WATERLOO Road star Kym Marsh has revealed how she channelled her real-life grief into upcoming emotional scenes.
The actress and singer, 48, has been playing canteen worker Nicky Walters in the BBC school drama since its return last year.
Kym Marsh has revealed how she channelled real life grief into Waterloo Road scenes[/caption] Kym’s dad David died in January, following a long battle with prostate cancer[/caption] Kym with her parents David and Pauline[/caption]Kym, who lost her father in January, highlighted how her personal grief was incorporated into series 14 scenes.
She said: “Right at the beginning we see that she loses her mum, and that in itself is a bit of a journey for her because obviously she didn’t have a good relationship with her.”
Kym added: “With the death of her mum, we see her go through a bit of a struggle.
“Absolutely, as actors, we draw off our own experiences a lot of the time if we can.
“During that time we were filming my own father was sick, obviously that was something emotional because I knew that it was an imminent thing that was going to happen to my dad.
“It was an emotional time. I think sometimes it’s good to use those, though.
“It’s good to use your own emotion to put into something because it just adds to tell the story, and it adds something else.
“My dad was always very like that, though, always like, ‘Oh, come on, come on, get up and get to work. Off you go, never mind that’.
“Acting can be very cathartic, it does give us the opportunity to lay things out.
“Of course if you’re having a bad day, and you’ve got to bring the fun it can be tricky, but it can be very cathartic.”
Meanwhile, comedian Jason Manford will be appearing in series 14 as Steve Savage, the fictional school’s new headmaster.
That position has most recently been filled by Kim Campbell (Angela Griffin), who dates all the way back to series one as an art teacher.
In a description provided by the Beeb, Steve was described as a “a charismatic charmer who impresses everyone he meets and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to achieve the results he wants.”
Discussing his new gig, Jason said: “What an absolute treat it is to join the cast and crew of Waterloo Road, right here in my home city of Manchester.
Who was part of the main cast of Waterloo Road series 13?
Parents and Staff
Pupils
Returning
Who were some of the past notable characters from across the years?
Previous Heads
Notable Teachers
“My kids and I binged the show on iPlayer during lockdown.
“It’s such a brilliant, iconic show, so I’m dead proud to now be part of its history.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher, and now, becoming a headteacher, I know I would have been terrible!”
Waterloo Road series 14 will begin airing from September 10.
Jason Manford is joining the Waterloo Road cast in series 14[/caption]