Interview with Valene Kane (Justine)

What's Justine Tindall like and what's her journey across the series? 

Justine is someone that I was incredibly drawn to from the page when I initially read the book, prior to getting the audition. Justine’s classically in a place of pain and confusion; she’s at a point in her life where she's unsure what she wants and how to move forward. She’s in a marriage where she doesn't feel like she's seen, with two kids (who she loves), but she finds them difficult. When we meet her, she's pushing herself to the limit in every way and her journey through the story is one where she finds parts of herself through this pushing.

What emotional baggage does Justine bring with her?

Justine brings a whole conveyor belt of baggage; she arrives with more emotional baggage than any other character. She's repressing so much guilt and fear, which gives the effect of a pressure cooker happening within her. She escapes and comes to this cabin thinking that she's left everything that she's done behind and it's a psychological journey. Justine's episode, particularly, has a sense of a film noir psychological thriller. She doesn't say a lot; we watch her observing others and because of this, we see her emotional landscape.

What was your reaction to the novel? 

I had read the book a year or two before I was involved in the series, and I found it incredibly beautiful; it's more of a novella because it's not structured and plotted - it's a stream of consciousness from these differing characters. I found it a poetic meandering journey.

What did you think of John’s scripts?

I love John's writing. As an actor, the roles you want to take are when the writing is exceptional and you don't need to worry because it's all there in the writing. Summerwater was one of those scripts, where it was so good and clever - I loved the story and how Justine was written. Summerwater will be a very unique thing to land on Channel 4 and British TV. I really trusted Robert McKillop (Director) and his vision. I think he's a true artist and he's made something beautiful.

What should viewers expect when they join the world of Summerwater?

Viewers will be really shocked and surprised by the immediacy of the way that Robbie has styled and shot the series. It’s unlike anything that we might have seen before. Summerwater is very moody and atmospheric; it's filmic and feels much more like an indie film, which is another reason why I love it so much.

Who are your on-screen family, The Tindall’s?

Daniel Rigby plays Steve Tindall, my husband. I'm incredibly lucky and grateful that he played my husband because he is so talented and hilarious. Daniel has become a genuine friend and it's rare that you get that; he will be a friend of mine for life. Justine also has two amazing children (Jack and Lola) who are played by two phenomenal actors, Bertie and Emily. It's wonderful working with children because they're so much better than we are, you always learn because they're alive and free. I was very lucky in Summerwater as I had a beautiful family, perhaps one that I didn't really want to have in a story such as this...

What was it like shooting in Scotland? 

Shooting in Scotland was amazing because I’m a Celt, so it was very nice being with my Celtic tribe! It was very cold, but we shot in the most beautiful locations; I'd never been to Glasgow. I love when you get to shoot in a new city, and you get to explore - we shot in Loch Lomond, and the terrain and landscapes were simply beautiful.

Do you have a holiday memory, good or bad, that would spring to mind? 

The first one that springs to mind was when I went to the Amalfi Coast with my husband for our honeymoon. It was one of those perfect halcyon getaways where we were on scooters and drinking all day whilst eating amazing food.