‘It’s nice not to feel under pressure to look good’
Helen George, 36 – who plays midwife Trixie Franklin – on filming highlights, and a swimwear scene she’d rather forget…
Did you ever think
Call The Midwife would be a huge hit?
You never go into a job thinking, ‘Yes – this is going to be a success!’ It was just a sixpart drama, and if we were lucky we might get a second series…
And it’s been almost 10 years!
It’s mental! Though I still haven’t watched the early episodes. Maybe I’ll sit down with a bottle of gin and reminisce.
Let’s talk highlights…
In the early days, we filmed the outdoor scenes at Chatham Dockyard in Kent. They were beautifully shot, and it was a real highlight to be out of the studio, cycling along the cobbles. The 2016 Christmas special filmed in South Africa was definitely a pinnacle too. We’re all really solid mates and there were so many magical moments, such as singing songs together on the back of trucks after a day’s filming as the sun went down. It was wonderful.
And you were pregnant during series seven – with Trixie’s sudden desire for a baggy cape?
That did get slightly ridiculous. I was practically hiding behind a lorry by the end of it! The day they sent me off, Trixie was recuperating in Portofino, and they wanted me in a swimming costume by the beach. I said, “Are you joking?” I was seven months’ pregnant and absolutely enormous. We wrapped the scene and suddenly everybody came on set to give me a baby shower. They were all so kind, but of course, I was in this bloody swimming costume – it was the most embarrassing thing ever!
You’d normally be on set at this time of year?
It’s definitely been really weird, because as a cast we spend every summer together! We’ve all kept in touch and even Judy Parfitt (Sister Monica Joan) is now on WhatsApp, which is a huge step forward – though she’s resisting Zoom…
What’s lockdown been like?
I’ve been keeping busy because I’ve got a toddler (Helen has daughter Wren – who’s almost three – with partner Jack
Ashton, who played CTM’s Rev
Tom Hereward). I haven’t had time to listen to podcasts or read books, but I HAVE baked banana bread, though it’s got unicorn sprinkles on it…
You sang The White Cliffs of Dover at Buckingham Palace for a BBC VE day anniversary special?
That was exhilarating and I couldn’t believe I’d been asked to do it. I did train as a singer originally, but it was all quite nerve-wracking. I invested in a couple of Zoom singing classes beforehand because I just thought, “God – I’m singing to the nation!” It was an honour.
You’re always so glam, but do you have a ‘lockdown look’?
I like to put make-up on – even if I’m not seeing people, it makes me feel like myself. It’s been nice not having that pressure to look good all the time. It’s also been really good for my bank balance!