|
-
News
- Features
- Blogs
- Events
Calendar
- Editorials
- Monthly
Zine
- Offworld
Report
- Our Daily
RSS Feed
- Google Toolbar scifi
- Movie/TV
Reviews
> Recent movies
> Movies by year
> Movies by title
- Book
Reviews
> Recent books
> Books by year
> Books by title
- Home
- Worlds
- Biography
- Bibliography
- Appearances
- Reviews
- Blog
- Community
- Press
- Links
Become
an Advertiser
- Web
Site Directory
- Search
the Net
- StephenHunt.net
- WoodenRocket.com
- Check
your E-mail
- Non Sci-Fi
News
|
Cast interviews: Ashes to Ashes
01/02/2008 . Source: Jessica Martin 
Keeley 'Spooks' Hawes talks about her lead role in Ashes to Ashes and what it's like to be haunted by an evil-looking clown, Dean Andrews chats about his role as DS Ray Carling (he's as hard as nails), DC Chris Skelton (played by Marshall Lancaster) is now a tech geek, while Montserrat Lombard talks about her role as the new girl on the WPC block. Buy Ashes To Ashes in the USA - or Buy Ashes To Ashes in the UK  DI Alex Drake, played by actress Keeley 'Spooks' Hawes
What is Alex like?
She's ballsy, confident and bright and is more than a match for Gene. Alex was a psychologist to Sam Tyler and, when she gets shot, she realises she has been propelled into the past; into the new world of Gene Hunt and the boys. She realises she is re-imagining somebody else's creations. She doesn't believe that they're real; she believes they're creations.
What is Alex's main focus for getting home?
Alex has a daughter, Molly, to get back to in 2008 and obviously, as anyone would, she wants to get back as fast as she can. However, she does have moments that she really enjoys, like the different ways of policing, but ultimately, she wants to get back to her daughter. She enjoys her relationship with Gene Hunt – it's sexy and fun, so there's an emotional pull both ways, but she does want to get back to Molly and modern times.
Alex is haunted by an eerie-looking clown. What is his significance to Alex's journey?
He's an expression of her fears about death and Molly. He's the very darkest, deepest parts of her brain that she doesn't really want to go to. He is such a genius creation; lots of people don't like clowns, especially the Pierrot clown which was very Eighties.
What do you think makes the clown so sinister?
I think it's probably his unpredictability. I never know what he's going to do from one minute to the next and it's things that horror stories are made of. A clown should make you laugh, but this one actually just makes the hairs on your arm go up!
Alex is a really ballsy woman. Do you think she is brave to try to take on Gene or should she embrace his help?
It's in her nature to take Gene on and she usually knows that she's right, but occasionally she is prepared to back down and deals with Gene via a good sense of humour. Her knowledge of the future makes dealing with Gene easier for her. She doesn't have the awe and respect for Gene like the others, because she finds him a bit of a dinosaur. Instead, she finds the way he carries on quite amusing, I don't think she's truly offended by him.
Gene and Alex have a real love-hate relationship. Do you think Alex could ever give in to Gene's charms or will her pride always stop her?
I think their love-hate relationship is great. Quite often, when people fancy each other, they dress it up as love-hate because it's easier to deal with. Gene and Alex go out for dinner and they have a nice time, so I think she's actually quite surprised to learn that underneath everything, it's possible for them to really enjoy each other's company – which is what everyone will want to see, but it quickly goes horribly wrong.
What has been your favourite scene to film?
I love the scenes in Luigi's since it's great to be able to see people on screen have a drink and a smoke; it's real and, quite often these days, you don't see that. Generally, those scenes are at the end of the day so we're all quite relaxed. We're usually all in them and everybody gets on really well.
We shot some scenes with a DeLorean, which was fab – it felt really Eighties. There is nothing more Eighties than that car. It's just like the car in Back To The Future.
Alex has some fabulous outfits. Did you wear anything similar in the Eighties?
I remember my sister wearing a denim boiler suit and I had an all-in-one – mine was more Grace Jones. I remember a mass of different colour denims all being worn at the same time. I recall having a perm quite young and wearing terrible electric blue leather, it was so bad. There was nothing classy about me or the Eighties in general. However, it was great fun and it's always a pleasure to dress as Alex in the morning!
Is Alex's style anything like your own?
I get to wear some Agent Provocateur underwear, that's not too bad. It's a kind of red basque-type thing, but that's not in vision for very long. There is a bright, bright blue shirt that's actually quite fun, but there's nothing that I'd wear personally.
The series features the iconic Blitz Club. Was it fun to recreate and even have Steve Strange in to provide the music?
It was amazing. I used to go clubbing in the Nineties a fair bit and I remember Steve being on the door of a club [The Emporium, Kingly Street], but not really knowing who he was or how brilliant he was. It was great to have Steve in; it all works really well, it looks really great.
Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's wedding provides the backdrop for episode two. What are your memories of the "Big Day"?
I remember people talking about the dress and the train and, being a girl, I was interested in a [future] Princess getting married. I seem to remember it was all about her, rather than it being about the Royals or someone marrying the future King. It was about a Princess and her dress!
What are your most vivid memories of the early Eighties?
I was five or six, so I don't really have an enormous amount of memories of that time. Lace being worn in your hair and Madonna was much more my Eighties, which was slightly later down the line. I had a pair of awful, huge, hi-tech trainers; that wasn't a good look so I don't miss any of it, I have to say.
DS Ray Carling, played by actor Dean Andrews
What is Ray like now?
He is bullish, misogynistic, physical, loyal and as "hard as nails".
What is his role in the CID unit?
He's the Sarg, the muscle, the bloke you come to when someone needs sorting out. Oh, and he's "the glamour", of course!
Gene is both his Guv and his role model. Is he Gene's No. 1 side kick?
Ray will always be the Guv's right-hand man for all the "bloke's stuff" – the fighting, gambling, shooting and the ladies, of course.
How does he respond to Alex?
I think he has settled into his role in life and realised he is not DI material. So, he accepts Alex easier than he did Tyler, but he still wants to rock the system somehow.
What was it like being transported back to the Eighties?
It was great fun – new clothes, new music and new cars. Oh, and, of course, a new hairdo.
How has Ray developed since 1973? Is he less sexist and more compassionate these days?
No, and anyone that says he is will be in for it!
In the opening episode, you, Phil and Marshall ride down the River Thames on a speedboat. What was that scene like to film?
It was one of the coolest days spent on any set. We had a fab week that week doing all kinds of action stuff, topped off by being on a speedboat, going a fair lick, down the Thames.
What were your favourite scenes this series?
My favourite scenes are, as always, the action scenes – the fights, car chases and explosions. But I really enjoyed the scene in episode four where Ray is looking after a prostitute called Nina, who has been raped. We see a different side to Ray, and it was quite touching.
What are your memories of the Eighties?
I'd just started to sing professionally and work in holiday camps. So, my memories are of basically music and gals.
What were you up to in 1981?
I bought my first car in 1981 – a Triumph Toledo. I thought I was the coolest dude in town but I was sadly mistaken!
DC Chris Skelton, played by Marshall Lancaster
How does Chris fit into the CID team?
Chris is a natural dogsbody, eager to please and loyal to Gene Hunt. It is only the arrival of DI Drake that upsets the "normal" running of CID. Chris is eager to learn but avoids work when possible. He enjoys practical jokes and is easily led.
What's his relationship with Shaz like?
I think Chris has an interesting relationship with Shaz as I think she genuinely loves Chris – he becomes her hero after rescuing her in episode one. Shaz is a "modern" Eighties woman, however, and won't stand for any sexism or homophobic comments, and she makes Chris suffer accordingly.
When Shaz takes him out clubbing, viewers see a more "daring" side to his fashion sense. Does he do this just to impress her, or has there always been a more adventurous side to him?
I think Chris does anything to please Shaz, and is prepared to take risks for her. She brings the daring side out in him. I think he is also desperate to bed her!
How does Chris deal with life in the Met and working for a female DI?
Chris adapted to working in London very well. Wherever Gene goes Chris follows, and London and the Met are no exception. I think Chris accepts Drake as his superior very well – and who wouldn't?
Did you enjoy filming the action scenes on the River Thames?
We could not wipe the smiles off our faces filming that scene. I could not actually believe that I would have a moment like that in my acting career. I was wearing shades whilst carrying a gun! The strange thing is nobody batted an eyelid when they saw us – which was worrying!
What were your favourite scenes to film?
In one scene, there is an Eightiess "A Team" shootout with bullets flying everywhere, but no one ever gets hurt! I love filming the scenes in the Audi, and the first time we arrive in episode one in that car is magic.
Have there been any funny stories on set?
In one scene later on in the series, my character, Chris, has to search down the toilet bowl in a Portaloo for a hidden gun. Jonny Campbell, the director, and I came up with a plan where I pulled a Mars bar out instead – much to the surprise of the gang!
What memories do you have of the Eighties?
I remember TV programmes like The Muppets, The A Team and The Fall Guy. The Rubik's Cube drove me mad, though. Oh, and I remember Pacers, those green and white sweets. They were nice!
WPC Shaz Granger, played by actress Montserrat Lombard
How would you describe Shaz?
Shaz is a very sweet, passionate girl. She has a heart of gold and really cares about the people on her team. She feels a little frustrated at times being stuck in the office, whilst the boys go out with Alex to get stuck into the action, and feels like she could do more given the chance.
Shaz is a bit of a dark horse and, throughout the series, often surprises those around her. She is a good Catholic girl, but her wild side comes out when she goes to the Blitz Club – she is a true early New Romantic and loves to experiment with clothes and make up whenever she can. Viewers will see that she is in her police uniform only when absolutely necessary!
How does Shaz fit into the team?
Shaz is a WPC, so she tends to do the clerical work in the office. She is also very much one of the boys and mucks in when she can, and definitely keeps up with their drinking, too! She is the youngest on the team but she is quietly very intelligent and shines when given the chance.
Do Alex and Shaz bond as two women in a predominately male world?
Shaz is slightly suspicious of Alex at the beginning because she can see that her introduction has put the boys' backs up and, as Shaz is fiercely protective of her team, she is cautious. Shaz has never seen a woman behave in this way in the work place, or with men, and as she starts to warm to her realises there is potential for her to be promoted to a similar position in the future. It takes a little while for the two to bond as sometimes Shaz gets herself into sticky situations and then feels silly when bailed out by Alex, but I think secretly she is very much in awe of her and is keen to hear her opinion on different things.
How would you describe Chris and Shaz's relationship?
It is very up and down! Shaz really adores his sweet, sensitive side, but gets frustrated when he hides it at work and acts all macho and sexist. They are very good friends, and I think that is the loveliest thing about their relationship – Shaz can tease him and get away with it and with a little patience she thinks she might just make him a little more daring!
Did you enjoy filming at The Blitz Club?
Filming the Blitz Club scenes was unbelievable! I hardly recognised myself or Marshall! It was such an exciting time in the early Eighties with fab music and really great experimental homemade outfits. Meeting Steve Strange, too, was so surreal! I had such a great time that day – posing, dancing and trying to keep my hair standing on end. It took ages to wash all the products out – I'm surprised anyone ever washed their hair!
Have you enjoyed being able to go back in time and try out the clothes, hair and make-up?
Definitely! I can't quite believe how massive everything was! I was nearly knocked out the other day by one of Gene Hunt's shoulder pads! Everyone made such an effort then and it really was all about glamour, bright colours and being bold. What's so scary is that we have all got so used to it now. I really have to stop myself from letting it seep too much into my everyday look!
Did you do any research for the role?
I spoke to a few ladies who were in the force at the time and got lots of incredible stories from them. I can't believe just how much they had to put up with – including the male police officers in their team purposely sending them to bogus raids that didn't exist, whilst they were all at the real ones. I also saw an amazing documentary on the Blitz and read as much as I could on it and the people that went there. I listened to as much early Eighties music as possible and, after a while, I really got into it. It is now regularly being played on my iPod! I think I never really realised how difficult and dark the Eighties were and how much the UK changed in that time – it was an extraordinary decade.
|
|
