what people think of her, because I very much do care about what people think of me.

What can you tell us about Courtney and Danielle’s relationship?

They are in a very normal, pretty healthy relationship. They argue, they disagree, their communication is sometimes terrible but ultimately they love each other. Courtney is a massive child at times and Dan often ends up diffusing sticky situations that Courtney has created by mothering her. But I think Courtney often surprises Dan when Courtney’s inability to filter works for the greater good.

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