Face the Fortnight: Geraldine Somerville

WHO? She plays Emily Lennox in BBC1's new Sunday night Aristocrats.  The six part drama, which starts on June 20th, follows the lives of four sisters born into one of 18th century England's most distinguished families. 

"Emily's an extraordinary woman," says Geraldine, "she's very charming, flirtatious, manipulative and passionate.  She gets married at 16 and has 22 children, which is flabbergasting."

BEFORE THIS? Geraldine worked with the Royal National Theatre, at the Bristol Old Vic, and had small parts in Casualty and Poirot before finding fame as DS Penhaligon in Cracker.  The scene in which Penhaligon got together with Fitz, played by Robbie Coltrane, is still fondly remembered.  "It was really funny doing the bedroom scene with Robbie," she chuckles, "We had a laugh as he was joking all the time. It was lovely to have a storyline which was really light and warm."

OFF SCREEN? Geraldine married her fiance Bill Osbourne-Young in December and the couple are currently doing up their home in West London. 

"I do roll up my sleeves and get stuck in with a bit of painting," she laughs, "I've also found myself wandering around garden centres which is a little worrying!"

WHAT'S NEXT? She has just finished filming a new ITV series, Daylight Robbery, which will be shown in autumn.

"It's completely different to Aristocrats. It's about four essex girls who rob banks and is quite humorous."

OH, AND NOT FORGETTING! Geraldine shouldn't have too much trouble playing the part of an aristocrat.  After all, her father Sir Quentin Charles-Agnew Somerville is distantly related to the queen!