That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Daisy Haggard

Episode Date: December 18, 2023

Actress and writer, Daisy Haggard, joins Gaby for our Christmas special and to spread some festive joy. They talk about her brilliant new show, 'Boat Story', as well as her other roles and work in ''Back To Life' and 'Episodes'. Daisy talks openly about success coming a little later in life and how she tries to make working conditions for parents on set more accommodating. She also lets us in on a bit of a secret as to what she's working on next year. (remember to listen to our extra bonus episode too - for a very very funny story about a bus and a Christmas tree!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our Christmas special, and I've got special sound effects for the one and only Daisy Haggard. Are you ready, Daisy? Yeah. Okay, ready. It's Christmas! That's such a good sound. Should I turn them off? No, I want it all the way through.

The whole way through? I don't know if they're going to... I'm shaking my phone to see if we can keep going on. I want people to imagine I'm wearing bells. But you're the sort of person in the nicest possible way that would. It's true. Have you ever worn bells? No, but I'm going to when I go home.

Oh, yes. To live up to my sound effect. The family are going to be like, what are you doing? Oh, mum. Well, let me tell you the story. Sit down. So Christmas, you're our Christmas special. So thank you for being our Christmas cracker.

Any time. Is it a big thing for you? Are you stopping? Are you closing the front door? Oh, yeah, I'm very Christmassy. Oh, are you? A hundred percent Christmas, yeah. I am, just because it's fun, anything that's fun, an excuse for fun.

Like, right, let's go all out. So, yeah. Okay, all right. So we're going to go all out Christmas. Yeah. Although what we really want to do is talk about. I don't know where to begin with Boat Story. It has blown my mind.

So we spoke a couple of weeks ago about it. And now I've watched it all. And it is, I know people are comparing it to Coen Brothers. and Tarantino and murders in the build, everything. It's its own thing. I decided at the end of it, I'm not going to say that anymore, because actually it's its own entity. It's the most extraordinary piece of television.

It blows your mind. It takes you on this crazy ride, and you love the ride, and I didn't want it to stop. Oh, I'm so glad. And I'm so proud of it. I think they've really created something truly original. And you can see where the inspirations have come from, I think. But yeah, it has ended up being entirely its own beast, hasn't it?

It's a wild ride. I mean, I didn't know what was going on half the time. I was like, oh, yeah, brilliant, here we go. Oh, you didn't. Well, no, but I did when I watched it. But I think when you're doing it, you just, you play each moment with conviction and truth. Because then afterwards, they added the voiceover later. So when I was watching it, I was like, oh, okay, because they're super.

Oh, that's fantastic. Yeah, I think it just ended up making. making it all kind of like ping in the right way. It does ping. And I do know what's going on, but you don't know what's going on. Yeah, we don't know what's going to happen. Yeah. Exactly, exactly. That's, I mean, that's what I mean, too.

It's just that you're like, it's constantly surprising and constantly, it's working quite fast. So you're not kind of like sitting back, you know, like some things are lovely and safe and solid and you know what's happening or coming. And it's not that. It's like being on a sort of completely mad ride. isn't it? Like a new ride that you haven't been on. It's like I've never been on before. At the fairground.

Yes. It's a little bit scary. It's virtual reality, but in reality. Exactly. So yeah, you do have a sense of what's going on. Oh my God, that's like that. No, that's happened. Okay, yeah, but that makes sense.

But, oh, you know. So, yeah, it sort of unfolds in a very original way, I think. When I was watching it, there was one episode that I think it was, it wasn't the finale. It was the one, it was a penultimate one. And I was watching it. And I was, my husband sort of walked past. He said, what are you talking about? And I realized I was talking to the television.

What, that? No. Well, okay. Oh, no, that makes sense. I was sort of doing that. Literally talking. Which is a really, I love it when television, funnily enough, is interactive. And I know it's not supposed to be an interactive show.

But to me, it is like virtual, like I was there. I don't know why it's blown my mind quite as it has. I think it's such a stressful concept, isn't it? Like, isn't that maybe it? You find drugs on a beach. And sell them. But yeah, it's like, you. You know, it's like, well, that's what someone said, you know, about playing the part.

And I was like, it's kind of really a gift when you've got basically the whole show. You're going, oh my God, oh my God. Because that's what all is, like, you've done something terrible. And then you're like trying to get, you're trying to get out of a situation that you can't get out of. So you've always got something to play. And I think when you're watching it, that's probably what you're feeling is you're kind of, you're in the pressure cooker with them going, ah! Did you, when you read it, though, did it make sense? When you read it, did you say, did you think to yourself, I have to do this one?

Yeah, I did actually. And I am, I've never, weirdly, never worked away from home. Even back to life, I did like a couple of days on a location, but I've never come. On a cliff. Yeah, on a cliff. But I'm a big geek about always making as many bedtimes and being at home. And this was in Leeds, so I was a bit freaked out about that. So I was kind of a little bit dubious.

I was like, I'm not sure, you know. I mean, that's really amazing. They're amazing. but, you know, I don't know that I'm going to... And then I read it and I was like, this is amazing. And then they were amazing about the schedule as well, so it all worked out. But I just read it and I was like, this is a no-brainer because it's such a clear journey that she has. And you're so with her and you're so on board.

And you're so thrown into the premise in such an exciting way. And then it's so kind of mad. I was like, I just got to do this. I know this is a really odd thing to say, and I don't mean that you find drugs and go and try and say, sell them and Russians and all the rest of it. But is your life a little bit like that? Because I don't know, I think everybody has this wonderful vision of you that you do wonder.

Actually, hold on a minute. Wander around. Yes, that you wander around and sort of it's strange, some wonderful things happen. But I just have to tell everybody that before we started recording, you said, oh, I have a banana. I don't like bananas, but they're great. And I have them all. That just fitted in exactly how I imagined you. your life could be.

I sort of roll around being an idiot. Very, very happily. There's nothing idiot about this. Oh, there is, there is, but that's why I'm very happy about that. Okay, all right. 100%. But is your life, because you've got so much, because you're a writer and an actor, that do you have, there's a lot, and you've got a family.

Yeah, it's like to me. I kind of operate on chaos probably, but in quite a fun way and they're quite light, light way, you know, not like a, oh my God, I'm really stressed way. I'm not really like that. But yes, I do have like, you know, I have three rescue dogs, two children, trying to write, often not writing, just Googling random things I don't need to be doing. You know, I like to cook for everyone. Yeah, I kind of sort of flap around like a sort of tornado.

I love that. Flap around like a tornado. So when did it all start? I mean, I know you're from a family of, you can cough. It's mine, you're a lot. It's a bit disgusting, though. No, no, no. You've got purple blue tea to help me, yeah.

We're not going to explain that. We're going to leave people. That's another part of my personality. I only drink blue tea. Obviously, your background is writers and actors and in the family. So was it always inevitable for you? No, my family were very much, well, I think it was in the sense that I came out quite obviously kind of wanting to be creative and do creative things.

I popped out. You popped up for your mom. Hello! I must do it. gym routine for everybody and make them watch me as I mime Whitney Houston. But yeah, I'm the youngest of six and no one else had come out that way. But yeah, I think I was very much, I was always writing poetry or writing stories or, you know, like, and always doing terrible, terrible long dance routines that made everyone have to watch

and gymnastics and things like that. So I was kind of, I did do that. And then, but then making a living out of it, it's very different than, yes, performing for the family. and then actually making a living out of it. So what was that? How did that all come? So I didn't get into drama school the first year. I never got into school plays or anything like that.

I finally got in on the final year of school and then didn't get into drama school and then worked in Harrod's Christmas decorations department for two years in a row. Yes. Me too. Did you? Selfridges.

Selfridges. Yes. Yeah, did that. You know, worked in gyms, looked after kids. Finally got to drama school, then came out, then didn't really. work much, just kind of got little bits ticked by. So it took me a long time.

But then I suppose after like manstroke woman or something around about then, which I don't know, I don't want to know how long ago that was. A few years. I started to actually work and be able to pay my bills. So it was acting then? So it wasn't the writing that you were trying. I was trying to write all the time. And I was writing and failing constantly.

But it was acting. I'm sorry, failing. Well, you know, sorry, not failing. But the thing with writing is that, you know, you pour your your whole heart and soul. And then when somebody does say no to it, you go, oh, that's me. Whereas with acting, I could always go, oh, I don't have, you know, I don't look like that. Or I don't have, you know, that voice or that this or that, I'm this tall.

You know, you could always kind of justify it in a different way. But the writing always felt more like hurtful. Was back to life then, you're sort of the big thing. That's the first thing I've ever got commissioned. And look at it. I mean, it's, it wasn't. is massive and you can everybody can catch up with it on iplayer of course it was on bbc3 but um but that that was huge everybody was talking about that must have been that was the biggest three that was

the biggest thrill also because i so it was when i was pregnant with elsie who's now nine or yeah i sort of was living with my parents and they were really annoying and um my dad kept up giving me long long discussions about how to load the um that's you let's just pretend it's not the bell i'm wearing Oh, no. Pretend it's my Christmas bell. It's because I turned it on for my Christmas bell. Sure, sure. She's texting all the way through this.

Yeah, no. And so I started thinking about, because I thought, oh, you know, I think you're kind of told as a woman, especially as an actor, like, oh, you have kids, or, you know, you hit a certain age. Oh, please don't. Everyone kind of like fuels this sort of fear in you. So, which is so unfair,

and I really want to make everyone not think, that because why should that be the way? Absolutely. I'm so pleased that you said that. Yeah, we'll come back to that. It annoysed me. Yeah. But anyway, so I started thinking about what I'd want to write and sort of, you know, and worked on it for a long, long time. And then amazingly, it was three years later when I was pregnant with my second child

that I got commissioned for Back to Life. So you'd started writing it three years earlier. So you had the germ of the idea? I'd been creating, creating it. I'd been like working. on it we then shot a little taster because it was a very specific tone that we didn't know if people would quite get it

and then that taster got us a commission and of course that happened when I was nine months pregnant with my second child I got a commission for my first ever TV show giving birth oh they're literally and then they were like we need to get another white trust like no it's

my baby I need to do it but there's also another baby oh god there's so many babies and then got laura so long to come in and be my amazing co-pilot. She's brilliant. So that show did that

obviously it must have given you huge confidence because suddenly they've got a show it's a hit show 100% ratings on certain websites as Ed was just saying

Ed lovely through the glass who just loves that show and so did everybody it was a huge hit that must have just been I didn't realize it was your very first one

that's been commissioned. That must have just been incredible to see that in the end. It was really, like, it was really funny because I wrote it all and did it all and, you know, you're carving it out and it's the first time and people are trusting you for the first time. So that can be complicated. The second series was so much easier because by that point, you've kind of, you know, everyone knows what you mean. You know the rhythm.

Yeah, and you know the rhythm. You know what you're doing. And also everybody believes in you a bit more. Understandably, the beginning, you know, it's all a bit like you're trying to find this thing. And there was a terrifying moment. I think it was like the night before it came out where suddenly I was like, oh my God, other people are going to see this. Like I've sort of just thought about it.

I think we very much thought about what do we want? What would I want? What do I like trying to trust that and hone in on that? And then suddenly it was like, oh my God, other people, like, what if I'm actually complete? Like what if they just hate it? You know, it's horrible. And so it was so lovely when people responded to it and got it and liked it.

It was like, yeah, I did a little cry. I was so relieved. Of course you did it. So you're putting your baby out there to be judged and you can't even put your arms around it. Yeah, exactly. Okay, take it now, run with it. And I couldn't hide behind someone else.

You know, I'd done lots of shows where I could be like, oh, well, I didn't write that. So it's not my fault. What do you think? No, it's fine. But this was actually just like, oh, no, this is like right from my belly. Oh, well, congratulations on it. And I know everybody always wants to know if they were going to be more.

So, yeah, I feel like it ended really. well on two. So unless I can think of the third series that feels really, really worth it and that will elevate it more, I would keep it as it is. Do you know what? I have to say personally, I always worry about comedy shows or really good dramas that because they're so good, you sort of want them, you want to leave people wanting

more because that feeling of it's just such a happy memory and a great memory and a great piece of television or great piece of of theatre or film, it's quite a nice feeling and it must be even more elevated because it's yours. To leave people wanting more. Wow.

Well, I mean, yeah, that is really lovely that people do. And I'm quite straightforward really. I think I just kind of went, there was a point where I could have done more and I just sort of thought, well, unless I I really know what that is, I don't want to start writing something that I don't, that I was clear about the other two series and I don't want to start writing something and then it becomes crap and it kind of lowers as low as what we did.

And also, you know, you've played the thing of her just coming out of prison and that's all set. The whole first two series are set over six weeks. So you couldn't do the next three weeks because I feel like you'd be playing the same beat again. So it'd have to be rethought. Maybe in another 10 years. That's what I...

Yeah. The only thing I can think of is like 10 years. Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll wait. We can be patient. Thank you. The other show, episodes. Oh, my Lord. I was...

I think... Can you be a day? to a TV show. I think I was addicted to that TV show. Really? And Boat Story. But I really was. I loved it.

I loved everything about it. It just made me, I've got to just laugh. It just made me laugh. It was really fun, was it? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, I love doing that job.

Your character. Oh, my gosh. How did you just? I did. How did you do that? All the bloopers are me giggling. Because I can't really, I'm quite a smiley person, so I found it really hard to be like,

and then everyone, And everyone would just, we just all get the giggles. Because I didn't have any lines to learn, which was amazing. I just got to make noises through scenes. It's like the dream job. Oh, my word. Here, come here, make noises and just don't laugh. Yeah, but you got to love.

It's just making me laugh. You're just doing this out. I know, it's so silly. I was in a pub once. I was in a pub once and this guy came up to me and went, hey, so my, can you do that, do that thing you do? And I was like, oh, God. Do that thing that you do an episode to do it.

And then I did it. And he went, yeah, no, I just never found it that funny. No! I was like, thank you. Oh, people are weird. There's not... It just wasn't for me. You're like, you know, just putting yourself out.

Oh, well, anyway, whoever you are, if you're listening to this, go away. You should be ashamed of your thing. Yeah, go away. It was very funny. I absolutely loved it. And that was another thing that... There were a whole group of us that used to talk about it when it went on. And there's very few shows.

I have to say, Boat Story did the same thing. that I found myself talking to my friends not the next day because television is so... It's different now, yeah. But we'd be talking about it. So whenever we mess up with people, you know, everyone's... I don't know if they do with you.

Everyone discusses what the latest thing that they've seen. And it was... People were like that about episodes then, people like that about Boat Story now, that everybody has... They have ownership... Oh, that's... I'd never thought about that before, but they have sort of ownership over it.

Oh, yeah, that's interesting. And breeders as well. Breeders is... Readers is like some... It's very loved, isn't it? Some people really love it. You know what I mean? The people that love it have stuck with four series

with such love and dedication. It's like it's got... Everything finds its audience, I think. It's like with Boat Story, some people got to the first episode and went, oh, no, this is too much. Oh, they've got to stick with it. I know, totally, totally. Stick with it.

Because episode two is... It will... It's so good, isn't it? It is so good. It blows the walls off. It really does. And there's a particular bit, because obviously we can't do any spoilers because everybody hasn't watched it. But I'm just going to put out there that I love musicals.

That's all I'm going to say. Can we go back to the thing you were just saying about women having babies and age? Yeah. So is that something that you're conscious of, aware of that people have those conversations? I feel really happy that I'm a good example of someone who turned 40, survived. You know, had children and then actually my work got better. So I feel really happy about that because if that can make other women thinking,

oh, you know, who's fed the same other story, think, oh, that's actually does not have to be the truth. Then that's really great. So would you, were you fed that story? Did anybody say to you? I feel like all, I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but I think lots of conversations I had with women in our 20s and 30s were like, it was like, oh, you know,

there was this fear of this moment. And if you have kids, then people like, What if they know you've got kids? That's why I'm so over the top now. I'm like, I've got kids and you want me to do your job. I will do your job, but I have got kids. And I really like them. And I'm not, I don't want to not be with them.

I want to make everything I can work with them. And I'm not going to pretend I don't have kids so that you employ me. I'm going to actually tell you extra and make, and really make everyone in the room really aware about that. Because I'm not the only person in this room's got kids. That makeup artist has got kids and she can't do what I'm doing. So I make a big deal about that. sort of thing. And when I'm running a show, which is what I love doing with Back to Life

and what I would like to do with something I'm trying to write now, I really relish the things that I feel we weren't really looked after on all the time. I really relish going, right, everyone's got families here, or they haven't got families, they've got their friends or flatmates or a partner, or they just want to read a book in an evening, and they shouldn't have to feel ashamed for that. Like, you know, we have a life and we have work. We do not have to, sacrifice our lives for a job that is really great but it's not you know you're not literally kind of like you know you're not performing open heart surgery you're you're doing a job that's fun and great and you can do it really well and you can also be ambitious you can be as ambitious for your home life whatever that is

as you are for your work life and not feel like made to feel kind of like that means you're crap and you're not dedicated absolute crap it's complete rubbish it really annoys me no but I'm really Please, it does. And actually, it's really important for people to hear it. It's very interesting. Many years ago, the late great Terry Wogan said to me, it's not brain surgery. Yeah. You know, but getting away from television writing, whatever it is, is really important. And whether, as you say, if it's just to read a book, whatever it is. It'll probably make you better at your job. But I think there has been historically a narrative that if you're not suffering and you're not like, you know, really miserable, then you're probably not going to create art.

Oh, no. And that's just total crap. Yeah. And also, my least favorite question. So I never ask it. And if it's ever asked me, it's when people say, how do you juggle? How do you juggle?

Yeah, I know. Why to women? We just, everyone, jokes. Why do they say it to women always? What about men and everybody else? Yeah. Who does, anyway, it's just one of those things. It's one of those things.

I'm so pleased. So pleased. So you say you're writing something, new. I am writing something new but it's not kind of like come out No no we weren't I'm not going to ask you specifically I can't I I need to do more work on it is there is there

do people know about it has it been commissioned? No I'm right so I'm with two brothers I'm kind of like and that's the production company the production company who did who did Boat Story but also who who did back to blue bag and also did back to life so so I get up we have a lovely relationship now so it's

it's really kind of it's really a real short, it's a real shortcut, you know, it's like so easy to work together. So I, so I pitched an idea to them that I wanted to try and write. And so I'm doing that and then with a view to take it out, you know, try and get something finished and take it out at the beginning of next year to try and get a commission. Get it finished. As in like, write a pilot script and then get a commission. By the beginning of next year, do you know that it's nearly next year?

We've got two weeks. That's why I had a banana. I'm so impressed. I knew I had to do some work. today. Oh, for Christmas. I'm just going to sit at home and create something. I'm not going to do a single scrap of work over Christmas. Are you really not? No. I'll give myself like it, but I'll apply gentle pressure to myself until like

mid-next week and that might actually mean that something happens. Okay. So that'll be Christmas and then so you have Christmas off and then beginning of the year I'll be writing and then you could take them to then I'll try and sell it. The two brothers say yeah. Right. come on the three of us go into a meeting you pitch it it gets commissioned straight away this is your Christmas wish coming true

yes I'm your Christmas fairy then that would happen and then when do you start filming it oh well I need to have remember I'm the Christmas fairy okay I need to make to factor in the fact that I like to have the whole of August off to be with my gang so no you have to start filming before them

or no it have to be after that it take me so long to write it oh you haven't written it yet no I've been trying to write one episode Written one episode. Okay. So to get commission, I'd then have to write loads of episodes, wouldn't I? So I'd do loads of time.

Right. See, I've never written a TV. It's really hard. And it just takes time. Okay. So you're writing all the episodes. You're taking August off. You start filming in September, September the 12th. That's good, thank you. Yeah, that gives me a good time holiday. You have to deliver it by December, this date in December. So they can have another Christmas holiday.

Yeah, it's Christmas holiday. And then it's going to go out. January 25. No, because you have to edit it. You have to gabby it. You have to gabby it. You have to gabby it. Oh, great, okay. I could put you all over it. You cut out everyone's faces and just make it the Gabby show.

Okay, so January, you're editing it. Then I have to edit it for a few months. A few months? Yeah. Oh. It's too long. I want it now. I'm very impatient. Oh, you know, so am I.

If somebody says, oh, right, you're writing something. I go, yeah, okay, can that be done yesterday? today and we make it today. I know, I know. The other thing, yeah, yeah, I know exactly what you mean. And I'm like, I'm just, I've just been commissioned to write a film as well, which I'm trying to write. Hold on.

Whoa. But I'm no. Stop. No. No. No. No. No.

No. But as in, you know, I pitched an idea and they did, but I'm not going to talk about that. But I'm just trying to write something. So what I'm saying is, but then even then I'm like, oh, in my head, I'm like, I'll write it. do it. We'll be filming it in March.

But then the reality of these things is that they all take a long time. So 2025, you're going to have a... I'd like to just do some writing. Okay, but 24 you're writing and more TV shows because you will be doing that. But your own movie and your own TV series... That's what I would like to do. That would be my goal and I would direct something as well

within one of those things. I'd do some directing. That's my Christmas fairy goal. Okay, Christmas fairy says yes. Thank you. Oh my gosh. It's very simple. That means I have to...

So Christmas fairy, I'm Christmas fairy for 23, Antoine. because it's coming out, but they're all coming out in 25. If I was to, if any of these things are to actually see the light a day. No, not if, when? Okay. When, then they would be, yeah, it would be the next year. But then if I was in something else. You're going to be in something else as well in 24?

Yeah, so then you'd, yeah, you'd. Do you know about the something else? No, not yet, no, no. So Christmas fairy, maybe, yeah, like Christmas fairy, maybe, yeah, like Christmas fairy, then I'll be in something else. Okay, you're in something else. One little thing. One little thing, just so I can keep writing, because otherwise my constant. I've got my wand in my left hand.

She's literally holding a wand, I am. Okay, all right, now I've got right-hand. Right-hand wand is the writing. Yes. So that's all for 2025. Daisy needs to get writing. Okay.

Left-hand wand is acting, Daisy. Just a nice acting job. Any more breeders? No, breeders is finished, isn't it? Okay, so the left-hand acting wand is a brand-new show. A brand-new show that's, you know. Comedy? I don't know.

Just really good. Really good. Yeah. Just really great something. Comedy. Yeah. You want me to do comedy. I want you to do comedy.

Okay. Gabby says comedy. Okay. That's left out. I've got no more hat. I actually, I've got to. She's got, she's holding. That's my three years at Gilford School of Acting.

Throw away your prop. I'm minding. They've gone. Okay. So you're doing the writing. You're doing a film, hopefully. You're doing, you'll be acting as something else as well. That is what I love to hear at the end of the year.

Because most people say, okay, I don't know what. I love that you, that you've got a focus. and you've got vision and you've got ideas. That's so exciting. Well, no, it is, I suppose I spent, I've been, like, working, sort of doing breeders and boat story and all these things have been, like, back to back, actually, quite a lot. And so my real thing was, like, I need to get back to writing

because Back to Life was one of that, was such a happy experience for me and being, like, the showrunner, and, as I said, you know, being able to kind of be in charge of having a lovely, positive, fun set, and, you know, just kind of prioritising all the things that I think you can. and then it being okay and not being terrible as a result. It was so terrible. I was like, okay. So for me, I'm being really strict with myself.

And I have, by the way, I had six months early in the year where I just rescued like another dog with a broken elbow and then didn't write anything. So I'm just now going, right, Daisy, you've got to do it because otherwise it's going to be so long since you've written before. So I'm just forcing myself. Even like, you know, just with a speck, it's kind of a speck, I expect forcing myself to just write.

Honestly, you just make me smile. Every single time I see you on television, you make me smile. Whether you're screaming about baddies and drugs and all sorts of things. And that's on telly, not in real life. Oh, I do that. I do that. All the time, yeah. But you do, and you bring joy.

And this podcast is called Reasons to Be Joy. And you are a joyous. So thank you so much, thank you.