Skip Channel4 main Navigation
You said in the past that you loved Smack the Pony when it was on. Is that one of the reasons you wanted to work on Green Wing? [Victoria Pile was the creative visionary behind both]
Yeah, definitely. I thought Victoria Pile’s vision for that was just beautiful, and seeing that playfulness of characters, particularly women, was brilliant. They weren’t stereotypes, and they weren’t getting their breasts out all of the time, and it just showed you can get female clowns. I just thought that was fantastic. So when Green Wing came along, nobody could say what it was, because there was nothing on paper, so it was just going on trust that Victoria Pile was a visionary. Julian Rhind-Tutt says you’re quite bad about corpsing.
[laughs] Is that what he said? Is that what he said? He can talk! No, it’s true. I’m terrible. Do you know what? I’ve got quite an easy job. I’ve just got to look at people, say lines and not laugh. And two of those I do okay-ish. But basically I’m just shit at quite an ordinary job, namely not laughing. It’s not that hard not to laugh. The guy who sold me my travel card, he didn’t wet himself laughing. You just don’t do it! What can we expect from the new series? Will the sexual tension between Mac and Caroline be resolved?
I don’t think there is ever resolution in sexual tension. I think climax is a misnomer, and it’s simply about the playing of the tension. Does that help? Well, it’s not exactly given much away. You were nominated for a BAFTA and won an RTS award for your role in Green Wing. Does that mean a lot to you, or do you take it all in your stride?
I feel very privileged to have work recognised. I feel it’s a little bit of an odd one, given that it was for Green Wing, which is such an ensemble piece. I find it a little bit peculiar that you can say “Which is the best colour in the rainbow? Which one shall we give an award to?” And you pick one out of it, and it’s not a rainbow any more. You’re just pulling the threads apart. But I suppose it’s human nature to ask what your favourite colour is, or who’s you’re favourite character. As such, it’s about people relating to a character rather than giving marks for a performance.
Yeah, definitely. I thought Victoria Pile’s vision for that was just beautiful, and seeing that playfulness of characters, particularly women, was brilliant. They weren’t stereotypes, and they weren’t getting their breasts out all of the time, and it just showed you can get female clowns. I just thought that was fantastic. So when Green Wing came along, nobody could say what it was, because there was nothing on paper, so it was just going on trust that Victoria Pile was a visionary. Julian Rhind-Tutt says you’re quite bad about corpsing.
[laughs] Is that what he said? Is that what he said? He can talk! No, it’s true. I’m terrible. Do you know what? I’ve got quite an easy job. I’ve just got to look at people, say lines and not laugh. And two of those I do okay-ish. But basically I’m just shit at quite an ordinary job, namely not laughing. It’s not that hard not to laugh. The guy who sold me my travel card, he didn’t wet himself laughing. You just don’t do it! What can we expect from the new series? Will the sexual tension between Mac and Caroline be resolved?
I don’t think there is ever resolution in sexual tension. I think climax is a misnomer, and it’s simply about the playing of the tension. Does that help? Well, it’s not exactly given much away. You were nominated for a BAFTA and won an RTS award for your role in Green Wing. Does that mean a lot to you, or do you take it all in your stride?
I feel very privileged to have work recognised. I feel it’s a little bit of an odd one, given that it was for Green Wing, which is such an ensemble piece. I find it a little bit peculiar that you can say “Which is the best colour in the rainbow? Which one shall we give an award to?” And you pick one out of it, and it’s not a rainbow any more. You’re just pulling the threads apart. But I suppose it’s human nature to ask what your favourite colour is, or who’s you’re favourite character. As such, it’s about people relating to a character rather than giving marks for a performance.
In the past, you’ve said that you’ve been recognised for your voice an awful lot. With your increasing TV profile, that must have changed.
It’s a little intriguing, in a way. It’s normally a sort of non-exchange. People go "Oh that’s you off the telly, isn’t it?" and you go "Yes" and then they walk away. So sometimes it’s a little like being in the Coney Island Freak Show, so it’s quite peculiar. But then again, I’m on the tube every day now, and I’m completely anonymous. So when it does happen again, I’ll get startled by it again. Is it true you’ve been mistaken for both Sharleen Spiteri and Ronnie Ancona?
[laughs] Yes. That’s wonderful. And also Sue Perkins off Mel and Sue. Someone rushed up to me and said "It’s you, it’s you, it’s you!" And I said "Um, sorry?" And she said "It’s you. You’re in the Kingsmill ad!" So a lot of people think I’m really famous because I’m someone else. I also read that Bono kissed your belly. Is that true, or did you make that up?
[laughs] I had to give an award at the Q awards. And I was nine months pregnant, so when I was giving the award, I said "If I give birth here, can I call it Bono?" And I heard a voice go "Yep!" And I was backstage having my photo done with the guys who had won the award, and he came through. I went to get out of his way, and he got down on his knees in front of me and kissed my huge belly. There’s no topping that, really, is there?
It was particularly exciting for my husband, who thinks U2 are God’s gift to the entire universe. But then last week I hear he does it to some Radio 1 DJ who’s also pregnant. Was it Jo Whiley? He kissed her belly as well! So I used to feel special. Now I just feel cheap. He does it to any bird. It’s like the Pope kissing babies, only he gets to them before they’re out. And next you’re off to do some Shakespeare on the stage in April. That must be a little different from Green Wing.
Yes. I’m getting really, really picked up on my lazy consonants in rehearsals. I used to do theatre all the time, but I haven’t done any for ten years. I’ve had ten years off, standing around looking surprised on the telly and having three children, and so I’m very, very slack in certain areas. So when you’re walking out for the first time in ten years in front of a theatre audience, will you be really nervous?
As nervous as I was at the Brit Awards last week, when I had to give an award in front of 8,000 people! I presented the award to the Best British Rock Act, to Kaiser Chiefs. Did they kiss your belly?
They didn’t kiss my belly, but one of them had a bit of a fumble. Cheeky rock star! I would’ve been a bit shocked if he had kissed my belly, because I think it’s empty now, and if he thinks it’s full, that would not look good, would it?
It’s a little intriguing, in a way. It’s normally a sort of non-exchange. People go "Oh that’s you off the telly, isn’t it?" and you go "Yes" and then they walk away. So sometimes it’s a little like being in the Coney Island Freak Show, so it’s quite peculiar. But then again, I’m on the tube every day now, and I’m completely anonymous. So when it does happen again, I’ll get startled by it again. Is it true you’ve been mistaken for both Sharleen Spiteri and Ronnie Ancona?
[laughs] Yes. That’s wonderful. And also Sue Perkins off Mel and Sue. Someone rushed up to me and said "It’s you, it’s you, it’s you!" And I said "Um, sorry?" And she said "It’s you. You’re in the Kingsmill ad!" So a lot of people think I’m really famous because I’m someone else. I also read that Bono kissed your belly. Is that true, or did you make that up?
[laughs] I had to give an award at the Q awards. And I was nine months pregnant, so when I was giving the award, I said "If I give birth here, can I call it Bono?" And I heard a voice go "Yep!" And I was backstage having my photo done with the guys who had won the award, and he came through. I went to get out of his way, and he got down on his knees in front of me and kissed my huge belly. There’s no topping that, really, is there?
It was particularly exciting for my husband, who thinks U2 are God’s gift to the entire universe. But then last week I hear he does it to some Radio 1 DJ who’s also pregnant. Was it Jo Whiley? He kissed her belly as well! So I used to feel special. Now I just feel cheap. He does it to any bird. It’s like the Pope kissing babies, only he gets to them before they’re out. And next you’re off to do some Shakespeare on the stage in April. That must be a little different from Green Wing.
Yes. I’m getting really, really picked up on my lazy consonants in rehearsals. I used to do theatre all the time, but I haven’t done any for ten years. I’ve had ten years off, standing around looking surprised on the telly and having three children, and so I’m very, very slack in certain areas. So when you’re walking out for the first time in ten years in front of a theatre audience, will you be really nervous?
As nervous as I was at the Brit Awards last week, when I had to give an award in front of 8,000 people! I presented the award to the Best British Rock Act, to Kaiser Chiefs. Did they kiss your belly?
They didn’t kiss my belly, but one of them had a bit of a fumble. Cheeky rock star! I would’ve been a bit shocked if he had kissed my belly, because I think it’s empty now, and if he thinks it’s full, that would not look good, would it?
Advertisement
