Helen George has revealed that a forthcoming Call The Midwife storyline has left her deeply affected. The actress, who plays Nurse Trixie in the BBC period drama, said the new series' central plot – the potential closure of Nonnatus House – feels "terrifying" as the threat finally reaches their door.
Speaking about the storyline, George explained that the external threat to the midwives' base and the wider changes within the NHS at the time had a significant impact on her. She noted that nuns were being forced to choose between their religious habits and their work, adding: "Having that looming threat over us, which we've been pushing away for years, inching closer and closer, is terrifying now it’s pounding on the door."
The upcoming series opens in 1971, with several characters embracing the Women's Liberation movement and burning their bras. George, 41, described filming the march and bra-burning scenes as "so brilliant and so spirited", highlighting how women at the time still could not obtain mortgages or open their own bank accounts.
The actress drew a connection to her character's personal arc, noting that Trixie reflects on her husband's financial losses and wonders whether she could have prevented them had she managed the money. George said: "It's really important, especially after what's happened with Trixie. She talks about her husband losing all his money and how if she'd been in charge of the purse strings, maybe it wouldn't have happened."
George, one of the original cast members from the show's 2012 debut, expressed pride in remaining part of the series for 15 seasons. She said witnessing Trixie's development and the show's global popularity had been "an incredible experience" and "an amazing thing to witness".
Call The Midwife returns on Sunday 11 January at 8pm on BBC One.
