Angela Griffin “can’t wait” to be interviewed by Frank Cottrell-Boyce at Shakespeare North Playhouse

Picking up the baton from her interview with Johnny Vegas in July, actress and television presenter Angela Griffin will be chatting about her brilliant career, from Waterloo Road to Bake Off to Postman Pat at Shakespeare North Playhouse Theatre.

Leeds-born Angela is a firm favourite with audiences around the world. Her road to success began in 1993 when, as a 16-year-old, she assumed the role of hairdresser Fiona Middleton in ITV’s Coronation Street.

Since then Angela has appeared in a wide variety of much-loved dramas from Cutting It, Lewis and Holby City to Netflix series White Lines and more recently Irvine Welsh’s Crime.

Angela is currently filming BBC One’s Waterloo Road in which she will reprise the role of Kim Campbell, now Head Teacher at the iconic secondary school. She can also be heard every Sunday night on BBC Radio Two’s Unwind with Angela Griffin.

You’ve had such an exciting and varied career, if you had to pick a few highlights what would they be?

A: There are so many! I loved working in Canada being on The Detail which was a remake of Scott & Bailey, it was fantastic, I got to run around with a gun which was just ace- I really loved it. It’s great coming back and doing Waterloo Road. I’m so comfortable in the job and I’m getting to direct this time which is a whole new exciting challenge and I’m really loving it.

Could you talk us through some of your favourite roles that you’ve played?

A: Definitely Stevie from The Detail. I loved playing Darcy in Cutting It because she was a real nasty piece of work. Elizabeth Harvey in Harlots as well, I’ve never done a period piece before, and it was something that I never really thought I’d get to do. It was incredible putting on all the wigs and playing someone who was basically a con artist. I also loved White Lines which we were filming over in Majorca and Ibiza which is always a cool thing. It’s always nice to play someone who’s far away from yourself so the baddies are always loads of fun.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

Directing, I’m in the thick of it now and it’s just incredible. I’m also really looking forward to my daughter’s GCSE’s being over and done with as well because having a daughter with mocks, exam stress and tension is hard to live with!

You’ll be interviewed by the wonderful Frank Cottrell-Boyce, are you looking forward to chatting to him about your incredible career?

A: I most certainly am, I’ve literally got one of his books sat in front of me right now! He’s one of my daughters’ favourite authors so they’re just as excited for me to be talking to Frank as well. I can’t wait!

Do you have any advice for budding actors?

Get as much experience as you possibly can. Go on social media and follow casting directors and production companies because sometimes they’ll do a call out when they’re looking for somebody and they’ll putt a national call out, so it’s always good to be on the other end of them, use social media to your advantage!

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions for 2023?

To say no more! Because I just end up saying yes to everything, which can be great, but then when you’ve said yes to things when you don’t have enough hours in the day you get yourself in a bit of a pickle. It’s better to do fewer things and do them right than do too many and spread yourself too thinly.

Do you have a favourite Shakespeare play or character?

I really love Much Ado About Nothing and I really love Beatrice, I think that’s probably because I want to play Beatrice. I love the comedies more than anything. I don’t know all of Shakespeare’s plays, it wasn’t something that I did at school. Apparently I would be a good Titania, but I’ve never seen A Midsummer Night’s Dream so I don’t know!

Book tickets to An Evening With Angela Griffin at Shakespeare North Playhouse here.