Why did Newark, Newark appeal to you?
I am a huge admirer of Nathan. He’s an exceptional writer and I think he’s going to be a huge star. I fell in love with Nathan through his character videos on Instagram. The scripts are right up my rue; they’re beautifully written and very silly, with immaculate scenes, and it’s a funny ensemble piece as well.
Was one of the draws how the script camouflages emotional moments among the silliness?
Moments of pathos! Yes, it has a big heart, it’s honest, and it’s laugh out loud funny. Nathan’s a brilliant actor himself so he writes very well for characters. It’s magic.
At the start of the series Maxine turns 40, which is seen as a life milestone. What’s the state of her life when we meet her?
This is a pivotal moment for Maxine. She’s going through a divorce, she’s sick of mundanity, and enough is enough. It’s a new chapter for her. I’m 40 this year, too. It’s exciting she’s having a renaissance.
What do you make of the relationship between Maxine and Leslie?
There’s a mother-son frisson, isn’t there? The push/pull is where the tension is and that’s where you find the comedy. When you boil it down, they are extremely close and love each other dearly, but they drive each other up the bloody wall.
How much did you enjoy working with newcomer Jai, who plays Leslie?
He’s such a babe. I love him to bits, and he told me I’m his first on-screen mum. He’s a brilliant actor and I’ve seen how he’s grown during filming. His mum’s an actor; she came down on set and she’s gorgeous. I’ll bring my mum onto set if we get a second series.
Terry, Maxine’s ex-husband, is crushingly small – what was it like playing opposite Mathew Horne?
Mat Horne was the biggest surprise for me from the entire show, because I feel like he hasn’t been given opportunities like this very often. Terry’s a brilliant role for him. Mat’s such a clown and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. I don’t call many people a clown, because it’s a delicacy in comedy.
Did you find yourself feeling a little sorry for Terry?
Oh, yeah! Oh my god, he’s utterly tragic in the most beautiful and comedic way. You’re going to love him.
Maxine’s other troubled relationship is with her mum, Pauline, who’s a schemer – how was working with Beverley Callard?
Pauline is as camp as a row of tents and watching Beverley work is divine. She hits the bullseye with every line. We look so alike, it’s such perfect casting. We could be mother and daughter.
Have you ever met a Maxine?
When I was a kid, I lived in Harrogate and a lot of the mums from school were similar to her. There are also elements of my own mum in there; she was a single mum, always working hard, always very busy, and a jack of all trades. I feel bonded to Maxine.
Do you feel protective of her?
Hell yeah! This is Nathan’s mum and there are elements of truth in this story. There’s a lot of love and it’s sentimental for that reason. Maxine isn’t an exact cut out of his mum, but it is definitely based on their relationship and him growing up as a young gay boy in a working-class Midlands town.
You’re a gifted mimic, so when you met her were you observing her mannerisms?
I was offered the job about a week before we started shooting and I had to learn a Newark accent – and it’s a very specific accent – in a week. I was petrified. I wanted to be as authentic as possible so I asked Nathan to read out all of the lines, record them, and send them to me so I could hear the accent. My impression of Nathan’s mum is a hybrid of Nathan and his mum.
Is Maxine the closest you’ve been to yourself on camera?
I’m not offered roles like this very often and it is more realistic. It’s not heightened or a caricature, so I guess it is closer to me than normal. Being the lead in a sitcom; you definitely approach it differently to when you’re a satellite character or scene stealer, where your character’s big and loud. When you’re the glue, you have to pull it back.
Maxine runs the local fish and chip shop, but have you ever worked in a chippy, and do you have any experience in battering a sausage?
I haven’t battered a sausage, but I did ask to have some work experience before filming. I did a shift with Mr. Chips in Newark. I battered some fish and served some customers.
How did you find filming in Newark, especially as the production made the local BBC News?
That’s because we had Mathew and Dame Beverley Callard – she pulls in the punters. We were filming in the town square on the coldest day – it was snowing, and the series is set in the summer – and I was in a t-shirt. My head froze. I forgot all my lines, I think my brain actually froze. All the locals were filming the scenes on their phone and in-between takes they were trying to grab selfies with Callard. The people are super friendly and it’s a really cosy town.
