Following three series of the BAFTA award-winning Motherland, Amandaland, which focuses on the character of Amanda played by Lucy Punch, is coming to BBC One and iPlayer in February.
Post-divorce, Amanda has had to downsize and move to South Harlesden, or in Estate Agent language, SoHa.
With both Manus and Georgie now at secondary school, Amanda has to try and get her head around raising teenagers, dealing with modern motherhood horrors like teenage drinking, fake Instagram accounts and eco anxiety. Not even a woman as certain of her parenting as Amanda can deal with these nightmares alone...
Interview with Lucy Punch
It’s been a few years since we last saw Amanda on our screens. Where do we find her in Amandaland, and how is she adjusting to her new life in SoHa?
Amanda is now living in an upper-level flat, with someone below her which is a hard pill for her to swallow. She’s moved away from Chiswick and all its treats, like Gail’s. The kids are now in high school, and Amanda is starting over. She’s probably had a quiet breakdown or meltdown along the way. She’s disintegrated somewhat but has galvanised herself, got a blowout, done her nails, bought a new outfit, and is bringing her full Amanda energy to South Harlesden to whip up a storm. She’s trying to recreate what she had but realises it’s impossible without the house, clothes or husband. Despite this, she’s doing her best and doing a pretty good job.
Motherland was a huge success with a devoted following across its three series. What were your initial thoughts when you were approached to lead this new spin-off?
I was incredibly excited, surprised, and intrigued. Intrigued about where the writers thought the show and Amanda’s character could go, how it would look, and how it could maintain the tone and style of Motherland while doing something new.
What’s it like stepping back into the shoes of such an iconic character?
It was lovely and felt quite natural. It was all about figuring out who she is now and navigating her new relationships.
You’ve previously described Amanda as the villain of Motherland. Do we see a softer side to her in Amandaland?
Absolutely. Even as Motherland progressed, while she was a difficult character, we saw that behind the perfect façade was a rather damaged, vulnerable woman. Now, we see her scrambling – not just because she’s used to a different life, but because it’s genuinely hard to raise two teenagers alone, work, and navigate a new place while making new friends. That would challenge anyone. Amanda has a lot of social anxiety and an enormous ego, which makes her life harder, but she’s determined and hopeful. She’s a good mother – her priorities might have been skewed over the years, but she genuinely puts her kids first. Beneath everything, Amanda is probably terribly lonely. She’s been lonely her whole life – lonely as a child, lonely in her marriage, and now in this new world. It’s lovely that she has Anne. I always think the real love story is between Amanda and Anne. Anne is probably the only person who has ever loved Amanda unconditionally.
How did you feel when you first read the Amandaland scripts, and what was the experience of bringing them to life like?
What excited me most was the new characters. Their voices are distinct, specific, and funny, just like in Motherland. Even though the show is called Amandaland, it’s very much an ensemble piece, and it needs to be for it to good and watchable.
This series introduces a whole host of exciting new characters. Can you tell us a bit about them and Amanda’s opinions of them?
The main relationship is with Mal, played by Samuel Anderson, who lives beneath her. They’re essentially living on top of each other, and even if you can’t stand someone or they’re irritating, proximity creates a bond. I was in the room when Sam auditioned, and he was this force of nature with incredible energy. He was the first person confirmed for the show, and I was really excited. He’s a brilliant actor and very funny in a dry way. Then, of course, there’s Siobhan and Rochenda as Della and Fi. They are utterly brilliant together. I had seen Siobhan in Derry Girls and was an absolutely giant fan, but their chemistry together is fantastic. They’re a brilliant double act and so funny. The writers have been very clever because while it still feels like it’s in the same world as Motherland, they’re totally different characters, which is very impressive. We’ve also got Ekow as JJ, who is an absolute sweetheart and really funny. Amanda’s gorgeous children are wonderful actors and very funny too. And, of course, there’s Johannes, who is absolutely hilarious. Peter (Serafinowicz) is so funny and great at improvising. He brought a lot of material to the role. Every time he walked on set, he brought this fantastic energy, and everyone was excited to see what he’d do. His character is completely mad, and he’s perfectly cast because it needed someone with his big comedy energy. He has a huge presence, both as a person and as an actor, and that made working with him a lot of fun.
Amanda has such unique and sometimes complex relationships with Anne and Felicity. Why do you think viewers love the dynamic between Amanda and Anne? And how was it reuniting with Philippa and Joanna?
Even during Motherland, Philippa and I imagined extra scenes for Amanda and Anne – like Amanda giving Anne a makeover or needing her support during a breakdown. They’re just a couple of idiots, really. Philippa is brilliant and so funny. While Amanda was awful to Anne at first, over time, their love and need for each other became clear. Amanda flourishes with Anne around because she can peacock, and now Anne is her lifeline, helping her navigate this new world. It’s the opposite with Felicity. Amanda is more in Anne’s position when it comes to her relationship with her mother. She adores and admires her but it’s complicated, deeply buried love.
What were the highlights of filming this series? Are there any moments that really stand out for you?
The car boot sale scene is unforgettable because the entire set blew away!
Interview supplied by publicists.
Picture:: BBC/Merman/Natalie Seery)
