Ruth Wilson was "nervous" about her family seeing ‘Mrs. Wilson’.
The 36-year-old actress portrays her own grandmother – who discovered her late husband had multiple secret wives and children – in the new BBC drama series and she was concerned about how their relatives would react to the story.
She admitted: "I was so nervous about their reaction, because it was the first time they had seen it.
"I knew watching their family story must be an odd experience, whether it is moving or just discombobulating. I was very sensitive to how emotional they might be feeling in this big public arena. I didn’t care what anybody else thought!"
Thankfully, Ruth’s family approved of the production and she herself is very "proud" of the drama, which she thinks is a "gift" to their loved ones.
She told The Big Issue magazine: "As my career grew, people were more willing to listen to this story and the BBC were more willing to take a risk on me.
"The stars all aligned at the right time. It is something I will be very proud of forever. It does feel like a gift to my family."
Away from the family connection, the ‘Luther’ actress thinks the "unique" story has much wider appeal because it’s so gripping.
She said: "I think it is unique. A real, true domestic drama that is deeply personal, but also full of intrigue. It feels like a domestic thriller.
"It has scale to it but really it is about this woman, her journey and what, on a very intimate level, she is going through. Her life was really ordinary.
"But she married this extraordinary individual and through that her life became extraordinary.
"It makes you feel that maybe everyone’s life, in close up, is extraordinary."
Ruth Wilson worried about family reaction
