Nancy Carroll Talks Mark Gatiss’ Latest Christmas Special A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower by E.F. Benson

Witness To A Creepy Christmas Tale

It’s become a Christmas tradition and here’s one of its cast Nancy Carroll talking about Mark Gatiss’  latest ghost story, his adaptation of The Room in the Tower by E.F. Benson for the BBC…

Were you familiar with E.F. Benson or his short story, The Room in the Tower?

Nancy Carroll: I was vaguely familiar with E.F. Benson because of the Mapp and Lucia series, but I didn’t know the room in the tower.

Tell us about your character, Verity.

Nancy Carroll: Verity is a Wren during the WW2, who happens to be stuck in an Anderson shelter during the blitz, with our main character, Roger. She is rather front-footed and chatters away to him, until he submits to her nosey charms. At this point he reveals his haunting story to her.

Have you ever had a dream that was – to quote Benson – “subsequently realized in the material world”?

Nancy Carroll: I don’t think I’ve ever had anything quite so hauntingly terrifying happen to me, like Roger. I suppose déjà vu has a little of that, or when your memory slightly plays tricks on you. Maybe when a medium or fortune teller foresees something that ultimately happens? I’ve had that! My children were described to be in great detail by a fortune teller, about five years before they arrived. Does that count?

What was it like to work with Mark Gatiss, Joanna Lumley and the other cast members?

Nancy Carroll: My Filming schedule didn’t manifest a crossing of paths with the gorgeously wonderful Joanna Lumley unfortunately, but I’m a great admirer of absolutely everything she does. Mark Gatiss, Tobias Menzies and I all met years ago at the Donmar Warehouse, doing a production of George Farquhar’s The Recruiting Officer, and we’ve been friends ever since. All of my scenes were with Tobias, so that was completely wonderful and being directed by Mark was absolutely glorious. Everyone was so fantastic, and had so much love and awe for how Mark writes, directs, puts together his cast and crew, and looks after everyone on the day. It’s a super power and he is a really wonderful human being.

Have you ever had any ghostly or supernatural experience?

Nancy Carroll: I’ve had a few spooky experiences. I’ve filmed in a few haunted houses that were definitely terrifying. We once filmed in a haunted stable that we had to ask the ghost if it was okay to film in, and only when we asked nicely would the door be unlocked and allow us to get inside. A much nicer spooky experience happened when I first met my husband, I heard a voice that said “there he is” as we shook hands. We were engaged nine days later. Pretty wonderful.

Do you have a favourite ghost story?

Nancy Carroll: I’m quite easily scared. I’m scared of the dark, heights, small spaces, most things supernatural and ghosts! So it takes very little to make me wobbly. Having said that David Farr wrote a beautiful play called ‘Night of the Soul’ about a ghost which is utterly lovely. I am also fascinated with the idea of time travel in fiction, that suggests time is like a pile of spaghetti and different parts of history cross over at multiple points. I worked with a director who believed it was completely true and said he once looked down a street and saw a 1940s street party! That would be equally ghostly and awesome!

How would you entice a friend to watch The Room in the Tower at Christmas?

The Room in the Tower will be a fantastic watch. It is as psychologically thrilling as it is supernaturally. It is a story about the power of the human imagination, terrifyingly manifesting Roger’s worst fears. A great cast, brilliant writer and director and a thrilling story just as Santa hits the skies to start making his deliveries!! A must see!