Interviews

This interview took place shortly after Helen had filmed her final episodes of Brookside.

CE: So, how are you Helen?
HG: I’m well….thank you.
CE: That’s good. (mumbles something inaudiable) Real name….well, stage name….Helen Grace…real name….?
HG: (hesitantly, smiling) Helen…Scragg.
CE: (ironically) Why d’you change that (?!)
HG: My agent thought I should, why do you think?!
CE: Did you ever get called names at school?
HG: (nodding) Scraggy. Obviously.
CE: Nothing else?
HG: No.
CE: Not very imaginitive, is it?
HG: No.
CE: Because of your part in Brookside- do you ever get called names? You know, in the street….?
HG: Georgia…….
CE: Well obviously.
HG: …….. [and] “ooh, it’s her who [….] her brother, and stuff like that….
CE: And do you like that?
HG: (shakes head) No.
CE: But it’s all part of the job, though, isn’t it?
HG: Yeah, it is part of the job. I mean, generally, people are very warm. Sometimes it does get a bit much, though. Like on the tube, y’know…..
CE: On the tube in London. So, you live in London, then? Even though you work in Liverpool…?
HG: Well, I used to work in Liverpool.
CE: Do you live in Bellsize Park?
HG: I do.
CE: You’ve lived there for ages, haven’t you?
HG: Mmm-hmm
CE: So how come I’ve never seen you in the pub?
HG: I dunno. How come I’ve never seen you in the pub?
CE: Well, I live in the pub. I’m surprised you haven’t seen me in the pub! You’d think I worked there! If you’ve been to this pub- there’s only one pub there…you know, it’s……
HG: I have. Lots and lots. I was there last weekend.
CE: You weren’t!?
HG: I was!
CE:You were not!?
HG: (smiling) I was too.
CE: Now, you’re doing up your kitchen, aren’t you?
HG: I’ve done up my kitchen, actually- it’s finished.
CE: So, how did you do up your kitchen? Tell us! Go on, give us: ‘Helen Grace’s Guide To Doing Up A Kitchen.’
HG: How did you know I’ve done up my kitchen?
CE: I know everything about you.
HG: Oh really….?!
CE: I know that you won’t tell us the name of your boyfriend.
HG: I will.
CE: Oh. I was told you wouldn’t! I was told we had to give him a number! He’s number seventeen.
HG: Seventeen. Alright then….
CE: So how is number seventeen?
HG: Seventeen’s fine, yeah- very busy.
CE: And did he help you with the kitchen?
HG: He did help me with the kitchen. He helped me choose the colours for the kitchen.
CE: What’s his real name?
HG: Jamie.
CE: (shouts) JAMIE, HI!!!!……
AUDIENCE: HI!!!!
CE: …..sorry about before!!!
(laughter from audience - presumably he’s referring to a certain little incident that occured just after Helen walked on set…)
CE: Now, when you joined Brookside, did you know that you were going to get that unbelievable storyline?
HG: Yeah, I did.
CE: And did you mind that?
HG: Well, I thought about it for a few minutes and then I thought….’I must do it.’
CE: Yeh, cos it’s a cracking part. It’s been keeping us going all year, hasn’t it? In more ways than one…. We’re not allowed to laugh at it by the way- we’re not allowed to laugh at it cos we’ll get loads of complaints……you’ve had loads of complaints, haven’t you?
HG: Well I haven’t, personally. They may well’ve done but I haven’t.
CE: It’s all over soon, isn’t it?
HG: Yeah, it is. It’s coming to an end.
CE: You’ve actually left the show, haven’t you?
HG: I have.
CE: That’s how ‘over’ it is….
HG: It is that over, in fact. Well, this particular storyline is over but Georgia’s not dead and buried so….
CE: So she might come back?
HG: (laughing) Well………
CE: Let me put it another way. If you can’t get any work anywhere else….will she come back? (Helen shakes her head)
CE: No, she won’t? (Helen shakes her head again) She ‘aint gonna come back? Will she come back as somebody else, d’you reckon? Somebody else might play her?
HG: I shouldn’t think so…..I dunno.
CE: Have you got any film parts lined up…stuff like that?
HG: Nothing definite. There’s a few people sniffing around so….hopefully…
(Audience laughter)
CE: You can’t stop can you?! You’re alluring! [pause] But you’re only 25, so…..
HG: I am. I’m just starting.
CE: You’re in the Jon Bon Jovi film aren’t you?
HG: Briefly. I mean, blink and you’ll miss me but I am there.
CE: So what are your lines? [pause] Imagine I’m Jon, come on- I know it’s hard to imagine, but…..(he starts singing Livin’ On A Prayer)
HG: Shorter, shorter!
CE: OK… (he sings it again)
HG: OK, that’s it, that’s it. I walk in, and I pull up my bar stool and I say:
(puts on American accent) “Hi.” (to Chris) He says “hi”
CE: Hi.
HG: (still in character) I’ve seen your movie seven times. I’m a big fan.
CE: Is that it?
(audience applause)
CE: We don’t have long. We never have long, and I bet you can’t believe it’s over.
HG: Is it over!?
CE: It is. [pause] You don’t do interviews, do you? Cos you’re nervous.
HG: Sometimes.
CE: But you’re not sweating at all!
HG: Err… like a pig!
(audience laughter)
CE: Thanks for coming on! The lovely Helen Grace everybody!
(applause)