Interview with Ben Miller (Richard)
Category: Press Pack ArticleWhat drew you to Suspect?
I just find it a really exciting show. I love thrillers and this is about as thrilling as it gets. There's a sort of ever widening circle of light revealing more and more intrigue. I really like the structure of it from an acting point of view. It's very unusual the way that it's shot. It's shot in very long takes with this sort of long, in depth two hander scenes. You can really dig into the psychology. It's very much digging into the psychology of the characters.
What are the challenges you face as an actor with that structure?
You are kind of on your own as an actor, really. I mean you have a power that you don't really generally have in film or television. Usually, it's all done in very short takes. And this way of shooting gives much more breadth to the acting side of things. So, I think that's what attracted so many actors to the show. I also think it's the chance to do something you don't usually get to do, but also just to have a little more unbroken acting, a little closer to theatre. A space where you're having that experience of playing longer scenes and nobody is calling cut all the time.
Does the structure and short shooting schedule help you find the emotional intensity of the show?
It's certainly it's a heightened show. The characters are under an enormous amount of pressure. And it certainly it leans into that. Definitely.
Tell us about your location this series. Obviously, a very distinct episode by episode. Where are you shooting?
My episode takes place at a police conference HQ. My character Richard is a Detective Superintendent and is about to give a lecture to an entire room full of senior colleagues. And he's also going to be giving this lecture with his wife (played by Tamsin Greig) who has worked with the police force as a lawyer. At the same time, Susannah (played by Anne-Marie Duff), the ex-wife of a police colleague and the woman I had an affair with turns up, so I am in a sticky situation! So, this is probably the worst place on the planet we could be having this intense conversation, where hundreds of police colleagues all just through the double doors.
What is his relationship with Susannah?
Richard's relationship with Susannah is complicated. Basically, he was her husband's boss, but they had an affair. Well, in this episode, Richard claims that he cut it off. We don't really quite know what happened. And so he and Susannah have history together and she's really asking for his help. And for various reasons he's withholding it.
And your relationship with Natasha, played by Tamsin Greig?
Natasha is my wife. Richard having an affair seems to have added a little bit of spice back into my marriage. I think we are a sort of a pretty solid unit by the time we join the story.
Other than Anne-Marie, you are the only cast member to return from series one. Has your approach to the character stayed the same?
Well, actually, there's a bit more to it this time. In series one, it was kind of hard to figure out exactly where Richard stood in all of this. In this series, it's become a little more developed - you find out a little bit more about him. I knew roughly what the character's journey would be throughout the entirety of the stories. And yeah, I really like it. What I find fascinating about him as a character, is one of those people that you wouldn't spot in a crowd. You know, it's a kind of important thing, really, that a certain kind of person who fades into the background. So it's kind of interesting. It's like putting a spotlight on the sort of person who wouldn’t go anywhere near the spotlight, usually. And I find that aspect of my character interesting. And I think for me, it’s the underlying ambiguity, he's a character with his heart in the right place and yet he's a suspect like all of the characters.
What was it like acting alongside Anne-Marie Duff and Tamsin Greig. Are you excited?
I'm very excited. But first of all, I just don't understand how I managed to have relationships with Anne-Marie Duff and Tamsin Greig! I mean, thank goodness it's make believe. I did one days acting with Tamsin before, but when I asked her about it, she couldn't remember! Both Anne-Marie and Tamsin are just amazing actresses. I've been watching both for years and years and years.