Suranne Jones: ‘Divorce, deceit and revenge can all take their toll’
Doctor Foster star Suranne Jones talks jealousy, vengeance – and how she got her pre-baby body back…
Suranne Jones, 38, made a huge splash in the gripping BBC One drama Doctor
Foster in 2015. More than 10 million people tuned into the final episode, to watch Gemma Foster dish out a vicious revenge to her cheating husband Simon, played by Bertie Carvel. Now, Gemma is back – and this time the war between her and Simon intensifies as their relationship turns nasty. Suranne, who married magazine editor Laurence Akers in 2015 and had a baby boy with him in 2016, talks about the return of the vengeful medic, motherhood and more… Suranne, we’re so excited about series two! So are we! We made it with so much love. Mike Bartlett [the writer] pushes characters, feelings, situations – takes you on a ride. It feels different, exciting and bonkers, yet you feel it in your gut. And it has a weird, sexy edge.
So can you tell us anything about what happens?
I’m not allowed to! But it’s what happens to two people who essentially still hate each other but have a child to look after between them. It’s brave and pushes the boundaries of family drama. It’s what happens to a woman after divorce, deceit and revenge have taken their toll.
So Simon comes back to Parminster [the town where the couple used to live]?
He does. We pick up two years on. Gemma would have been confident and comfortable living with her son, Tom, and getting him to 18. But Simon moves back with his new wife and their child, so she can’t continue, as someone’s put a mirror up to her life.
So things get very dramatic, now that love has turned to hate?
They do. It’s thrilling, dark and bold. You’re looking at vulnerable, damaged people. I hadn’t seen that before actually, because I am usually concentrating on what an a**hole Simon is!
Why do people relate to Gemma so much?
In a way, she is every woman. If you aren’t similar to her in some way, then you know someone on your street just like her. She was happy with her life, until it all blew up. But we all know what it’s like to be in a room with an ex-partner – especially if your ex is in a new relationship and you’re not.
Some of her behaviour is pretty extreme…
That’s what betrayal does to a person. But Gemma does not behave well. Now she has channelled her anger, it becomes dark and twisted.
Is there still attraction between Gemma and Simon?
I think you might hate someone, but you’ve forgotten to tell your body that. Your head says one thing, your body tells another story!
You had a baby 18 months ago. How did you get back in shape?
I did a plank challenge for a charity – so I was exercising
on set. Spoiler alert – Gemma takes her clothes off at one stage, and I’d just had a baby, remember, so that helped! Bertie [Carvel] planked with me – he was very good. And we raised a lot of money for charity.
Did becoming a mum change how you played Gemma?
I have played mothers without being a mother. But being a wife and mother myself now made me understand the seriousness of that unit falling apart. I’d go home at night and have a baby to put to bed. It definitely made me realise when two people have a child out of love, then split, what it is to parent a child and be in each other’s lives when you’re damaged and hurt – without damaging and hurting a child.
Did your son ever come on set?
Yes, there’s a lovely picture – one day he wasn’t very well and I had him on my hip while we were setting up, and people were cooing over him. The director took a photo, and on camera he looks much better than I did!
Is it hard balancing motherhood with your acting career?
Work-life balance for anyone is hard. I feel very grateful because I did a lot of work and now I’m taking a lot of time off.
There are intense scenes, Gemma taking her anger out behind the wheel...
Ha, yes, I enjoyed those. I did all the driving myself. The stunt people actually asked me if I wanted to go and do a day with them. I promised my husband we could do some stunt driving, so maybe that will be our next date!
‘Gemma is every woman. If you aren’t similar to her, then you know someone on your street just like her’