‘I tell lies on a daily basis’

Angela Griffin, 40, plays company boss Jenna Moss in the second series of BBC1’S shock-filled drama Ordinary Lies…

his series sees T ordinary people unravel after a lie spirals out of control. What’s your character’s story?

Ooh, I don’t want to give too much away because you don’t find out exactly what her back story is until the final episode. There are hints of it along the way, though. You see her receive mysterious packages in her office, and every now and then she’ll disappear for a bit to meet someone. Jenna is immaculate, perfectly made-up without a hair out of place – which proves that appearances can be very deceptive and you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Would you say you’re a bit of a fibber in real life? More than just a bit! I’m a BAFTA award winner when it comes to lying – or I like to think I am. I probably tell about 30 fibs a day and I reckon I’m quite good at it. You do when you’ve got kids [Angela is mum to Tallulah, 12, and Melissa, or Missy, nine]. There’s the “you do this and this will happen” lie and then there’s the international, universal lie we tell them at a certain time every year! You also need to be a good liar to do what I do for a living. Actors pretend – we have to make people believe we’re something we’re not. What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told? I think maybe one of the worst lies is one I made up with Jeff Brazier. We were joking around and found a derelict house near to where we lived, which looked like the creepiest house in the world. Then we pretended to our

children that it was a home for naughty kids. They’d be taken to that house if they misbehaved!

You say your character is preened to perfection, but are you high maintenance, looks-wise?

Not in real life, but I must say I loved being as well groomed as Jenna! The hair, the lashes, the gel nails... I’ve never had a job with such beautiful clothes. I’m always quite a down-to-earth mum. At the end of the day, I’d insist on keeping it all on and then I’d take lots of selfies.

We hear your daughter Tallulah is starring in upcoming CBBC series The Worst Witch?

Yes, she’s playing Drusilla Paddock – a student at Cackle’s Academy. Tallulah wanted to act as soon as she could talk but even though my husband Jason and I kept trying to put her off she was very determined. We said she could try to get an agent if she passed an exam to get into a school and when she came 40th out of a thousand she got her wish. She went for a few auditions and then got The Worst Witch. We’re immensely proud of her.

What about your younger daughter, Missy?

Missy wants to act, too, but we’re not letting her until she’s 11. I’ve said to her that that is the way life is and she just has to deal with it. Missy’s been like an only child over the summer as Talullah has been working, but we look upon this as our “special” time. Talullah was on her own with us for three years before Missy came along and now this has been Missy’s time.