MAKING PEACE
ANNA MAXWELL MARTIN AND VICKY MCCLURE STAR IN A DRAMA ABOUT A 1993 IRA BOMBING…
When two children were killed in an IRA bomb attack on Warrington back in 1993, Dubliner Susan Mchugh was so moved by the tragedy that she decided to do something about it. What began as an impassioned phone call to a live radio show led to one of the largest peace rallies in Irish history – though her campaign was not without some resistance. This one-off drama stars Vicky Mcclure as Susan, with Anna Maxwell Martin as Wendy Parry, the mother of 12-year-old Tim, who died in the Warrington bombings. Inside TV chatted to the stars during filming of the drama to find out more…
What was your take on Susan and her motivations?
Vicky She was just an ordinary woman. We all watch the news, and every now and then something will hit home. How she went about it was all very organic. There wasn’t any great plan, she’s not political, she didn’t build up to it – she just kind of did it and it had that ripple effect.
When she does all these speeches, she is just speaking from the heart, because she’s got two children.
Did you have to do a large amount of research into what happened? How did you prepare for the role?
Anna I researched the whole story. And also, I’m a mum, and what [the Parrys] went through is like your worst nightmare. At the time, Wendy outwardly – not at home, but outwardly – was incredibly stoic. Oh my God, that woman has the strength of a tiger. If you see all the press stuff, she was very, very strong.
But of course you have to have all the inner emotion.
Vicky, how did you get on with the Dublin accent?
Vicky I have been really enjoying it! It put the fear of God in me because I don’t want to offend anyone,
especially Sue, but David [Wilmot, who plays Sue’s husband Arthur] has been incredibly helpful – I’m constantly going, “Is that all right?” and he has filled me with confidence.
Anna It’s a bit of a nightmare, because in this Vicky has a Dublin accent and I have a Warrington accent, and it turns out they’re quite tricky to hold on to when you’re in the same room! We had a scene together on the first day and I wasn’t quite bedded in…