B&TF: I watched it because you mentioned somewhere you were in it. During Q&A’s you described your character as psycho and I was thinking that in the beginning, Fiona appeared to be a good person but then all those things happened and it gets confusing who she really is.

 

HP: Well, Fiona is just somebody who’s been spurned. She’s been kind of the same as the bastard of the family, I suppose, in terms of where she’s come from. She goes and gets pregnant by her cousin’s husband and then she spends the rest of the time blackmailing him and ultimately at the end of second series she kills him.

 

B&TF: I only watched the first season.

 

HP: Oh, I shouldn’t tell you that, sorry.

 

B&TF: It’s okay, I love spoilers.

“The Chase”

HP: But it really, really does build up to climax where she is very troubled girl and the thing is, when you’re playing a crazy character there has to be an understanding and luckily, Kay Mellor writes so brilliantly. A lot of people loved “The Chase” and they actually said that they almost understand why she is how she is, so I’ve obviously done my job. Although she is completely insane people still have sympathy for her. So it was really interesting to play that character. I was in just two seasons.

 

B&TF: Back to “Lip Service” now. You were not announced as a lead character.

 

HP: Yes, I was a supporting lead.

 

B&TF: But you quickly became one of the favorites.

Cast, “Lip Service”

HP: Yes, I know (laughing).

 

B&TF: Since you were the only out gay actress in the cast did it influenced your approach to the character?