Jo's credit in the "Between The Sheets" closing titles

Donna and Dean

7.1 (293) Groundhog Day [28/09/03]

Donna and Clyde

7.7 (299) A Little Less Conversation [09/11/03] 

Can you tell us of how you got started in acting, and how it progressed from there?

I've always had a passion for acting. I did Theatre Studies at A-Level, and then I wanted to do my degree in Performing Arts or Dance and Drama. So I moved to Liverpool from Carlisle, my sister was already living there so from the age of sixteen I'd just fallen in love with Liverpool, and decided to go to university there. I went to John Moores University, did Dance and Drama there, and was just wanting to get myself an agent which is quite difficult. I landed some work as an extra, a little bit-part on "Hollyoaks", followed by "Between The Sheets" and then I got the part on Dream Team so moved to London.

Do you remember much about this bit-part in "Hollyoaks" and what the story was?

Ha ha yes! It was small but I was in quite a few scenes over a couple of episodes. I was playing the part of a prostitute. We filmed it in Liverpool at the top end of town. Can't remember the storyline but it was somebody Sol (Paul Danan) was going out with and I was a friend of hers. I was quite far from the camera in one scene, they were filming at the other end, and a car actually pulled up beside me! I didn't know what to do so I just ran off! It was an experience it really was.

You made a couple more early credits, in two big one-off ITV dramas "Blood Strangers" and “Between The Sheets”. Tell us more about those…

“Blood Strangers” was a really small part. I remember we filmed it in Manchester and did a night shoot, but I only had a couple of lines. I was like a passer-by, it wasn't anything major.

I did a few days on “Between The Sheets” but again nothing massive. Brenda Blethyn and Alun Armstrong were in it, and with it being one of the first things I'd done, it was nice as when you watch the actors from behind the camera, it's like they're going about things quite subtle and not acting at all. Almost like they don't seem to be doing much as you watch. But then you view that scene again on-screen and see all the little things like the looks they're giving, and it really is impressive how they do it.

Next came what would become a huge role for you on Dream Team. It sounds like it was a specific casting brief when the search began for the actors who would play the Boyles. Like with them being Evertonian's it was almost a certainty they would be Liverpool actors (or at least close to, with yourself being from Carlisle). You mentioned you were already living in Liverpool at this point?

I was already in Liverpool, and the audition was for a 'Scouser' so I went up for it and luckily got the part. I actually had my audition with Michael Ryan (Dean). He was at my first audition in Manchester, which was great as we both ended up getting the parts. At that audition, we met for the first time and went in together at the same time, so was good when we saw each other again later and were from our first auditions.

Do you recall if there was much excitement around the Liverpool acting scene for the four roles going, especially as they were regular parts on a London-filmed series?

I think they were looking for the actors for a long time from what I gathered. When I auditioned, I knew there would be a recall where they’d cut the numbers down, and that's usually a few days after the first audition. So when I auditioned for Dream Team it was February, and I didn't hear anything afterwards. Then a girl I knew rang me and said "I've got an audition for this part in Dream Team. What should I wear for it, or what did you wear for yours?". I was sure I hadn't got it as I thought I'd have been recalled by this point, it felt like a really long time. And then one day they called and said "See you in London". I went down to the studio and met Ben [Harris] who was the producer and Ellen [Taylor]. Had to audition again, and then got the part.

And when you yourself were successful as being cast as Donna Gibb, that must have felt a proud accomplishment as an actress?

Oh yeah it was amazing it really was. I was debating whether to do my teacher training which I was always going to do, as I'd got on the course and was actually in a school at the time, shadowing one of the drama teachers when I got the phone call to say I'd got the part. So I was really, really happy. And then my agent said "Do you want the number of the girl who's going to be playing your sister? As there's going to be four of you going from Liverpool and having to relocate in London for Dream Team". So I spoke to Cheryl [Mackie] on the phone, arranged to meet up, and then when we went down [to London] we arranged to move in together which was nice.

So you all looked after each other as well?

Yeah it was a bit like university again, when you go off and don't really know anybody. With me and Cheryl, and then of course Michael and Alan (Tony) we all got on really well as a 'team'.

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