Casualty star Amanda Mealing talks about Casualty’s BAFTA nomination and reveals why she may not make it to the award ceremony…
Casualty isn’t on our tellies this weekend but it’s not all bad, as some of the crew and cast of BBC1’s hit medical drama will be gracing our screens at the British Film and Television Awards…
Casualty has been nominated for a BAFTA in the Soap & Continuing Drama category alongside Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
The last time Casualty won this coveted BAFTA award was back in 2007, so hopes are high they’re due another gong when the red carpet is unrolled at London’s Royal Festival Hall for the star-studded ceremony on Sunday.
Casualty fans will be keeping a keen eye out for their favourite cast members, who will ditch their scrubs and uniforms and get glammed up for the occasion. But, with such a busy work schedule for the Casualty cast, who will attend the big BAFTA bash?
We talked to Amanda Mealing, who plays Connie Beauchamp in Casualty. Here she reveals why she’s chuffed Casualty are up for a BAFTA and why she may not make it to the award ceremony…
Congrats on the BAFTA nomination! Were you surprised?
"I know, I’m so pleased. I honestly didn’t [think we had been nominated] because I’m a member of BAFTA and when I scanned through the long list of nominations I couldn’t see Casualty!"
What does it mean to cast and crew to be nominated?
"Everyone has such a passion for the show, so it’s always nice for those efforts to be recognised. I know it sounds really corny and people always say ‘it’s just about being nominated’ – but it is."
It must make all the hard work seem worth it, in a way?
"It really is an acknowledgement of all those long hours and late nights. I’d rather that everyone in the shortlist was celebrated rather than just picking one out from that category because everyone works so hard."
Will you be able to attend the awards this Sunday in London?
"I don’t know if I’ll be able to go because I’m working every day and in every scene, so we’ll see. I hope so but, if not, one of us will be there. We’re filming a month of night shoots so working from 8pm to 7am… [Amanda laughs] it’s horrible!"
It sounds it!
"It’s really not nice but it will be worth it because it’s an absolutely amazing episode. After all those efforts when you get a BAFTA nomination or an NTA nomination, it’s kind of your reward really. We’ve got the nomination – we’re up there! I’m so chuffed."
The BAFTAs are televised on BBC1, Sunday 13rd May at 8.00pm.
