6 ‘I could pretend I was Charlene from Neighbours’
East Enders star Charlie Brooks, 40, on playing a paranoid, unsettled mother in a gripping new Channel 5 drama…
Describe Lie With Me. It’s a sexy thriller and a story of betrayal – with lots of twists and turns. If you want to get lost in the beauty of Australia and be taken on a bit of a ride, then this is the show for you.
And you play Anna?
She’s a woman on the edge – which is always interesting to play. Anna was definitely a strong businesswoman once upon a time, but it’s safe to say that she’s lost herself a little within a toxic marriage. She’s also experiencing heavy gaslighting – she’s made to feel like she’s going mad, but she’s a survivor.
Did you do any research?
I spoke to a friend who emigrated to Australia about the real loneliness and isolation you can feel, even when you’re surrounded by people. I also spoke to some friends who have experienced gaslighting.
As a woman of 40 with my own daughter and challenges, I always take from my own experiences in life – but I say that lightly because I have played some “out there” characters and killers, and that’s not from me! You filmed during the pandemic? That was quite challenging… Shooting in Australia was a no-brainer for me, and we started the rehearsals in Melbourne in March 2020, which was exciting. Suddenly, Covid hit – and all my friends and family back home were saying I had to get back. Obviously, I’ve got a daughter [Kiki, 16] so I couldn’t get stranded in Australia. Production had to halt, but they flew me back out on Boxing
Day – and after quarantining in Sydney, I was able to pick up the character again.
In Lie With Me, you’re mum to two small children…
I love working with kids. Alba, who played my daughter, was wonderful – her mum is British, and they’d just emigrated to Australia, so we had some good chats about that.
Was it exciting to film in Oz?
I absolutely loved Melbourne, so it was fantastic to work there. The locations were unbelievable, the brunches were to die for, and the coffee was amazing. On my days off I did an earringmaking course, and I got to go on the Neighbours set because the studio was just down the road. That’s the main reason I did the job, just so I could pretend I was Charlene [Kylie Minogue’s character] back in 1987!
How did it feel to be back on the set of a TV show?
It was scary! I hadn’t done any TV for quite a while and I did feel nervous and insecure, but I had the best time. When I came out of EastEnders eight years ago, I made a very conscious decision to do a lot of theatre. I did get to the point where I was hoping more TV would come along, so Lie With Me was perfect timing. You’re heading back to EastEnders soon as Janine...
I am beyond excited to be slipping back into Janine’s shoes! Because I never went to drama school I’ve always felt like I didn’t know enough to be taken seriously as an actress, but actually that’s not true, and it’s only in the last few years that I’ve really come to terms with that. I can’t wait to find out what Janine’s been up to. She’s always been so much fun to play, and it feels a bit like coming home.