Wire in the Blood star Simone Lahbib on her biggest fan

Sep 7 2008
By Steve Hendry

WIRE In The Blood star Simone Lahbib has revealed her co-star Robson Green has a rival for his job...her mum Jean.

The actress returns to screens on Friday in ITV1's bloody police drama based on Fife-born author Val McDermid's best-selling books.

Her character, single mum policewoman Alex Fielding, helps forensic psychologist Dr Tony Hill, played by Green, track down serial killers.

But Stirling-born Simone, 43, reckons mum Jean - who helps her learn her lines - could give Robson a run for his money.

She said: "My mum is my chief script consultant and gets right into helping me with my lines.

"She makes me laugh because she'll be playing Robson's character and next day she'll say, 'so how did Robson play it? Did he do it anything like me?'

"There are times when there's bad language or it's very sexual but she says she's getting an education out of it. There's a twinkle in her eye when she says something naughty."

Simone, who shot to fame in The Young Person's Guide To Being A Rock Star and Bad Girls, spent four months filming the new series of Wire In The Blood.

She arrived in the north east of England with her entourage - actor husband Raffaello Degruttola, their two-year-old daughter Skye, her mum Jean and dad, retired master-chef Joseph.

She joked: "We are like a travelling circus. I need a trailer which is big enough for the whole family.

"It's fantastic that Skye has four months every year of concentrated time with her grandparents.

"I always see such a difference in her. My mum is a trained nursery school teacher and is brilliant at spending hours painting, drawing and singing.

"My dad's great with her too and it's like having a personal chef on board so it's proper Hollywood.

"It's hard for my husband. We try to make sure only one of us is working at any given time so one parent is always around.

"From that point of view, it's a slightly frustrating time, being uprooted from home in London and not being able to work.

"But he enjoys spending time with Skye and because my parents are around, he is free to go back to London when he needs to.

"I couldn't ask for a more perfect situation."

It is a busy family outing but one which keeps her happy and able to tackle the more unsavoury aspects of the show, which delves into the darker psyche of human nature.

The first episode starts with the discovery of a dismembered body in a suitcase which seems to be the result of an honour killing.

But it soon escalates into a grisly case of extreme sadomasochism and cannibalism.

She said: "A cannibal killer is amputating and eating parts of his victims.

"It's gruesome but you are always aware it's make-believe. Rather than being horrified by a body lying on a slab, you are intrigued.

"If it's a prosthetic dummy, when the body is supposed to be deteriorated or have a savage wound, it's amazing to see what the artists can do.

"Other times it's an actor and you are more concerned they are okay - are they comfortable or warm enough?

"The only time I get upset is when it's a storyline about children, which is like my character, Alex.

"It's just being a mum and I've got the same take on it.

"But it doesn't make you more paranoid - not as much as watching the news.

"I'm always aware it's play acting and put it in a box in my head.

"Then you turn on the news and the lid comes off because horrific things really do happen."

While not in the same league as Wire In The Blood, Simone had an unpleasant experience of her own when someone stole her identity on Facebook and contacted friends posing as her.

She said: "I was very angry because I didn't have any power over it. It's now been taken off Facebook."

When Wire In The Blood begins, Simone will be at the Curzon Theatre in London for the premiere of Ark.

She stars in the short film, which has already been shown at the Palm Springs International Shortfest, with her husband.

They worked together before - on another short film Raffaello wrote called Call Me - and it has given Simone food for thought.

She joked: "You think, 'you never speak to me like that in real life. I want more of that'."

Simone has also starred in short film, Zip 'n' Zoo, with John Hannah, which will be touring the Highlands where it was filmed and she has joined a voice-over agency.

But acting will always come second to being a mum.

She said: "I'm not overly ambitious. I'm very family orientated. That attitude works well for me. I'm laid back but I work hard when I'm working.

"There's something quite exciting I can't talk about yet but apart from that and the Ark premiere, I've nothing lined up.

"To be honest, I'd love more kids. It hasn't happened yet but I'm still hopeful."

Wire In The Blood is on ITV1 on Friday at 9pm.

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