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Ridley Road | Interview with Sam Spiro (Liza Epstein)

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What can you tell us about Liza Epstein and where do we find her at the beginning of the series?

Liza is a very typical housewife and mum from a Jewish family living up in Manchester. She’s from the East End originally. She leads a very un-political life and I think she mostly just gets on with a quiet life. She goes on a bit of a journey. She hears on the radio that wives and mothers are housemaids and questions that. Through the events of the story and through her daughter, she has a realisation that there is another life to lead.

How is her relationship with Vivien when we’re introduced to them?

It’s a little bit strained because Liza wants Vivien to marry a nice Jewish boy, to stop working and become a housewife in the traditional way that her other daughters have. But I think they’ve got a very close relationship and she’s completely heartbroken when she feels like she’s losing her. I think she’s her little baby and she loves her.

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How have you found working with Agnes O’Casey in her first role in a TV drama?

Agnes is just a dream, she’s a superstar. I feel so thrilled for her and she’s absolutely wonderful to work with. She’s so professional and detailed. She’s such a lovely person as well, it’s been a pleasure working with her.

We’ve seen a great array of female led shows on our screens. Do you think this is another important story to tell?

It’s great to see strong women. What’s great about this is, there’s a young woman leading it but there’s some lovely parts for us more mature ladies as well. There are really strong women all the way through it. It’s an important story to tell and it feels very resonant for now.

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How do you think motherhood has changed since the swinging 60s?

I think motherhood is tough, whichever era you’re mothering in. Women always want to be role models to their daughter and that hasn’t changed. But now we want to tell our daughters that we can do it all, that we can be mothers and have a career. In the 60s, I think for mothers then, it was more about following in their footsteps, marrying a nice man and becoming a housewife, which we definitely don’t encourage our children nowadays to do.

How much research did you do before starting the role? Did you know about this piece of British history?

I’ve known a little bit about this from Cable Street, where I did a play. It’s also my background and my history, so I feel as though I know all about it through that. But my character isn’t really aware of what’s going on politically, so I didn’t have to delve into that as much as other characters have had to.

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Liza Epstein is blissfully unaware of the 62 Group and her husband’s involvement when we meet her. How difficult is it for her when she realises the danger that comes with this movement?

To know that her daughter is wrapped up in it is really awful. At first, she is furious, and she’s really scared for her daughter. But ultimately, she’s incredibly proud that her daughter has gone from someone who is politically unaware, a hairdresser in Manchester, to somebody that is leading the fight. I think she’s really proud of that.

You’re well known for playing Maureen Groff in Sex Education, where her son is battling with his own versions of prejudice. Although different to the prejudice in this series, are the overarching themes and messages in a show important to you when it comes to accepting roles?

You always consider that and the message that it’s going to put across. But I think with both of those roles, I felt like I knew who the woman was and was drawn to that, then it’s a bonus when there’s a theme that seems important to portray as well.

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How did you find filming under Covid-19 guidelines? What were the biggest challenges that came with this?

I think production dealt really well with all the precautions. It’s funny how quickly you get used to everyone wearing their masks, constantly washing your hands and keeping a distance. I think what’s hardest is the social aspect of it; not being able to go out for a glass of wine afterwards and the mingling. But we’re so grateful to be working and so lucky to be working that I think it’s a small price to pay.

How did you find the costumes you were provided with? Did you ask to keep any?

I definitely didn’t ask to keep anything, but they were brilliant for the character. We chose them really specifically. She’s not as glamorous as the women we see down in London, but she’s trying really hard to be a little bit glitzy, but I’m not sure how much she succeeds in that.

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What do you hope the audience gain from tuning into Ridley Road?

I think it’s a really important message that we are closer to the rise of fascism than we ever think that we are. We are entering a phase like that again, here and in the States. Certainly, in 1962 they were right on the brink of it again and luckily overcame it. I think there’s a lot of dramas out at the moment, depicting that kind of period. I’ve been watching the Small Axe films and you see that things were really tough for minority groups then and we have come along way, but there’s a long way to go. We’ve got to be cautious always and I think this story tells us to keep an eye out for when that is on the rise again.

Why should people watch Ridley Road?

Ridley Road is going to be fantastic. The period looks brilliant in the few bits that I’ve seen. You’ve got an amazing central performance from Agnes O’Casey and I think it’s going to be really moving, funny and it’s an important story that’s being told.

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Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.

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