SIXTY SECONDS
THE EMMERDALE ACTRESS, 56, ON FAMOUS RELATIVE ENID BLYTON, WHY SHE LOVES PLAYING A VICAR AND HER LOCKDOWN LAZINESS
What is it like being a vicar on Emmerdale?
To play someone with that sort of vocation is really fascinating because it’s so far removed from me. What I love about Harriet is that she’s human. She’s not holier than thou – she makes a lot of mistakes.
Are you religious yourself?
I’m undecided about all that. I possibly wanted to be a nun when I was a little girl after watching The Sound Of Music but that’s as far as it went. I’m quite envious of people with a strong faith. It must be a great comfort, especially in times like this.
How are you coping with lockdown?
I’m trying to make the best of it and be positive but I do find it a very depressing world at the moment. Watching the news is like watching a disaster movie unfold. But at least I’ve got work and family and things to keep me going so I’m very lucky. I just pray to whichever god is out there that there’ll be a happy ending.
Harriet is caught up in a murder. How did that happen?
When she previously worked as a police officer she got involved with a dodgy cop, Malone. He turned up in Emmerdale and became obsessed and tried to destroy everything Harriet had. He tried to get her surrogate daughter, Dawn [Julia Mallam] to relapse into drug addiction. Harriet clobbered him over the head with a kettle and Dawn shot him. They buried him in the graveyard on top of another chap. That was fine until the daughter of the man buried there wanted the body exhumed so they had to dig up Malone’s body and rebury him.
Is it draining to film?
I know it’s made up but when you’re on the verge of tears every day, you do wonder when there’ll be a laugh again. However, one of the good things about it is that it doesn’t matter if I don’t look particularly good that day.
How do you unwind?
I used to like to go to the pub or for a meal. Now I just open a bottle, put the telly on and work my way through Netflix or potter around. I’m quite a lazy person, really.
Don’t you have any hobbies to keep you busy?
I don’t. I must have bought every language course going, from French and Spanish to Mandarin, but I’ve not actually learnt any of them. I’ve bought paints and I bought a keyboard in the last lockdown but I’ve not done either of those either. I’ve got all the equipment and none of the motivation!
Do you do any exercise?
When I have my dog with me I do a lot of walking, which is good for the soul. He’s an 11-year-old border terrier called Dexter. I forgot to have children and he’s like my boy. He’s great company.
Before Emmerdale, didn’t you have six parts in Coronation Street?
Yes! My first time was as Terry Duckworth’s ex-girlfriend. Then I played a couple of doctors, someone who worked for the council and an immigration officer who visited the factory. I seemed to go in every two years!
Have you done any other jobs when acting work has been thin on the ground?
I’ve had to do many different jobs to keep the wolf from the door, all sorts of weird and wonderful things. I’ve measured books in the British Library – that was mind-numbing. Then I read electricity meters. I worked in a solicitors, a bank and in restaurants. I also worked on and off for three years as a support worker for adults with learning difficulties, which I loved. It was possibly one of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had. That’s what makes me laugh when actors are told to retrain during the pandemic. Actors are the most adaptable workforce ever because most of us have had to do a million different jobs. We don’t just sit by the phone waiting for a job to come in. All the actors I know have done all sorts and are very adept and able to work at other jobs.
I forgot to have children so my dog’s like my boy. He’s great company
Why have you stayed at Emmerdale for seven years?
I love it and especially during this last year I’ve felt so grateful and blessed that I’m still able to work when so many thousands of people in this industry haven’t worked since last March.
Is it true that you’re related to the author Enid Blyton?
Yes, she was a cousin of my grandpa. I never met her but I met her daughters. They were giving a talk and I went and introduced myself. They were very posh so I thought, ‘Oh God, we can’t be related!’ We grew up reading her books, of course. I loved all the fairy tales – The Wishing-Chair and The Faraway Tree.
What’s left on your bucket list?
My pipe dream is to have a nice little cottage on the west coast of Scotland with lots of dogs. I’d sit and look out to the sea and walk my dogs on the beach.
Emmerdale is on ITV every weekday at 7pm with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursday