You've worked with some great writers and directors, what was it like working with Victoria?
She's amazing! You have various different people on different jobs who look at scripts and ask you to do it in a certain way and you kinda know the better way of performing it, but Vic knows the best way – she's that sort of person. She'll say, "Can you do 'this', but add a bit of 'that'?", and you go 'Of course', and it's absolutely right. She's really good at knowing what's funny, and she's incredibly driven.
She's amazing! You have various different people on different jobs who look at scripts and ask you to do it in a certain way and you kinda know the better way of performing it, but Vic knows the best way – she's that sort of person. She'll say, "Can you do 'this', but add a bit of 'that'?", and you go 'Of course', and it's absolutely right. She's really good at knowing what's funny, and she's incredibly driven.
Is there distinct ways of handling comedy on the shows you've worked on?
Yeah, I suppose everyone has their little ways. Some say "Do what you do, and that would be lovely", and they sit back and trust you to do it, others have a more valuable way of asking you try something different, which makes it better.
That's why I find comedy slightly easier, because there's less to 'do' in a way. I'm more than happy saying "I don’t think I'm getting the hang of this, please tell me what you want."
You know when you feel when you're floundering and they're not happy and they're too polite to say something? That's the worst situation to be in!
Yeah, I suppose everyone has their little ways. Some say "Do what you do, and that would be lovely", and they sit back and trust you to do it, others have a more valuable way of asking you try something different, which makes it better.
That's why I find comedy slightly easier, because there's less to 'do' in a way. I'm more than happy saying "I don’t think I'm getting the hang of this, please tell me what you want."
You know when you feel when you're floundering and they're not happy and they're too polite to say something? That's the worst situation to be in!
What do you think the differences are working in a large ensemble piece like Green Wing, and smaller cast shows like Peep Show?
Well Green Wing, because we were in the office scenes rather than the hospital scenes, it didn't feel like a massive troupe because we were fairly separate. The office bunch we saw each other all the time, and the thing is you get your scripts and change all the time, although I made it difficult for them last time by being pregnant and expanding every week!
They were very good with their costume buying, they got a huge range of sizes as I got bigger and bigger, and it also meant they had to change the script for me, particularly as I couldn't do some of the physical things... am I losing the thread on going on about different things Ha ha!
So it was very exciting because the writers of both shows, Peep Show and Green Wing, are both very physical and they come and ask you to try things, and you get to ask them questions. So both were a kind of ensemble piece, but I didn't really get the sense of the massiveness of Green Wing because we were doing our own thing.
Well Green Wing, because we were in the office scenes rather than the hospital scenes, it didn't feel like a massive troupe because we were fairly separate. The office bunch we saw each other all the time, and the thing is you get your scripts and change all the time, although I made it difficult for them last time by being pregnant and expanding every week!
They were very good with their costume buying, they got a huge range of sizes as I got bigger and bigger, and it also meant they had to change the script for me, particularly as I couldn't do some of the physical things... am I losing the thread on going on about different things Ha ha!
So it was very exciting because the writers of both shows, Peep Show and Green Wing, are both very physical and they come and ask you to try things, and you get to ask them questions. So both were a kind of ensemble piece, but I didn't really get the sense of the massiveness of Green Wing because we were doing our own thing.
Do you find it comforting that you seem to work with the same people across a number of shows?
Yes. I know people say it's a small work, but I think the comedy world is particularly small!
I'm very rosie-tinted most of the time, and slightly naïve, but it does seem a terribly supportive group as well. Sarah Alexander is with Peter Serafanowicz who loves Simon Pegg so that branches off in a different direction, and you all love each other's work, and see each other socially and it is really lovely! So you do end up seeing the same people again and again because they are all your friends, and are friends with each other?
Yes. I know people say it's a small work, but I think the comedy world is particularly small!
I'm very rosie-tinted most of the time, and slightly naïve, but it does seem a terribly supportive group as well. Sarah Alexander is with Peter Serafanowicz who loves Simon Pegg so that branches off in a different direction, and you all love each other's work, and see each other socially and it is really lovely! So you do end up seeing the same people again and again because they are all your friends, and are friends with each other?
So are you the 'new' gang in the way Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse were in the 90s
Yes that's right, and they're back together aren't they, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse?
Actually Paul Whitehouse came to the set of Peep Show because his daughter in particular loves the show, and I think the fact he came down was really lovely. I do pinch myself every day, because I can't believe I get paid to muck about with amazingly lovely people all the time, some of whom I’ve been in awe of and a fan of, and I can't believe we’re chums, it's really nice! Ha ha, it sounds a bit sickeningly lovely doesn't it, sorry!
Yes that's right, and they're back together aren't they, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse?
Actually Paul Whitehouse came to the set of Peep Show because his daughter in particular loves the show, and I think the fact he came down was really lovely. I do pinch myself every day, because I can't believe I get paid to muck about with amazingly lovely people all the time, some of whom I’ve been in awe of and a fan of, and I can't believe we’re chums, it's really nice! Ha ha, it sounds a bit sickeningly lovely doesn't it, sorry!
