Anna Maxwell Martin admits Motherland castmate inspires 'terrible' Star City role
Motherland star Anna Maxwell Martin has revealed how Amandaland star Lucy Punch has inspired her "terrible" character in Star City.
Anna Maxwell Martin used Lucy Punch as inspiration for her "terrible" Star City character.
The 49-year-old actress plays KGB handler Lyudmilla Raskova in the new Apple TV+ drama, and she has revealed how her Motherland co-star Lucy's performances as Amanda Hughes helped her get to grips with the ruthless character.
She told Radio Times magazine: "It's good fun, playing a really terrible person.
"It's funny - often I would think of Lucy a lot when we were doing Motherland, because Lucy had to play high status, whereas the rest of us didn't."
Anne quipped that "Lucy's gonna love that" after comparing her to the KGB colonel, but she explained how on Motherland, she was able to "fluff around lines and make them up", whereas Lucy - who recently reprised her role in the second series of the BBC's spinoff Amandaland - had more pressure during filming.
She said: "With [my character] Julie, I could just throw myself in a bush and that was the scene done! And just fluff around lines and make them up. She's always in a state.
"But when you play really high status - and I remember Lucy going through this sort of pain - you can't make a line casual.
"You have to have such specificity, because you're really holding the line, so you have to be really clear and really specific, and that takes quite a lot of concentration."
Two weeks ago, the BBC confirmed Amandaland has been renewed for a third series.
Co-writer and creator Holly Walsh and co-writer Laurence Rickard said: "We are thrilled to be heading back to SoHa for a third series of Amandaland and delighted the show has found the sort of audience that Amanda’s Instagram account could only dream of.
"We are already priming our keyboards to prompt AI into creating another batch of scripts and can’t wait to be reunited with our incredible cast and crew."
Seb Barwell, the BBC Comedy Commissioning Editor, is also thrilled that Amandaland - which follows Amanda as she seeks to build her profile as a super influencer - is returning for another series.
Seb said: "Amanda and friends continue to capture the hearts of the nation, so we’re delighted to announce a third series and to keep up our 'co-lab' with this amazing team.”
Lucy Punch previously discussed how while she's like her on-screen character in some ways, she's very different in others.
The actress told Radio Times: "I’m hopeful like she is, and can find the positive in a situation. I hope I’m a lot more self-aware, not as pretentious and snobby."
