Life’s pretty Rosie as actress swaps sharp suits for Georgian corsets
She’s cleaning up with roles in gritty dramas and comedies
CLEANING UP star Rosie Cavaliero had a switch of costume, time and character after filming the ITV drama.
Rosie, who plays a business watchdog in the Sheridan Smith series, went straight on to shooting Gentleman Jack with Suranne Jones.
“It was from the ultra-modern world of high finance in London’s Canary Wharf, back to Yorkshire of the 19th Century,” Rosie told in10.
“It’s set in 1830s in Halifax so it couldn’t have been more different. I had M&S corporate suits in Cleaning Up and then it was right into corsets and a mop cap.”
Gentleman Jack, written by Happy Valley’s Sally Wainwright, is the hotly anticipated eight-part series based on the diaries of controversial industrialist Anne Lister.
What it has in common with Cleaning Up is the selling power of its leading lady. And Rosie says that, despite being the big name, Sheridan wasn’t one to play the big star.
“One of the big appeals of doing this was Sheridan,” said Rosie.
“We’ve known each other of old because we did a BBC sitcom many years ago with Paul O’grady called Eyes Down set in a bingo hall.
“We did two series. Sheridan was only 22 then but she was already proving to be a massive star and she was lovely. She’s in virtually every scene in Cleaning Up, so she’s carrying the whole thing.
“But she’s really very laid-back and friendly, up for a giggle and she doesn’t play status at all.
“She just gets on with it and made it a very easy-going set.”
The series is set in the world of high finance, with Sheridan as Sam, one of the army of “invisible” cleaners who spruce up the plush Canary Wharf offices each night.
Struggling with debt and a gambling problem, the mumof-two realises the insider trading information she comes across could be the answer to her prayers.
Rosie plays Frances, the head of compliance whose part in the goings-on becomes open to question.
“I like the fact that she appears quite strong and in control but is a bit ambiguous,” she admits.
Rosie is known for
everything from gritty dramas such as Prey and Unforgotten to comedies like the Nativity films and Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner.
And she says she’s fortunate to ring the changes.
“It’s quite hard to do both. Quite often you are put in one box and I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to go between the two genres.
“It’s tricky to be seen in different lights.
“People seem to think comedy is easier to do because it’s having a laugh, but it’s actually a lot harder.
“The most obvious thing about comedy is that it has to make people laugh.
“People watch drama and either like it or they don’t, but if not they don’t get angry.
“But I feel that if people watch comedy and don’t laugh, they get enraged. They get very cross, which is so weird.”
■ Cleaning Up, ITV, Wed, 9pm.