Jaime Winstone interview
Why did you want to be a part of After Hours?
It's really sweet and humble, that's why I originally went for it. I've never done anything like it. I loved the story - it all just seemed to flow so naturally. And I loved Lauren, she is such a fun and lost little character.
Tell us more about Lauren...
She is really upbeat. She always wants the best out of things and people. However, she can't seem to take her own advice. She has this heartache and this self-destructive mode but, deep down, she doesn't want to be like that. She's really bubbly but when you chip away at the surface, there are some deep insecurity issues there. She just needs a big old cuddle.
What was it like to film?
It all came together perfectly and was really fun to shoot, and Craig [Cash] was amazing to work with - he's so genuine and so giving. We also filmed it in Manchester, which is like my second home. I had a lot of fun there, and have a lot of old friends there too.
Was a love of music something that you share with Lauren?
Yes. I'm not a massive fan of indie music but I learned a lot about that scene and genre. I am a bit more of a rock'n'roll or dance music girl. But the indie music scene is very cute and humble. I went to see the Pixies in Manchester while we were filming it, which felt very true to Lauren. It's nice when real things happen in your life that relate to the character you are playing.
You perform (as Lauren) a song written by Babyshambles in the series, what was that like?
I actually recorded it with Drew from Babyshambles for the show. The lyrics are great, it's a really great little indie song. They very kindly wrote it for me. It was quite scary but Drew said I was a natural which made me laugh. I am not a natural singer but I loved being on stage. My sister Lois is a musician so I drew from her stage presence. It is really sweet because Lauren hasn't been on stage for a while and she comes to life as she sings. In the end I got really into it and I wanted to do it again. But I don't think I will be rocking out on stage anytime soon.
They were saying that they wanted to release the single, but I am not sure how I feel about that. I find it quite easy to pretend to be someone else when I am singing but to stand on stage and sing from your heart is a really scary thing to do. It bares your soul.
Your Mancunian accent is really good in the series.
My mum is from Stockport. It's quite funny because when you are hanging around with lots of the crew, you end up having a bit of a twang anyway. I loved playing the role, there is something really bouncy about the accent that really helped me get into Lauren's character.
Why should viewers tune into the series?
I think it will really touch people. It will bring a lot of nostalgia to those who are into indie music. Also, I think viewers will relate to that feeling of being a bit lost in your teenage years and not really knowing what to do with yourself, until you turn on a tune and suddenly you feel connected to people, all because you like the same kind of music.
What was the first album that you ever bought?
Probably Spice Girls. No actually, All Saints.
Would you say they were the bands that summed up your youth?
Definitely. Placebo too. But I had an older sister so Nirvana was always playing in the background. I think a lot of people my age were confused about whether they were a pop Spice Girls fan or a grungy Nirvana fan. I think I was probably a mixture of both. And then my dad was playing punk downstairs so it was all pretty baffling really.
If you could have a radio show, what would it be like?
I'd have all my friends come on and do massive sets of the best music genres. I'd start with a nice reggae morning to get people in the mood, and then keep it classy with a bit of classic musical and then I'd jump heavy into jungle for afternoon tea. Then I'd have a 90s hip-hop vibe.
What would be your pick of the jukebox?
Probably Elvis, either In the Ghetto or Suspicious Minds, or Nights in White Satin.