Anna Morris blog
Published: Monday 8th September 2014
Character comedian Anna Morris plays the nightmarish Francesca in Episode 1 of Bad Bridesmaid. Below she talks about what it was like to develop the character and then try and stay undercover in the role.
We had so much fun creating Francesca. We spent two weeks writing her backstory, shopping for clothes and thinking about how she'd react in certain situations. There is something very liberating about turning yourself into someone very different - it's like living another life for four days.
I certainly DON'T have designer handbags, I can't walk in heels and I don't speak like that! Normally I wear jeans and trainers, so transforming myself into Francesca on the first morning was exciting, although it took ages! I also had very shaky hands because I was so nervous, so putting on false eyelashes was a nightmare.
I cannot walk in heels - I always wear flats - and I had decided that one of Francesca's key catchphrases was 'I was born in heels, I can do anything in them'. In the morning when the girls were on their way, we filmed some stuff outside the hotel and I could hardly walk along the gravel in those huge pink shoes, it was hilarious. I had to practice at home a few nights before too, in case it gave me away. The tiniest thing can give you away in this show - you have to be so careful not to let your accent slip (I definitely don't sound as posh as her!), fall back into your own habits or do something that jars with the character.
The most nerve racking moment was waiting in the limousine, knowing the girls were already there and waiting to meet Francesca. We actually had to wait in a country pub a few miles away so we were hidden in case the girls drove past on their way. I really enjoyed turning up to a country pub in a huge limo, really over-dressed - the look on the locals' faces was spectacular!
When I walked into the room for the first time to meet them all I was terrified! You assume they will know straight away that you are fake, and that you'll get your name wrong, fall over, speak normally, and give the game away. But you use the nerves to play with. Nerves give you adrenaline.
It took five minutes of me complaining about how flat the Prosecco was and constantly preening myself to feel relaxed and settle in to the character. I could tell by the looks on their faces that they thought I was real and that they were already finding me annoying. That's when you know you've got them fooled and you can now proceed to cause mayhem. That's when I started to really enjoy it because I could be really playful and silly, and know that they would believe me.
The dance class was really challenging because not only did I have to try and be an idiot the whole time, I had to wear a ridiculous costume (hot-pants, leotard). At the gym I wear leggings and a t-shirt... I also had to learn a dance routine AND act like I thought I was amazing at dancing. I really am not co-ordinated: it was mortifying! At one point I caught sight of myself in the mirror and almost laughed as I looked like such a plonker. But Francesca wouldn't do that so I had to crack on and pretend I was queen of the dance floor.
After the first night I could see I was already annoying them loads, and one girl in particular. You have to keep reminding yourself that you are a character, and they are not annoyed with you, the real person. Because it's a bit blurry when you get tired - no-one wants to be annoying or un-liked.
The only time I was out of character was in my bedroom when I went to bed. I would always turn back into me (but in carefully chosen Francesca nightwear in case they came knocking) and listen to music I like, and read my book. Otherwise you're in danger of turning into the monster you're playing all the time!
When you wake up you're so confused: who am I today? Where am I? Then you remember the events you have that day and how annoying you're going to have to be and you have to mentally prepare yourself and start getting into character. As soon as I was in Francesca's clothes, heels and make up I felt transformed and ready for action! But it meant I had to get up two hours earlier to make myself look like that.
The hardest thing is trying not to laugh. Because the bride, Becky, was so much fun and giggly, I sometimes couldn't look at her during an event because I was in danger of laughing. It was the look on the girls' faces when I did some ridiculous things or said stupid lines.
Francesca is not self aware at all so I had to act like I thought everything I did was totally normal, even when everyone was laughing at me. When we were making the fascinators, Becky and I sat next to each other and I nearly started laughing because what I was saying was so ridiculous. Then came the bridesmaids dress scene... now I'm not going to give a spoiler here but wow - you really should not mess with bridesmaids dresses. Ever. That was very near the knuckle!
It's also hard because, of course, the crew are totally in on it! So you can't talk to them as you, even though you've spent a few weeks with them before, planning the character and making friends with them. I had adjoining rooms with one of the producers though which was really fun and sneaky, as at night I could knock on her door and go through to her room to whisper and laugh about what we'd done that day. It's like being a spy. I even had a new phone for Francesca with carefully staged photos and texts. My Mum was in on it of course so she text me also in character as 'Francesca's Mum' and enjoyed her role too!
I think by day three I thought I was going a bit mad and turning into Francesca. It's very intense and exhausting because essentially you're performing for about 12 hours a day! No show I've ever done has been that long! And you get so used to behaving a certain way that as you head towards the end, and are tired, you start acting very weirdly. You start thinking like your character and even dreaming as her! I remember having a moan to room service one day and realising I was being me... but with Francesca's attitude dropped in!
The best part was getting to know the girls, because they were all so lovely. There were times when I wanted to tell an anecdote or joke as me, because I knew they would find it funny, but I couldn't as it was not something Francesca would say so I had to make up things she would say. There were times when Francesca was being super annoying and I wanted to say 'hey, wait, it's not me! I'm not like this really' but the look on their faces was classic. Knowing that you're going to reveal it all at the end makes it all worth it.
The karaoke night was my favourite night in that weekend. We picked the song very carefully and I had rehearsed it many times, which had caused Amy the story producer to fall off her bed laughing because it sounded so bad. In fact during that bit of the filming I had to tell Amy to hide round the corner because I was worried I would laugh. I think that was the hardest performance I have ever had to undertake because I knew it would sound horrendous, and I really struggled not to laugh. I had bigged-up how amazing my voice was for four days and then completely destroyed a very good song!
Writing a song for Becky and her fiancé was so much fun. I wrote it in my bedroom at home a week before and my flat mates thought I had lost the plot. I literally used a rhyming dictionary to find ridiculous rhymes. I was very pleased with 'your love is strong and true, like a massive tree, and super glue'. Performing that as if I meant every word and thought it was amazing was a challenge indeed - Becky looked like she was going to burst with laughter.
The most rewarding part of the show is the reveal. I was very nervous about their reaction, hoping they wouldn't say 'oh we knew' or anything. I loved every minute of it and the look on their faces. But the nicest part was seeing how strong their friendship group was, and how protective they were of their bride.
It was an honour to spend time with such lovely people, and Becky has indeed got the nicest group of Bridesmaids! Once I'd revealed I wasn't real, I slowly walked out of the room and shut the door, satisfied with their reaction. I felt sad to leave them all and leave Francesca behind, but was quite relieved to be Anna again. That night I got home, put my jeans back on, and a hoodie, took all my make up off and ordered a pizza. Francesca would have been appalled! Though I can say I can now walk in heels!
You can watch Anna being Francesca in Bad Bridesmaid on Thursday 11th September on ITV2 at 9pm.
Find out more about Anna: www.annamorris.co.uk and @annamorriscomic