Perdita
08-02-2009, 18:43
Born from a successful pilot last year, Being Human - a drama about a flatshare between a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost - is now in full flow with its first series on BBC Three. We hooked up with Russell Tovey, who plays neurotic George, to find out more about the werewolf's inner turmoil - and to see how he feels about baring all for the cameras.
Did you expect the pilot to be as popular as it was?
"I had no idea. As we were making it, people were saying it's good but I watched a rough cut on the laptop and at the time I thought it was a bit dead! For me the first fifteen minutes of the pilot were not really happening, but then suddenly it kicked in and I was like 'woah!'. I showed it to people and they were gripped. But no, no idea it would do so well. We hoped. Everyone was really positive and excited by it."
What do you think of your new castmates?
"It's so odd, because I am the only original, apart from the guy who played Seth, Herrick's assistant. You know who your character is, but then when someone new joins you've got to refind who you are with these people. It took a good week or so and then I was like 'I feel it now'. But I think they're brilliant and we all get on really well."
How are werewolves regarded by vampires? George and Mitchell seem to get on well.
"The way it works in supernatural hierarchy, werewolves are quite low down on the list. Vampires attack werewolves and in the show I keep getting beaten up by vampires. I met Mitchell when he saved me from being beaten up by vampires, and then he took me in. We formed a bond because he doesn't want to kill people any more and I'm in a position where I don't want to do that either but can't control it."
Does he ever want to just kill himself? Surely that would be the easiest solution.
"Yeah, but he's stronger than that and he's quite religious, which is what is stopping him. Sometimes he's absolutely been suicidal. I think that's why his friendships with Annie and Mitchell are so important because they're keeping him going. He just constantly wishes life was different - but as the series goes on he accepts it more and finds the benefits of it."
You strip off quite a lot in the show. Are you comfortable with that?
"Do I enjoy being naked in the woods with people watching? No, not really. Your pride just goes out the window. It's quite cold in the woods in Bristol, so being a male, that was not beneficial. I didn't realise last year on the pilot how naked I was going to be - it seemed like every ten minutes they were like 'can you just take your pants off?' This year my agent drew up a nudity clause but I don't think that's been followed!"
You go completely naked then? They don't try to cover you up?
"You see my **** a lot and a lot of me cupping my balls. Because I'm playing a Jew and I'm not actually Jewish, I think [showing everything] would give it away. I'm not going to go that far for method!"
Being Human continues Sundays at 9pm on BBC Three.
Did you expect the pilot to be as popular as it was?
"I had no idea. As we were making it, people were saying it's good but I watched a rough cut on the laptop and at the time I thought it was a bit dead! For me the first fifteen minutes of the pilot were not really happening, but then suddenly it kicked in and I was like 'woah!'. I showed it to people and they were gripped. But no, no idea it would do so well. We hoped. Everyone was really positive and excited by it."
What do you think of your new castmates?
"It's so odd, because I am the only original, apart from the guy who played Seth, Herrick's assistant. You know who your character is, but then when someone new joins you've got to refind who you are with these people. It took a good week or so and then I was like 'I feel it now'. But I think they're brilliant and we all get on really well."
How are werewolves regarded by vampires? George and Mitchell seem to get on well.
"The way it works in supernatural hierarchy, werewolves are quite low down on the list. Vampires attack werewolves and in the show I keep getting beaten up by vampires. I met Mitchell when he saved me from being beaten up by vampires, and then he took me in. We formed a bond because he doesn't want to kill people any more and I'm in a position where I don't want to do that either but can't control it."
Does he ever want to just kill himself? Surely that would be the easiest solution.
"Yeah, but he's stronger than that and he's quite religious, which is what is stopping him. Sometimes he's absolutely been suicidal. I think that's why his friendships with Annie and Mitchell are so important because they're keeping him going. He just constantly wishes life was different - but as the series goes on he accepts it more and finds the benefits of it."
You strip off quite a lot in the show. Are you comfortable with that?
"Do I enjoy being naked in the woods with people watching? No, not really. Your pride just goes out the window. It's quite cold in the woods in Bristol, so being a male, that was not beneficial. I didn't realise last year on the pilot how naked I was going to be - it seemed like every ten minutes they were like 'can you just take your pants off?' This year my agent drew up a nudity clause but I don't think that's been followed!"
You go completely naked then? They don't try to cover you up?
"You see my **** a lot and a lot of me cupping my balls. Because I'm playing a Jew and I'm not actually Jewish, I think [showing everything] would give it away. I'm not going to go that far for method!"
Being Human continues Sundays at 9pm on BBC Three.