“Hannah prides herself on being a good person!”
NICOLA WALKER TELLS US WHAT HER CHARACTER IS FACING IN THE LEGAL DRAMA’S SECOND SERIES…
Overseeing so many separations from a legal perspective ought to have given Hannah Stern some concrete dos and don’ts for her own romantic life. But since the revelation of her husband’s infidelity, she’s been a law unto herself. The double life she’s leading with old flame Christie while trying to repair things with Nathan is putting her under pressure – and it’s surely only a matter of time before things get out of control. However, Nicola Walker, who plays the conflicted divorce lawyer, thinks her character doesn’t find it easy to play away…
Were you surprised to find that Hannah was conducting a secret affair when you returned for series two?
I was. Abi [Morgan, the writer] has already imagined these women’s lives, and I knew a tiny bit of what she was looking to explore, but I didn’t know the details. When I read the first episode and Hannah’s having the affair, I thought, ‘Yeah, I can see that’. I think they had toyed with the idea of Hannah leaving the family home and it not being a secret affair, so I was half-expecting that. But I thought this sounds more true to what people do – which is that she’s lied.
Having been hurt by her husband’s affair, Hannah is now the one cheating – how is she coping with that?
It doesn’t sit well with her: she’s not naturally duplicitous. She prides herself on being a good person, and that’s interesting, when life offers you something that makes you question your basic concept of yourself. I think she thought she was better than that.
And while all this is going on, she’s also got a major case with the divorce of celebrity couple Fi and Richie Hansen…
It’s exactly what the company needs: it’s high-profile, there’s a lot of money involved and it will be very good for their reputation.
But as the series goes on, it becomes apparent that what the case is really about is a very abusive relationship.
What sort of response have you had from viewers?
I’ve had some brilliant and very funny feedback, which I know Stephen [Mangan, who plays Nathan] has had as well. I’ve had people shouting at me at the checkout when I’m out shopping, “I’m Team Christie”!
IT’S MORE TRUE TO LIFE THAT HANNAH HAS LIED”