PLEASE
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER.
Natalie Buxton is a fantastic part to play - she is manipulative
and evil to the core.
She is a psychopath who adapts to any given situation whilst also
making sure she will always come out on top. She doesn't mind
who she steps on to get there.
WHAT HAS
SHE BEEN BANGED UP FOR?
Natalie at first covers what she is in there for. But the
reason is not very nice at all. And she is pleading she is
innocent.
DO YOU
SYMPATHISE WITH YOUR CHARACTER? DO YOU HAVE ANY RESPECT
FOR HER?
For the things she does to others, like the way she uses them for
personal gain - no I don't have any respect for her as she is not a
nice lady at all.
But this world is full of awful people who have lead awful lives
for no fault of their own. And Natalie too has her own set of
issues which is why she acts the way she does. This doesn't
make it right - it just makes it a portrait of real life.
I do respect her leadership qualities and the fact she takes no shit from the others. I myself am a lot less forward than Natalie and a bit of a walkover in comparison.
ARE THERE
ANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CHARACTER?
Natalie Buxton is rotten to the core so no there are no obvious
character similarities - but we look and sound similar!
WHAT WOULD
YOU LIKE AND DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER IF YOU WERE INTRODUCED IN
REAL LIFE?
The problem with meeting someone like Natalie is that you never see
the real Natalie until you upset her. Her unpredictable
violent side is something you would want to avoid at all cost or
your life could be in danger - so it's probably not good to get to
know her too well!
IF YOU
COULD CHANGE A KEY FACT ABOUT THE CHARACTER YOU PLAY WHAT WOULD YOU
DO?
I wouldn't change a thing. She is violent, calculating,
manipulative, clever and quick thinking, yet to everyone else she
comes across as sweet, caring, vulnerable and wide eyed. So I
couldn't ask to play a better character.
IF YOUR
CHARACTER COULD ESCAPE LARKHALL DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD BEHAVE
DIFFERENTLY ON THE OUTSIDE? DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD HAVE
LEARNT HER LESSON?
Natalie would always adapt and if she ever did escape, I would feel
sorry for the people she meets, she is just plain dangerous.
WHAT IS
YOUR OPINION OF THE CURRENT PRISON SYSTEM AND HAS HAVING THIS ROLE
IN BAD GIRLS CHANGED IT?
I know overcrowding is a big issue for this country's prisons and I
think this is a situation which needs to be addressed.
But for me the isolation of being in prison is the thing that
scares me. I think it would drive me insane. I couldn't
cope being banged up. It's bad enough spending a day in a
pretend cell.
IF YOU
COULD INFLUENCE/INSTIGATE OTHER METHODS OF CORRECTING, PUNISHING OR
PREVENTING CRIME - WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
I don't believe in "life for a life". I think it is more of a
punishment to be left alive to think about what you have
done. I suppose death is the easy way out. In prison,
instead of your freedom your life and your rights as a human are
stripped from you. Your life is run by the system and it's a
system that can be corrupt itself - yes that is a punishment.
WHAT'S THE
BEST THING ABOUT BEING INVOLVED WITH BAD GIRLS?
The show is just great to work on. I've wanted to do
something like Bad Girls since I left Hollyoaks and I feel
privileged to be working with the cast and crew. I am
enjoying my time here and I don't have to travel too far from my
home so it is a perfect job!
ARE THERE
ANY DIFFICULTIES BEING INVOLVED WITH SUCH A HIGH PROFILE
SHOW?
I'm not sure but I'm sure it could be on the cards with this
character as she is so nasty I might find a few viewers don't like
her!
WHAT DO
YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY THINK ABOUT YOU BEING IN THE
SHOW?
When I found out that I had the part of Natalie I phoned my
Mum. She was the first one I told and she was screaming with
excitement. Then she asked me about the character and I told
her I was playing a psychopath and she blurted out "Oh you'll be
fabulous at that - you've been watching me for years!"
WHAT DO
YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME? ANY HOBBIES OR SPORTS YOU
ENJOY WHEN YOU ARE ON THE OUTSIDE?
Before I started acting I used to dance so I do the odd dance class
and I'm a gym member but I can never quite manage to commit to
going but I keep paying my membership. Hopefully one day I'll
get there.
DO YOU
ENJOY LUXURY HEALTH AND BEAUTY TREATMENTS?
I love massage - deep sports massage - rather than massages that
feel like you are being stroked. I hate that, I come away
feeling more stressed than when I went in!
WHAT IS
YOUR FAVOURITE WAY OF PAMPERING YOURSELF?
A day shopping with a good foot massage at the end of it - that's
what I do when I'm feeling a bit down.
IF YOU
WERE BANGED UP FOR REAL AND HAD TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT, HOW WOULD
YOU TRY AND SPEND YOUR TIME?
I have always wanted to finish off my A' levels. As I started
English and Art at school then I landed the part of Gina in
Hollyoaks, I had only got 6 months through them and have never had
the chance to finish them. So if I was in prison for real I would
like to finish my A' levels.
IF YOU HAD
TO SPEND TIME IN PRISON FOR REAL - WHAT, APART FROM YOUR GENERAL
FREEDOM, WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST?
My friends. I couldn't cope without them or if I ever needed to
talk to them and I couldn't, I know I would freak out.
My friend Elly and I speak on average 4 - 6 times a day and I
wouldn't know what I would do if I couldn't contact her. She
would have to get banged up too!
MANY
FILMS/BOOKS/DRAMAS HAVE BEEN BASED ON PRISON LIFE.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE?
I loved Shawshank Redemption. And Midnight Express is another
favourite of mine. And there was a BBC drama called "Out of
Control" about a young boy who got sent to a juvenile prison.
It was an horrific insight into how children treat each other under
such circumstances. It was brilliant but scared the hell out
of me.
PRIOR TO
BAD GIRLS WHAT ROLE WERE YOU MOST WELL KNOWN FOR?
Gina Patrick in Hollyoaks.
I was 17 when I got the part and it was the best training I could
have wished for. I had a great time in that show. The
cast were great people.
WHAT WAS
YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL ACTING ROLE?
Kelly Sumner in The Bill - I was about 14 it was just one episode
and I was so scared. I used to watch The Bill and thought
everyone was great and couldn't believe I was there!
WHAT WAS
YOUR FIRST EVER JOB?
I used to get about 10 pounds per week for stapling invoices
together when I was 15. It was my stepfather's company - god
it was boring but easy money - you don't get anything for free in
my family!
WHAT IS
YOUR STAR SIGN?
Virgo.
AND DO YOU
BELIEVE IN THINGS LIKE THIS?
Yes and no.. I find myself reading my star sign when my life
changes.
WHERE WERE
YOU BORN AND BROUGHT UP?
I was born in Rush Green in Essex.
WHERE DO
YOU LIVE NOW?
London - I live quite central which is always good at weekends.
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