Interview with Lindsay Duncan - Phil

14 December 2023

Can you tell us a little bit about Phil?

Phil was Deputy Chief Constable and has been retired for years. She's highly regarded in the police force but frustrated by the fact that she didn't make it to the top rank because of the sexism at the time. Although she's retired, mentally she hasn't. She loved her job and was really, really good at it. Retirement doesn’t sit easily with her sense of self. It's frustrating for her and difficult within her marriage because they want different things. She'd rather be back at work and her husband Nigel would like to be on a cruise but that’s her idea of hell. She’s bright and capable and feels that she's still got more to give.

What can you tell us about Truelove?

Truelove starts with a small group of old friends who were at school together. It also starts with death. That's an interesting thing about the series; most of the leads are in their seventies and they meet again at a friend’s funeral. Death is in the air. Friendship is there and also a reminder of an old love. In a very drunken moment, post funeral, a pact is made between the group about how to avoid having the end of life that their friend had which was grim and painful. This pact involves helping each other when the time comes. But how serious they are about this pact is questionable.

Can you tell us a little bit about Phil’s relationship with her family?

Phil has been in a long marriage and has been absolutely supported throughout her career by her loving, good husband. She has definitely prioritised her career over her child. You've already got quite a complicated family situation. She probably could have been quite happy just having the career. You can't be a highly successful senior person in the police force and see much of your home, it’s difficult. Nigel’s been heroic because he truly loves her; she knows that and she does love him back. She hasn't been able to form an easy relationship with her daughter because she simply wasn't there, and that's undeniable. But there is love in that family. The family area that she is happiest and most comfortable in is being a grandmother, because, of course, work has not interfered with that relationship. She has two adored grandchildren. I think a lot of people understand that because when you're working, it's hard to do anything in the family life to the extent that you might want to. But when you're free of that, it's easier to just wholeheartedly give your time and your love.

What about her relationship with Ken?

The relationship with Ken goes so far back. They were in their late teens when it started and it had a difficult end. They carry that with them throughout their lives in different ways. They are both to some extent in denial about that. But death rekindles those feelings and sends them hurtling into an unexpected direction.

What do you hope audiences will take away from Truelove?

I can’t see any reason why audiences wouldn’t watch this, because it should appeal beyond the older age demographic. There’s certainly a thriller element to it and lots of things happen during the show which are surprising, and that’s great. You’ve also got an interesting bunch of characters. It’s great writing, the sort which makes you feel the character as you as you’re reading it, and you’ve got situations which are great to explore. You’ve got friendship, you’ve got a love affair. What happens with that? You’re looking at long marriages. What happens then? There are things which are much more extreme and out of the norm of most people’s experiences. But that’s exciting and you’re surprised by what people do. It is not filming people in a care home. Far from it! It’s ambitious and exciting – some of it’s almost action. I think Truelove should have a broad appeal.

How has it been having the main cast in their seventies?

A lot of material is youth-oriented, and we don’t see [a cast in their seventies] a lot on the screen, so this is great. Actors are defined by age in a way, because obviously we look the way we look. Although we are of a certain age, we still work with different generations all the time. Our lives don’t go in quite such tidy stages. It’s something that we can enthusiastically explore. I’ll be honest, I think about death all the time. I mean, I didn’t wake up and think about it today, but I’m of a certain age and I think: how long? These questions do come up. But then, here I am, in this major television series at 72! That’s great, isn’t it? Working flat out, and with actors at the same age. That’s a very happy position to be in if you’re thinking about how long you’ve got.