10 MINUTES WITH AVOIDANCE’S MANDEEP DHILLON
When Jonathan’s (Romesh Ranganathan) wife, Claire (Jessica Knappett), kicks him out of the house, he ends up living with his sister, Danielle (MANDEEP DHILLON), and her wife and he has to learn to grow a backbone. YOU chatted to Mandeep (32), who plays Danielle.
How did you prepare to play Danielle? I had to be mature. I remember walking around as Dan and I told myself to do what Dan would do.
I even bought different stuff. I’d normally buy things like strawberries, chocolates and sweets, whereas she was buying very grown-up things like pasta to make dinner.
What appealed to you about the show?
I loved the scripts. It was also important for me to play a lesbian. That there are Indian characters is never mentioned and it was nice to play all these scenes and situations without it being about the fact that ‘this is Indian’.
It’s important that brown girls who are lesbians, and brown boys, you know, if you’re of a certain age and you’re watching it – and you’re having these feelings about yourself and your sexuality – they need to have someone to look up to and be like, ‘it’s normal, it’s fine to be who you are’.
How much of your real-life relationships influenced your performance?
I love Romesh in real life. So that was great to be able to play his sister and I do have the same love and care for him as I would for my brother. It was easy to form that bond with him.
Kieran Logendra, who plays my nephew, Spencer, we got on too, and everyone would laugh and be like, ‘you’re more like a 10-year-old’. I’ve got a niece in real life and I was able to draw on that.
How would you describe Dan’s relationship with her family?
She loves Courtney, her wife, and she sort of finds her funny, despite all her anger and outrageousness.
As a therapist, Dan is always analysing people. But there’s a lot of love for everyone.
Would you manage if your sibling had to come live with you?
I wouldn’t. I love my family. I love my siblings, but I just wouldn’t. I think I’m so used to living in my own little space and my own way of life, but if I had to, obviously I would, but I do think that it takes some adjustment’. Why do you think the show resonates with viewers?
I think it’s heartwarming, and it’s a very easy watch. It’s easily digestible, it’s quite fun and the message is great.