Elaine Cassidy on D.C. Dinah Kowalska interview
Elaine Cassidy discusses playing D.C. Dinah Kowalska...
Dinah is very good at her job. She's a strong woman, impulsive, passionate and hardworking. She likes to get the job done but she won't always do it by the book, so she's a bit of a maverick, similar to Deering. She gets on really well with such a close team working towards the same goal. It is a hard job for other people to understand, so there's that understanding they all share.
Dinah lives in a house of women and is a young, strong single mum. Three generations of women. Her daughter Tess looks after herself; she gets herself to school, fixes plugs, irons her uniform and cooks dinner. Then there's her mother Magda who is enjoying retired life. She speaks her mind, but in Polish so she gets away with a lot. Dinah was born in Manchester, so is first generation. Magda helps out with her daughter.
Dinah sees something in Cathy that she sees in herself and wants to help. She sees Cathy's vulnerability and it is important for Dinah to help her to live a more positive life. There are a million and one reasons why she takes Cathy in. But the series is so fast paced that the characters never have time to sit back to think why they do things. Dinah is very impulsive so there are moments that she regrets it.
It's really an honour to be working with Paul Abbott, he is one of a kind. My husband [Stephen Lord] worked with him on Shameless. As an actor, you just want to work with really good writers as it makes your job easier. Paul's writing is unusual; I feel like I'm in his world and in his rhythm. He is one of those people that will be remembered and to say that you got to deliver his words - well that's a huge honour. I'm touching something really special.
No Offence is original. Probably controversial to some people. Relevant. Current. Entertaining, real and gritty. It's a whole little world in itself and it's proper quality. I hope it will appeal to a lot of people because it speaks differently to different people, making it accessible and fun.
The crew have been brilliant - really skilled. No Offence has been a lovely experience. It's a tough job as we film all on location. Friday Street, the cop shop, is the closest we get to a set. I think it makes a very interesting shoot because of the look of it. You don't get bored seeing the same places all the time.
The Manchester accent feels comfortable. I've never worked in it before, but the fact it feels easy to slip into is good. And my husband is from Salford (but I'm not doing a Salford accent, I'm keeping it a bit broader). After 10 years of being surrounded by family, something has to go in, surely!