Suranne Jones, 45, has returned as DCI Amy Silva in the second series of BBC One's Vigil, though the new episodes are set on a Scottish air force base rather than a submarine. The actor said she was initially sceptical about the change, but was won over by the drones-based plot and the 'always vigilant' motto of Scottish police.
Known for intense dramas such as Doctor Foster and Gentleman Jack, Jones said she loves comedy and has set up her own production company, TeamAkers, to pursue lighter roles. 'People think I'm the queen of trauma but I love comedy,' she said, noting that colleagues Romola Garai and Dougray Scott are also 'funny as hell'.
Jones said the response to the first Vigil series felt special because it aired after Covid, when audiences craved connection. She added that wellbeing on set is a priority, especially as she is going through perimenopause and finds long hours physically draining.
The actor has also changed her work-life balance: she no longer works when her seven-year-old son is off school, including summers and Christmas. She said this came after a 'very public breakdown' during the 2018 play Frozen, when she had to pull out on doctors' advice. 'I've worked for 20 years to be able to say that,' she said.
