On doomed Titanic
PLAYS GRACE RUSHTON
ONE of our most versatile character actresses, Imrie is known to us for any number of roles, from Cranford to Calendar Girls.
“The set,” she says, “inspires a great performance and it also has that spooky quality about it. I think the set deserves an award and so does the whole team. It’s all just magnificent.
“When you see the Titanic all pristine it’s impossible to imagine what eventually happened to it.
“For the most part, we only play up until the moment that disaster strikes. In fact, I don’t know whether they are going to show that, because they can’t compete with the film.”
Her character is “new money” but she manages to find a lifeboat.
“I’m afraid to say I do. I did do a few tank scenes in the lifeboat. I didn’t get wet but I had two dogs. I have to say, they were very well behaved. But they gave the game away. When I was pretending to be cold they were panting because it was boiling in the tank.”
Her character must endure a stream of insults as “new money”.
“Grace is totally bewildered that people can be so rude. She thinks that having paid for a First Class ticket she should be treated like Lady Muck.
‘Grace is a snob too, however; she cannot believe that at church all the classes are mixed up. Terrible idea.
“Class divisions are highlighted even more on a boat. You can’t go through a door unless you are a certain class.
“It is worth remembering that the First Class passengers had an hour to get ready before everyone else was told what had happened.
“The people down below were locked in.
“I love period drama. It’s great just to immerse yourself in the past.”