Sophie Thompson interview
Sophie Thompson plays Maggie in Feel Good.
How would you describe your character of Maggie?
Maggie is an addict, so she understands [Mae]. She's carbonated by her profound love for her daughter [Lava], and the fact she finds it so hard to express it in a palatable way!
How similar are you to her?
I really related to Maggie's emotional clumsiness and mess - she's fantastically human and hasn't the capacity to make her randomness polite. I loved that - it makes her very immediate.
What attracted you to the role and the script?
I loved all the scripts on first reading - they were achingly honest, and heart felt, funny and original.
How important is queer representation on screen?
The representation of love in the series is just the representation of love - it doesn't feel self-conscious or shoehorned - it's just true and honest.
There was a significant rehearsal process prior to filming - how unusual was that and how much did the roles shift and become defined during those rehearsals?
Having any sort of rehearsal off set for a television is very rare - it's precious because it gives you that extra time to connect and collaborate and feel safe as a company.
This is a comedy drama in the truest sense, in that it can turn on a dime from very funny to very emotional, this is as true of Maggie as with Mae and George. How did you strike that balance?
I loved the juxtaposition of out and out funny to out and out emotional in the writing - it tickles you - it's so about what being a human animal is.
In a bid to keep herself occupied Maggie has several simultaneous hobbies, including taking over coffee-making duties at her local café. What did you make of Maggie's approach to life?
Maggie has employed very successfully the art of distraction in her life, that is such a recognisable trait - she would rather run to Kent than face the processes necessary in her relationship with her daughter - running is tangible and relatively easy - emotions, connections can be so scary - that's a fantastically recognisable approach to coping.
The show has a mother-daughter through-line. Maggie struggles to re-kindle her relationship with her daughter, often forgetting to call her by her preferred name, Laura and not Lava. What did you make of the way Mae and Joe drew the relationship?
Mae and Joe's writing is so true and honest. I loved that and wanted so much to be a part of it. The way they write about a damaged mother daughter relationship is so funny and profound.
When the audience watches Feel Good, what do you hope they take away from the show?
I hope audiences are drawn in to the world and the characters stories - how deeply human and flawed they all are.