Callie Cooke (Klara Waldberg)

Callie Cooke On Cheaters, Doctor Who & Apple’s F1 Movie

1 month ago

Cheaters returns for series 2 on Tuesday

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Callie Cooke On Cheaters, Doctor Who & Apple's F1 Movie

Callie Cooke (Klara Waldberg)

Cheaters returns to BBC One and iPlayer next week, with more messiness than ever before. We sat down with lead star Callie Cooke to hear all about what Esther will be getting up to in series 2.

Callie Cooke as Esther in Cheaters series 2. (BBC/Clerkenwell)

Interview: Callie Cooke

Hi Callie, how’s life going at the moment?

Hi! Life is going really well, thanks. I’m packing my bags to go off shooting in the Middle East for a month, while trying to stop my dog from putting his ball in my case every two minutes.

You’re about to return to our screens for season two of Cheaters – can you give us an elevator pitch for the show?

Yes! Season two picks up six months later. Esther has just got back from travelling in Thailand, Josh and Fola are in the early stages of a new relationship, and Zack is navigating life in a flat share. It’s even more messy, sexy goodness.

What can we expect from the second series?

The second series explores the idea of ‘how does a relationship work if it started through an affair?’. We see the four of them trying to navigate these new circumstances they’ve found ourselves in. There are lots of funnies, lots of feels and once again the writing is completely brilliant.

You play Esther – how would you describe her?

Esther is pretty chaotic this year, overwhelmed with millennial angst. She’s spent so much time running away from her life and now she has no choice but to confront it. She’s still a complete rainbow though.

What is it like playing her?

I adore playing Esther! She wears her heart on her sleeve and sees the world with tinted glasses. Me and the director Elliot understood her so much that it just felt completely natural. He’d give me notes like ‘be more Esther’, and I just instantly knew what he meant.

What is her character arc like this season?

She’s fresh off the plane from Thailand, with a new man in her arms. Her new boyfriend Lars is what she thinks she needs, but as the series goes on we see she really needs to focus on loving herself before she can really be happy.

How did you get into character?

I think my DNA is already about 90 percent Esther, so throw on a pair of dungarees and I’m good to go!

You also recently starred in Piglets – how did that differ to Cheaters?

Piglets was an absolute riot. We had the most fun. It was really collaborative and everyone just got stuck in. It differed to Cheaters in the sense that we shot it in an old beans factory with no heating or toilets.

A huge moment recently must have been your experience on Doctor Who. What was that like?

Doctor Who was better than I ever could’ve imagined. The crew were amazing and I had such a good time working on it. I got to spend six weeks in Cardiff, basically just me and the camera – I learnt so much. Then the reaction to the episode was absolutely crazy. I’ve never been thrust into the spotlight like that before, but all the fans were so kind and supportive. I’d absolutely love to work in that world again.

Callie Cooke as Lindy in Doctor Who episode ‘Dot and Bubble’. (BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)

Would you say you’re as social media obsessed as Lindy?

God, I hope not! I do have a very unhealthy relationship with Duolingo though.

What has been your favourite project to date?

Cheaters was my baby, my first lead in a show, so it has a very big soft spot in my heart. But also the job I’m working on at the moment is a little bit special.

Any roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about? (If you’re allowed to tell us!)

I’m working on my first film! It’s completely ridiculous and mental and I’m still pinching myself, to be honest. It’s the new apple movie, F1. We’ve been shooting it for almost a year and a half. I think it’s going to be pretty epic.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past?

Sorry for the shameless name drop, but I’m working with Javier Bardem at the moment who is, I think, my favourite man on the planet.

Which co-star did you learn the most from?

I worked with Maxine Peake a few years ago and I still have her wisdom rattling around my brain. She’s the absolute best. I’ll also never forget doing my first day on a set ever with Tom Burke. I had one line and was so nervous and he made me feel like they couldn’t have possibly made this show without me. He showed me how important it is to treat everyone equally on a film set; whether you’re there for the day or every day, you’re all in it together.

What’s your dream role?

I would love to play a real person.

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of?

Hmm… I’ve had a taste of making a big studio picture this year and it’s given me the bug! F1 has been the most unbelievable experience because we’ve filmed on live tracks during actual Grand Prixs. And then, before that, I was running around the TARDIS? I’m so grateful that I’ve been lucky enough to jump around genres, so hopefully long may it last.

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with?

Directors like Andrea Arnold, Noah Baumback, Yorgos Lanthimos – that would be the dream.

If you could give advice to your 15-year-old self, what would it be?

You don’t have to have everything figured out by your 20s, look after your eyebrows because you will regret it, and boys in the arts break hearts.

How can we all live a little bit better?

Spend more time with dogs, and be kind to each other – it’s hard enough as it is.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally?

I’m about to go shoot the last leg of F1 in Abu Dhabi, then clock off for Christmas with my friends and family. My nieces are the perfect Christmas age so I can’t wait to rile them up for weeks!