Mistresses – Coming To BBCAmerica

Mistresses premieres this Friday at 9pm on BBCAmerica, and it might just what the night’s lineup was looking for.  A smart, sophisticated drama full of quirks and rich characters, Mistresses is odd enough to hook you and well-written enough to keep you coming back for more.

 

The story centers around four friends with one glaring commonality, infidelity.  The plot develops as a play on microcosmic metaphor for the general “friends as family” world in which we now live.  

Think Desperate Housewives, but with less focus on dramtic spins that arise to bounce around watercoolers, and far more exploration of legitimately detailed and complicated characters.

The show stars four well-known British actresses in an interesting amalgam of character directions.  Katie (Sarah Parish) is a respected doctor, and to some degree or another she is the leader of the group of friends.  Assuming of course that groups of friends have leaders.  She’s been having an affair with a terminally ill patient.  Trudi (Sharon Small) is a 9/11 widow starting to date again, and with generally disastrous results.  Siobhan (Orla Brady) is a successful, married lawyer who is losing interest in her love life at home, and doing something about it.  Jessica (Shelley Conn) is a fun-loving, anti-commitment… well, I don’t want to say nymphomaniac, but… I guess I just did.

 

Mistresses has a definite British feel to it, which might only make sense if you watch a lot of British and American television, but generally speaking it is more interested in playing out to a longer viewing theory.  That is, as opposed to American ADD television writing which demands that something spectacular or “shocking” happen every ten seconds.  

Though the show ventures close to what might have to be described as PrimeTime Soap (which makes sense given the EastEnders credits found on the writing staff).  It avoids that trap, if it is one, by delivering a sense of reality and storylines that feel as though they provide a genuine flow toward purpose, rather than just a need to fill in melodrama.

 

The first episode throws you deep into the mix right out of the gates, as Katie’s birthday party becomes the venue for telling (and not telling) tales.  Before you can hardly come to terms with who the players are, holding back secrets becomes a major focus of all our character’s lives.  Throw in that Jessica suddenly finds herself unhappily assigned the task of planning a lesbian wedding, and the show immediately begins sucking viewers in almost as a defensive reaction.

 

I very highly recommend checking the show out Friday.  The series is moving into season two on BBC One, and seems to be doing quite well there, so you can be sure that there’s more to come.

Here are a few excerpts from some cast interviews.  I’m aiming here to keep out season spoilers as best I can.  There may be a few though, so if you are determined not to have anything given away, do not read on.

 

 

SARAH PARISH (KATIE)

You’ve played some interesting characters in your career, what was it that attracted you to this particular script?

Katie is a woman consumed by grief making some very bizarre choices. I always find parts like that very interesting to play – when people do things they really shouldn’t do. The fallibility of people I think is fascinating. On the outside Katie’s such a professional, moral upstanding person and to see her fall from grace so dramatically is quite an appealing role to portray.

Did you have to do any research to get into the role of Katie?

This series in itself is very taboo – it’s a touchy subject. You can’t sit in the pub with your mates and ask who’s had affairs…that’d break up marriages there and then. Usually, I have to do my own research, but we had fantastic creators and directors who did all our research for us which meant that I could just get stuck into the character. There are always people that you know of that are with someone and then meet someone else – it’s always a terrible thing for them and for the other person. Throughout my life, I’ve met a fair few people in that situation. I remember very clearly the total and utter guilt that they felt and I think it’s never good to be cheated on or be the cheater.

Have you ever worked with Orla, Sharon or Shelley before and how did you all get along?

I’ve worked with Sharon a long time ago on Cutting It. I have also known of and admired Orla for many years. When I was having meetings for Mistresses, I was thrilled when they mentioned they were talking to Orla. I’d seen Shelley in Party Animals and thought she was quite possibly the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen – I was hoping I’d never have to be up next to her in the same scene though! It was such a tough show to cast – they had to make sure they cast people that aren’t going to back up the stereotypical image that you would conjure up when you thought of a ‘Mistress’.

What were the highlights of the shoot for you?

I really enjoyed scenes with the other girls. We wouldn’t see each other for ages at a time, so when we got together, we were like giggly school girls. For the crew, it must have been a nightmare – we’d get more and more excited in each other’s company and the volume of us giggling must have been unbearable. It was really nice to hang out with the girls.

 

SHARON SMALL (TRUDI)

What did you like about Trudi and how does she compare to other characters you’ve played?

I liked the fact that Trudi had faults – she’s not perfect. I felt that she was very real, in terms of being the hub of a bunch of friends. She’s the cook and always very busy. She’s a mother, so is always distracted by screaming children. I like how she juggles life – she does it better than I do! Trudi is very different to Barbara Havers in The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Trudi’s so much messier. Havers is very contained and closed– because of her job, she’s had to keep a lot of her personal feelings contained whereas everything just spills out of Trudi, including judgmental comments. I liked the fact that she was the polar opposite to someone I’d played for a long time.

 

How does Trudi fit into the group?

I think she’s the earth mother of the group – because she has children, the others are all much more high-flying than her. She’s much more the housewife. She married younger, so as a result of her ‘motherly nature’ she’s like the hostess or the entertainer of the group. I think she’s there for Katie most – although it takes Katie a long time to open up. I think Trudi’s quite tough to reveal secrets to – but she’s very loving and when someone does open up to her, she’ll be honest and will try to help. Emotional advice is probably her forte.

Did you have to do any research to get into character?

Apart from have a baby of my own, not really! Only since last year when I had my son, have I realized how tough it is to juggle work and life, I didn’t realize how easy it was when all I had to think about was myself. I had no concept of what it was like to be a mother before. Through the years, I’ve known of affairs, and one tends to side with their friends, whether they are the mistress or the one being cheated on – I think your loyalties change depending on who the person is.

It’s a very strong female cast. How did you all get along?

I didn’t see them all as much as I would have liked actually, because we were only in two scenes together per episode. When we were on set, we were just incredibly noisy – Orla’s a cackler and we often roared with laughter about the smallest things. There was lots of talk of plastic surgery. We were generally well behaved though. The girls are all very busy with their own lives, so making new friends is hard, but hopefully we’ll all keep in touch.

How do you think audiences will take to Mistresses?

What’s nice is that the females are leading this drama and the men are following their stories – so often it’s the opposite way. Usually, the male characters are really well rounded and the females are more supporting characters – I think it was probably interesting for the men in this drama to feel what it was like to be in our position. I think everyone watching will be able to relate to the characters’ stories. It’s a sad fact of life these days that everyone knows someone who’s been affected by an affair. I think it will be hard for the viewers not to be too judgmental on certain characters’ situations.

ORLA BRADY (SIOBHAN)

What attracted you to Mistresses?

When I first read the script I was interested in the fact that the writers had created central characters who are on the wrong side of the tracks, morally speaking. Mistress is a word that is frequently used with a lot of judgment, disapprovingly (at least in the Anglo Saxon world) and so it seemed interesting to explore dramatically. It struck me that it is not a position one chooses but one in which a woman finds herself. After all, no young girl sits dreaming of becoming someone’s mistress. They dream of loving and having that love reciprocated and declared to the world. Instead, the position leaves most people with a secret…..and a sometimes shameful one at that. So getting behind the label, if you like, was intriguing to me. The other aspect of this which I wanted to explore was what would happen to a loving couple once one of them has been unfaithful, once lies have been told and trust is broken. Can that be repaired? Is it ever the same again? What does lying do? Does it poison what is between them? Also, I liked the idea of working so closely with other actresses. Most of the roles I have played have been opposite actors so this was quite different for me. It turned out to be fun too.

How does Siobhan fit in with her group of friends?

I think that her workaholic tendencies are mitigated a bit by having such close friendships. They are hugely important to her and she is fiercely loyal to them. Also, she loves how different they are from her. For example, she has a soft spot for Trudi who she admires for the choice she has made to be a Mother and homemaker. She is fascinated by Jessica’s wild streak and loves Katie’s seriousness and vulnerability.

How did you find playing a lawyer?

I was numbed and amazed at the sheer volume of work and the attention to detail you have to have to do this job well. I did a show called Family Law in the U.S. several years ago and during the run up to that spent a lot of time hanging out in the law courts in Santa Monica, I spent a lot of time talking with lawyers and a couple of judges. I got to sit in on cases both in lawyers rooms and in court and it was quite fascinating stuff, seeing how they handle the delicate situations people are in.

You have got some raunchy sex scenes with Adam Rayner (who plays Dominic) and Raza Jaffrey (who plays Hari). Do you get to a point where you get used to doing those sorts of scenes?

So I go to work and have to do love scenes with Adam and Raza – there are worse things a girl could do! It’s always embarrassing on the day because it is such a forced situation. There are several people around you trying to get the lighting right or adjusting a microphone. It is not remotely sexy! With a bit of luck you are both so embarrassed it just becomes a laugh. On the plus side I have always had a lot of luck with my leading men. Adam and Raza are both fantastic actors… and a bit gorgeous too!

It’s not that common to have programs like this with very strong, rounded female leads. Did you find it interesting?

God! Yes! I loved playing with three other actresses who I really admire. What a relief not to be playing a love interest but to be a central character. I also love that more women are writing now so that these stories can be told from a woman’s perspective. Also, on a lighter note, it was such a laugh on the days when we were all in. It got a bit ‘locker room’ sometimes!

SHELLEY CONN (JESSICA)

What is Jessica’s ‘role’ within the group of friends?

She’s the entertainer of the group; when she’s with her friends she’s constantly bragging about how many super-studs she’s had quivering at her feet that weekend but she exaggerates what she’s been up to because it makes it funny for the girls! She’s a good mate; she’s warm and funny. Even though she loves men and she gets on very well with them and she’s always flirting with them, at heart she’s a girls’ girl. She’s always loyal to her friends and they mean the world to her, she cares about them very deeply.

What is her attitude to being a mistress?

It’s easy for her; why should she tie herself down to somebody? That doesn’t make sense to her. A wedding ring to her is like a big badge saying ‘I belong to someone’, and that’s not her style. She loves the idea of being free but she doesn’t deliberately seek out married men; she just thinks ‘if you’re married that’s your problem it’s got nothing to do with me’.

Do you think you’re anything like her?

I am in terms of my loyalty to my friends; there’s nothing more important to me than being there for my friends. I suppose Jessica is quite vain and we can all be a bit vain at times, but we have different vanities. We’re both members of a gym but Jessica would probably go to the gym five times a week and say, “I only managed to go to the gym once this week, I don’t know how I’ve got these amazing abs right now!” Whereas I would be like, “Bloody hell, I’m in agony because I’ve been everyday this week and worked really hard!”

How did you find filming the very intimate scenes with Anna (who plays Alex)?

Anna and I got on very well and we had a very similar attitude towards the relationship between Alex and Jessica so we could second guess what the other was going to do. It didn’t bother me the fact that she was a woman it’s just a bit weird that the shoulders aren’t as broad and she didn’t have hair on her face! But that was great for me because I was feeling what Jessica was feeling.

So who was the best kisser?

A few people have asked me that, but I just think of it as work and a snog, is a snog, is a snog really!

Did you enjoy working with a mainly female cast?

There’s only a few occasions per episode when the four of us are together and other than that we were shooting our own storylines so we didn’t really know what was going on in each others’ world’s for a while. But when we got together it was great. We found very quickly that we had chemistry and we worked well together. I had a great time filming with Anna (who plays Alex) doing Jessica’s storylines but I did laugh the most when it was the four girls together. I’m sure we got on the director’s nerves, because all we wanted to do was to sit there cackling and gossiping!

 

 

 

 

 

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• When a man writes a woman (guardian.co.uk)

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Tagged as: BBC One, Drama, Mistresses, Orla Brady, Sarah Parish, Sharon Small, Shelley Conn, Television, television review