Maggie O'Neill interview

Published: Tuesday, 24 July 2007, 5:13PM

What’s your character Laura’s story?
Laura is a woman who has put her career on the back-burner to bring up her family. Energised by a new job with her husband's best friend, she realises her marriage to Will has become stale. Launching herself into an affair with the best friend she is forced to confront the state of her relationship. She must decide whether or not she wants her  marriage to continue.

What attracted you to this comedy drama?
I liked the way we see the drama from the children's perspective, which shows the adults’ way of dealing with things to be messy, confused and often rather petty.

Are there any similarities between you and your character?
We’re both messy and confused.

Does Laura realise the effects everything is having on her son?
I think Laura is probably in such a mess that she goes into denial and only realises the effect it has on their son in retrospect.

Would you take advice from a TV show or magazine on how to bring up children?
I'm not a fan. I dislike any programme that tells people how to live their lives.

What have you enjoyed most about working with Joseph who plays Oliver?
Joe was a real pleasure to work with, a natural actor, great personality and has a wicked sense of humour. What more could you ask for in a leading actor?

What is the naughtiest thing you've ever done?
I'd need the number of a good lawyer before I tell you that.

What were you like at school?
Absent.

What is your earliest childhood memory?
Sharing a pram with my sister.

Did you know…
• Maggie is the youngest of six children
• Maggie supports Arsenal Football Club