Chizzy Akudolu’s new role
Actress Chizzy Akudolu – starring in new psychological thriller Too Close – chats about her latest role
If her dream of becoming an actress hadn’t come true, Chizzy Akudolu had an alternative career in mind. Urged by her parents to go to university so she’d have something to fall back on, she reveals: “I did a criminology degree. I wanted to catch serial killers – for the FBI!
“When I watch a film, I’m looking for the psychology behind what someone’s doing, I’ll say: ‘I bet it’s because…’
I would so love to play a cop!”
In the meantime, Chizzy (47), is in ITV’s three-part psychological thriller, Too Close – based on the novel by Natalie Daniels. “It’s about two women; one is a patient, Connie (Denise Gough) and the other is a doctor, Emma (Emily Watson). Emma is assessing Connie for trial. She’s in a secure psychiatric unit because of a crime she’s committed, but she can’t remember it. Is she faking?”
The former Holby City star won’t reveal what the crime is, but says: “It’s heinous – something you couldn’t imagine somebody doing. There are twists and flashbacks. It turns a bit catand-mouse where Connie is assessing the doctor. She gets under your skin. They’re both pretty broken and form this disturbing relationship.”
Chizzy plays Addy Smith, aka The Squeak. “The Squeak is one of the nurses. She pushes a trolley with pills, but it has a squeaky wheel, so that’s her nickname. She’s good at her job, but doesn’t really care for people. She thinks Connie’s got everybody wrapped around her little finger.”
After months of lockdown, Chizzy is loving working again. “Sometimes I wonder why I’m still smiling because
‘Sometimes I wonder why I’m still smiling because it’s been hard for us all’
it’s been hard. It’s been hard for us all. And then I lost my mum – which made it even worse. But we have to survive it. We’ve been through enough.” Aside from being away from home for a few weeks to film Too Close, and ITV’s hilarious Black History panel game, Sorry, I Didn’t Know, what’s helped Chizzy through? “Bootsy my cat,” she says. “Plus doing improv comedy on Zoom with Shoot from the Hip, various quizzes, and just keeping in touch with family and friends. I’ve written a sitcom and a film – a dark, but crazy comedy.” Could a cop role be in her future? “I just want to be in Line of Duty! Those interrogation scenes – they’re never boring!”
■ Too Close is on ITV for three consecutive nights from Monday, April 12 at 9pm