ME VS MY CHARACTER: DOMINIQUE JACKSON
Thursday 15 November
How would you describe Lauren Valentine's style?
Well it's supposed to be Emo but I'd definitely say it has a bit of goth mixed in. All of my outfits revolve around black. They're always stripy or with bright colours as well. I always have to wear either Converse trainers or Doc Martins with really flashy shoelaces, and a lot of weird jewellery.
How is Lauren's look different from your own, outside the show?
Alot! I don't really stick to one style all the time, I like to venture into different styles, wheras Lauren is always dressed in an Emo-goth style. I tend to wear clothes that other people wouldn't necessarily wear or think to put together. I'll buy plain things but then dress them up with jewellery or interesting boots, or scarves. All my friends shop in River Island but I like to have more individual items. I like TK Maxx because you get loads of different things from there and it's not too expensive.
How did you intitially envisage your character would dress?
They initially dressed me as a typical Emo kid with skinny jeans and Converse trainers, but when they looked at my style they decided to change it to make it a bit different. The costume department went to Afflecks Palace in Manchester and bought the most outrageous stuff in there. When I first saw it all I was shocked, but I love it now! I like dressing as Lauren because it gives me a chance to experience another style.
How do you normally have your hair?
I went through a stage where I had to have it straightened all the time for a role that I was playing, but it was ruining my hair. The hair stylists were originally going to go with straight hair for Lauren but when they saw my hair curly they loved it and decided to keep it that way instead. The way you see my hair on the show is just how it is naturally. I normally have products on it when I'm on screen so it's not as big and wacky though.
How did you feel when you first saw yourself dressed up as Lauren Valentine?
I really liked it. Going from the first Emo look they had decided for me to the second one you see on screen now it's really different. It's much more outrageous now, and the more outrageous they make it, the more I like it!
Did you pitch in ideas for your characters look or have you helped the look to evolve?
When they asked me what an Emo was it didn't fit my character because she was mixed race and Emo's have the long, straight black hair with sweeping fringe and it wasn't really the right kind of look for a mixed race person to have. Lauren wouldn't dye her hair, she's not overly that interested in what she looks like really - well, not enough to bother dying her hair. So they have really twisted the Emo style, and have adapted it to suit me.
Would you prefer your character to look more like you do in real life, or is it easier to play an opposite?
I'd rather play the opposite. I like to differ, I think it's a lot more interesting to come here and put all the clothes on, and then I can sort of walk away and leave it when I go home.
Because you wear such bright and bold clothes here, do you ever feel like what you wear when you're not on set is a bit boring or dull?
No I just find it completely different, so I don't even compare it. The clothes I wear outside the show are quite outrageous and wacky, but in a different way. I wear clothes that a lot of my friends wouldn't wear.
If you could take one thing home from your character's wardrobe what would it be and why?
Probably the bowler hat! It's so different, I think it's great. That hat is kind of a trademark Lauren item.
