You Ask… Nicola Wheeler (Nicola)
They ANSWER!
Nicola is having a whale of a time calling the shots at the Sharmas’ factory – and her real-life alter ego and namesake Nicola, 43, is ready to spill the beans on the Dales…
“What’s the best birthday present you’ve ever been given?”
Before we were married, my husband Matt got me a painting by Richard Duffield for my 40th. It’s the sea breaking under moonlight on some rocks, and I first saw it at the Masham Arts Festival. He wanted to get me something very special, so I mentioned the painting and even offered to go halves, but he paid for the whole thing!
“What’s the easiest way to wind up Nick Miles [who plays Jimmy]?”
Nick is like a woman going through the menopause – he’s always hot! So you wind him up by turning off the air con in the studio. To be fair, it does get warm in there in summer, but it’s nice to be toasty during winter. He’d have it arctic if he could! I think he’s a reptile or an alien…
“When was the last time you stayed out very, very late?”
I don’t really stay out too late any more. I tend to stay in too late – those kinds of parties where the kids are around but drift off to bed at 9 o’clock, and the adults sit around drinking wine and Prosecco. Me and my friend had a belated birthday barbecue in London so all our London pals could get together, and that was a night all the husbands had to stay sober!
“If you weren’t an actress, what would your dream job be?”
I’d be a clothes maker. I’m no dedicated follower of fashion – it’s more the practicality of it. I actually have a friend who’s a dressmaker, and seeing her rustle up a pair of trousers makes me envious. I think that’s a great thing to be able to do.
“Would you rather go on Strictly, Bake Off or I’m A Celebrity…?”
I’d go on Bake Off if they taught you how to bake the cakes, but seeing as they don’t, I think I’d be shocking! I wouldn’t be able to handle so much time away from my family
“Would you rather go on Strictly, Bake Off or I’m A Celebrity…?”
doing I’m A Celebrity…, although it’s a free trip to Australia! I’d do Strictly because it’d be brilliant to be taught by a professional dancer.
“Which of your co-stars do you miss the most?”
Shirley Stelfox [who played Edna Birch]. She was an amazing woman – she could crush your ego and then boost you within two seconds! I miss that banter. Also, Shirley was a huge fan of
Emmerdale and knew everything that was going on. She was always honest about what was good and bad, so if she gave you praise, you knew you shouldn’t take it for granted. She was just ace!
“Which other TV series would you like to appear in?”
I loved [US comedy-drama] Big Little Lies.
There was an interesting story about being trapped in a marriage and finding excuses for unacceptable behaviour – and Emmerdale is also telling that story with Rhona and Pierce. It was brilliant to start with a murder in Big Little Lies and keep everyone guessing as to what had happened. I have to say, I guessed who was killed – but not who did it!
“Have you had any mishaps filming with Nicola’s walking stick?”
It’s a collapsible walking stick that breaks down into three parts. When Nicola discovered Jimmy and Bernice in the hotel room, she ran away and bumped into the pianist playing that very annoying song. I managed to hit my stick on the pillar and it snapped in half, so I went down with it!
“Has anyone ever made you feel star-struck?”
I met Anthony Hopkins at Drama Centre London when I was 19. He was giving a talk on the ups and downs of the industry, and he was charming witty and magnanimous, yet humble. Everything you’d expect a star to be!
“Which stories do you like reading to your young son?”
I enjoy The Gruffalo because I like doing all the voices. My Gruffalo used to be very northern and the mouse was cockney, but now The Gruffalo is cockney and the snake hisses every ‘s’. I think my son is bored of me now and just wants me to read the story! He also loves We’re Going On
A Bear Hunt and Snowflake In My Pocket, which is about a bear and a squirrel. I used to call my little boy Squirrel.
“Where in the world would you most like to pay a visit?”
New Zealand, thanks to the Lord Of The
Rings trilogy. I’ve never been, but my husband did a cycling trek there with his brother. It’s supposed to be stunning – I love anywhere that has trees, and is lush and green. I have family in Australia, so maybe next time we visit there we could do both countries.
“I saw a picture of your gorgeous dog on Instagram. What’s the best thing about being a dog owner?”
Nothing – my house is chaos at the moment with a 13-week-old puppy. He and my son are running us ragged! The best moments are when they sit quietly together, and I know my little boy will have a pal throughout his childhood.
“How do you wind up Nick Miles [Jimmy]?”