UNITED STATES OF ANARCHY
PHILIP GLENISTER and LESLEY SHARP star as a middle-aged British couple whose dream of starting a new life in Florida turns into a nightmare
PHILIP GLENISTER KNOWS all about moving to America. For the past few years, the London-born actor has lived across the Atlantic while playing Reverend Anderson in hit US drama Outcast.
This week, Glenister stars in Sky One’s new comedy drama, Living the Dream, as a
Brit who moves to the US in search of a better life.
The Ashes to Ashes star plays Mal Pemberton, who relocates with wife Jen (Scott & Bailey’s Lesley Sharp) and their teenage kids, Tina and Freddie, from Yorkshire to Florida, where he’s bought a caravan park.
As the Pembertons arrive in the US, it seems as if
Mal’s got everything covered, as they move into a gorgeous new house with a giant swimming pool and space for two new cars.
The family is thrilled, but reality soon bites: the caravan park looks nothing like the pictures in the glossy brochure and it’s going to need a lot of work. Throw in some eccentric locals and an angry alligator, and it looks very much as if Mal’s American dream is about to turn into his worst nightmare.
Tv&satellite Week caught up with Glenister and Sharp at an American diner in London – where else? – to find out more over burgers and milkshakes… TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERS… SHARP Mal and Jen Pemberton are at a point when they could settle for what they have in the UK, or they could rip all that up and go on an adventure. So that’s what they do. They’re a very positive, warm and engaging middle -aged couple, and they take their two kids to Florida to run a caravan park business and to lead a different life.
GLENISTER They want to live the dream. Instead, when they get there, what they find is a complete mess. There’s a lot of red tape and obstacles to overcome if you want to start a business in America.
It’s not all a bed of roses.
THE KISSIMMEE SUNSHINE PARK HAS SOME INTERESTING RESIDENTS, TOO…
GLENISTER There’s an ex-wrestler, Troy Marshall, played by Magic
Mike’s Kevin Nash, who’s 6ft 10in and weighs 23 stone, but he’s an absolute pussycat. All these characters have eccentricities, but it’s not too caricatured or clichéd. Having seen some of the real people over there, I think they’ve toned it down, if anything.
PHILIP, THERE’S A
SCENE IN EPISODE
ONE WHERE, AS
MAL, YOU JUMP INTO
A POOL NAKED. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? GLENISTER It’s in my contract that I’ve always got to get my kecks off now. You know, being a global sex symbol and all that! We filmed it in one take, but we filmed another pool scene. I jumped in, but then realised the cameraman hadn’t been ready to shoot, so I had to do it again.
WHAT DID YOU MISS ABOUT BRITAIN WHILE FILMING IN THE STATES?
GLENISTER I take teabags with me. That’s one thing I do miss. I like to teach Americans how to make a proper brew.
SHARP I took Mintoes. I took about five bags and then got people to post more to me when I ran out.
HOW IS LIVING THE DREAM DIFFERENT TO OTHER COMEDY DRAMAS?
SHARP It’s fantastic to see two middle-aged characters going on an adventure instead of sniping at each other and talking about how miserable their lives are about to become because they’re heading towards death! I think it’s quite common that people over 40 feel they’ve still got a bit of gas in their tank. They’re up, they’re energetic and they’re having a go – they’re not just sinking into some muddy version of middle age.
‘It’s in my contract that I’ve got to get my kecks off, being a global sex symbol!’
PHILIP GLENISTER