studio and would record there with a live
audience. That’s what I loved… I love
that combination because it’s like the
best of both worlds - you’ve got your live
audience that I love and the telly, so it’s
reaching loads and loads of people.
But, like Ray used to get really nervous
about that, bless him. I used to wipe is
brow and I’d say “come on, Raymond”
- I just think he felt uncomfortable in
that situation but he’s an amazing and
wonderful actor - he was worried about
himself in comedy but he was always
brilliant. He’s just a great actor. He’s just
got wonderful timing he’s smashing but
he doesn’t see that as his genre. But,
anyone whoever looks up Get Back will
see that it was me, Ray Winstone, and
my daughter was Kate Winslet! Larry
Lamb and John Barden were in it and
it really was one of the funniest things
ever. Sadly, we just did two series and it
didn’t continue because it just got under
seven million in the ratings. Back then
there was this rule - like a cut off ruling
about ratings. Before then, for example,
with things like Only Fools and Horses
where they only got four million (in its
first few series) - it was able to build
up its audience and then it all became
about ratings and money so our series
finished. I found that so sad as it’s one
of my favourite things to do. I love doing
comedy as well as drama and sometimes
when you’re in a drama, like EastEnders,
people don’t imagine that you can be a
comedy actress as well.
I remember when I was doing London’s
Burning and I had been working with
a particular lighting guy and his crew
and I just happened to say something
after filming and he went, “oh my god,
you’re Gloria.” I was recognised for the
character I played in Brush Strokes.
And obviously my character in London’s
Burning was very, very different, I played
Dorothy. And this lighting guy said “but
you’re Gloria - I fancied you like mad.”
So, I said, “no, I think you fancied Gloria
like mad. You didn’t even know it was
me did you?” And he said “but they’re
such different parts - one’s a real drama
and the other one was high comedy” –
people get very involved in characters
and they can’t distinguish reality from the
character.
I have to ask you this. Mostly for my
dad actually but you got to work with
Arthur Daley (George Cole) what was
that like?
It was only a little in and out on the
Minder set sadly, I’d like to have done
much more but I suddenly saw a picture
of it that someone had put up on the
internet the other day of me in Minder - it
was fun to do.
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