Talented actor and creative Lucy Heath joins us on Close-Up Culture to talk about her role in the acclaimed TV series, Sweetpea.
Sweetpea is one of the most acclaimed shows of the year. Why do you feel the show has connected so well with audiences?
Aside from the creative team being truly excellent, I think a lot of people can relate to the feeling of being overlooked. Often, we’re raised to believe that the world is a fair place and as kids we’re unaware of how our lives compare with others, for better or worse. Then we grow up to discover the world isn’t fair or meritocratic, and there’s a rage ignited that makes us want to scream and shout – or in Rhiannon’s case, murder. That feeling of injustice is so primal it can be very propulsive. Also, watching a timid woman find her voice is so empowering to watch – it’s very Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’.
Can you tell us about your role as Lucille and your experience playing her?
Lucille was so much fun to play, she’s a superficial, disingenuous, social-climber (we’ve probably all met a Lucille) so I could get away with saying ridiculous things and not feel self-conscious about it. Also, I made a really good friend in Jess Brindle (Pidge) so it was so fun to get to do all of our scenes together and make each other laugh the whole time.
This is such a talented cast, led by Ella Purnell. What was it like collaborating with Ella and the rest of the team?
It just felt like we were in unbelievably safe hands, even as we were filming there was an air of confidence on set that we were making something people would enjoy watching. Ella is obviously very experienced and talented, but also the director, Ella Jones, had such a clear vision and calm way of executing it. Then Kirstie Swain’s writing was so playful and exciting, and Patrick Walters has had such enormous success with his previous shows that we all trusted he knew what he was doing – so all in all I was very lucky to be involved.
As well as acting, you’re also a talented writer with credits that include the highly acclaimed short, Pragma. Where does your passion for writing come from?
This is probably true of a lot of writers but I think it’s my way of making sense of things – my thoughts, relationships, injustices, beliefs, question marks. Sometimes I struggle expressing my view on something, because I have so many contradicting thoughts at once, so by creating a world with different character’s voices it’s like I make room for all of those thoughts to exist. I’ve always envied Dumbledore’s ‘pensieve’ in Harry Potter and I think that’s what writing is for me, a place to pour my brain in to.
What type of projects would you love to create in the future?
I have a few projects bubbling away that I’m excited about. I’m currently working on a mother-daughter rom-com, a more alternative-comedy about two best-friends getting involved in a designer baby-making ring and I have a period piece that I’ve been working on for ages about Winston Churchill’s mum – but I’ve had to pause that until I have more clout in the industry I think! I would love to write a feature film like We Live In Time by Nick Payne. It really beautifully and humorously depicts modern love in a pure and non-cynical way. I would also love to write a sit-com that leans more towards Absolutely Fabulous territory – essentially sketch comedy.
You’ve also created a podcast, called ‘Let’s Get Sh*t Greenlit’. What inspired you to start this show?
Sometimes when you’re writing (because it takes so long) it can feel like you exist in this vacuum where time doesn’t exist, and on some day it’s like you’re losing your actual mind. I was living by myself for a bit and writing alone and found myself really wanting to explain my ideas and then also what the process of writing was really like – because I kept being asked why my projects were taking so long and it made me realise people don’t really know the complexities of writing a TV show. I asked my friend Lauren Soley if she wanted to work on a TV show idea with me and we were having such a laugh that I thought, with all the previously mentioned elements combined – why not turn our chats in to a podcast that reaches beyond the four walls of my bedroom!
What do you hope to explore and achieve with this podcast?
I would love for people to see it as an access point to writing. Writing is really hard work (and I think it’s incredibly undervalued in the industry) but it’s such an empowering and rewarding form of expression. I think it intimidates a lot of people because they don’t know where to start – so if we can help with that then that’s great! I also have so many questions I’d love to ask people who have had their TV show Greenlit, so inviting them on the podcast to pick their brains would bring me the utmost joy if no-one else!
What’s next for you?
We’ve just been told Sweetpea Season Two has been Greenlit, so I’m hoping Lucille will make a return! I have also just finished writing the first short film that I intend to direct which will be a new and exciting challenge. PRAGMA will be going out to networks in the new year, so I’m really hoping that gets Greenlit! And then I also intend to send out some of my other pilots I’ve been writing early next year and hopefully get another TV show optioned – essentially keep writing and auditioning until it all falls in to place!
Photos by Jemima Marriott