ELIZABETH TAN

Tomorrow, 9pm, ITV

1

My character, the glamorous Vera Chiang, is a Chinese woman who’s grown close to businessman’s son Matthew Webb, in early 1940s Singapore. She’s fluent in seven languages: three types of Chinese, Russian, Japanese, French and English, and I felt I had to learn a little of each of them so I fully embraced the character.

2

Vera is a seductress, and some of the scenes that I filmed myself and sent to the producers when I was auditioning were sexy and funny. They obviously liked what I did because it led to a meeting in London and the offer of the role!

3

Vera does tai chi, a martial art based on the concept of yin and yang, so I had lessons with a tai chi master. I only had a few days and it was very challenging. The tai chi master told me that the moves I was doing normally

take six months to learn. I practised late at night in the gym in my hotel while filming – it involved exaggerated movements so I probably petrified any guests who walked into the gym!

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The costume designer, Ann Maskrey, travelled extensively in Asia for research. I had day-long fittings where I tried on many costumes and I actually felt emotional putting on the clothes, because they were so stunningly beautiful and well-made.

I often think of birds when I’m building my characters, and for Vera I used a swan. Swans are graceful but, like Vera, have a dangerous side and can attack. She also has that sense of mystery by not revealing much about herself, and if you look at a swan’s face it always seems to be impassive.