Diane Morgan has revealed that portraying a robot in the new BBC comedy Ann Droid was so physically demanding it gave her an ulcer. The 50-year-old actress, known for Motherland and her characters Philomena Cunk and Mandy, plays Linda, an AI-humanoid care-worker robot purchased to look after elderly widow Sue, played by Sue Johnston.
Challenges of Playing a Robot
Morgan said the hardest aspect was maintaining a completely still and emotionless face, which included not blinking, while Johnston performed deeply emotional scenes about loneliness in old age. “What was hard was Sue’s got these really emotional scenes and I’m sitting next to her, motionless. But obviously I’m hearing everything, and she’s amazing. There were times, sitting on the bed, where I thought, ‘I’m gonna cry, I’m gonna cry’. And I can’t cry, I’m a robot. It was really difficult,” Morgan explained.
The actress also suffered physically from wearing blue contact lenses to achieve Linda’s “dead eyes.” “I got an ulcer,” she said. “I wore these blue contact lenses and my eyes weren’t getting enough oxygen.” A movement coach who worked on the series Humans helped her gain confidence in portraying the robot.
Unexpected Heart and Relatable Themes
Morgan co-wrote the six-part BBC1 comedy and initially did not intend to play Linda herself. “When the BBC went for it, I suddenly realised, ‘Oh Christ, they'll want me to play the robot’. I had absolutely no idea how to do this,” she said. She got the idea for the series after reading about robots being introduced for elderly care in Japan. “I read a piece which said that they’d started rolling out robots for the elderly and I thought - ‘that’ll be me’. Because I don’t have kids. I’ll be fed soup by a robot.”
The series, set in 2029, follows Sue, who is living alone after her husband Dave died two years earlier. Her son Michael (Paul Ready) buys her a reconditioned robot carer Ann Droid Z58/100. Morgan said she did not expect the show to be so touching. “We just thought it was a really funny idea but then we got Sue on board, and she gave it heart,” she said. “I just want people to enjoy it. It leans into all those things grief and loneliness and your parents ageing and technology, all this stuff that people can relate to.”
Life-Saving Heimlich Maneuver Scene
Remarkably, a scene in which Linda performs the Heimlich maneuver has already saved two lives. Morgan was trained for the scene by a first-aider, and the show’s make-up artist Jane Green later used the technique on Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas when she choked on a fish bone. Additionally, an electrician on set performed the maneuver on a colleague who was choking during dinner. “They went out for dinner that night and he saw his friend was choking,” Morgan said. “Because he’d seen the Heimlich manoeuvre he did it and the food shot out of his mouth.” She added: “It’s amazing, it’s like a safety video.”
Sue Johnston's Delight and Robot Future
Sue Johnston, 82, said she jumped at the role. “It was a joy of a shoot, the script was so lovely. It made me laugh - and I’m at the age where you do think about falling over. Not a lot, but it does cross your mind.” In the story, Sue and Linda become very close over the six episodes, much to Michael’s dismay. “They are very, very affectionate. I don’t know if that’s because I love Diane,” Johnston laughed. If she were to have a robot herself, she would want one to drive her when she can no longer drive. “I dread not being able to drive any more,” she admitted, revealing that her Royle Family co-star Ricky Tomlinson has been told to stop at age 87.
Morgan believes AI carers are imminent. “I’m sure they are imminent. They have ones that can turn on the washing machine, make the bed. It’ll only be a few years before they can do everything. I’d get one to do the ironing, I hate ironing. And making the bed. Anything slightly strenuous - but I wouldn’t want one brushing my teeth. It’s a step too far.”
Ann Droid starts on BBC1 on Friday at 9.30pm.
