Siân Brooke, 46, has revealed her desire to star in a period drama, a sharp departure from her gritty roles in Channel 4's spy series The Undeclared War and the crime drama Blue Lights. 'I'd like to dress up in corsets,' she told Metro. 'I'm saying that, give me a week, and I'll be like, untie me! But I've done quite a lot of realistic women in gritty situations, which I love, but I wouldn't mind a bit of a period drama.'
Joining The Undeclared War Season 2
Brooke joins the cast of The Undeclared War season 2, which premieres July 21 on Channel 4, as Barbara, a GCHQ analyst and wife to Simon Pegg's character. The season revolves around a foreign-backed malware attack aided by a mole. Brooke had to 'hit the ground running' after a quick turnaround to come on board, despite not being fluent in Mandarin, a skill her character possesses. 'I could lie. But no, I was not fluent in Mandarin,' she admitted.
Brooke consulted with GCHQ employees for research, calling it a 'perk of the job.' She found the experience sobering: 'I was aware of how things work now tactically in warfare – it's much more covert, online. But it was terrifying to really understand the damage that can happen. You can push that button, and within seconds, a country will feel the impacts.'
Compartmentalism and Secrecy
Brooke's character Barbara and Pegg's character operate under 'compartment,' unable to discuss work with each other. 'I found that one of the most intriguing things,' Brooke said. 'I definitely do not live within the realms of compartmentalism.' When pressed on plot details, she insisted: 'I can't say anything. I can't say anything. But it is mind-blowing.'
Brooke is no stranger to keeping secrets, having played Benedict Cumberbatch's unhinged sister Eurus in Sherlock, a role that involved a major twist. She hopes her children will watch Sherlock when age-appropriate, calling it 'formative television.' On maintaining secrecy, she said: 'It's knowing fear. The fear that I would be the person that lets the cat out of the bag means I just stay silent, almost to the point of being mute in interviews.'
Blue Lights and Bafta Recognition
Blue Lights, the Belfast-set crime drama, is the show Brooke is most recognised for. This year, she earned a Bafta nomination for her role as rookie copper Grace. She learned of the nomination while on set filming a scene involving good news. 'It was like life imitating art, imitating life,' she recalled. Though the award went to Narges Rashidi, Brooke said: 'To just have the recognition from Bafta, I really did feel like I'd won already.'
The show's fourth season is slated for release later this year. Brooke noted her father's career as a police officer gave the show 'a massive pull' from the start. 'It was part of the tapestry of my youth,' she said, recalling conversations and banter between officers. 'These people spend such huge amounts of time confined in a car, watching the world go by, dealing with the oddest, extreme situations. You can't help but form quite intense bonds with each other. That's something I think the show prides itself in.'
The Undeclared War season 2 will be available on July 21 at 9pm on Channel 4.
