10 Questions for Valene Kane

Valene Kane is an actress from Northern Ireland, where BBC 2’s hit drama series The Fall is set. She stars alongside Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in the psychological thriller, playing the role of the ex-girlfriend of Dornan’s serial killer. Next, she will appear in the eagerly-anticipated new Star Wars movie, Rogue One, which will be released in December.

ARE YOU SAD THE FALL IS COMING TO AN END?

But is it? I have doubts. I can’t give away the ending but potentially it’s the last, and potentially it’s not.

SO THERE’S A POSSIBILITY IT COULD COME BACK?

I genuinely don’t know. Sorry to be annoying and coy, but even if it did return there’s no guarantee my character would come back.

WOULD YOU BE SORRY TO SEE IT GO?

Very much. When we finished filming I just moved on, but now it’s going out on TV I’m really sad. It changed my career and made Jamie Dornan a superstar.

WHAT’S HE BEEN LIKE SINCE HIS CAREER WENT STRATOSPHERIC?

Since he did the Fifty Shades movie there are many more autograph-seekers when we finish each day. I don’t know how he copes. But he’s still the same lovely, warm guy.

HOW DO YOU LEARN LINES?

I was a nerd at school and dad taught me to learn by writing things out for exams. I write my lines out again and again.

ARE YOU POLITE WHILE WORKING, OR A DIVA?

I’ve been acting for a long time but it’s only in the past three years I’ve had success, so every day I say ‘thank you’ and I’m respectful. The moment someone on set isn’t polite it changes the atmosphere.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU HAVE DONE APART FROM ACTING?

I have a chip on my shoulder. My friends and I all got straight-As in our A levels, and they went on to do intellectual things. A big part of me still wants to switch on a more intelligent part of my brain.

HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?

I’m looking at university courses right now.

MEANTIME, YOU’RE IN THE NEW STAR WARS MOVIE – CAN

YOU BELIEVE IT?

I play a character called Lyra Erso. I was stunned to get the offer, and I only believed I was in it when we started filming in Iceland.

YOU HAVE 24 HOURS LEFT TO LIVE. HOW DO YOU SPEND IT?

I’d have a swim then spend the rest of the day searching out and eating – and drinking – everything I’d never had before. I tend to pig out but at least this time I wouldn’t have to go to the gym to work it off.