Charlene McKenna chats to SPIN
SPIN's Sarina Bellissimo caught up with Charlene McKenna for a chat about her new Jed Mercurio series, Bloodlands this week.
She also shared what the atmosphere is like on set of the final season of Peaky Blinders.
The actress plays Captain Swing in the show.
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Bloodlands
Charlene stars alongside James Nesbitt in the new show, Bloodlands, from Line Of Duty creator, Jed Mercurio.
Here's the show's synopsis as quoted by The BBC: 'When a car containing a possible suicide note is pulled out of Strangford Lough, Northern Irish police detective Tom Brannick (James Nesbitt) quickly connects it to an infamous cold case with enormous personal significance.'
'Bloodlands follows his dogged hunt for a legendary assassin, an explosive cat-and-mouse game where the stakes have never been higher.'
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Sarina asked Charlene what it's like playing a detective.
The actress said she was just so excited, "I was like, 'Do I get a gun?'"
"I mean like the kid in me... was like, 'Do I get a suit? Do I get a gun? What do I get? Do I get a badge?'"
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Line Of Duty
Charlene told Sarina that the cast often met up with the Line Of Duty actors for nights out.
The actress recalled the time they all ended up in a bar together.
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She remembered thinking if fans of both shows saw them out together, they'd be so confused.
Charlene said, "I know Adrian Dunbar from before, because I worked with him before."
The actress added that her co-star James, knows everyone, "He's the mayor of Northern Ireland."
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"I hadn't worked directly with, but Martin Compston had been on Ripper Street with us."
"So that was good craic, but yes. Jimmy is a lot of fun."
"He's a very fun, charismatic guy. So he sets the tone [in Bloodlands]."
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Peaky Blinders
Production on season six commenced a couple weeks ago, and Charlene said the cast are delighted to be back.
"Honest to God, everyone, including Cillian, is so happy to be back to work," she said.
"Everyone's excited to be on that show anyway, but there's a newfound level of gratitude."
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Charlene explained, "It's such a mammoth machine, that particular show."
"The scale, and the scope, and the size of it; to get that machine cranking is like a huge achievement for the crew."
"There's just a great air of gratitude and good humour and everyone's very willing to play by the rules because they don't want it to be shut down."
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Sarina asked if there's a sadness on set because it's the final season.
The actress replied, "I don't think yet because it's only started."
"But I'd say that'll come when it's starting to get near the end, but not yet, because it's only a few weeks in."
Bloodlands premieres on BBC 1 Sunday, 21st February at 9pm.
