Olivia Hallinan plays Laura Timmins in the third series of Lark Rise To Candleford
Dec 28, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: RolesLove is in the air…
As BBC One’s winter warmer, Lark Rise To Candleford, based on the novels by Flora Thompson and adapted by Bill Gallagher, continues, Olivia Hallinan, who plays Laura Timmins, tells Programme Information how her character has grown up and deserves to find true love.
In the last series viewers saw Laura mature into a young woman. Are there any big storylines and surprises in this third series?
“There are too many to mention! Laura has grown up a lot since the last series and has taken on more responsibility – she is more confident in herself. A journalist (played by Ben Aldridge) arrives in episode one and viewers will see the relationship between him and Laura develop through the series. They have their ups and downs, that’s all I am saying, but I do think Laura deserves to find true love.
“Some brilliant guests join us this year with some really exciting storylines surrounding them. Every script made me laugh and well up a bit. There are some hugely comic moments but be prepared for shocking and tragic ones, too. That’s what I love about the show, you can be laughing one minute and crying the next!”
How are Laura, Dorcas, Minnie and Thomas adjusting to having young Sydney living at the post office?
“Sydney is one of the family and has settled in nicely. Edward Darnell-Hayes who plays him is a lovely boy and we are all very protective of him. I think the character adds another dynamic to the family. He has an effect on Dorcas (played by Julia Sawalha) – she really takes on the maternal role and seems very fulfilled.”
Laura was seen as a sister figure to Minnie – what is her relationship like with Sydney?
“I don’t have too many scenes on my own with Sydney, but it is lovely when we have dinner scenes together as a family and we can all have a natter. Laura looks out for Sydney and is aware that he is still quite vulnerable. He helps us out in the post office sometimes, which is fun. Laura continues to take on a sisterly role with Minnie, looking out for her and offering advice – I love working with Ruby (who plays Ruby Bentall).”
Does Laura still have a strong relationship with her father, Robert, and the rest of her family in Lark Rise?
“Laura is, and will always remain, fiercely loyal to her family and her Lark Rise roots. Although her career is on the up and she is settled in Candleford, she relishes spending time in Lark Rise with her family. Robert is always there to offer advice and Laura has inherited the Timmins streak of defiance from him. They are both very strong willed but she would do anything for her father. Emma is aware that Laura has turned into a young woman and teaches her to stand on her own two feet a lot more in this series. Although she is always there when Laura needs her, she knows that only she can sort out certain problems for herself. Laura will do anything to make them proud of her because family is more important to her than anything.”
Young journalist Daniel Parish arrives in Candleford – what effect does he have on Laura?
“Laura is immediately taken with him. He is a journalist and she is fascinated by the fact that he is a real writer. Obviously, they share a passion for writing. I think she likes the fact that he is ambitious and has made such a success of himself and she certainly looks up to him. The relationship develops quite early on but, after Laura’s heartbreak over the departure of Fisher Bloom last year, she is definitely wary of getting hurt and does not want to rush things.”
Laura had started to develop her own style rather than wear hand-me-downs from Dorcas. What are her costumes like in this series?
“Better – I had more of an input this year. I think Laura is looking a little more sophisticated which reflects the change in her. I felt it was important that the audience see her as a more mature young woman as opposed to the rather naive and childlike Laura who arrived in Candleford two years ago. The costume designer has used more colours this year, too, which is great – I love dressing up. I have even got used to the corset this year – I’m going to feel quite lost without it.”
Why do you think viewers enjoy the show so much?
“It’s an hour of escapism every Sunday evening when it’s cold and rainy outside! Audiences like to be transported into the past and the period is fascinating. It looks beautiful and is very heart-warming.
“I think the characters are endearing and, most importantly, nobody knows what will happen next as opposed to most period adaptations that have a definite ending. Flora Thompson wrote about ‘the long-lost secret of being happy on little’. I think that is something that strikes a chord with modern audiences. Even though it is set so long ago, we still deal with the same moral dilemmas that many of the characters find themselves in today.”
You are filming for most of the year – are there any anecdotes from filming?
“It’s a seven-month shoot, which is crazy. All the weeks merge into one. We make sure we enjoy ourselves and we really are lucky to have the nicest cast and crew. There have been lots of rainy days – audiences would never guess when they watch it but the mud can drive us all mad sometimes. And my feet tend to freeze so I will let you in on a secret: I am well known for wearing my boots under my skirt! Sometimes I get the giggles, particularly in the post office. Mark Heap always has me laughing, as does Ruby (Bentall), her facial expressions are absolutely brilliant.”
“Who” is Olivia Hallinan, sort of
Mar 6, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: News
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Still topping my list is the rather marvelous Olivia Hallinan of Sugar Rush and Lark Rise to Candleford. She is a brilliantly inventive actress who always adds something to every scene she’s in, whether speaking or not. The fact she’s a redhead might count against her in the casting stakes after Catherine Tate’s flame-haired stint in the TARDIS, but I’ll look the other way if you do.
Wouldn’t she be great, but I’d be worried about her Lark Rise commitments if there is a 3rd series.
By Olivia Hallinan in The Daily Record
TV: Right now, my favourite has to be Gavin and Stacey. I’ve got all the DVDs and just watched the second series. They’re great. My Least favourite is the Antiques Roadshow. I just don’t get it. I find it dull – it’s just not my thing.
FILM: Oh, my favourite is American Beauty. I can just watch it over and over again because it’s so well done. Least favourite film is the Orlando Bloom movie Elizabethtown. Either that or Gigli, with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. I watched that because I’d heard how bad it was but it was quite amusing.
HOLIDAY: My favourite is probably southern Spain. It’s just nice to chill out there. It’s such a different culture and great to relax at any time of the year. I love Malaga, Marbella and the little villages. My worst one would be Faliraki. I think I just went at the wrong time. I like ‘mad’ holidays but not too mad. I couldn’t move there.
MUSIC: At the moment I like Ray LaMontagne. He’s brilliant. I’m going to see him perform in February. Least favourite would be heavy metal, like Metallica. It’s just not my thing at all.
Olivia Hallinan plays Laura Timmins in Lark Rise To Candleford – second series
Dec 12, 2008 Author: admin | Filed under: Roles
Reprising the role of Laura Timmins, a Lark Rise girl who moved to Candleford to work with her cousin, Dorcas Lane, Olivia Hallinan reflects how much Laura has changed since she first arrived at the Post Office as a naïve and innocent young girl:
“Laura has definitely grown up. She’s grown in confidence and takes on a lot more responsibility in this series. Dorcas watches Laura grow as she flourishes in her relationships and people skills and shes quite proud of what she has achieved.
“I think the arrival of Minnie played by Ruby Bentall is really interesting as it forces Laura to take on a much more responsible role and Dorcas gives her more freedom.
“It’s been great having Ruby join the cast and I think Minnie is such a great character that the audience will love. She is hopeless to start with and Laura gives her advice and really looks after her just as Dorcas previously did for Laura. Seeing Minnie makes Laura realise just what she’s got and how lucky she is to have her family in Lark Rise.”
Ruby Bentall is not the only newcomer to the cast; Jason Merrells joins as the new hotel owner, James Dowland:
“Jason Merrells, has been great to work with as well. Laura sees what he has made of himself coming from Lark Rise and realises how far she has come. Queenie looked after Dowland when he was a boy so there’s a good relationship between the Lark Risers and James.
“Laura is quite wary of him at first, because of his interest in Dorcas. She’s always fiercely protective over Dorcas, so when a guy comes along Laura is looking out for her – they always know when each other are upset or down about something.”
At the end of the first series Laura was left heartbroken by Philip as he betrayed her trust, so will there be a new love interest in this series?
“Laura falls head over heels in love with a man called Fisher Bloom (Matthew McNulty). He comes to Candleford to make a clock and Laura falls well and truly for him.
“Laura can be quite serious, she takes her job very seriously which is good but she can also be very sensible. Fisher makes her realise that there’s more to life than being the best at everything, being in control and being perfect, which is really good for her.
“There’s an episode where Dorcas gets ill and Laura has to take on more responsibility, she keeps saying to herself, I can’t fail, I can’t fail! Fisher lets her know that it is alright to fail sometimes. He brings out the young girl in her.”
The costumes in the first series were beautiful, having just finished filming a second series have you got used to wearing them day in day out for seven months?
“Yes, it’s a long shoot and I’ve got used to the corset now. It was hard to start with but you learn to deal with wearing it 12 hours a day, your body adjusts. I still get corset rage a lot! You’ll be fine and then you get a sharp stabbing pain and you know you have to get it loosened – especially after a big lunch!’
“Laura’s wardrobe has changed this series by becoming more colourful, more girly. Previously she was wearing hand-me-downs from Dorcas and now she’s developing her own style.”
The second series filmed in Bath and Bristol, what was it like second time round?
‘Bath is such a beautiful and stunning town. You can begin to take the place for granted when you’re staying there for so long but it’s great place to be and it was great that all the cast lived so close to each other too.
We had our local pub and went out for lots of meals together, hence the corset rage! There was a real sense of, all in it together and it was lovely that we were all neighbours.
“I went to the new shopping centre with Claudie Blakley and Brendan Coyle who play my parents and the reaction we got was unbelievable! People were really nice about the show. The reaction has been really positive and some people know more about each episode than I do. I just hope people like this series just as much.”
Summing up why she thinks Lark Rise To Candleford was so loved?
“Lark Rise To Candleford is a heart warming, tender, visually stunning and it’s the perfect Sunday night viewing. There will be things that you won’t expect in this series – the audience will see Laura worked up in state at some points, which I think could surprise people. You see the hardships as well as their closeness of the communities which I think is what the audience really liked.”
Olivia Hallinan plays Laura Timmins in Lark Rise To Candleford
Dec 17, 2007 Author: admin | Filed under: Roles
Laura works for Dorcas Lane at the Post Office in Candleford. She is 16 years old, the eldest child of Robert and Emma Timmins and has four siblings: Edmund, Ethel, Frank and baby Annie. Laura is her father’s favourite and has inherited his yearning to learn more, see more, his impulsiveness and his outspokenness.
“Laura grew up in Lark Rise, but her mother always knew she didn’t really belong there, she can read and loves books and her mother sees there’s something more she can do with her life. So she arranges a position for Laura with her cousin Dorcas at the Post Office,” says Olivia Hallinan, who plays Laura.
“When she’s sent off to Candleford to work with Dorcas, it’s quite a struggle for her to begin with,” adds Laura. “But she really looks up to and admires Dorcas and thinks, I can do this and really make something of myself.
“My character is very determined but at the same time very loyal to her family and in that way acts as a link between the two communities of Lark Rise and Candleford. She’s stuck in the middle for a while. It’s hard for her to adapt to this completely new life as she has never experienced anything like it before.
“I think people had to grow up so much quicker back then; you had to support your family and that was that! It was either go into service or in Laura’s case this amazing opportunity comes up which a lot of girls in Lark Rise wouldn’t have got.
“I hadn’t read the books before, but as soon as I was offered the part I did and thought they were magical, so vivid and detailed. which was great to have for background and it was so useful to get that insight into growing up in a small hamlet and all of her struggles.
“Laura is definitely overwhelmed at the opportunity to work in the Post Office. In episode one you’ll see, it’s very scary. She says, ‘I’ve never even stepped inside the Post Office’. She’s only been to Candleford once with her family.
“It was very rare for her to visit the town so everything’s new to her: the shops, the people, the house, the food, everything! As the series progresses you really see her grow in confidence and settle in. It’s quite a gradual process but that was nice for me to play around with.
“When Laura first starts work, she’s in awe of Dorcas, because she’s the post mistress. She looks at her and thinks that she’s managed to play a major part in Candleford; she’s running the Post Office which was very rare for a woman in that period, she’s an independent woman and Laura really looks up to her and watches her and picks up on everything she says and absorbs a lot of information.
“In her move to Candleford Laura has to build new friendships and a surrogate family around her. People instinctively warm to her and trust her with their confidences. She in turn has a sharp pairs of eyes and ears for what’s going on around her – not much escapes Laura.”
Olivia adds: “I spend a lot of time with Thomas and Matthew and along with Dorcas they become my new family. Zillah isn’t very nice to Laura at first and it takes her a while to realise that she doesn’t mean it and is like that with everyone. That relationship develops and I loved working with Liz Smith, I’ve admired her for so long and she constantly has me in fits of laughter.
“Then, of course, there is the love interest, Philip; the dashing man who captures her heart. Sir Tim and Lady Adelaide are at the other end of the spectrum to Laura and she’s terrified of them to begin with. She’s always thought of people like that but never met anyone of that status so it’s interesting to see how that develops.
“What I liked most about Laura is her independence and her loyalty towards her family. She’s young and quite naïve but I like the fact she stands up for herself and that she has the Timmins streak of defiance. She’s not rude with it but she won’t stand for any … if someone’s rude to her she’ll politely answer back, she’s quite cheeky. I like her determination.
“I really enjoyed filming the scenes with my Lark Rise family, the little kids, my mum and dad and I like the scenes with Dorcas, I think that relationship is really interesting in the way it changes and develops. I think towards the end of the filming I’ve begun to enjoy it even more because we’ve grown with the characters. It’s great to be out in the countryside.
“There are a few concerts in the programme and there are a few moments when Lark Rise and Candleford meet, which brings the whole cast together, which must be a nightmare for the costume ladies but great for us!
“I hope viewers come away seeing how different life was and yet quite similar. There’s the same kind of problems, conflicts and personalities. All the characters have such different personalities and they deal with things together and bond and deal with issues.
“It’s a different world. The sets are amazing and I think viewers, hopefully will get absorbed into this world. When you read the books you think, this is a community in a time that’s been forgotten about. I hope the show will bring it back to life.”
Olivia Hallinan born 20 January 1984 is an English actress best known for her role as Kim in the critically acclaimed Sugar Rush and Ellie in Girls in Love. She also starred as the main character, Laura Timmins in the BBC series Lark Rise To Candleford.
Olivia Hallinan is the second youngest of four sisters,She is from Twickenham, West London. Hallinan began training at her mother, actress Maggie Taylor’s Saturday Drama School All Expressions in Teddington when she was 11, and then went on to professional acting. After attending St Catherine’s School in Twickenham, and Notting Hill & Ealing High School, in Ealing, Hallinan went on to study English and Drama at the University of Manchester.
Hallinan has appeared in over 100 productions since the age of seven. Her first professional role was playing alongside Cilla Black in a 1991 production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Since then, she has in theatre, radio, film and on television shows including The Bill, Holby City, My Family and Granada TV’s, Girls in Love.
At the end of her first year at the University of Manchester, Hallinan appeared in the first of two series of the cult program Sugar Rush for Channel 4, based on the Julie Burchill novel.
On 9 June 2007, Hallinan was a speaker at the Stonewall Gay Youth Conference, talking about playing a lesbian character in Sugar Rush.
While at Manchester, Hallinan was actively involved in student drama. In 2006, her final year of her degree, she starred in a new play, Wake Me Later Nicola Schofield’s In the same year she played Emma in the Torchwood episode Out of Time, appeared in an episode of Trial and Retribution, and played a character in Radio 4′s dramatisation of Marguerite Duras’s erotic novel The Lover, broadcast between 3 and 7 September 2007.
She is currently starring as the heroine Laura Timmins in the BBC production Lark Rise To Candleford
Olivia Hallinan stars as Kim in Sugar Rush
Jun 5, 2005 Author: admin | Filed under: Roles
Think of the Milky Bar kid and/or most of the cast of Grange Hill and it’s clear that many childhood actors disappear into oblivion. But not Olivia Hallinan.
Having starred in a series of hit children’s TV dramas such as Laura Jekyll and Harriet Hyde (she played Laura) and Girls in Love, she is now poised to make the transition into adult drama in spectacular style.
She stars as Kim who develops a mind-blowing crush on another girl, Sugar, in Sugar Rush, the television adaptation of Julie Burchill’s novel of the same name.
Given there’s nothing that gets middle England talking like a Sapphic embrace between young women (think Beth and Margaret on Brookside) is Hallinan ready for the attention?
‘I didn’t really think about it until friends, especially male friends, kept asking about the lesbian content,’ she admits. In any case, she’s determined to take it all in her stride, not least because she’s admirably committed to her drama degree at Manchester University and generally in the throws of an essay crisis – always guaranteed to keep your feet on the ground.
By Lucy Siegle in The Observer, Sunday 5 June 2005
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