That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Celia Imrie and Himesh Patel

Episode Date: October 11, 2020

In this episode Gaby has two fantastic guests. First up she chats with actress Celia Imrie - star of ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’, ‘Bridget Jones’, ‘Calendar Girls’ and Miss Babs in ��Victoria Wood’s Acorn Antiques’. You’ll hear how 'Star Wars' fans greet her in restaurants and how she kept fit during lockdown! Plus, her brilliant comedy series ‘Better Things’ about a single parent actress juggling the pressures of working in Hollywood, written, directed and starring Pamela Adlon, available on BBC iPlayer. Also, the beautiful film ‘Love Sarah’, a feelgood drama about opening a bakery in memory of her daughter which is available to stream on demand. Stay tuned as Gaby catches up with actor Himesh Patel - star of 'EastEnders', Danny Boyle’s 'Yesterday' and this year’s blockbuster Christopher Nolan’s 'TENET'. He tells some amazing tales of auditioning while doing his GCSEs and how he ended up in A&E after a phone call from Danny Boyle! Produced by Cameo Productions, music by Beth Macari.  Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter @gabyroslin #thatgabyroslinpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to That Gabby Roslyn podcast with me, That Gabby Roslyn. This week on the show, I am so excited to bring you the exquisite actress Celia Imre, who I love in everything she does, Aunt Una in Bridget Jones's diary, calendar girls and of course Miss Babs in Victoria Woods Acorn Antiques. Now, if you want to laugh, stay tuned to hear how Star Wars fans greet her in restaurants and how she keeps fit in lockdown. Plus her brilliant TV series, which I'm addicted to, Better Things, which is now in its fourth season on BBC and IPlayer

and the beautiful film called Love Sarah, which is available to stream on demand now. You can also hear us chatting about her talented son, Angus Imri, who starred in Fleabag. I was also lucky enough to grab a short interview with a lovely Himesh Patel to chat all things, EastEnders, doof, doof, dof, doff, Danny Boyle's yesterday and of course Christopher Nolan's phenomenal movie,

which I loved Tenet, which I saw in the cinema. He tells some amazing tales of auditioning whilst doing his GCSEs and how he ended up in A&E after a phone call from Danny Boyle. First up, gorgeous Celia Imrey. Why aren't we on a beach, Gabby? That's what I really want to know. In Norfolk like we were before. I know.

When I was pregnant. with my second baby. I know. I'll never forget it. But what's so bizarre is that, so when I watched Fleabag and I screamed, I realized that it was Angus,

and I did one of those things with my husband, oh, do you remember? He was on a beach in Norfolk. And he was a little boy. And David just looked at me and said, well, they do grow up. I know, but that's the little boy. How does that happen?

I know. Amazing. I can't believe it myself. And I'm sure you can't with your darlings. How old are they now? 19 and 13. So hold on. Angus is 24, 5?

26. Just. I know. My word. Oh, goodness me. You must be the proudest mummy as well. He's amazing, actually. I'm bursting with pride.

I am. Aren't we lucky to have both? You know, our mad life of work and our children. Oh, honestly blessed. Are you in Nice at the moment? Were you in France for the whole time? because I'm writing a book here, which is paradise, I have to say. And I do thank God every day, actually, when I look out of the window.

So what are you looking at now? The Mediterranean. Oh. And the sun's sparkling on the sea like diamonds. My favourite thing every morning is I race to see the sun coming over the hills. And it's magical, actually, because it happens very fast. and it's like a sort of jewel through the trees and up over the hills. And I feel that that's good luck for the day if I catch that moment.

I know it sounds a bit mental, but it doesn't sound mental. It's my favorite thing. It's my favorite thing to do. I think we all have our little things. And actually, performers have it. Do you have any of those routines before you start filming before you go on stage? Oh, yes. As a matter of fact, it's a weird one.

but I love olbersol. I don't know if you know of it. Yes, I do. That marvellous sort of eucalyptus and peppment. And I inhale it on a cotton wool before I go on. That's my sort of good luck thing. And I also sort of kiss the ring on my right hand, which was my mother's wedding ring,

because I feel she's going to bring me luck. I love those. And I'm going to really freak you out to tell you that before I do things, I have an old bass pastel, a sugar-free one, and I think of, I hold on to my wedding ring, and then I think of my mother putting a hand on my left shoulder, my late man. Same things. Oh, my God. Well, no wonder I adore you.

You've got the same brain. Okay, see, if we can't talk about Better Things is one of those quiet little secret shows that I text all my friends about, Are you watched? Did you see, have you watched, have you caught up? How marvellous of you. I love being a secret little thing. Oh gosh, it really is. And yet everybody, there's this big buzz about it. And I thought that I was, you know, I quite like to have shows to myself. I know it's a funny thing to say. But it's brilliant. Well, I love that you love it. As a matter of fact, I think people think I've been on holiday for four years in America because this is the first time it's really made a splash. here. But thanks to you for passing it on though. I know exactly what you mean when you find a treasure and boy am I glad to be in it. I'm very proud because it is unlike anything else really,

isn't it? You can't really liken it to two different programs smash together because it's on its own really. It really is and that's where I think I love it. I love the role, the relationship between you and Pamela. And it's so real. It's so real. It's so. funny and it's very poignant and to be able to play all of those things at the same time. She's brilliant, isn't she? Isn't she? Pamela Adlon. She truly is. I mean, she now runs the show. She is the showrunner. She directs it. She stars in it and she writes it. And she's magnificent, actually. I mean, she's adored in Hollywood. And what is thrilling is that she can just ring up Lenny Kravitz

and Sharon Stone because they all want to be in it. and Lenny Kravitz actually was at school with her you know Sharon Stone saw it and said can I be in it I mean how marvelous is that but hold on hold on hold on hold on they also because you're a part of it oh so no no you are and you're an integral part of it because the relationship that she has with you as her mother and the relationship she has with her girls

I mean it's just it and then the relationship that they have with you and the funny moments are proper belly laugh funny. And then there are those moments that are just, that get to you. So how on earth, is it true that you only, you did it over Skype or FaceTime or something to get the part? My interview, yes. Funnily enough, I was, she says rather grandly, I was in Vancouver doing a television. And it was a Saturday morning, I remember it very well, and it was over a Skype. how she got me to read the script over Skype.

I simply can't remember how that happened. But anyway, I did. We discovered lots of links together. Like you and I have discovered links that we both like, Olba Sal. I've got Pamela Adlon onto it as well, by the way. She's hooked. Good girl.

I know. And we both discovered that we bought the houses next door for our mothers. I did in the Isle of Wight, and Pamela's real mother lives next door to her. So that was quite an unusual link to be able to identify with. And we both did voices in animation when we were, you know, younger. And there were so many links as we went along. And I just adored her straight away.

But she's quite a stickler. She doesn't, and I know you'll understand because you've seen it, she doesn't like too much acting going on. Yes. And she knew that I'd been goneril. in a production of King Lear with Glend Jackson at the Old Vic before one of the seasons. I think it was season three.

And I went over to America. She knew that. And I started my first scene. She said, no, no, don't want any of that conral acting in here. Thank you. No, no. That's why it works so well. Well, yes.

And I think one of the reviewers rather thrillingly put that he thought it was, there is a documentary sort of ingredient in there. And sometimes he said he didn't think that we were aware of a camera being anywhere near us. Now, that honestly is such a huge compliment because that's what you aim to do. But because she doesn't like us acting all over the place, I think she kind of achieves it. Goodness me. And also, as you say, I love that you seem to get, and I'm going to use the word excited,

because I remember interviewing you for Calendar Girls years ago. And you and the fabulous Julie, who I know you adore, and I just think is such a, I hope she's, I hope she's okay at the moment. And when you speak to her, please centre my love. I will. The two of you used excited. And then both of you said that you love to feel excited by things and you hope the excitement never goes. And I get the feeling with this role when I hear you talking about it and I read everything. I get that you're excited by this.

I really am actually, Gabby. It's true. I mean, I was trying to explain to somebody the other day, on a first night, for instance, you don't understand this. Sometimes I think I'm going to die of fright and that my heart is going to fall out of my costume onto the floor because I'm so frightened. But somebody very cleverly said,

well, you realize that the flip side of that nerves is excitement. And it is. And you just have to remember that bit. but no, the idea of, for instance, going back for season five, thrills me completely. I'm very, very lucky. I have spoken to an ex-daughter of yours, Samantha Spiro. She loves you as much as I do.

I was telling her that when I watched Love Sarah, there is a moment in Love Sarah, and I'm not giving anything away, where four of you toast Sarah. And there is a look in your eyes, and I burst into tears. I couldn't hold it together. And I was explaining to Samantha that, as far as I'm concerned,

there was an acting masterclass and it should be shown to every drama student because what you didn't do was extraordinary. You have this subtlety. I mean, Love Sarah is a lovely film. It's charming and it's simple. And I mean those in all the most loving ways. Well, I remember that moment. Of course I do.

And how lovely of you. But because we both have lost our mums and know how important they are in our lives, nor it will be, it is quite difficult to describe love Sarah without giving too much away. My darling mother said once, the saddest two words in the English dictionary, too late. And that really is a lot of what the beginning of love Sarah is all about because my character does suffer from this sadness because of things that she didn't say or do. And so, I mean, the great thing is that in the end,

I do fulfil my daughter's promise and we open the bakery. But it always comes back to me. Well, we both know how important our mothers were in our lives, and they're sort of great things that they said to us. They never leave us, do they? Oh, they don't. And what's so extraordinary about the scene that I was talking about with the champagne, that instantly it came to, my mother came to me and watching that,

and you, that look in your eyes and that feeling. And the film is so full of love and cakes, and the cakes bringing joy. around the world. I mean, as you say, I don't want to give too much away because it's a joyful. Everybody, they must watch it.

It's out on DVD. It's streamed everywhere. And if you want to just pause from the madness of everything, it's a delicious film. You were incredible in it. And the young girl, she's such a star.

Yes. I mean, they all were. Shannon and Shelley and Rupert, who, I played Rupert Penry Jones's mother in, I don't know if you remember, a rather marvellous film called Hilary and Jackie. I do, and I was going to talk about that. Were you?

Yes. So I played his mum in that film. But yes, I agree with you. Shelley and Shannon were both fantastic. I mean, it was a great, a great sort of generation, the three-generation film. And we sort of formed a union together and looked out for each other. It was lovely, really lovely.

Really lovely. I recommend everybody seeing that. I was going to ask you about Rupert Penry Jones because I think he's gorgeous. Let's just get it out there. He's gorgeous. Yes. But of course you were together in Hilary and Jackie

and that was one of those films that I always, I think it's up in my top ten. Is it? Yeah, I think it's incredible film. I do too. I'm thrilled to be in it. How do you choose? Well, I say in my...

autobiography, The Happy Huffer, that I sort of liken us to young girls in the 18th century around the ballroom having to wait to be asked to dance. And very often, you know, you do have to wait to be asked. But the only thing I can try to do in steering my work, I suppose, is to try and do something as different as possible to the last thing I did, if I can. That's not always easy, because often people ask you to do the same. same thing that they've seen to do before. And that's flattering, but in the same way, I try and steer out of that so I don't get caught in a box. And that makes tremendous sense. And interesting, I read in one of the interviews that you said a few years ago, that you used to be

ashamed of ambition. Yes. Do you still feel that? No, not really. Because I think in my head, it's a different word. Ambition is me wanting to do better and do. more and do different. But, you know, improve. I mean, you know, go forward, do more. The Americans aren't afraid of ambition. And it was one of my goals in life, actually, to go to America and try my luck.

And, you know, so I applaud their sort of forward thinking, actually. There's nothing wrong with it. Why was that one of your One of your dreams? Why was that so much? Why was America? I think if you're realistic, you can't really be internationally known

unless you've courted America. People don't really know me in America. Well, they didn't before better things. They do a bit more now. But, you know, it sort of leads the world in cinema, doesn't it, really? I've still got so many things I want to do. I want to be in a Quentin Tarantino film, for instance, who, by the way, is a huge fan of better things.

It's so exciting. There we go. It's going to happen. You see, people say you put it out there, you put it out to the universe, it will happen. And I love, do you know what? I really, really, really, so ambition I used to be scared to admit that I was ambitious because I thought it was a dirty word and I've realised it's not.

But also, we've got to carry on having dreams and hope and ambition, no matter what age. you've always got to want to do more and do new things. So has that helped you then in your decisions then? This is new, this is new. I know you said you want to do different things. But, you know, Star Wars or Calendar Girls, Star Wars took you away from Miss Babs, which I suppose lots of people always come back to.

I don't mind. Well, you don't mind that people come back to Miss Babs. No, not really. I mean, you know, of course I want to go forward, but I know that people do know me as that. And that's, you know, I'll be forever grateful for that because, you know, it gave me a huge lift. But I can't tell you how much of a passport to man's world to say that I was a fighter pirate in Star Wars is, particularly in France, by the way. Really?

Oh, yes. I mean, my favorite restaurant, they go, ah, Star Wars, and then they get so over excited out. But so, you know, any, any, you know, Frenchmen that I meet, that's what I will, you know, tempt him with. And, you know, I can get things done. I can tell you. I can imagine something. And then I can imagine the type of person that, that Mama Mia, and they're a completely different person that gets excited by the Star Wars will be something you gets excited by Mama Mia. I know, but it's, it's so wonderful, actually, to be. I realize this now.

To be a small part in a huge thing is such a better idea than being a huge part in something that might disappear because it's not huge enough. You know, Star Wars, Bridget Jones, they're two perfect examples of me taking a small part, why not, but in a huge thing. And when I was in Hollywood last year, Gabby, I went to see Judy. you know the film and um afterwards uh rene zelweger came to the party i didn't think she would they said she would but anyway she did so i lined up with my heart beating so hard thinking oh she'll never remember who i am uh having played aunt una in in bridget jones i can't tell you

i waited my turn she gave me such a wonderful welcome all i could do was burst into tears of course oh i love that honestly she was adorable I love that. You told me a while ago, there was a horse called Live Laugh Love. And that's how you felt about life. You'd seen a horse that was called Live Laugh Love. Yes. I think I backed it for the Grand National, didn't have? Well, there we go. But that's you. You see, that's you through and through. You do, I get the feeling that you really do live, you like my word, you love a laugh, don't you? I do love it, don't you? Oh yes. We all do. I actually think it's the best cure. It should be on the national health because I've also, I might have said this to you before, but I have two sisters who are nurses and in my book are angels. And when I was growing up, I did think, oh God, what are you doing, dressing up pretending to be somebody else all day long? What's the point of that? But there is a point. And actually, if you and I can make people laugh, then truly, I think it is, the best cure. I absolutely do. I think it has great healing powers. Okay, I'm going to freak you out

again because everything you're saying is resonating. I didn't realize how similar we are. When I was three years old and I wanted to be a TV presenter and a broadcaster, I used to say so long as I can make people laugh because it's the best medicine. Yes. Well, you're right. And you were three years old. Yeah, that's all I've ever wanted to do. I know, I know. I know. There we go. No, no. I love it, though. I love it that your dream came true. And it doesn't stop. The same as you. I want to keep, I've got all these ambitions and hopes and dreams and forever I hope shall have. Was it in your dreams and hopes and ambitions all those years ago when you were at GSA to be a celebrated author as well? No, absolutely not. I didn't know no sort of that at all. In fact, somebody asked me if I was going to write

my life and I said oh lord no no heavens no and they said well if you don't somebody else will yes and that's what got me going because you know although I am quite frank not necessarily tell all all my secrets thank you very much but um I really enjoyed it and then they said well now you've done this come on what about a story and the thing is that where I am in Nice it truly apart from India, which of course I fell in love with. I do think it is the most beautiful place on earth. And so how lovely to be able to write about the place I so dearly love and get inspired by every day. And your books are a utter delight. And again, you come through the pages as I'm always going to use the word delight because that's what you are. But it comes through the pages that you're also enjoying writing

them and you're very visual. Well, that's the beauty of being here, you see, Gabby, because it would be very, very hard to, you know, drum up the exact colour of the sea that I'm looking at now or the smell of the strawberries around the corner if I was in London. So, you know, I'm terribly lucky to be able to be here to write. Are you doing any more books? Yes. I've just finished one, which, you know, I've just finished one, which.

is coming out next year, so I hope we can talk about it later on, but it is set in Nice, so, and it's based on a true story, so it's rather exciting, but we'll do it next year, shall we? Definitely, I promise you that. So two other things I would love to talk to you about is your love of dance, because, gosh, it must have been 16 years ago or so. You were on the Terry and Gabby show with me and the late great Terry Wogan, and you were doing, it was a Highland Reel, or you were doing,

a dance and I remember Terry applauding you and being very wide-eyed and loving it and you said that dancing was something and I know when you were a child you wanted to be a ballerina does dance still bring that joy and release for you absolutely I remember it so well actually Gabby and it always makes me remember that exact time with you and Sir Terry I have a funny feeling it was Russian as well wasn't it because I know I was swirling around the place like a lunatic but Actually, this will make you laugh and this is true. While we've all been in lockdown, sometimes it's a bit frightening even to go out.

So I decided that every evening at about half-bust six, I would dance six Scottish reels, and that would be my exercise. And it's true. And I still do it. And it's exhausting, but marvellous. So in my kitchen, I do six Scottish reels. And, you know, hopefully it's keeping me fit.

But it's also a total joy and it makes me laugh. I love that. I love that. I've got a picture of you doing that now. And the other thing I want to ask you about is nude scenes. Because there's a wonderful quote that you say, do nude scenes, but you have to do them really fast. Yes. I don't know whether this was coupled with the rest of the story.

But the thing is, I love Pamela Adlon so much and admire her that I may, may, made the stupid decision out loud that I would do anything she asked me. And she said, remembering that her real mother lives next door to her, Seals, do you remember I told you about that day when I looked out of the window and I saw my mother burning the roses with no clothes on? And I said, hmm? She said, well, I'm going to film that today. So I thought, well, whatever I do, I'm going to do it so fast.

And actually, an awful lot of the crew had no idea. idea it had happened, but I did it. I mean, it was only a little, literally of me bringing the roses with no clothes on. But then she makes me do it all over again at the end of this season, Gabby, and you'll see what I mean when you get there. Last episode. Obviously, you were in calendar girls as well, but now the idea of somebody saying to me, get your kit off and stand there in front of lots of people, I just, I would, I, I know. Oh my goodness, me. I know. Well, I feel just the same, But, you know, in Calendar Girls, for instance, there were very few of us lucky enough to be in the film.

And we knew what it was about. We knew how brave those real women had been. So there was absolutely no excuse for us to start making a fuss. And again, do it quickly. Just get on with it. And we did, actually. Led happily and marvelously by Helen Mirren, who'd had a little bit more experience than we had.

Is that loud? Oh, it's completely loud. I remember when I interviewed her on the set as well. And I said, you excited? And she just looked at me and she said, that's just a pathetic word. And I thought, no. And I said, Celia said she's excited. And Julie said she's excited.

She said, that's a silly word. And I was always been thrown by that. I thought, no, I'm always going to use that word now in honor of her. Yes, good for you. Quite jolly bright. Do you still have curry for breakfast? I do when I'm in India. Certainly, this is the absolute truth.

About four days ago, I made some baratas and I made some dal. And I left a bit because I think I mustn't eat too much because it's so tempting in this time. You know, when I woke up and I saw it, I thought, I'm going to have that. And it was. It was curry for breakfast. Of course. Best thing. Leftover food.

But I thought you didn't like cooking. I don't really. I've got, I mean, you know, in this peculiar time, I've learned how to make marangs and piratas. I mean, not, you know, hugely complicated stuff, but I have actually, oh, and a very fine apple tart, actually. As you can imagine in France, all the cakes and the pastries and everything, I mean, they are exquisite. The tiny slithers of apple, all arranged in a beautiful circle. You know, they take such care. And actually, they've all got marvellous figures here, too, because what they eat is so tasty, but tiny. So do you do it like they do? Do you do the tiny little slices and make it look that pretty like that?

Well, I have a go, yes. I mean, you know, it wasn't tiny, tiny, but the slivers were tiny to make it all look gorgeous. But the ingredients are so fresh, you see, Gabby here. You know, the tomatoes I've never tasted any like it in England, I'm afraid. Tomatoes taste like tomatoes on the continent. Exactly, exactly. Here it's like Wonderland for cooking.

And also, I love the way they take 12 till 2, that's it. I'm not sure that it's not 12 till half past 2 even. Their lunch are absolutely protected. even so much as they don't make you have to pay your parking meter during lunch. Can you imagine? No, you're kidding me. No, I'm not. Isn't that the sweetest thing? I don't know whether it's all over France, but certainly there was a place where I went. Lunch hour is exempt from parking. Can you get it? Oh, how perfect. It's so civilized, actually.

Why do you ever come back here? You should just stay there all the time. Exactly. Well, I'm going to try and become a French citizen, but I've got to get my French a bit better. Do you speak French fluently? Nah, of course not. And I really should go back to class because it is quite complicated with the grammar and everything, but there's sort of no excuse. I've got to get on with it. Well, I'll try and do this in my best, in my day it was called O-Levels, but GCSE French. So, merci beaucoup, Madame Sillier, very bon and I think you're wonderful thank you celia so much for this oh gabby it's been a complete and utter delicious delight for me

lots of love you too keep laughing darling and now as promised lovely himish patel hello hymish hello how are you doing I'm doing okay yeah how are you I'm all right thank you we met about oh I don't know it's when you first started in East and actually you've been there two years years. I'm surprised you remember that. Oh, well, of course I'm going to remember that. And I remember also people getting all very

excited about you and saying that you were going to be a Hollywood star one day. And I have a message for you from one of those people. It's completely true. And she says, she told you on day one that you were going to be a Hollywood star and you made her a promise. Really? Hmm. And she says, she's still waiting for that bunch of flowers every month. Oh yes, she might have a point there. I did say that I would. We're talking about Nina, of course. Of course, yeah. Your mummy on the show.

Listen, can we go back to when we first met? I was very lucky to do lots of shows about EastEnders, and I used to do a daily live show from there. And I remember you telling me about the day that you got EastEnders, or you've got the call to be on EastEnders. Am I right in thinking you've just done your GCSEs, or you had to go in to do your GCSEs. Yeah.

So I got the call on the penultimate day of my GCSEs. And I was part of a youth theatre in Cambridge and they had a sort of agency. They'd send kids out for auditions. And I got a call. He says, it's a really exciting audition for EastEnders. It's tomorrow. And I remember saying, yeah, I know, Steve, this is really great.

But I've got my science GCSE. It's my last GCSE. I can't really miss it. And I remember my mum being there. And she was like, what are you talking about? And I was like, yeah, he just said something about this EastEnders audition. She was like, we'll go.

Just you finish your GCC will drive you down to Elstreet. And I was like, okay, great. And so that is what happened. I did my GCSC and then my dad drove me straight down to Elstree and Borenwood for my audition. And that's where the journey began. But it really was all because of my parents. I think they've always been so encouraging of that. They've always had a faith in my ability.

And so they made sure that I didn't miss the opportunity. They sound awesome. I remember last time saying to you, please send them my love and thank them. I'll say that to them again. So if you could do the same again, please. But then also, for yesterday, am I right in thinking that something to do with A&E? So you're in the sort of strangest places when you find out about things. So you're doing your GCSEs for EastEnders. And I know there have been other things as well, but yesterday is one of my favourite films. I just, it's up there in my top five favourite films of all time. I have to say, it's not just because

I'm talking to you. I say that very publicly. I love it, love it. But did you end up in A&E the day you got it or something. Yeah, that is what happened. So I'd, I'd, um, I'd, um, I'd been unwell. Like it was kind of a fluey sort of thing. And I, I'd, I'd, I'd been through about three rounds of auditions for yesterday at this point. I was hearing that Danny liked me for the part, but they had to do some convincing with the studio and it was all very up in the air. And then I was, I was at, I was at home on my own. And I remember I literally, I was like, I can't, I have to go to bed I'm so unwell. I remember just turning the light off and then my phone started ringing and it was my agent.

She said Danny Bors about to call you. And I was like, oh, okay, great. Really not well at all. And then speaking with Danny and him offering me the role, but in a very Danny way, which is, you know, he's so humble that it wasn't like, you know, hey kid, do you want to come be in my movie? He was just like, hey, yeah, so I'd love you to play the part. and, you know, we're going to do this.

We're going to be that. Meanwhile, my whole world had just changed. And anyway, we had a lovely chat and I put the phone down. I suddenly felt amazing. You know, I felt great. It's amazing, life-changing moment. And then I just started feeling really unwell again. You know, the adrenaline wore off, I think.

And, yeah, we wound up going to A&E because I was just really not good at all. I think it may have been the shock as well. When I look back on it now, I go, you know, because I remember the triage nurse just kind of being like, you're fine? I don't know what's wrong with you. Are you overreacting? I don't really understand what's going on. You know, she wasn't that kind of harsh about it,

but I could tell it was a sort of a vibe of, you know, I think you shouldn't be this bad. I don't really understand. It's never smooth sailing. Well, also, then you go to that cut to the thing that you've just been filming about a pandemic that gets cut short because of a pandemic. So, I mean, again, the same sort of extraordinary things happen.

Yeah, this is a very strange one. We started shooting at the beginning of the year, and we started shooting in Chicago. It's this project called Station 11. It's based on a novel, which is mostly about the world after a pandemic has basically decimated 99% of the population. And it's about how you rebuild the world after something like that.

You know, the novel itself is a lot more, you know, apocalyptic, I suppose, than what we're going through. But what I love about the problem, book Station 11 and about our adaptation, and what we've shot of it so far, is that it ultimately is a story about hope. It's about what you choose to hold on to when everything you know has fallen apart.

And there is definitely a lot to be said for that, given everything that we've been going through and continue to go through, that we have a choice in terms of the things that we choose to change and what we choose to value. So what are those things then? I think there's a lot that we could change you know

I think we can maybe do with some leadership changes in certain parts of the world and I think I've got to speak up for the arts you know we really value the arts if anything's got us through this period of time

it's it's you know our favourite TV series and our favourite music yes yes yes the cinema you know there's nothing like it I think when you go to watch a film like Tenet in the cinema

you're going to realise just how amazing it is to sit in a I'm witness something like that. I absolutely agree. The thrill of being back in the cinema made me a little emotional. I mean, I get, I love the arts like you do. I love live theatre, live music. But going to the cinema, I didn't realize how much I'd missed it.

I think that's always a thrill, really, with Chris Nolan's movies. He's always going to give you something new, something you've not seen before. And this one is taking that to the next level, really. Did you ever ask him what he dreams at night? No, I didn't. He was too busy work. for me to ask him, that sort of thing. If you see him again, will you please ask him and let me know?

Sure, I'll get back to you, yeah. Thank you very much, because his head is just extraordinary. Now, can we go back to you being a pigeon? Sure, why not? You were a pigeon, weren't you, when you left EastEnders? Yes, yeah, so I did, I did. I took this kind of strange left turn, but it was the best decision I ever made, I think, in so many ways. Really?

Yeah, so I ended up doing this play at the Edinburgh Fringe with my friend and his theatre company, And they were just off to do their, I think it was their third or fourth show at the fringe. They do sort of musical adaptations. And they were doing an adaptation of the hunchback of Notre Dame. And he knew that I wanted to get some theatre experience. So he was like, just come with us to the fringe. And I gladly took it and went and had the best month of my life. My agent at the time was a little concerned about it.

But I thought, why not? Let's do it. And I love that you go with your gut feeling. Because I mean, I've read also that you want to do. more directing and more writing and you want to get people like you out there on screen. And I think now with everything that's been going on, and at last people are being educated and hopefully learning and learning and learning more, that all of this can change and that all of this can happen.

And I think you're going to lead the way with this. I hope so. I mean, there's a lot of people around me that have taught me the value of these things. And during the time that I was at Eastenders, in a way, perhaps slightly sheltered from the real hard work that was going on in industry to have voices heard. And that continues. And I'm learning from my contemporaries and hoping to use this sort of platform that I've been afforded to, yeah, to elevate those voices,

to open doors and tell stories that haven't been told before that should have been told before. Well, I think you're phenomenal. And I just have to say that last night I spoke to another person. person that used to work with. I'm going to name her because she's a friend of mine. And this is a bit embarrassing, but she said, I'm embarrassed that I was saying she's a friend of mine because it sounds so showbiz. But Tanya Franks, I'm going to speak to her today. And I said, oh, I'm speaking to Hamesh. And she said, he's one of the nicest, sweetest, kindest, most intelligent, gentle young men I have ever worked with. And I have to say, just chatting to you

again, I totally agree. Thank you so much, Hamesh. Really lovely to talk to you again. And have a good day. You too. I'll speak to you soon. Thank you so much for listening. Please join me next time when I'll be chatting to David and Georgia Tenant. That Gabby Roslin podcast is proudly produced by Cameo Productions. Music by Beth McCari. Please press the subscribe button and it will come straight to your phone on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you choose to listen. Also, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Yeah, yeah.