| On The Set Of Merseybeat OK! Talks exclusively to TV presenter Josie D'Arby about her new role, RADA classmates and dream man. Usually Josie D'Arby is seen careering from one item to the next on live television. With a director gabbling in her ear, a script that changes every minute clutched in her hand and the latest hot pop star perched on a sofa waiting to be interviewed, Josie takes every twist and turn in her stride. Watching her on shows like Top Of The Pops, The Big Breakfast and T4, Channel 4's magazine show on Sunday morning, nobody would have guessed that the frenzied presenter on screen had spent three years at Britain's premier drama school and could recite Shakespearian speeches. Now Josie is putting her RADA training to good use as straight-talking PC Jodie Finn on the BBC police drama Merseybeat, alongside former Hollyoaks star Joanna Taylor, Jonathan Kerrigan, John McArdle and Haydn Gwynne. OK! Met with Newport-born Josie on a location shoot in a pub car park in Widnes, where we watched her film an exciting scene with co-star Jonathan Kerrigan. Afterwards, we retreated to Josie's luxurious trailer to talk about her little-known thespian skills, why she's putting presenting on the back burner and her fascination for beards. Explain what's happening in the scene you've just filmed... We've been called out to a fight but when we get there it's one of our own officers, played by Jonathan (Kerrigan). We still have to treat him like a fighting punter. My Character and Jonathan's are very close and he's the last person I expected to arrest. It's a great scene because I get to push him and touch his chest! I broke a nail doing that scene. That doesn't sound in keeping your tough cop character... (Laughs) It's always hilarious when we do tough scenes because that's so not me. All the tough talking, like 'Oi, shut it', makes me crack up. I've never had a fight in my life. I'm a flowerpot-hugging, tree-hugging pacifist. The director keeps telling me to stop smiling in serious scenes! Could you be a copper? Never, never, never. I'm not designed for it at all. I got stopped once by a policeman when I was driving. He was driving, flashing his lights and I thought he was trying to get past me. I served across the lanes to get out of his way. In fact he was trying to tell me to turn my lights on! I got breathalysed, which made me laugh because I'm teetotal. People have seen you presenting lots of shows but not many people know you're a RADA-trained actress. Why the switch to acting? I was enjoying presenting and knew that when the time was right I'd go back to acting and the RADA training would come into play. But I didn't keep it a secret, I would tell people I went to RADA in the first five seconds of meeting them. I practically walked around in my RADA sweatshirt! I chose the first role carefully because a few presenters have had a go at acting and it takes a while to get it right. People always say I'm the happiest person they've ever met so I thought I'd do drama. Then I thought I'd play something opposite to my usual happy, smiling self. And Jodie is miserable as sin! Were Ioan Gruffudd and Matthew Rhys in your acting class at RADA? Yes - those lads! They were inseparable at RADA. I see them from time to time. There's a bond there, it's a Welsh thing! It's so nice that they've stayed mates and now live together. They could afford to move out and get their own places but they just get on so well. I've been to their flat. The kitchen was nice and it was very tidy, but I think that's because they had a cleaning lady. How does acting compare to television presenting? Acting is totally different from presenting. Presenting doesn't help you act at all; in fact it hinders you. Acting is more of an art form and more challenging. I just love it when they shout 'Action' and you're right there. It's funny; two hours of presenting live TV is two hours of screen time. But with drama you could work for 12 hours and only get four minutes in the can. I love acting - bring on the movies, bring on Oscars and BAFTAs! Does this mean you're giving up presenting? I'll give presenting a rest for a little while - until Davina (McCall) retires anyway! Until she retires every other female presenter may as well just step down. She's brilliant; she's got the same energy as me. I would have loved to have presented Streetmate and Big Brother; The only way I thought I might get to present Big Brother was if Davina was pregnant. She got pregnant but presented it anyway! Do you miss presenting? Not really. Although I was in a studio the other day watching Dermot (O'Leary) presenting some live TV. He was in the eye of the storm with everything kicking off around him and for a second I though: 'Aaaaah, I miss that!' How's the boyfriend situation? I couldn't possibly comment! I don't like talking about it. Years ago I had a boyfriend and talked about him to a magazine reporter in an interview. The piece came out after we split up. He read it and phoned me up asking me if I still loved him! Relationships are tough things for everybody and especially difficult if you're in this business. Now I know why so many of my acting friends went out with other actors, because you spend so much time together. Who's your dream man? Viggo Mortensen from Lord Of The Rings is lovely. I like the rugged, hairy type. You like beards? Beards are fantastic! I even went through a phase of not looking at shaven men. Don't you get a rash from kissing a guy with a beard? I never kissed one so I wouldn't know if they are itchy or not! |