The cast of the new BBC drama Two Weeks In August reportedly 'turned blue' because the sun-kissed summer scenes were actually filmed in March, according to an exclusive interview with lead actress Jessica Raine.
Behind the Scenes of the Sun-Kissed Drama
The primetime drama, which follows a group of friends on a Greek holiday seeking to rediscover joy, appears idyllic on screen. However, the reality for the cast at the start of the shoot was far from paradise.
Jessica Raine, who plays Zoe, revealed: 'We filmed at the beginning of March, and I’ve never been so cold in my entire life, and I’ve shot in Iceland! There’s a birthday party scene we filmed early on where we’re all in summer clothes, but everyone’s secretly got thermals on underneath wherever they can fit them. We were packed with hot water bottles. People didn’t believe me when I called home at the beginning of the shoot and said it was freezing.'
Co-Star's Ordeal
Referring to her on-screen husband Damien Molony, who plays Dan, Jessica added: 'I watched Damien go blue about five times. In episode three there is a birthday party and Jesus, I was worried about you. There was an icy wind.'
Damien Molony himself commented on the challenging conditions: 'We shot a swimming pool scene in March and it was so cold. It is the best acting I have ever done. At 4am in March.'
Filming Location and Weather
The shoot took place in Malta over six months, meaning later in the series the temperatures improved. Jessica noted: 'Thankfully, the weather did change for the better. The locations were stunning - shooting on Gozo was a real treat.'
About the Drama
Jessica, who rose to fame as Nurse Jennifer Lee in Call the Midwife, describes the scripts as 'hilarious to read'. Her character Zoe is 'on the cusp of breaking' when she arrives on holiday with her two children and troubled husband.
The 43-year-old actress elaborated: 'It initially looks like paradise, but it soon becomes a hellscape. The beautiful, isolated location turns into utter loneliness and there is a sense of dread that the group can’t escape. I think what is great about this situation is that there's a real sense that everyone is being polite, which is a typical British quality. These people were great university friends, but their lives have taken different paths.'
She added: 'I always felt the tone had to strike the right balance of comedy and tragedy. It’s a delicious mix of humour and epic philosophies and ideas. I think everyone is going to love it!'
The comedy drama also stars Nicholas Pinnock, Antonia Thomas, Leila Farzad, and Hugh Skinner.
Two Weeks In August starts on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer on May 23.
