I just think that it’s a very important subject it’s about our health and our future and if it’s rising dramatically then it’s important to get this point across.
If it’s not going to be taught in schools and the vaccination offered to young boys then maybe we should take it into our own hands and show that this is quite important and they are at risk too.
- The documentary shows people such as Darren who has been diagnosed with cancer and it undergoing very painful treatment so how did you find meeting people like him?
I found it very hard. Darren is a young man and his case it shocking because he has been with the same woman since he was seventeen, he hadn’t had a lot of sexual partners, but he had this rare cancer, probably from his girlfriend, and for me it was really upsetting because it destroyed him for a couple of years.
The treatment that he went through, and we think chemotherapy and radiotherapy with fix it, but the pain that he went through - his whole neck was burnt away, the excruciating pain, the embarrassment of not being able to chew your food and not having saliva and the effects that has on your sexual life as well as you mentally - I found it so inspirational to talk to Darren he had never really opened up about it and I felt quite honoured that I could sit there and talk t o him about it.
I can’t imagine what it must be like going through something like that at such a young age. And this documentary allowed me to speak to people like Darren and also top doctors - and these are people that I would never get to talk to - so for me I felt like I should take it upon myself to educate myself about something that I wouldn’t normally know about.
- Away from the documentary you have had a very successful year - you must be delighted with the reaction to Made In Dagenham?
Yes I have. The response has been great and everyone really seemed to enjoy the movie so I’m really the happy.
- And what was it about the role of Sandra and the script that drew you to that project?
It was probably the fact that it was a great script; my Nan was a factory worker so I felt quite attached already. But I did love the role of Sandra she was fun and bubbly, wasn’t being changed by zombies so it was quite nice.
- You have mixed movies with TV this year, in particular Five Daughters. So was this the type of gritty role that you were looking for?
No I don’t really look for gritty roles. I just read the script and instantly was like wow I remember this and how if affected the nation and how outraged at the way the press had called these five girls not law abiding prostitutes and they forgot that they had drug problems and they were daughters.
So I found it very insensitive for the girls and their families so for me I found it a really important part to play. It was scary as well because you are playing someone real, she was my age and was murdered three or four years ago but I wanted to show their story
- Five Daughters was a very hard hitting and emotional piece so how much research did you do for the role - did you meet the family?
Yes we were in contact with the family and we knew what we knew from the press. But for me it was about being true to the script everything that I needed was on the paper and it was a very sensitive piece that was handled very carefully.
It wasn’t about how good my acting was or how good I was going to play this role it was about how right I was to Anneli.
- You are being tipped as an actress to very much keep an eye on so how does that make you feel - any pressure?
There’s always a certain amount of pressure to be good and be successful but I think that you deliver better under pressure; I know that I certainly have in some circumstances. You just have to get on with what you do and if you sit around thinking ‘oh my god the pressure is on me’ I think…
- That you will send yourself bit nuts?
Yeah (laughs)
- Finally what’s next for you?
I don’t know, I would love to do some theatre. I have just done a film with Dexter Fletcher; it’s his directorial debut, and this documentary. I think a bit of travelling and see what comes my way.
Is Oral Sex Safe is on BBC Three on the 10th January (Monday) at 9pm
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Jaime Winstone