Online
chat - Simone has done two. One while working on Bad Girls.
Also one on 31st October 2004 via The BBC Website. To read the BBC
Online Chat, CLICK HERE
Simone Online Chat - 3rd May 2000
For pictures - CLICK HERE
Picture the scene, 7.40 Wednesday evening at Shed Productions HQ. Simone is due to arrive in 10 minutes time. Lets get ready, the PC's are ready to go all we need to do is log on to the chatroom. Simple enough right? Wrong! We couldn't get into the chatroom! Many a frantic phone call followed to our technical advisor to see what was going on and he didn't know. The chatroom had been working perfectly all day.
Simone arrived about 7.50 and we still couldn't get on-line, time for another drink! Don't panic yet, there is still time before 8pm to sort it out. 8.30 still can't get into the chatroom. Another drink is needed. By this time Simone had started to write her answers to peoples' questions on paper.
Then Ann McManus had a brilliant idea, "why don't we start posting answers in the guestbook" Great idea! So that is what we did. By this time I had given up with the chatroom for now.
I know, I'll go to the Message Board and let people know what's going on. Disaster that had gone down too. What a nightmare.
Not all was lost, we still had the Guestbook! Not for long, that went down too! By now we were all running from PC to PC (we had 3 going, I pity Shed's phone bill!) trying to get some questions answered.
This worked quite well for a while until both the Guestbook and Message Board went down. Amongst all this chaos we all managed to have a good time and a real laugh at the situation. Simone had caused a meltdown of the Larkhall Insider website.
After 10pm and many bottles of 'cheap wine' supplied by Shed,(thank you, but don't let me drink again, ever!) we finally managed to get Simone chatting live. Relief, the evening wasn't a complete wash out. Simone stayed on line chatting till after 12. I think she enjoyed herself judging by the amount of laughter going on.
Simone, Ann, Maureen, Eileen and myself all had a great time, even Brian Park popped in to say hello. It wasn't what you were all hoping for - but the chatroom technology isn't geared to handle 2,800 people all trying to ask a question at the same time (so I have been told by many people!).
Massive thanks to Simone and everybody at Shed Productions. What a night! What a great company! Thank you to everybody that stayed with us.
ON-LINE CHAT
Questions & Answers
Would you consider coming up to Leeds and performing at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, a great Theatre?
Simone: I'd love to. Geez a job & I'm there!
Have you done any other line of work besides acting?
Simone: I ran a cafe/restaurant in Camden called 'Magenta' for a few months. My god that was hard work.
Would you do another lesbian storyline, or would you reject a role for fear of being typecast?
Simone: I would, but not for a wee while- mainly because I'd like to explore other things now & I think Shed has done such a good job with the Nikki/Helen storyline. I think it will be hard to find something that explores a lesbian storyline as sensitively.
Are you enjoying the adulation from lesbian fans, or would you prefer your fans to be heterosexual?
Simone: I'm just so flattered to any fans especially lesbian, when I'm doing a lesbian storyline it means we must be doing something right!
If you could play any other character in Bad Girls, who would it be and why?
Simone: Jim Fenner, he's such a bastard!
Do you have any vices?
Simone: Loads, but I'm not telling you, not till I've had a few more drinks anyway!
What is your most extravagant purchase ever?
Simone: Other than my flat, a dress that I bought for the Scottish Baftas which was £1,200
Was it strange playing Fiona in 'The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star' and Helen in 'Bad Girls', who were incredibly different people, but both 'Trying to maintain a professional relationship' in very different circumstances? And also both getting round it in different ways as well?
Simone: I hadn't thought of that connection but of course your right. I love playing characters that have obstacles to overcome. But love/lust over comes all in the end....! Or does it?
How did you cope with being bullied at school and still have the confidence to become an actress?
Simone: I fought back. There’s a few people back home in Stirling with bits of ear missing, bald patches where their hair didn’t grow back! No. but I did fight back and still do. There are always people out there who will try to stop you expressing yourself/doing what you want. Mostly, sadly because they feel they can’t themselves
Would you be interested in doing a third series of Bad Girls?
Simone: A 3rd series hasn’t been commissioned yet so I can’t answer that.
How many episodes are you in this series and whose decision was it that you shouldn't appear in them all?
Simone: I’m in about 8 out of 13.
What was it like working with Mandana and are you good friends off screen?
Simone: Mandana is gorgeous & funny. We’re very good mates off screen. She’s a top bird!
Did you realise when you first started on BG that it would get such a large fan base?
Simone: I thought it had all the ingredients to be a popular drama. But I had no idea it would have this kind of impact and attract so many wonderful devoted fans.
What career would you have taken if you had not become an actress.?
Simone: I originally trained as dancer and did choreograph 5 shows in all. So maybe I would have continued with that. I also sang in a couple of bands. I was once offered a deal which I turned down.
Do you play a musical instrument?
Simone: Tried to play Violin as a child. I wasn’t very good.
What was your favourite subject at school (excluding drama)?
Simone: Art
What's your favourite (alcoholic) drink?
Simone: Vodka/RedBull, JD and Coke, Champagne.
How do you feel about the fact that you (and Bad Girls) have a huge fan base, not only here in Wales and the U.K but also as far away as New Zealand?
Simone: Its fantastic isn’t it? The more BG fans out there, the better. Bad Girls are taking over the planet.
Who are what inspires you?
Simone: Friends, children, some of my family. Mohammed Ali, Madonna in someways. Her single mindedness I find fascinating.
What are your best and worst characteristics?
Simone: Honesty/loyalty/absent minded.
What is your most treasured possession?
Simone: My home/garden.
How do you feel about the overwhelming interest in you and Mandana right now?
Simone: Overwhelmed and hugely flattered.
If you could choose to play any role in a film or drama, which would it be?
Simone: I love new writing - The part in the short film I’m about to do is right up my street, I can’t wait.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
Simone: Same as everyone else. Eating out with friends, cinema, driving with music loud, traveling, dancing, reading, shopping and café culture.
Do you enjoy living in London?
Simone: I love London- Its a great place to be if your feeling up and you’ve got money in your pocket, but the worst place if you're down and skint.
Do you enjoy the Theatre?
Simone: Love doing Theatre, if its a good production & company its a real buzz.
How have your family (which I suspect is a typical Scottish family) reacted to seeing you kiss another woman in front of millions and than attract such media attention to the storyline.
Simone: Some like it, some don’t (watch). Last time I saw my Granny she said "I saw you in your film (BG), I thought you were lovely. You were showing a nice bit of leg on the roof (big laugh!) When I told her there was a big kissing scene coming she said " Och its only acting isn’t it. As long as you don’t like it "(another big laugh) I hope she’s still open minded when she sees episode 13!
Are both Simone & Mandana going to be in the 3rd series?
Simone: Don’t know on both counts.
Do you like travelling and if so where is your favourite place?
Simone: I love travelling, for me it’s the biggest buzz. There are so many places I still want to go like Cape Town, Cuba, Rome, Venice, Egypt, Morocco, Tokyo, China, Russia, to name but a few. I went to Australia a couple of years ago for a month on my own (although I have close friends over there whom I spent time with), travelling up and down the east coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay. It’s an amazing country, so vast, so spiritual. Spending a bit of time there gave me some sense of how the aborigines have evolved into such a beautiful, spiritual, harmonious people. It’s so sad that they like the native American Indians and indigenous people all over the world have been bullied and marginalised .
Other places I love are, Paris, New York, Barcelona and Tobago.
What is your favourite film or TV drama of all time?
Simone: I’ve so many favourite films. Come and See, the best anti - war film you will ever see, Festen, by Dogma 95, It’s a Wonderful Life - with the wonderful Jimmy Stewart and many, many more.
I don’t watch an awful lot of TV, but I think ER is one of the best TV dramas ever made. Did anyone see the recent double bill? Talk about edge of seat - I cried inconsolably, Fantastic TV - Faultless.
Can we expect to see you in any more films or TV drama and if yes what ones and when?
Simone: I’m just about to do a short film (30 mins) called ‘Long Haul’ for Maverick Television with a great Scottish actor Gary Lewis who was in Peter Mullens wonderful film ‘Orphans’. He was the brother who carried his Mother’s coffin on his back,(a very funny scene). I’m going up to Scotland tomorrow & I start filming on Monday for a week, I can’t wait. Its just exactly what I want to do right now. Beautifully scripted by Janet Paisley and directed by Bob Blagden.
My character is in a numb state of shock after her home burned down with her two sons 7 & 9 trapped inside. She was round at a neighbour's house when the fire started. Her survival mechanism has made her take flight. She’s been walking for a couple of days when she gets picked up by a long distance lorry driver. The film follows there journey down the M6.
And finally Simone gives her thoughts on Larkhall Insider, her feelings for her fans and her character.
Simone: I first heard about the ‘Larkhall Insider’ last summer when I was at the Haymarket Theatre in Leicester doing ‘Playboy of the Western World’ and I met the lovely Kristi who asked me to do an on-line chat. At the time I was completely computer Illiterate, so we opted for me filling out a questionnaire instead. That was one of the proverbial nudges, as well as friends going travelling and wanting to keep in touch with them, that prompted me to give up my resistance and get with the 21st Century and buy myself a computer. It was time to experience the Internet Phenomenon for myself.
I’m like a kid with a new toy (still). It’s fantastic having access to so much information. It’s great for research when I’m working. I love e-mails - I have this amazing new e-mail relationship with my Dad when he’s away on the rigs. There are things you can say in written word you just never say face to face and he sends me jokes and stuff. I am getting to know him so much better and we’ve become even closer. It’s very exciting. I gather the Larkhall Insider has had a similar effect for some of you in that there have been lots of new friendships that have sprung from it - isn’t that wonderful?
So Larkhall Insider, can I just say first off congratulations and thank you to Kristi, Anna, Helen, Clare, Smoz and Charlie for all their hard work setting up what I think is one of the best sites on the net.
I have to say I’ve been bowled over by the response to Bad Girls. I’m so glad to hear your not only enjoying it for it’s entertainment value, but you are also discussing it and being affected by it.
As an actress it has always been my desire to simulate debate. If you can get people talking we are already instigating the process of change. I think BG is achieving that and Larkhall is a big part of that.
Can I also say thank you so much for all your amazing letters, I so appreciate people taking the time to write to me. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading all your letters. I’m sorry if it takes a long time to get back to you, but I will eventually, so please be patient with me.
It’s so good to get some real feedback to the programme as opposed to cynical journalism that always has it's own agenda. ( Luckily reviews have very little effect on TV Viewing unlike Theatre unfortunately).
I do love when you tell me your jobs, what inspires you, what you love, what you hate etc. It’s such a compliment to Shed Productions and all the actors hearing that BG has had such a positive effect on some peoples lives.
As for the Nikki/Helen storyline, it seems to have captured a lot of peoples imaginations, men & women, gay and straight alike. By all account it seems to be breaking down some of the ignorance, stereotyping and prejudice that gay women & men have to contend with everyday and that can only be a good thing. I hate any form of bullying, wouldn’t it be great if we could learn to live and let live.
Helen has been a very interesting character for me to play, I’m actually not like her at all in real life. What attracts me to her is that she is strong, yet very vulnerable. She makes loads of mistakes, but she’s warm, genuinely cares, she never stops fighting and works to overcome her fears. Quiet an inspiring character.
I think she and Nikki are so well matched. Wouldn’t it be great to see their relationship grow and develop outside the confines of prison! I mean I know all relationships have their obstacles to overcome, but very moral, straight woman in the Prison Service and her problems and a high spirited rebellious volatile open gay woman lifer? Will love find a way?
Watch and find out!
NOTE - These online chats were not arranged by SL Net and we cannot arrange future ones.