Karen Taylor
Karen Taylor is perhaps best known as a an English comedienne who front her own sketch show Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor.
But 2008 saw her move over into British film as she starred in Angus, Things and Perfect Snogging as the mother of the lead character Georgia.
How did you first get involved with Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging?
I was asked to audition for the part of Connie Nicolson. When I read the script, I loved it but I was slightly offended because Connie was meant to be mid-40s and I thought: "Well, I'm not really sure about that."
So, I rang my agent and said: "How dare they!" And then went for the audition and Gurinder [Chadha] said "you're too young", so I thought there was no way I'd got the part. But either I look older on camera or they decided to make the role younger.
How was it having Alan Davies as your husband?
Great. It was a bit weird kissing him but only because I'd never met him before. But otherwise lovely, we did sort of sit and do lots of crosswords and things when we weren't filming, so it was like we were a proper married couple.
Talking of kissing, did it take you back to your own first kiss?
Yeah, yeah... my first kiss wasn't the best I don't think. I don't know if anyone's first kiss is though. I'd like to hear what everyone else has said. But my first kiss was a bit sort of after-school disco and a little bit toothy. So, not that good sadly.
How was the Steve Jones kiss?
Did I kiss Steve Jones? I don't think I did! You're trying to catch me out... Highly recommended.
How did you take to playing a mother?
Well, I was a bit worried about that really because I'm not a mother and I'm 32 so I kind of talked to Georgia like: "I'm like you!" But I'm not really 14; I am 32 and it was quite a difficult transition. But I just thought of my mum and what she'd be like. She was quite embarrassing when I was younger, so it kind of worked.
But did it also make you see things from your mum's point of view and the stresses and strains of coping with a teenage girl?
Yeah. I think I'm sort of at that age now where I'm seeing that anyway. You know, you kind of get to the point of settling down a bit more than you were and saying: "Ah yeah, I see why I was such a nightmare! Yeah, that wasn't good!" And watching Georgia [Nicolson] and thinking: "What a brat! She's so naughty."
Did you have long to work on the mother-daughter bond that exists between your character and Georgia Groome?
We didn’t have masses of time but just sort of spending time in make-up was fun. But she's just a typical teenager, talking about boys. I tried to join in but I think she was slightly embarrassed, especially when I tried to make her listen to The Smiths and said: "The Kooks? Never mind The Kooks, get listening to Morrissey!" She'd say: "What's this? Your old!"
Has this whet your appetite for doing other film work?
I'd love to, yeah. It would be amazing.
What was it like being directed by Gurinder because with your TV work you're very much in control of your own material, aren't you?
It was good. Gurinder is quite relaxed really. You do it and she says: "OK, try something else..." She's not too restrictive; I think she's quite loose and she knows what the emotional thing is happening in the scene and kind of points you in the right direction and lets you go.
Is that something you'd perhaps like to try your hand at, directing?
I'd never thought about it... but yes, alright!
As you move into film are you going to continue trying to balance your TV work as well?
I think it's just a case of see what happens really. It's whatever comes up next. I've got a few ideas on the back burner seeing if we can get those off the ground. But I'd like to keep working and doing what's fun and what's interesting and see what happens.
You've shot to fame in a relatively short space of time [since doing stand-up in Edinburgh], so has it been difficult to keep your feet on the ground?
I don't think I have shot to fame [laughs]. It's not like.... I never get recognised on the street or anything like that. If anything, people recognise my accent. But it's just normal really.
But this will also bring you to a whole new level of audience?
Yeah, I think sort of the younger audience... so maybe I'll get shouts of "mum" in the street [laughs].
What can we expect from the second series of your own series, Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor?
It’s more of the same really. It's out now on BBC3 [Thursdays, 10.30pm]. It's similar sort of characters, more characters, lots of different sketches, bawdy fun!
Angus, things and Perfect Snogging is released 8th December