5 MINUTES WITH...
Downton Abbey star Siobhan Finneran, 56, who plays recovering addict Clare Cartwright in the gritty drama…
How has it felt to be back? It’s lovely! It’s a great team and it’s that old cliché, we are quite a happy little family – yeah, it’s been a treat to be back filming with these guys. You play Clare…
When we saw her in the second series, she’d fallen off the wagon, but that’s not happened for some time, and she’s got this amazing relationship with her sister, Catherine (Sarah Lancashire’s character). In season three she’s more settled and happier, and Catherine has always been her rock.
What are you most proud of about Happy Valley?
It’s the sort of telly that I like to watch, where there are very real, believable characters.
The stories might be a little bit extraordinary, but it’s the way the characters deal with that… I’m very proud to be part of it because it’s a really loved show.
Do you remember your first day on set for series one?
Yes! Clare was answering a call from Catherine, and I think she was preparing a sandwich – but I can’t remember what the conversation was about. I will have been a nervous wreck; I always am day one of a job.
Did you have any idea that the show would become so big?
I think I read the whole script in one evening, and I remember thinking, “This is really special”. But I don’t think you can ever really know if something is going to be received well, you just hope that it is...
Favourite memory?
My happiest memories on set are the scenes with Catherine and Clare, the catch-up chats with cups of tea and a smoke, or the big explosive ones. I love the relationship between the two sisters, and I love working with Sarah. It’s magical – there’s a genuine love and affection.