I first worked with Eve Myles seven years ago on a programme
called Large for BBC Wales. It was a sketch show satirising all the week’s
news. Well, all the week’s Welsh news. She is one of the funniest actresses
I’ve ever worked with and we had a great time working on the series.
We had even more fun in the pub after the show where I discovered that Eve
could easily out drink me pint for pint. Not an admission a man can easily
make.
I caught up with Eve as she was in the middle of filming the eighth series
of the BBC Wales Drama Belonging. As she sat listening to Johnny Cash with
her hair in rollers, I asked her about everything that has happened to her
since Large.
So how are you coping with it all?
I’m still getting used to it. But I’m so happy, I can’t tell
you. And people seem genuinely pleased for me. Welsh people especially are
ecstatic about it.
Is it strange being recognised wherever you go?
I was actually in the Maldives recently and a few people came up and said, “You
look exactly like that Gwen Cooper from Torchwood”. I said, “Yes,
people do say that a lot. It must be the gap in the teeth!”
So they didn’t know it was you! You could get a job as your own
lookalike.
I could! What a good idea! That would be a great laugh!
What’s it like being back in Belonging? This is, what, the eighth
series?
Yes, the eighth. It’s odd, I keep wanting to run around and shoot people,
and I’m wondering when the alien’s going to jump up! But it’s
good to be back with everyone.
How did the part in Torchwood come about?
Well, Russell [T. Davies, the writer] had seen a lot of my work over the years
like Belonging and Tales From Pleasure Beach. We met at the audition for Dr
Who [where Eve was given the part of Gwyneth in the episode The Unquiet Dead].
And because Gwyneth sacrifices herself and couldn’t come back into it,
they’d had the idea that, as they wanted to carry on a spin off from
Dr Who, they wanted something with me and John Barrowman. So we had a few meetings.
It was terrifying. With Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner on board I knew
it was going to be a hit. It was such a big deal. So I was over the moon.
My mum wants to know if John Barrowman is as good looking in real life as he
is on the telly.
John Barrowman is absolutely gorgeous! And he’s such a scream. He’s
one of my most dearest and closest friends. We haven’t seen each other
in three weeks and I miss him so much. He’s a diamond. And he’s
an absolute charmer!
When does it start back?
We haven’t been told yet, but it’s sometime next year.
Read the full interview in the current issue of RedHanded.
ALL ABOUT EVE
Our own Bennett Arron catches up with former drinking pal Eve Myles to talk Torchwood and um…snogging girls