Miranda Hart interview
Miranda Hart talks about playing the role of Linda in Gangsta Granny. You can watch the video, or read the words:
On her character, Linda, and her relationship with Granny...
I play Linda, and when I'm in full costume it's hard not to speak as her in a full Essex accent. She is the mother of Ben, our lead character, and daughter-in-law of Granny, married to Mike (David Walliams).
She doesn't have the best relationship with her mother-in-law. She's a bit hard on her, a bit tough on her. I think she does that classic thing of just disparaging all older women and thinking "well I'm not going to get anything for them". So Linda's a bit mean actually, a bit tough. She doesn't really give granny the time of day. But don't fear - there's a lovely arc to the book, and it might come good...
On the story, and where Linda fits in to it...
Linda starts being quite mean, quite tough with the granny, which is sort of how Ben initially sees her as well, initially, at the beginning. Thinking 'ugh, she's a bit boring'. But you have to spend time with her because she's your granny, but yes - yawn". Granny is also quite useful for Linda because she can shove her son there as a babysitter so she can go and do her dancing. Of which she's naturally gifted... it's just a shame the actress playing her is not naturally gifted in the dance department. Linda is naturally gifted in dance. But yes, she just uses the granny as a babysitter, she's not interested in her at all, but then at the end she realises the fragility of an older person and what you can learn from her. She sees that her son has really enjoyed spending time with her, and that she was wrong.
On her filming highlights...
The highlight for me - and pretty much the reason for doing this - was the dance. Wearing the Strictly dresses was quite exciting, and it meant that in my head I could be in Strictly but not actually have to do Strictly. Which was perfect. It also gave me the chance to dance with well-known dance professional David Walliams... we're actually thinking that 2015 we're going to do Strictly, but as professionals, not as contestants - we're just going to go straight in.
We had two hours of choreography, which, simply, was not enough! We were really, really bad. But you couldn't have met two more enthusiastic people, me probably more so than David. I loved it. I'm very much in denial that I can't dance... I really go for it, which is almost more embarrassing. In my head I very much can. I was actually better than David, but David is really bad, so it's no real consolation that I was better than him... the bar was set way low.
On how it feels to be part of a popular novel adaptation...
Well there's quite a bit of responsibility turning such a well-loved book into a TV show because people know the characters. I was with some friends the other night and they had 10 and 9 year-old kids, and they were all quoting Linda, and you think 'oh gosh, they all really know it and love it and see it in a certain way', so there is a responsibility to that.
At the same time it's lovely, because you know that people really know and love the story, and love the characters. They wish this show well which is really nice, you've got a real mandate for it. It's been interesting seeing David having a general overview of the set, how it looks, saying "oh I think they'd have more clutter here" or "Linda would be a bit more like this", and just giving a general overview, which as a writer/performer myself is something I do as well.
On what she thinks viewers will take away from the film...
Well I loved Mr Stink last year - I watched it and thought it was brilliant. David creates these great worlds, these surreal and heightened characters, but all based with a really simple message which we all get. In this case - love, really, and family, and the elderly, let's not rule them out and what you can learn from them, and what brilliant lives they've lead.
It's that mix of real family escapist Christmas drama as well as a lovely simple message. I think David's done brilliantly at getting this great combination. I just hope people feel warm and fuzzy at Christmas, watching this... and have a laugh along the way...