THE MANY FACES OF MIRANDA HENNESSY

Tonight [at the time of writing] you are on the Leicester Square Theatre stage with your comedy group. Looking forward to it?

Miranda Hennessey in BBC’s Pramface

I am indeed. I have got a comedy gig with my sketch group, Hennessy and Friends, it’s our monthly night and we pick and choose our favourite acts we want to have on. We do some sketches, try new material out as that’s a good way of doing it, and it’s a lot of fun.

How do you approach such an event on the day? I imagine not by having a photo shoot and interview…

This is good because it has taken my mind off it as I normally get very nervous the day of a gig. Then I have a pint beforehand to calm me down… No, maybe a cheeky half. I do get nervous, but before you know it you are on stage.

What kind of thing can we expect?

People say we are quite dark. I never realise that when I am writing and when we are rehearsing, it’s only afterwards that we go oh yes suppose we are quite dark in a way. I think we are big and silly, things that make me laugh. It’s mostly character-driven stuff… They might be inspired by people I know!

Who are the ‘friends’ you go on stage with?

Hennessy and Friends is the name of the sketch group. It’s me, David Seymour and Stephen Shapland, us three and we host other people. We have been together for about 3 years now.

It’s a series of sketches, so how do these come to you? Do you have a particular way of writing?

I normally get the ideas when I am out and about, doing other things talking to people and I have to quickly try and write it down in my notebook or my phone before I forget it, then I will go away and try make something of it. It’s quite awkward when I have an idea and I am in a conversation with someone, saying it’s quite rude but can I just quickly go away and make some notes…

Were you a child that always wanted to crack jokes or play the fool?

I was actually painfully shy as a child, but then I got cast in the school play when I was about 11 in the lead role. I remember my parents being absolutely gobsmacked. ‘Where did this come from? You never say a word!’

When did you realise comedy was something you wanted to pursue as a career?

Acting came first, and dancing – I used to do a lot of ballet. When I was at university I did a comedy module, we did stand up as part of our course and the thought of it made me feel physically sick. To my amazement everyone laughed at the things I had written and I think that’s where I first thought maybe this is something I can do.

How tough is it as a career?

I think I only ever did the comedy for fun to begin with, I was always going to be an actress, and then the comedy sort of took off and people liked it and were interested in it. It just went in that direction. We’ve have had a few audiences that have not been board with what we are doing, and there’s not much you can do – you just have to get off as quickly as possible!

Talking of the stage, you have also acted in plenty of straight theatre productions. How does it differ to doing comedy on stage?

Well, obviously you can’t make up your own words! Although I do think doing comedy has helped me as actress, at least on stage, because you learn to listen to your audience and respond to them. So each night can be different even if you are restricted by the script. I think more and more people like their actors to improvise a bit as well.

What have been the roles you’ve enjoyed the most?

I am very happy that I got to play Juliet before I was too old, I sneaked that in, it’s such a fantastic, iconic role. Zoe in Give Out Girls [to come on Sky Living]: I am really looking forward to seeing that because that’s really fun to play, she’s a real bitch. She is very mean… She’s sort of passive aggressive, she doesn’t stab you in the back, but stabs you in the face with a smile on her face, so you can’t tell she’s doing it!

And the transition to the screen – a very different world?

Yes there’s lots of standing around and you don’t get a lengthy rehearsal process, you have to make your decisions and be on it straight away for the first take. There’s not as much trial and error as you get in the theatre. But they are both essentially telling a story, becoming a character, becoming someone else which I love as it’s way more fun than being myself! I suppose you do use different skills, but the thing I love about them both is the same.

We will see you in the new series of Pramface – why were you keen to join the show?

Well being on such a well loved, successful show is always such a wonderful thing to be a part of. It’s a really good script, a brilliant character, and again not the nicest of people! I wouldn’t say she’s mean, just a bit loopy, crazy. That was a lot of fun. And also acting with people that I really admire like Anna Chancellor and Angus Deayton is wonderful.

Was it hard joining a settled cast?

The actress has two TV shows coming out this year

They were very welcoming. They are very close knit, it’s like one big family when you do the big group scenes, but they were all so lovely and it was a pleasure to work with them, especially Scarlett (Alice Johnson) and Sean (Michael Verey) who I had most of my scenes with.

It’s a popular show, so why do you think it works?

They have got a nice balance between it being very funny, but also very honest and truthful and heartfelt. You really believe in the couple, Laura and Jamie, and really feel for what they are going through, they strike that balance – they can make you laugh and cry at the same time.

Then later this year you have Give Out Girls and Siblings – was it a conscious decision to do more TV stuff?

Theatre was my first love, but I always knew I wanted to do TV and film as well, and then I think once you get one part it snowballs from there really, so I am really lucky in the last year I have worked on some really fun shows. In Siblings I am playing a posh Chelsea girl who has been of travelling, she’s a bit ditzy and an airhead, so a bit different from the others – maybe a bit more like myself. Not the posh Chelsea part!

I believe you are currently writing a script for a sitcom? Can you tell us much about that?

I don’t know what I can say, I am developing it with a production company, so it’s very exciting for me. I can’t really give away any details about it. It’s a different skill from sketch writing, but it’s a good place for me to come from because it means every single scene I am looking at how to make it funny. Not that every scene needs a punchline, but it’s good to have more jokes in.

To cover all mediums there’s also your leading role in Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre, starring opposite the original Leatherface, Gunnar Hansen. What kind of experience was that like?

Gunnar was like a cuddly teddy bear, and he looks like Father Christmas as well, he has a big, white bushy beard! He’s such a lovely guy and he has got the most amazing stories. We spent the best part of two months out on this whaling boat in the middle of the ocean every night filming, so there was lots of hanging around in the freezing cold. It was like telling stories around a campfire, he has some amazing stories. I am terrible with horror films though. I get really scared. But once you start watching one it’s really hard to turn over, you just have to know what’s going to happen at the end – even though it will give me nightmares.

OK, finally, are you the next big thing Miranda?

No, I am not, I am very different from her. We have got similar names, but different personalities… I want to do everything: drama, comedy, theatre, TV, films and I want to write as well.

Pramface Series 3 returns to BBC Three on Tuesday February 25 at 10pm – read more about Miranda at mirandahennessy.com