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Sarah Parish - Back in Cutting It
Allie Henshall sent shockwaves up and down the country when she walked out on
husband Gavin Ferraday for serial womaniser Finn Bevan at the end of the first
series last year. “Allie had to take a leap of faith,” explains the popular
actress.
Sarah Parish received some criticism for her character’s behaviour, but one
viewer with a passion for the series made an unforgettable impression. “I was
hit over the head with a handbag by some woman in Hampstead who said: ‘How could
you do that to poor Gavin!’” laughs Parish. “It’s horrible to break someone’s
heart, especially someone as nice as Gavin,” says Somerset-born Parish.“But
Allie just had to know whether it would work out with Finn. Gavin might be
fantastic,but Finn was her first love, he was the one who got her pregnant, and
is the father of her daughter, Ruby. I think when you have a child with someone
it bonds you together whether you like it or not. You might even hate that
person, but you have this common bond.Allie has never gotten over that.”
Following recent roles as a mother in both Cutting It and the legal drama Trust,
is Sarah feeling a tiny bit maternal? “No way!” she laughs with mock defiance.
“I think before I started to play mums I felt quite broody, but I’m not any
more. I go through stages, and I think a lot of women do when they’re in their
thirties. One day I think I’d love to have a kid, then another day I’d be sat in
a restaurant with a screaming kid behind me and thank my lucky stars that I
haven’t got one.
“I’m single and enjoying it,” she continues. “I’ve never really been single
before, it’s funny getting used to it. I saw a few people last year but nothing
serious. At times, it’s quite difficult trying to get used to enjoying my own
company. I feel at a loose end a lot of the time. I feel that I should be doing
something, but when you’re relaxed about it, it’s a great feeling of freedom –
very liberating. I’m reluctant to get back into a relationship at the moment
because I’m having a really nice time.”
Enjoying life and having a good time includes partying until late with close
friend and co-star Amanda Holden, who plays on-screen rival Mia Bevan.The pair
have been supportive of each other following the break-up of their high-profile
relationships. Sarah split with actor Hugo Speer last year and Amanda’s marriage
to comedian Les Dennis ended last December. “We’ve both been through some tough
times together and I know that I can ring Amanda and she’ll be there. I’ve been
in trouble before and she’s been there and I would do the same for her.
“I think Amanda and I will be friends for a very long time,” says Parish, who
has recently returned from a week in Barbados with best pal Amanda. “I have lots
of best friends, and Amanda is definitely my best friend at work. I feel quite
safe when
she’s there. We had the most fantastic time in Tuscany a couple of years ago. It
was my birthday while we were out there and Amanda sent me off for a few hours.
When I came back, the friends we were staying with were dancing around in the
garden singing the Steve Wonder song Happy Birthday To You. Amanda had put
lanterns in the trees, rose petals all over a table and candles in the swimming
pool. There was a big birthday cake and I cried.”
The RTS award-winning actress, who first found fame as the face of Boddingtons,
claims filming the first series went past in a bit of a blur. “I sometimes
wonder how we got any work done on the first series. We all got together before
filming started on
the second series and agreed that we wouldn’t party as hard as we did last
year,” she laughs. “We get on fantastically well to the point that we went away
at Christmas together.”
Sarah reveals why one member of the Cutting It family was the luckiest man in
the country: “Wednesday nights started off as a polite night round at my flat
with a few crisps, a couple of olives and a glass of Frascati. They ended up as
these huge Sex And The City nights where we’d turn up wearing sexy lingerie and
high-heeled shoes!
Ben Daniels, who plays Finn, was an honorary member of our girlie nights-in. He
was one of the most privileged men on the planet,” she roars.
One of the busiest actresses on British television, with starring roles in
Unconditional Love, Trust, Sirens, Impact and Cutting It under her belt in the
past year, Parish is facing her biggest challenge to date. “I’m playing a man in
Reversals alongside Marc Warren!” says the sexy TV star. “So I’ll be swapping my
hair extensions for a short male wig,” she giggles.
BBC April 2003
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