View from my sofa: Jessica Raine

As a cinephile with a rich background steeped in the countryside and the performing arts, I can wholeheartedly endorse adding The Devil’s Hour to your watchlist. With my usual bar of Tony’s Chocolonely within arm’s reach, one feline companion purring by my side, and a big TV illuminating our living room, I find myself in a state of blissful relaxation.

Add The Devil’s Hour to your watchlist

What’s the view from your sofa?

Generally, you’ll find me lounging rather than perched upright. Typically, there’s a bar of Tony’s Chocolonely on my coffee table, accompanied by one of my feline friends, and a large television screen – it’s pure bliss for me!

And who controls the remote?

As a technology-averse individual, I often find myself dozing off, whether my son is engrossed in a show or when it’s just me and Tom, my partner who shares the acting profession. This isn’t about the dynamics of our relationship from a gender perspective; it’s simply reflective of my struggle with technology.

What have you enjoyed recently?

I’m really excited about the show “Severance” and I’m upset that season three isn’t available in the UK yet. And “Hacks” – it’s driving me crazy not being able to watch it! As for “Colin from Accounts,” meeting Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer at the Emmys was a dream come true, and they were just as fantastic as I hoped. I adore comedy, but it feels like I’ve been trapped in a box of traumatic situations.

Your Wikipedia page says you’ve been acting from the age of 13. What was your first role?

The text indicates that I performed in “Beyond Ballets Russes” at London’s Coliseum, which is not true, but I enjoy the idea of being thought of as someone who did. The performance was more like amateur theater in a small village hall. Unlike some children, I didn’t aspire to have an agent at the age of seven. In fact, I wasn’t aware that dancing could be a career until much later. Having grown up on a farm and with no connections to the industry, my goal was simply to continue performing for a living.

Wikipedia also says your family were bonesetters. That can’t be true.

1) Here’s one way to rephrase it:

Were you helping on the farm at dawn?

Growing up, we spent most of our time on the farm without much contribution, instead engaging in risky activities like constructing bale tunnels, which could be quite hazardous due to the unstable structure. As eight-year-olds, though, such dangers were irrelevant to us. My three female cousins and I, all around the same age as each other and my sister, would cause a ruckus, playing war games amidst the chaos. It was an incredible time for us.

Would you like to do some more action-based stuff, then?

In the second season of “Devil’s Hour,” you’ll find me performing numerous daring stunts. In the very first episode, I even toss a man onto a table, who accidentally elbows me in the mouth causing it to bleed profusely. A blood capsule was used for this scene, but it looked quite real. To be truthful, I could perform stunts non-stop if given the chance. However, during filming, I injured my back by slipping a disc, which was extremely painful. After recovering and filming series three, I eagerly asked to perform the stunts again because I enjoy them so much!

Season two of The Devil’s Hour is on a whole other level…

Absolutely, at first, you might feel secure in your assumptions, but soon enough, you’ll recognize that the events remind you of incidents from the initial season, indicating a mirrored existence. Around two-thirds into it, another twist occurs, and I must say, it keeps me on my toes! The anticipation for season three is immense, promise you it will be mind-blowing!

Three seems to be a magic number — you did three series of Call the Midwife.

I only watched part of season 3 of “The Midwife,” making it my longest commitment to any show so far. I’m not particularly fond of long-running series that seem endless to me; I tend to lose interest rather swiftly.

What was it like creating Midwife? It kind of hung on you for the first season.

I put a lot of effort into portraying Jenny on screen. Since then, folks often remark, “You’re nothing like her off-camera.” However, it was Heidi Thomas’s brilliant writing and my dedication that made it happen. Truth be told, I enjoy embodying complex characters, especially the ‘bad girls.’

2024-10-21 18:03

Read More