Wiltshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-Main-landscape.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32570" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-Main-landscape.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-Main-landscape-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-Main-landscape-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-Main-landscape-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>She’s best known as nurse Shelagh Turner (aka Sister Bernadette) in BBC drama <em>Call the Midwife</em>, but Laura Main has swapped midwifery for impending motherhood, in raucous new comedy, <em><a href="https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/one-last-push" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Last Push</a></em>. The play premieres at <a href="https://wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/category/salisbury-playhouse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salisbury Playhouse</a> on 15 Feb, and is created by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch, Doctor Who). Co-starring Sam Alexander and Sherry Baines, it’s a hilarious romp through what happens when preparations for childbirth go horribly wrong. Here, Laura gives Muddy the lowdown&#8230;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-last-push-sounds-fabulously-chaotic-talk-us-through-your-role"><strong>One Last Push sounds fabulously chaotic. Talk us through your role&#8230;</strong></h2>



<p>I play Jen, who is heavily pregnant and literally just about to drop. She wants to give birth at home, in a birthing pool, and is busy organising it all. But let’s just say that things don’t quite go to plan&#8230; &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-quite-a-change-from-the-emotional-rollercoaster-of-call-the-midwife-do-you-enjoy-comedy"><strong>It’s quite a change from the emotional rollercoaster of <em>Call the Midwife</em>. Do you enjoy comedy?</strong></h2>



<p>I love it! <em>Call the Midwife</em> has lots of funny scenes, but when you add a live audience into the mix it’s great fun – you know immediately if the comedy is landing. There are touching moments in <em>One Last Push</em>, but it’s a very funny play. I laughed out loud when I read the script, and we’ve had a lot of fun in rehearsals too.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/One-Last-Push-rehearsal-Photo-by-Ash-Mills-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32571" style="aspect-ratio:1.4992503748125936;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/One-Last-Push-rehearsal-Photo-by-Ash-Mills-copy.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/One-Last-Push-rehearsal-Photo-by-Ash-Mills-copy-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/One-Last-Push-rehearsal-Photo-by-Ash-Mills-copy-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/One-Last-Push-rehearsal-Photo-by-Ash-Mills-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In rehearsals, photo by Ash Mills</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-are-your-favourite-comedians"><strong>Who are your favourite comedians?</strong></h2>



<p>My all-time favourite is Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge, and I’m also a huge fan of him as an actor. I love <em>Motherland</em> too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-have-you-had-any-unintentionally-funny-moments-on-stage"><strong>Have you had any unintentionally funny moments on stage?</strong></h2>



<p>I was playing Juliet in <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> at <a href="https://openairtheatre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre</a>, and during a matinee we got to the bit where Juliet has taken the potion and appears to be dead. It was a capella and I don’t know quite what happened, but someone hit the wrong note and everyone came in with clashing harmonies. It was hideously discordant and I was there, being paraded around on a bier, corpsing as a corpse. I tried to stay still, but I was shaking with the giggles.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-three-words-would-your-friends-or-family-use-to-describe-you"><strong>What three words would your friends or family use to describe you?</strong></h2>



<p>Ok, so I’ve got to admit that when I saw you were going to ask me this, I did cheat a bit and ask my two sisters. Between them, they came up with enthusiastic, fun and loving. They went for positive traits, I’m sure there are others! Jen, my character in <em>One Last Push</em>, is really feisty. There is a version of me that’s feisty, but I don’t go about like that in day-to-day life, so I’m quite enjoying accessing my feisty side in the play.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-would-you-say-you-re-similar-to-your-call-the-midwife-character-nurse-shelagh-turner-she-s-very-caring"><strong>Would you say you’re similar to your <em>Call the Midwife</em> character, nurse Shelagh Turner? She’s very caring&#8230;</strong></h2>



<p>I do think Shelagh’s had an effect on me. Playing her has definitely made me less shy and reserved, and I’m not afraid to reach out and care for people when it’s needed.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/BBC-Neal-Street-Productions-Andrea-Southam-NOT-FOR-RESUSE.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32572" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/BBC-Neal-Street-Productions-Andrea-Southam-NOT-FOR-RESUSE.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/BBC-Neal-Street-Productions-Andrea-Southam-NOT-FOR-RESUSE-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/BBC-Neal-Street-Productions-Andrea-Southam-NOT-FOR-RESUSE-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/BBC-Neal-Street-Productions-Andrea-Southam-NOT-FOR-RESUSE-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">BBC / Neal Street Productions / Andrea Southam </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-you-unwind-after-a-show"><strong>How do you unwind after a show?</strong></h2>



<p>This is going to sound boring, but I don’t tend to drink, because I want to feel sharp the next day. If I’m at home in London, I go to my hot yoga class or I might do a meditation, using Headspace. I come from Aberdeen and I love getting out into the hills, so I’ll enjoy some walks while I’m staying in Wiltshire.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-talk-us-through-your-skincare-routine"><strong>Talk us through your skincare routine&#8230;</strong></h2>



<p>I love a facial and I’ve tried micro needling, but I’m trying to not do the ‘other stuff.’ As an actor you want to look good, but you need your facial expressions too. I’ve also justified buying <a href="https://augustinusbader.com/uk/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Augustinus Bader</a> Rich Cream, because I have to go on camera! I also take a bit of collagen, sleep well and drink plenty of water, which all helps.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-have-you-ever-been-starstruck"><strong>Have you ever been starstruck?</strong></h2>



<p>Once, I was recording an audio book and as I went into the vocal booth, I crossed paths with Helen Bonham Carter. Afterwards, she popped her head back into the booth and said how much she loved <em>Call the Midwife</em>, which was thrilling. We had a wonderful chat – it was my first audio book and I was a bit nervous, but she gave me some wonderful advice and tips. That was pretty exciting.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-in-rehearsals-Ash-Mills-resized.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32573" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-in-rehearsals-Ash-Mills-resized.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-in-rehearsals-Ash-Mills-resized-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-in-rehearsals-Ash-Mills-resized-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Laura-in-rehearsals-Ash-Mills-resized-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Ash Mills</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-be-your-dream-dinner-party-guests"><strong>Who would be your dream dinner party guests?</strong></h2>



<p>Is it really boring if I say actors? They can be very entertaining and they are great storytellers, especially the older generation. Dame Judi Dench would be nice to have dinner with, or Sir Ian McKellen. I’ve had a couple of ‘wow’ nights, like when we stayed in the Outer Hebrides, shooting an episode of <em>Call the Midwife</em>. At the dinner table, Miriam Margolyes started reciting<em><strong> </strong></em>her one-woman show, <em>Dickens’ Women</em>. That was pretty cool. I’m name dropping all over the shop now, but when we filmed in South Africa, Sinéad&nbsp;Cusack&nbsp;was there and Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne) invited us both on a safari. Over dinner they reminisced about their RSC days. That was a real pinch me moment.</p>



<p><strong><a href="https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/one-last-push"><em>One La</em></a><a href="https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/one-last-push" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>st Push</em></a> opens on 15 Feb at Salisbury Playhouse and runs until Sat 9 Mar. Tickets from £13, see <a href="https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/one-last-push#dates-and-times">h</a><a href="https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/one-last-push#dates-and-times" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ere</a>.</strong></p>


Comedy chaos: Muddy meets Laura Main, star of One Last Push

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