(^14) Cornwall Life: August 2019
interesting to play as there were
no limits.”
In episode one, she’s stirring
up trouble among the locals, so
Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson)
offers her a job at Nampara to
keep a close eye on her. “There’s
a glimmer of something Demelza
recognises, maybe from the way
she used to be, but Tess is bitter
about people who she thinks
have it easier than her, especially
people like Demelza who once
walked in Tess’ shoes. I think the
resentment is so strong, the more
Demelza tries to help, the more
Tess ends up hating her.”
Sofia is unsure whether viewers
will embrace Tess’ rebellious
ways or resent the impact she
has on beloved characters. “Tess
does cause a lot of trouble for
the people the viewers love;
she’s constantly stirring the
pot. There’s the little frisson
between her and Sam Carne. She
thinks she can use Sam to her
advantage, so she plays this role
of being holy because she knows
he won’t be able to resist helping
her and in return, she can control
him.”
Ross (Aidan Turner) is initially
wary of Tess’ presence, but
‘I found it a bit hard to sleep the
night before... I remember being just so
petrified when I first walked on set’
INTERVIEW
begins to think Demelza might be
having a positive impact on her.
“She might, she might not,” says
Sofia, laughing.
Aidan might be known for his
brooding portrayal of Poldark,
but Sofia found him “absolutely
hilarious and so fun”.
“He has an unbelievable
amount of energy and makes
everyone laugh on set so much.
He’s really nice, really friendly.
“Obviously when you’re acting
with Aidan and Eleanor, it could
be quite intimidating, but they
were so lovely, and made you feel
you were on an even keel from
the very beginning.”
It helped that all the cast and
crew stayed at the same hotel
in Carbis Bay during the shoot.
“There were fun dinners, which
was great because you could get
to know everyone, and obviously
between takes there was lots of
time to hang out on set.”
Sofia’s dad is Australian, and
her mum is Cornish but she grew
up in Devon before the family,
including her two brothers and
one sister, moved to Trebetherick
when she was in her late teens.
“We were always at the beach,
no matter what weather. My
favourite is called Tregardock
near Delabole, which is pretty
remote and beautiful,” she says.
Her eldest brother’s interest
in acting sparked her own and
she took part in school plays
before auditioning for the Royal
Academy of Dramatic Art and
succeeding on her third attempt.
“Living in London was quite
an adjustment, but I spent the
summers in Cornwall where I
worked at the Camel Ski School
and now, I come back as much
as I can. That’s what was so nice
about Poldark, that I got to spend
a bit of time there.”
Debbie Horsfield has hinted
there could be more Poldark, so
perhaps Tess could return? “I
guess potentially she could. That
would be cool. I would be up for
it 100 per cent,” says Sofia. In the
meantime, she’s appearing in an
episode of Doc Martin later this
year.
“It was the same thing, I
auditioned for another part and
got offered this one, but I’m so
excited as Port Isaac is close to
where I’m from. I’m really flying
the Cornish flag.”
Poldark airs on Sunday nights
on BBC One
Sofia Oxenham on the set of Poldark
barry
(Barry)
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