4 SATURDAY MAGAZINEDEEP WATER Wed 9pm ITV
In at the
deep end
The Lake District provides the stunning
backdrop for ITV’s latest drama. Its
star Anna Friel tells us more about the
discovery and deceit that lie in store...
A
wet mist hangs over Coniston Water
as Anna Friel settles down for a chat
with Saturday magazine about her
gripping new ITV thriller.
The actress is in the Lake District to film
Deep Water, a sexy and often outrageous
series about three complex women who
will go to any lengths to keep their families
together. The Lakes make an epic, imposing
backdrop to the six-part drama, and it turns
out that Anna is no stranger to this beautiful
national park in Cumbria.
‘I’ve been coming to the Lake District
for over 20 years,’ she says. ‘My godparents
have a place in Troutbeck, the same tiny
village where my character in this show lives!
‘I would visit them three or four times
a year, so I love the area and the friendly
locals. The landscape here is majestic,
haunting and almost pagan.’
The Lake District is also famously one
of the most soggy places in Britain, with
cast and crew battling some truly biblical
conditions while filming.
‘There’s been lots of rain,’ Anna concedes
cheerfully. ‘At times the weather has been
absolutely horrific and can make working here
a logistic nightmare. At one stage, we were
shooting up in the mountains and the rain was
coming in sideways during a force nine gale.’
In between downpours, however, the
43-year-old actress has still managed to
enjoy the rugged local scenery – with the
help of her pet Pomeranian and miniature
poodle cross Maggie May, who is keeping
her company on set today.
‘I absolutely adore her,’ Anna coos.
‘Maggie is a dog share with one of my
best friends – we do a week on, week off.
‘When I get back from a day of filming, I’ll
get my wellies on and take Maggie for a walk
up in the mountains, which I find really
peaceful. I also went for a yoga class in the
woods the other day and my godparents
often cook me dinner. I’m literally like a little
14-year-old girl when I go to their house.’
In Deep Water, Anna plays Lisa Kallisto,
an overstretched mum of three who runs
a dog kennels. The spark has gone out of
her marriage to taxi driver Joe and we see
her enjoy a steamy romp with her friend’s
brother-in-law.
Her life further spirals out of control
when she is blamed for the disappearance
of a local teenage girl.INTERVIEW
of parents will be able to relate to her Deep
Water character.
‘It’s juggling balls – doing school runs,
managing pets and trying to cook for
your family,’ she explains. ‘How is
that after 24 years of marriage?
It doesn’t always look pretty
with a bow on the top.’
However, Lisa’s infidelity
and marital angst is just one
small part of Deep Water.
The ensemble cast also features
Sinead Keenan (Little Boy Blue) as
Roz, a cash-strapped physiotherapist
who receives an indecent proposal
from a sleazy man who wants to help‘Lisa makes wrong choices then has
to live with the guilt and consequences
of her actions,’ explains Anna. ‘I think Lisa
is getting bored. She’s grown apart from
her husband and feels she’s
been missing out on life.
Lisa thinks, “Is this all I’ve
got?” The story is partly
about her finding some
self-worth.’
A mother herself
to daughter Gracie,
14 – from her
relationship with
actor David Thewlis
Words by: Neil Batey and Kirsty Nutkins. Pictures: ITV; PA Images; Retna / Avalon.red– Anna hopes lots
Anna with
Maggie May