Interview with Christine Bottomley

Who do you play in the drama?

I play Vicky, she’s the midwife. She’s also pregnant herself – a little bit further behind the rest of the women though. She runs the parent craft group where they met. For Vicky, as she knows what can go wrong in pregnancy, she’s just coming to terms with that while trying to encourage everyone else and tell them that everything’s going to be alright for them. As a person, she’s quite an upbeat kind of girl and fairly feisty. The father of her baby works in the same hospital so that provides its own drama. It’s great as I get to see both sides of the fence – I dip in and out of everyone’s story as midwife and then the last episode is all about Vicky’s birth.

Is Vicky in denial about impending motherhood?

As it gets closer and especially as she delivers quite a few of the babies on the show, I think it gradually becomes more of a reality. She also gets close to these women when she sees things happening in their world.

The women seem to be very close despite being from different walks of life…

It’s quite true in life, isn’t it? A lot of my friends that have had babies they really do stay in touch with people from their pregnancy classes. Lots of people that they wouldn’t otherwise be friends with - they seem to form this long standing relationship.

Were you excited to get the part?

Oh definitely. I think Kay is brilliant at, and champions, writing for women. To have five or so leading women in a show is just fantastic and if you look at our crew there are loads of women; from sparks to our DOP. It’s glorious for that. I was excited about that and also working with actresses that I really admire. I’ve seen their work along the way and to play someone who’s the carer – I’ve never played anyone in a medical role before and that has its own challenges. It’s nice to be back in the north for a bit. I came straight to this from filming Undeniable, I play a lawyer in that, so really different – the polar opposite to Vicky. She was a real sharp suited and booted woman, so it was great to get this and do something totally different.

Did you know any of the cast before starting filming?

I’ve worked with Katherine (Parkinson) – we did a play together at the Soho Theatre about 8 or 9 years ago, so I know her well, she’s gorgeous and a mate so that was lovely. I knew Hermione’s work but I didn’t know her, same with Tara and a lot of the cast so it’s been lovely and I know everyone says it, but we all look out for each other and we really have got on so well. It’s gone so quickly that it feels like it’s been a really quick shoot. I’ll miss these ladies, although I’ve got a new local friend in Jill who lives round the corner from me.

Have you played pregnant before?

I have played pregnant before and also mothers’, but never ‘given birth’ on something - I hope we get there with it and it looks real.

Have you done much research?

I have, I’ve been watching OBEM constantly, my fella will get home from work and I’ll be sobbing! We had rehearsals before the shoot and two of the midwives from OBEM were there and I was quite star struck. Maud is our medical advisor and she’s been really really helpful. I’ve got so much respect for them; they’re doing two to three things at once all the time and new life is in their hands every day.

Vicky finds herself in a bit of a medical emergency...

She’s too busy looking after everyone else that she stops looking after herself. She probably should have been listening to her own advice really. When you see her in her own environment, in her flat; she’s been working these long hours, she’s knackered and she’s been living off take always….

She’s also got lots of stress – she’s absolutely madly in love with this doctor, she loves the bones of him and he’s just a bit cool. But she adores him. I feel like shaking her sometimes!