Nicola Walker: ‘An affair? I couldn’t do it...’
As she reprises her role as a high-end divorce lawyer in the throes of a steamy affair, Nicola Walker talks about why she could never go there herself…
The mesmerising Nicola Walker is back for series two of BBC One’s The Split - the most gripping relationship drama to hit the small-screen in years. Set in the fastpaced, messy world of London’s high-end divorce circuit, it takes an honest and heartbreaking look at modern relationships.
Nicola plays lawyer Hannah Stern, whose marriage begins to crack when she discovers hubby Nathan (Stephen Mangan) has had an affair – then her estranged father, Oscar, dies. Struggling with grief and her intense feelings for colleague Christie, Hannah embarks on a full-blown affair – but where does she go from here? Nicola, 49 – who is married to fellow actor Barnaby Kay, with whom she has son, Harry, 13 - tells best what marriage means to her…
Nicola, your character’s work fling has got serious, hasn’t it?!
Oh yes… At the end of the last series, you weren’t sure whether it was just a moment of madness. But she’s in a full-blown affair. She’s trying to get away with it, she’s lying, she’s buying herself time. That’s such a common way to deal with emotional problems in our lives – trying to buy time. Hoping, somehow, that the answer to what you should do is going to either be forced or come to you.
Hannah’s not your typical ‘scarlet woman’ though…
I am not standard casting, no. When I first read the script, I said, ‘No, there’s no way they’ll let me play this part, of a woman having this dangerous affair’. But they wanted a more ‘ordinary’ woman! This series opens with Hannah swimming lengths of a pool, which is unfair – my hair’s stuck to my head, I have no make-up on… When you get to a certain age, you really don’t want to be seen in the swimming pool! But that’s how Hannah is conducting this affair. She never used her gym membership, until she started the affair with Christie…
Why do you think audiences relate to her so much?
Well, imagine seeing a profile of Hannah Stern in a legal magazine. Her life would look brilliant. Leafing through that magazine, she’d look totally in control, hugely successful, edging on perfection. We all know the truth’s far more complicated. We never know what goes on behind closed doors, but here you actually find out what’s going on behind those closed doors!
You know your TV husband, Nathan [Stephen Mangan], from your uni days, don’t you?
I do. I remember his very big, curly hair. I have lots of photos of us together that we use in the show. It’s because I was obsessed with those rubbish, disposable cameras. It was around 1992 –pre-mobile phones! I’ve got a brilliant one of him playing guitar with all of
us sat on the floor around him. He looks like a cult leader. He’s very beautiful and we’re all staring at him, singing along.
What’s it like, playing someone so caught up in a web of deceit?
You know what? I don’t ever want to find out what that’s like in real life. This is my job. You dip your toe in other people’s lives, but I don’t ever want to experience that personally, or have anyone I love, experience it. It’s not a good place to be. They’re a mess, Hannah and her husband. I couldn’t do it to the kids. That’s the killer. What you are risking, what you could be destroying along with your marriage.
What feedback have you got, out and about?
I’ve had people when I’m out shopping, say, ‘I can’t believe Stephen Mangan did that to you. I really liked him’ – people are angry! And I get lots of women saying, ‘Ooh, that Christie, I can’t blame you!’ People are very vocal about Hannah’s relationships. I’ve never had that before, it’s funny. I’ve had ‘I’m team Christie!’ shouted at me at the checkout.
Are there any scenes you really relished?
I loved this scene where Nathan and I have a massive row. It’s the row of nightmares, where you’re both raging, weeping and screaming, but also being really truthful. I don’t think I’ve read a scene that truthful – it felt like you were… a fly-on-thewall of your best friend’s kitchen, when she and her husband are fighting.
Hannah’s relationship with her mum and sisters is wonderful. Did you have fun with such a female-led cast?
So much! It’s funny, though, the scenes where we’re really joyous and laughing are hard. It’s much easier filming something where you’re all crying. Manufacturing ‘joy’ takes so much energy! But we helped each other. If someone was flagging, someone else said something appallingly rude for the take, and we were away…
You play a divorce lawyer in the show. Would you be any good at that, in real life?
No! Hannah’s emotional, but she knows when to hold that down and be professional. Actors have to be good at empathising with people and that’s probably a bit useless, when you’re a family lawyer! I’d probably sit there, sobbing my head off with my clients, being so understanding I’d be utterly useless. I’m far too emotional a person! TheSplit is on BBC One, Tuesdays at 9pm.
‘You actually find out what’s going on behind those closed doors!’