Hannah Onslow Talks The BBC’s This City Is Ours

Entering A Brutal World

This City Is Ours is a new BBC drama set in Liverpool and here’s one of its stars Hannah Onslow talking about it…

What was your first impression when you read Stephen Butchard’s scripts?

Firstly, I loved the scripts. I think we all feel that what Stephen has written – this world and the characters he’s created – feel so specific, rich and very much their own unique thing. Diana has such depth, I really wanted to tell her story. She isn’t like any other role I had read or seen on screen before.

She had to grow up very quickly. She hasn’t had a typical childhood, Diana has a dark history and what I love about her in particular, is that she hasn’t had a ‘normal’ life, but any girl could be Diana and that is one of the things I think that is so clever about how Stephen has written her. The way she interacts with the world and how she wants to appear to the world, you just wouldn’t know. It’s amazing to play someone so complex. She’s an extraordinary character.

Her and Michael’s (James Nelson-Joyce) relationship is very strong, they really do love each other so much. They are both at a big turning point in their life and want to start a family together. I don’t think Diana knew she could ever feel this way about someone, and I think the same goes for Michael. Their relationship is really special, beautifully written and it has been a complete joy to do it with James.

Stephen writes with great depth and sensitivity. For me, the show is all about the relationships, and Stephen has written them with such detail, his writing is incredibly perceptive.

This latest role sees you alongside some of the nation’s best loved actors. You’re in great company?

I’m a big fan of everyone in the cast. I can remember at the readthrough, I was looking at the scripts and then glancing around the room and thinking ‘How lucky am I?’ To be working with these people, and with this script – I am absolutely delighted.

I think I can speak for everyone when I say this, but we all really loved this job, and each other. We also got to kick off filming in Spain, so that helped! Everyone was so professional and experienced, and our casting directors Julie Harkin and Nathan Toth did such an amazing job. It just works – everyone was so talented.

A lot of the cast agree that waiting for each new script was in itself a cliffhanging situation. Did the scripts surprise you when they arrived in your hand?

Oh, yes, one hundred percent. What was going to happen next was all we talked about during and after each shoot. I’ve never been on a set where the crew have also been so invested in the story, I’m pretty sure there was a sweepstake going at one point and you had to put your predictions in! The fact that the crew were so invested, says it all really.

How did you find speaking with the Scouse accent?

I loved it. I love the accent so much, I think it’s gorgeous. I did a lot of work on it, I had a wonderful accent coach Helen Ashton who was always there if I needed her and she helped me with the real specificities of the accent. I also had a set of recordings on my phone and had my own catalogue of videos that I collated, but luckily I was just around so many scousers on set so if there was anything I was struggling with, help was always on hand, and scousers will always tell you the truth! It also helped just being in Liverpool and soaking it all up. It’s an amazing city.

Why should people watch This City is Ours?

It is a drama that I can honestly say I have never seen on television before. There is something for everyone and I think although the show heavily explores a really brutal world, it also has enormous heart.

How would you sum up the series in three words?

My words would be – smart, sexy and mega. Everyone should expect the unexpected.