Do you prefer comedy or drama? Both really, I like playing really interesting parts. I think that getting older has made me a better actress because of my life experience. To be a good comedy actor I think you have to have a dark side - they always say that comedy is a serious business. A lot of comedy comes from the stresses of life, just seen from another angle. What have been your favourite stage and screen roles? My favourite stage role was Mari Hoff in Jim Cartwright’s The Rise & Fall of Little Voice, earlier this year at Bolton Octagon. And my favourite television role was playing Mad B*****d, a skinhead grave digger, in a Channel Four film called The Real Eddie English – I had to live on an allotment for three months! Did you enjoy filming Emmerdale Live? Yes, I was very proud to be a part of the 40th Anniversary and it was an amazing experience, with over 400 cast & crew involved and 35 cameras. The cast and crew were so friendly and made me feel really welcome, even though I was only coming in for one episode. I had such a laugh with Charley Webb who plays Debbie Dingle; we hit it off the moment we met. She asked me why on earth I’d agreed to do a live episode - she couldn’t think of anything worse. I said ‘well… I need a new dishwasher’. Were you nervous? Where there’s faith there’s no fear. What’s the difference between standing up infront of 400 people in a theatre and 10 million in a studio?! Live acting excites me. Certain life events have caused me to suffer from anxiety and depression. But I’m at an age where I’ve worked through most situations and now grab any opportunities with both hands and live from moment to moment. Do you think you would make a good midwife?! No, but I like to pretend! My friend Gail Naylor helped me to research the role. She works at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital and took me through the script, training me for two days with the midwives. I based my character on a lady there called Angie Dean. Spending that time with them was amazing; they do a fabulous job and work long hours. Actually, my best mate said I was a terrific birthing partner when she gave birth to my beautiful godson… I kept cracking jokes and mopping her head!
Double act Mave and Maureen
world. But would I go back? YES! What would be your dream role? Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Edith Piaf in Piaf. What are you working on at the moment? I’ve just filmed a new BBC comedy called Lapland with Sue Johnston. I play a mad DIY shop assistant who wants to be the manager. I’ve also just finished filming Shameless and it’s been great to be a part of the very last series (Episode 9, aired next year). I’m playing a woman called Mindy who has had too much botox, (sadly they didn’t let me have any!) and she’s trying to get away from her controlling husband. It’s typical Shameless - very strong issues, but at the same time very funny and over the top. In October, I was in Curtain Up at the Coliseum (the re-opening of Oldham Coliseum); a review show where we did sketches from successful shows such as The Rocky Horror Show and Fur Coat, No Knickers. Our Musical Director, Howard Gray gave me Non Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf and I loved it. Mr Friel, my French teacher at Howarth Cross, would have been very proud.
What projects would you love to work on in the future? I just feel lucky to be working and still doing something that I’ve always wanted to do. I’m really happy to be doing more television work at the moment. But i’d love to work with Victoria Wood again. What advice would you give to aspiring actors? Try not to take rejection personally. It’s a tough industry - not for people who want security, routine or regular money. But it’s the only thing I’ve ever known or wanted to do and if anyone feels like I did when I was young, there will be nothing that can stop them. What I love about my profession is that the phone can ring anytime and whisk me off on my travels yet again. Oh hang on, it’s ringing now… it’s my agent… it might be the Royal Shakespeare Company wanting me to play Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream…!
Ruth Meredith
Right now, I’m in rehearsal for Cinderella at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre. I’m playing Fairy Fanny Bobbins… on wires doing somersaults!! We open 2nd December and run until 5th January. Do you watch yourself on television? No, but maybe I should… one director told me to close my mouth a bit, because I wouldn’t like it when I saw it played back! You can become too critical if you watch yourself though. Would you ever go back to Corrie? Well, Debbie left and moved to Southampton to become a hairdresser. Maybe she could come back with hair extensions and a mobile beauty salon? Or maybe she has an allotment now in Hebden Bridge?! Who knows? Only the soap
Mindy in Shameless www.rochdalestyle.com
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