Tessa Peake-Jones, 57, is known to millions as Del Boy’s other half Raquel in Only Fools And Horses. The London-born actress talks about being cast in ’cardigan roles’, the lack of parts for older women and her campaign to appear in Strictly
IS IT TRUE YOU’VE SET YOUR SIGHTS ON APPEARING IN STRICTLY?
Yes, I’ve been hinting because, one day, in two or three years, when I haven’t got quite the family commitments, if it’s still successful I’d like to go on it. I’m laying the ground down now. I love watching the progress everybody makes from when you see them looking absolutely terrified the first time they have to dance with their partner, and then to just a few weeks later and the difference in them all is just amazing. To learn new steps and different flavours of dancing every week must be such fun, and they all say what a wonderful family feeling it is.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CHRISTMAS?
I love Christmas but the only thing I don’t like, and I’ve noticed it happening more and more, is all the Christmas things coming out before we’ve even had bonfire night. I find that all a bit gross and materialistic. It was about before Halloween and you think, ‘Come on now!’ That’s a turn-off.
ARE YOU ONE TO MAKE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS?
I don’t tend to make them or look back. I’m not great at, ‘How can we learn from this?’ or thinking, ‘If only’. I believe in living for today and looking forward and then just being kind and doing your best, so I probably won’t make a resolution.
WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON ROLES FOR OLDER WOMEN?
It’s changed slowly, but I think it could change more. Most of the parts on television are played by men, but I think we’re getting a little closer. It’s not so much how many women are used on telly but the age group. If they’re going to cast leading people, apart from Vera
THE LEADS IN YOUR NEW FILM BONOBO ARE BOTH WOMEN AGED OVER 50 AREN’T THEY?
That’s what’s unusual about Bonobo, that it’s two middle-aged women who are the main people, myself and Josie Lawrence. To have mid-fifties women as leads on a movie just doesn’t happen. It’s very, very rare unless it’s Meryl Streep.
YOUR GRANTCHESTER CO-STAR JAMES NORTON APPEARS AS WELL DOESN’T HE?
Yes, we’re quite aggressive to each other in the film. James is amazing. It was great to have that shorthand.
GRANTCHESTER’S JUST BEEN COMMISSIONED FOR ANOTHER SERIES. WHAT DO YOU THINK MADE IT SO POPULAR?
It’s got a bit more edge to it than some of those detective series and it’s not just about the murder every week. It’s about the relationships developing between the regular people in it. And that’s what’s important, that the public care about the people.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF PLAYING THE DOWDY HOUSEKEEPER MRS MAGUIRE?
You do think, ‘Oh here we go again!’ I do tend to play these people. ‘Cardigan roles’ as I call them. I had a perm done, which looked great for the part, but in real life it was appalling. The reaction was that I looked like a very sad, ageing rock star. I put up with it for four months and then had it all cut off.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A SCRIPT THESE DAYS?
I like any role that’s a challenge. I could do with a bit more of the glamour, but equally I’m not a vain actress, so I don’t care about not wearing make-up if it’s right for the part. In some ways, it’s more challenging to do those roles where you have to be braver and say, ‘You know what, I won’t have help of a lipstick, I’m just going to go for this.’
DO YOU STILL GET A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THE STREET FOR PLAYING RAQUEL IN ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES?
At the moment, Grantchester’s taken over, which is quite odd because it’s always been Raquel, like a shadow, as it is for all of us in that programme. It’s quite interesting now I’ll have people call out ‘Dickens’
- Grantchester is available on DVD and Digital HD now, priced £19.99
- Bonobo is in cinemas now