Darci Shaw, who plays Melissa Sullivan in the BBC drama This City Is Ours, has spoken about her pride in representing Liverpool on screen and the viral success of the show's House of Bamboo scene.
The 24-year-old actress from Mossley Hill, known for her role as a Young Judy Garland in the 2019 biopic, has also appeared in A Thousand Blows and Midas Man. In an exclusive interview with the ECHO, she said the kindness of people in Liverpool has shaped her character.
Pride in Liverpool roots
Shaw told the ECHO: "The kindness in the city has a massive impact on the way I am and the way I treat people."
She added: "You get a shock when you're somewhere and people aren't so friendly. And I'm thinking, 'Am I just weird trying to make small talk with everyone'. But the really nice thing about Liverpool is that if you're a good person and you ask someone for help, they'll help you out. That's the main thing I always think and seeing people around me."
Shaw still lives with her family and regularly turns to them for advice. She previously told the ECHO: "I don't know where I'd be without them - that's a huge part of my life. It's exciting, but also I'm never too good to unload the dishwasher - as my mum reminds me."
Family and filming in Liverpool
Although her family are proud of her rise, Shaw joked they are ready for her to leave home. She laughed: "I think most of the time, they're sick of me, 'when she's moving out'. They're just praying for me to get another job."
Shooting in her home city has become more common, and her next project, Hamburg Days, will also be set in Liverpool. Speaking about the city becoming a film and production hub, she said: "I'm so proud."
She added: "It's so exciting and fun. Everyone else from the city who is doing well are really nice people and deserve it. It's exciting to see all the Scouse talent coming through. Not just in acting, but in music and every kind of art. It's really cool."
Viral House of Bamboo scene
Describing This City Is Ours as a visible example of Liverpool on screen, Shaw said: "It's showing Liverpool off for the city that it is. It is cool and slick and an amazing place to live. It shows it in that way."
She was surprised by the way the House of Bamboo scene became a viral sensation, saying: "It proved people wrong. Everyone was like this doesn't happen [at Scouse function parties], but it does a lot."
This City Is Ours continues on BBC One tonight, Sunday, at 9pm. All episodes of season two are available to watch on iPlayer.
