I have worked with Keeley Hawes once before and I remember at that time too, her smile and eyes were captivating. She’s just nice to be around and to work with, and has a contagious smile that glows.
The shoot took place at a great and historical venue in Twickenham. In the Octagon Room at Orleans House Gallery we found ourselves surrounded by 10ft windows with shutters all the way to the top with decorative gold edged pillars and walls, an ornate and grand chandelier, statues, fireplace and more. However, the location was one of those where the ornate, grand and beautiful was all placed above the 8ft high and above. It is a location that on paper looks great, but when you get there you soon realise that unless you are looking up someone’s nose, it is hard to get the impression of the location’s grandeur. As well as this, (and I am painfully aware that it may sound like I am a grumpy old man) being surrounded by big glass windows on one of the summer’s hottest days, meant that we were slowly reaching uncomfortably high temperatures. Had it not been for the one small fan we had then I would have melted away and Keeley would have looked like she’d just stepped out of a shower (That is presuming that she perspires like any other human being).
We were both looking forward to our imminent Summer holidays; maybe the heat of the room made us both crave for the ocean with fresh, salty water to cool off in. But also both having a break from busy schedules, although I think Keeley trumps mine with the series Bodyguard only just in the bag and three more series in the making. Amongst acting all of these different roles, it is in fact a miracle that she has any time at all to be herself.
She’s starring in the recent TV drama Bodyguard which you can still catch on BBC catch up. The high suspense drama sees Keeley as the Home Secretary. (Spoiler alert!) A few scenes sees her passionately involved with her bodyguard. The scenes work well, Keeley is an attractive Home Secretary, but imagining the home secretaries of the passed, I find it the idea hard to swallow.
It’s an other quality collaboration, a political thriller between the creator Jed Mercurio and Keeley Hawes. Well worth a watch.
Shot for Sunday Times Culture
