[ Meeting Nicola Walker, February 2013 ]
So … I met Nicola Walker again today.
They’ve been filming the new series of Scott and Bailey in my town (Manchester) for some time now and today, I could see that the crew had set up filming equipment and trailers at Whitefield Park, which is about 10 minutes from where I live. I went down at lunchtime but a very helpful security guard said Nicola wasn’t there yet (she was rehearsing at Granada Studios) but if I came back about 5 o’clock I’d probably be able to see her then.
I saw Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones before I left – they were coming out of make-up. But there didn’t seem to be much else happening so I left. Well, that was my afternoon out of the window – too busy fangirling to do any work! I went back at 5 pm as I’d been told. When I arrived Nicola was in make up but they said she’d only be a couple of minutes so I could hang around. A few minutes later she appeared. She greeted me with a big hello and a hug and looked as if she vaguely remembered me, but wasn’t sure where from.
“I’d met you at the National, back in October 2012. I was with my friend with the sore finger!” (see Ruth's previous report) And it suddenly clicked.
“Oh you were with ‘sore finger friend’!” Then she laughed and said, “it’s so hard to keep track sometimes especially when people have been in a group and then come again on their own. Most people don’t tend to come on their own; they usually drag someone else along. How did you know we were filming here?” I explained that I lived not 10 minutes up the road and she said “How weird that we’ve ended up practically on your doorstep!” I reminded her.that at the National she'd told me she'd be coming up here so I'd been keeping an eye out.
She said, “Everything I seem to be doing is up in Manchester at the moment because we’ll be back in June to film the next series of Last Tango in Halifax. Maybe I should rent a flat in Manchester, near Piccadilly station, since I’m here that much.” I was tempted to offer her my spare room but thought that would come across as rather strange.
“I really liked the first series of Last Tango in Halifax,” I told Nicola.
She was pleased and said, “We’ve got the same director back from the first series so I’m looking forward to that.”
We then chatted a bit about her other new project Heading Out. “It was so much fun to do,” Nicola said, “we all love it but I don’t know how it’s going to go down with viewers.” I told her I was sure it would be great.
I mentioned that Curious Incident had recenctly won a What's on Stage award, which she didn't know, but she said it deserved. She also told me that she'd recently had coffee with Luke Treadaway and he was telling her all about the new West End run. She said it would be strange to see someone else play Christopher’s Mum and that there is talk about the play going to New York for a run on Broadway.
“Its a shame that you have other commitments and won’t be able to join in the West End run.” I said.
She replied, “Well, I can’t complain really.”
Then on to Scott and Bailey. “All the cast and crew are lovely but it's a completely different job to anything I’ve ever done,” Nicola told me. “Its not very glamorous at all.” She pointed to what she was wearing (blue knitted jumper, skinny jeans and boots) and said, “This is my costume”. She then pointed at her face, “and this is my make-up – which is actually no make-up at all.”
Knowing that she didn't have long, as she was needed for filming, I asked if it would be okay to have a photo. “Of course, of course!” she said. The security guard took our photo and he was feeling the pressure. “It’s an awful job (taking pictures),” Nicola said, commenting that she's had to do it a few times in the past for people and is always scared of messing it up!
Nicola had to go then but she gave me another hug goodbye. I must have said “thank you” like ten times and she said, “You’re welcome!”She’s so lovely – she always has time for people and she’s so kind.
This made my half term – and it was only Monday!
They’ve been filming the new series of Scott and Bailey in my town (Manchester) for some time now and today, I could see that the crew had set up filming equipment and trailers at Whitefield Park, which is about 10 minutes from where I live. I went down at lunchtime but a very helpful security guard said Nicola wasn’t there yet (she was rehearsing at Granada Studios) but if I came back about 5 o’clock I’d probably be able to see her then.
I saw Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones before I left – they were coming out of make-up. But there didn’t seem to be much else happening so I left. Well, that was my afternoon out of the window – too busy fangirling to do any work! I went back at 5 pm as I’d been told. When I arrived Nicola was in make up but they said she’d only be a couple of minutes so I could hang around. A few minutes later she appeared. She greeted me with a big hello and a hug and looked as if she vaguely remembered me, but wasn’t sure where from.
“I’d met you at the National, back in October 2012. I was with my friend with the sore finger!” (see Ruth's previous report) And it suddenly clicked.
“Oh you were with ‘sore finger friend’!” Then she laughed and said, “it’s so hard to keep track sometimes especially when people have been in a group and then come again on their own. Most people don’t tend to come on their own; they usually drag someone else along. How did you know we were filming here?” I explained that I lived not 10 minutes up the road and she said “How weird that we’ve ended up practically on your doorstep!” I reminded her.that at the National she'd told me she'd be coming up here so I'd been keeping an eye out.
She said, “Everything I seem to be doing is up in Manchester at the moment because we’ll be back in June to film the next series of Last Tango in Halifax. Maybe I should rent a flat in Manchester, near Piccadilly station, since I’m here that much.” I was tempted to offer her my spare room but thought that would come across as rather strange.
“I really liked the first series of Last Tango in Halifax,” I told Nicola.
She was pleased and said, “We’ve got the same director back from the first series so I’m looking forward to that.”
We then chatted a bit about her other new project Heading Out. “It was so much fun to do,” Nicola said, “we all love it but I don’t know how it’s going to go down with viewers.” I told her I was sure it would be great.
I mentioned that Curious Incident had recenctly won a What's on Stage award, which she didn't know, but she said it deserved. She also told me that she'd recently had coffee with Luke Treadaway and he was telling her all about the new West End run. She said it would be strange to see someone else play Christopher’s Mum and that there is talk about the play going to New York for a run on Broadway.
“Its a shame that you have other commitments and won’t be able to join in the West End run.” I said.
She replied, “Well, I can’t complain really.”
Then on to Scott and Bailey. “All the cast and crew are lovely but it's a completely different job to anything I’ve ever done,” Nicola told me. “Its not very glamorous at all.” She pointed to what she was wearing (blue knitted jumper, skinny jeans and boots) and said, “This is my costume”. She then pointed at her face, “and this is my make-up – which is actually no make-up at all.”
Knowing that she didn't have long, as she was needed for filming, I asked if it would be okay to have a photo. “Of course, of course!” she said. The security guard took our photo and he was feeling the pressure. “It’s an awful job (taking pictures),” Nicola said, commenting that she's had to do it a few times in the past for people and is always scared of messing it up!
Nicola had to go then but she gave me another hug goodbye. I must have said “thank you” like ten times and she said, “You’re welcome!”She’s so lovely – she always has time for people and she’s so kind.
This made my half term – and it was only Monday!