They sold it to me as like Vegas but Blackpool seemed like a pretty quiet seaside town
The One At The Seaside .... MARION McMULLEN discovers how Friends star Lisa Kudrow came to rock Blackpool
NEW comedy offering Feel Good is a semiautobiographical series about recovering addict and comedian Mae (Mae Martin) who is trying to get her life on track.
Friends star Lisa Kudrow makes a guest appearance as Mae’s wine-guzzling mother Linda – who inadvertently reveals that her daughter is a drug addict to Mae’s new girlfriend George (Call the Midwife’s Charlotte Ritchie).
Linda is heading to Blackpool with her hubbie ... to scatter their pet cat’s ashes.
Here Lisa tells us what it was like visiting the Vegas of the north.
How long were you in the UK for filming and what was it like being based here?
I WAS in the UK for about a week. I don’t remember exactly. I compartmentalise too well. So there was less of an experience in the UK and more of an experience working on this show with really wonderful people, which I loved.
Was this your first trip to Blackpool and what was your verdict? I heard Mae and the team sold it to you as the Las Vegas of the north.
THAT was my first trip to Blackpool. And yes, they did sell it as Las Vegas, but Las Vegas to me is gambling so I was excited to maybe go to a casino, but I misunderstood the comparison. Ultimately, nothing is like Las Vegas. Blackpool seemed like a pretty quiet seaside town when we were there. I was happy to get to see a part of England that wasn’t London. I like London, but I’ve been there and this was new.
Were you brave enough to go on the ghost train?
I WAS nervous about the ghost train. I HATE things popping out at me. And for that scene, Linda is supposed to be unphased by the ghost train experience. Mae said it worried her too, so we were allowed to ride through it a couple of times before shooting so we knew what to expect. I DID NOT FLINCH ONCE. So proud.
What was the funniest moment on set?
FOR me it was one time I said a line a certain way ‘I haven’t finished ma Scotch egg’.
It came out like Annie Hall’s dad when he declined to drive Annie and Alvie to the airport saying ‘I haven’t finished ma drink”.
I don’t know why, but it really cracked me up and then I looked up and Mae was laughing too and then I didn’t feel so insane. Thank you, Mae.
Were you able to give Mae any words of advice about acting and fame?
I DON’T think so. Mae doesn’t need to learn anything from me. She’s completely wonderful.
It was Mae’s birthday when you shot together. Did you go out to celebrate?
I GOT to go out with everyone for Mae’s birthday. That was definitely a highlight for me.
Everyone was great. I feel we got along well. Mae is fantastic! We’ve kept in touch.
I love actress Charlotte (Ritchie) and I’m sorry I didn’t bug her for her contact info ... yet!
Adrian (Lukis), who played my husband, and I have kept in touch. I loved watching him work when I was off camera.
What attracted you to the role?
I THINK Linda is fascinating and I understand and sympathize. These scripts are so well written. The people are complicated. The damage is real and yet I was laughing.
How soon in the process did you get to grips with the character of Linda?
I’M not sure I ‘found’ her fast enough for my liking. But to me, the script was written in a way that clearly conveys their family’s past. Linda loves her daughter and she is still always going to be worried about her. I think Linda resents having to give so much of her attention to this worry when she could use that energy on her own ‘projects’ which, of course, she CAN do, but doesn’t, and is resentful of that on top of everything else but won’t acknowledge it.
What did you enjoy most about making Feel Good?
EVERYTHING. I love what this show is about. This planet is not easy. It can be hard to be a person here and then we unconsciously make it harder while we can still be charming and well-intentioned and it’s funny. I am happy to be part of something that is charming and well-intentioned.
I understand you liked the catering on set – digestive biscuits in particular. Have you been able to buy those in LA?
UH… I order them in bulk! Yes, I have them in the morning with my coffee. Heaven. Thank you Feel Good.
■ Feel Good can be seen on Channel 4 at 10pm on Wednesdays and the full series is now available, free to view or download, on All 4.