Spooks related Questions
Some of the comments here do touch on Spooks S10. We don’t think that they are spoilery, but others might beg to differ, so please proceed to read with caution.
From Kerry Duncan, UK
Q : Describe working with Peter Firth in 5 words.
A : I can’t. (1) I (2) love (3) working (4) with (5) Peter. He is a brilliant actor and beautiful man and five words wouldn’t come near it.
From the Editor
Q : Tell us what you know about Ruth’s costumes in Spooks, from the colourful beginning to the dour blacks and blues towards the end. Did you have any input on what Ruth should/could wear?
A : Yes I do and I think they are very real and true. When she came in she was rather naive, despite her great brain, but as the show has gone on, Ruth has grown up and taken some emotional blows! For better or worse, she’s not a little girl anymore.
Q : Any favourite Spooks moments?
A : My favourite comes in Episode 6 this season. Can’t tell!
From Liga, Sweden
Q : Fave episode or scene in Spooks? Why?
A : I love the early scene of Ruth fighting with her table lamp when she arrived on the Grid – it said a lot about her in a tiny moment of screen time.
Q : Any common qualities with “Ruth”?
A : I am as clumsy as Ruth used to be and as easily moved to tears as she is now. And I am also in love with Harry Pearce.
Q : If you can choose, which other Spooks character would you play? Why?
A : Malcolm – great brain and fabulous dry sense of humor.
From Dee Ann Lindsey, US
Q : How do you feel about Ruth’s part and where it goes this season and however it ends?
A : I think the writers have taken Ruth down a very interesting path this season. The Home Secretary offers her a way out and she takes it. I think she takes it for all the right reasons but that doesn’t mean its easy for her.
From the Editor
Q : Were you misquoted, or your comments taken out of context, in that Sunday Express article, when you were supposed to have said, “I managed to have an extra-marital affair with Peter Firth!”
A : No that’s what I said. Of course, I did not mean “an affair” as such. I meant I’ve had the good fortune to spend six months a year with a man I adore for the last decade nearly.
Q : Did you take any mementos from the Spooks set?
A : From this last season, I took Ruth’s necklace. I don’t know what has happened to her original necklace. Nobody seems to know what has happened to it. I also have something from a past series. When we were filming either Series 4 or 5, there was a book on crucifixions which was used as a prop and I mentioned several times how much I liked that book. After I left the show in Series 5, Peter stole that book and sent it through the post to me. Very Spy-like.
From Anonymous
Q : You look different, younger, in Series 10 of Spooks. Have you had a facelift or lost some weight?
A : Yeah, I’ve had a facelift. COME ON! As if. But thanks for the backhanded compliment.
From the Editor
Q : Please comment on the existence of blooper reels.
A : At the wrap party held after filming of each season, the crew would put together a video of scenes which were filmed that year, as a sort of summary of what we’ve done that year, and at the end of that video, they would always include a blooper reel of outtakes from that year. My personal favorites are those showing Peter Firth and Hermoine Norris collapsing in fits of laughter, and Raza Jaffery doing his best spy walk, in all seriousness, but bumping into something and then falling down, which completely ruins the take. Unfortunately, these will never be released, that’s the producers’ decision.
From Sally, UK
(this was a last minute entry, and the answer here is put together from the collective memory of those fans who were there when Nicola made this comment. If any one who was there has something to add, please Email Us)
Q : Were you as actors happy with the way the series ended?
A : Yes we were. I think it was a clever ending, and the right ending. There was a ‘hand clap’ moment too in the last episode which you’ll like. At the end of that take, the crew were clapping and punching the air, going “Yeah!”
A big THANK YOU to all who participated and submitted questions. An even bigger THANK YOU to Nicola for taking the time to give such detailed answers to our questions!
Pages: 1 2
I love love the shark tooth necklace and would love to purchase one. Do you know where I might do that?
My little Spooks heart started beating a little faster reading all these lovely answers to the Spooks related questions.. How I miss that show!
Brilliant. Love the Q&A. Been a fan of Nicola’s for quite a while (film, television & audio – alas, not been across the pond to see her on stage, yet). It would be quite the honour.
I have no idea why I hadn’t read this yet.. Great Q&A. I was wondering about something though. In the top picture you can see her answer to the question about her favourite charity.Do you have any idea why she chose the MS Society as her favourite charity?
No idea, Mirjam. We were so happy that she answered every one of our questions that we didn’t think to ask Nicola to explain her choice of charity. Besides, we were only going to announce this on the Shop for Charity page once we’ve accumulated enough commission from Amazon to make a first donation in Nicola’s name. Your eagle eye “outed” us before we’ve had a chance to do something about that subject :). We’ll put your question on our next list of questions to be submitted to Nicola in future.
Ah, I see, that would be great 🙂
Long distance sea swimming?! How far is ‘long distance’?
We didn’t ask her for specifics, but she was pretty confident that no one would be able to beat her at this sport! 😀
If I manage to speak to Nicola next time I see her, I will have to throw down the gauntlet..!! 😉
Yes, me too!
I’ll have to bring two gauntlets then!
Bring as many as you like, I’m up for the challenge 😉
Such fun….. ;0
Oh what a glorious Q&A! This was so delightful! What wonderful questions and more wonderful answers! Thank you so much for doing this. And thanks to Nicola for being so gracious as to answer them. Brightened my day immensely. <3
This was such fun reading! I wish I’d submitted a question. Thank you so much for doing this and posting for everyone to read!!! I especially love her answers about Peter Firth :).
Loved the answers a bit of her humor coming through, impressed she answered all the questions, and enjoyed her answering my questions more so than the one time I questioned a former U.S. President. (I’ve since changed careers)
This was such a great reading! Really big thanx to you guys for fixing this and of course to Nicola for taking her time and answering. I was LMAO at some questions and answers! LOVE IT! xx