ITV’s Maternal: Interview with Lara Pulver who plays Catherine MacDiarmid

Premiering on ITV1 on Monday, January 16 is Maternal, a new medical drama starring Parminder Nagra, Lara Pulver, and Lisa McGrillis and written by Jacqui Honess-Martin.

In this six-part series, three female doctors return to work for the NHS after maternity leave.

Lara Pulver plays surgeon Catherine MacDiarmid and here tells us all about the series.

What attracted you to the role of Catherine?
It was one of the best scripts I had read in a long time. You can tell when it’s good writing because it’s so easy to learn. And the fact it’s such a mix of witty, funny, heart-breaking scenes. It’s so on-the-money in so many ways. You’ve got these three incredible women who are all just juggling life. And, yes, they’re in the medical profession, but it would translate whether you were in the law industry, whether you are a politician. It’s very accessible in that way.

Could you describe Catherine for us?
Catherine is an extremely talented surgeon, the daughter of a very lauded, talented surgeon. She’s finding her path in a very male-orientated profession whilst juggling this new area of her life. She has an innate confidence that she is the best person for the job, but the algorithms that work in her job don’t work in her day-to-day life anymore, because you can’t schedule a nine- month-old baby. And that really throws her and she doesn’t know how to do it. Catherine’s armour is on a lot of the time; she finds it hard to be vulnerable. And what was a gift for me is that as the season goes on you see Catherine’s armour falling off and her becoming more human, less surgeon. She’s also navigating what a healthy relationship is for the first time.

As a working mother yourself with children aged five and one, how did this role speak to you?
Before I had kids, I was in the privileged position of being able to dash off to locations and focus on acting. But this has been a gift of a job for me: not only is the subject matter exactly what we’re juggling and dealing with, but it’s a gift for us to learn that we can do our jobs to the same high standards and still be present parents. I was blessed because I was working with my best friend, Parminder, and my husband [Raza Jaffrey, who plays surgeon Jack Oliviera]. It was the first time we got childcare rather than taking turns working, and it felt right.

What was it like working with Raza, who also plays one of Catherine’s love interests?
It was wonderful. I did say to him, ‘At what point do you think this is going to be weird?’ It wasn’t remotely. I guess that’s a testament to him as an actor. He’s just brilliant at what he does and it’s a pleasure to play opposite any brilliant actor. Also, it served the story because Catherine and Jack needed to have that history, so for us to have that intimacy onscreen wasn’t a problem.

What research did you do?
My guru was Zoe Barber, who is an incredible surgeon. I asked her loads of questions, because most of my story arcs were things she actually lived through. I also had the privilege of shadowing paediatric surgeon, Roman M Sydorak. Some scenes I thought, ‘That’s dramatic licence!’ but another family friend, who’s an Obstetrician, told me, ’Nope, I was in the middle of surgery once and my nanny couldn’t turn off the house alarm. So I got a call mid-surgery, my nanny was put onto loudspeaker and I talked it through with her.’ Extraordinary.

What is Maternal saying about women, the NHS and working mums?
I think the NHS is in absolute crisis. Having lived in the States now for 12 years, I have such a respect for and appreciation for the NHS, because the US healthcare system is so divided between haves and have nots, and it’s heart-breaking. And the fact that we have the NHS, even when it’s failing, it’s still operating on some level – my mother-in-law was in hospital recently and there were 180 patients being admitted into that A&E that day. Maternal is absolutely shining a spotlight on the NHS in a celebratory way just as much as in an eye-opening way.

Maternal premieres Monday 16 January 2023 at 9.00pm on ITV1.