MACHINE INTELLIGENCE

Emily Berrington is back as Niska

We know that you’re sworn to secrecy, but could you give us a tease of what’s in store for niska this series?

Sure! As we know from the end of series one, Niska has gone off with the code for synth consciousness. So the new series is full of turmoil for Niska; to work out what to do with it and what it would mean for the world. And then things get a lot more complicated... Niska’s storyline has massive repercussions for all the characters and the world at large.

is she the same niska we knew from series one?

In series one Niska spent a lot of time being suspicious of humans but she learnt that things aren’t as black and white as she had believed. She comes into series two with a bit more of a complex approach to the world. She doesn’t just think, “Humans are bad, synths are good”. She’s definitely more trusting, without being a 100% trusting of anyone or anything.

How was it getting back into synth mode after time away?

It was difficult. It’s a specific discipline. For about a month before series two, I tried to do different things around the house in synth mode just to remind myself. I’d try to walk through my flat in a very efficient way, turning corners precisely. Even things like I’d try to put my jacket on. There was a really difficult scene in series one where I tried to put a jacket on as a synth and it was impossible. I think they ended up cutting it. So I thought, “This year, I’m putting on that jacket!”