Freeview Focus on... Sarah Solemani

28 October 2011

Sarah Solemani plays Becky in the hugely popular comedy series Him & Her. Having appeared in a variety of comedy and drama programmes and with a host of writing credits under her belt, we caught up with Sarah to find out what makes her tick when it comes to TV. 

1. Tell us about Him & Her…

Him and Her is a sitcom about a couple on benefits who day by day, don't do anything. They are perfectly content and love each other dearly. Becky, who I play, is a top lass - she's very relaxed and doesn't have any 'issues' with anything. She eats what she wants, farts when she wants and sleeps with her boyfriend Steve, played by Russell Tovey, when she wants. The new series begins with Becky moving in with Steve and some unexpected visitors turning up and causing trouble!

2. You’ve starred in Psychoville on BBC2, been part of Comic Relief 2011 and written for some of the UK’s finest theatres – what is the standout moment of your acting career?

Shooting the Comic Relief sketch with my heroes - Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Harry Enfield and Victoria Wood - that was a standout moment! But in acting, highlights are invariably followed by lowlights. When I shot the feature film Mrs Henderson Presents, I stood on the red carpet with Judi Dench one week and the next week I was scrubbing someone's toilet. You're never safe - it's a jungle out here!

3. What’s your favourite TV moment of all time?

I think episode six of series two of  Psychoville on BBC2, is the best piece of television ever made.

4. Which television series do you think of as ‘Unmissable TV’ and why?

There are so many great shows on right now, I can't pick! The 2nd series of Shameless on Channel 4 was phenomenal, as was Pulling on BBC3 and Human Remains on BBC2  - but Steptoe and Son and Rising Damp are such classics… and then you can't forget about Desmond’s. Too many to choose. I record them all so I don’t miss them. 

5. Tell us what shows you are watching and recording at the moment?

Fresh Meat with the brilliant  Zawe Ashton on Channel 4 is really funny and makes me howl with laughter! I LOVED the Nigerian family in The Family, I love One Born Every Minute, The Hotel and more recently Educating Essex, which are all on Channel 4. I really enjoy well-made documentary style shows such as Wife Swap. Also More4’s  Story of Film: an Odyssey by Mark Cousins is fascinating. The only problem with watching the Story of Film series is my friend,  Seb Cardinal (Cardinal Burns Sketch show, coming soon to E4), does an incredible Mark Cousins impression – it’s uncanny. I almost can't watch the series without thinking of Seb.

6. Which actor/actress would you most like to work with and why?

I think Jenny Jules is an absolute acting goddess. I also really like the work of actresses Daisy Beaumont, Alice Lowe, Maxine Peake, Michelle Dockery and Ruth Negga. I'd love to work with them. I also find Kayvan Novak hilarious.

7. Tell us your guilty TV pleasure?

Girls of the Playboy Mansion - come on, IT'S FASCINATING! 

8.  Who was your childhood TV hero and why?

The Psammead from Five Children and It, the witch from Simon and the Witch, Tea Bag or anyone from Round the Twist. Now THAT was good television, they WERE heroes!

9. When was the last time TV made you cry?

I recently watched Stacey Dooley Investigates on BBC3 series and it was unfathomably sad, particularly when you see kids with guns and the forced prostitution of women in Cambodia. The show uncovered horrible facts such as rape being used as a torture weapon in places like the Congo - something which Ross Kemp also highlighted in Extreme World. I found that very upsetting and deeply wrong.

10. Tell is a something we would never know about you

If I wanted to, I could probably grow a beard.  

Him & Her returns to BBC3 and BBC HD at 10.30pm on Tuesday 1st November.