Jo Hartley is ready to make more episodes of ‘This Is England’ if creator Shane Meadows wants to.
The 44-year-old actress has appeared as Cynthia Fields – the mother of Thomas Turgoose’s character Shaun – in every series of the uncompromising drama and the 2006 film which started the story.
The last four-episode run, entitled ‘This Is England ’90’, aired in 2015 and picked up the Best Mini-Series BAFTA TV award and Jo says she’s willing to join up with the cast if Shane returns to the characters, no matter how far in the future that is.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, she said: "Hopefully, ‘This Is England’ will come back. I really would love to work with Shane again. I’ll keep doing it until I’m an old lady, still shouting after Shaun. But I’m willing to do it if Shane is, definitely."
Jo can currently be seen in Ricky Gervais’ new film ‘David Brent: Life On The Road’ and that project is the latest comedy role she has taken on following her appearances in the ‘Eddie the Eagle’ movie and Channel 4 series ‘ Not Safe for Work’.
The actress wants to land a really challenging drama role next but she accepts she has to audition for whatever project comes her way.
She said: "I’d love to do a really good drama movie or TV show where I get completely challenged and have to change the way I look, I just need an opportunity to do that. I’m very open to anything, and I’m really loving the comedy at the moment. I don’t decide, the universe decides and I just react. Whatever comes my way I just try and be open to it. That’s the beauty of acting, it’s such a mixed bag."
Shane, 43, had suggested that ‘This Is England ’90’ would be the final outing for his characters.
However, when accepting his BAFTA TV prize back in May he admitted he had been contemplating extending the storyline for Shaun, Lol (Vicky McClure), Milky (Andrew Shim), Woody (Joe Gilgun), Gadget (Andrew Ellis) and the other players in his kitchen sink drama.
He said: "I don’t think I’ve got another series in me. This was 13 months of proper grind, I’m a maniac and I have to be involved in everything. But I think there’s a film that’s left in there … there is still one little gem in there.
"The idea of bookending it for cinema and TV on the same night is really exciting, so maybe the two things can blossom together in one final hurrah … We haven’t ruled out OAP ‘This is England’!"
Jo Hartley wants to return to This Is England
