Interview with Law and Order actor Ben Daniels

Written by Uploaded by Helen Jones

Monday, 11 January 2010 02:28

ITV Law & Order UK is returning to ITV1 for a second series, you must be thrilled?

“Yes it’s fantastic. We’re so excited about the new series. We are just thrilled and delighted.”

It sounds like everyone has a lot of fun together. Is it a production that everyone loves working on?

“Yes, we love it, we love it, we love it! So we are all thrilled to be back.”

After the success of the Law & Order brand in the US there must have been a certain amount of pressure to make the UK version a success. You must be delighted that an average of six million viewers each week have proved the UK version is a hit as well?

“I know it’s fantastic. Six million viewers is a lot these days. All of us were thinking five million and we would have been happy with that but six million is great. It’s really, really exciting. And it’s across the board. I get stopped by people of all ages and all classes. Everyone seems to love it which is great.”

Some of the storylines you film are harrowing. Do you find it hard to switch off after a long day filming?

“Well I suppose there's lots of gallows humour on set. We have such a good time and I think we consciously make sure that the working atmosphere is actually quite jolly. So you can deal with it much better. Epsiode 2 entitled ‘Hidden’ features a mother who has arranged for her child to be kidnapped. We filmed whilst a very high profile real life situation was in the headlines and consequently the story became much more immediate and was in everyone’s minds. So you do get weirdly reminded of stuff and it is quite constant. Strangely you'll get a storyline and then within the next few weeks you'll see something about it in the headlines.”

Why do you think viewers like the series so much?

“It’s procedural drama. We love procedural drama and it’s two different procedures dramatised together so it’s double the fun. I think it’s a deeply satisfying format and it’s what I love about the American series. I am a big fan and was before I knew this was even in the offing. You see a beginning, a middle and an end. From a body being discovered, to the verdict in court. These people are brought to justice or they go through a trial so I think it’s quite satisfying to watch that. It’s not so satisfying when they get off, in fact it’s hugely frustrating. I know that the actors playing the DA’s in the American version used to take it really personally when they lost a case. You’ve got all the evidence and you know that these people are guilty and it’s kind of frustrating.

The quality of the acting is also amazing in the American version. Filming in New York they pluck these great actors from the theatre there and it’s brilliant to watch. We get the most fantastic actors coming in to out British version too. Every two weeks you get another first rate actor to work alongside and it’s just completely brilliant. We really get to lock horns with them as well because of the nature of what we do, especially scenes when we have to cross-examine defendants. You’re at loggerheads with an incredible actor playing a barrister or the defendant.

“And you’ll see a lot of those defence barristers return, which I think is something we enjoy. There’s continuity with certain characters in a series that isn't about continuity particularly.”

What is your favourite episode from this series?

“Well, I particularly enjoyed filming episode 3, entitled ‘Community Service’ because there's an actor in it who I hadn’t worked with before called Sean Harris who I think is completely wonderful. So it was great to work with him but it also featured Kevin McNally. It was my sixth time working with him so he's like an old mate really. It was fantastic, so I particularly enjoyed that and I think it’s a very strong episode.

“Episode 2, entitled ‘Hidden’ I enjoyed because Anna Mavies is fantastic in it as an awful, awful mother. Also, we’ve taken something from that episode which was a kernel of an idea that we’ve really run with in series 3 that we’re filming at the moment.”

At the beginning of this series we see James struggling to work out what he should say to Alesha in the aftermath of the rape. Do you think he finds it difficult to relate to others and maybe immerses himself in his job to avoid dealing with situations he might find emotionally difficult?

“Yes. I do think he’s very closed and has built a lot of walls. Which is why subconsciously he has picked Alesha to come and work with him because she challenges him on every level. You see it in the episode when Alesha gets raped; you see his genuine concern for her as a work colleague and as a friend and more than that. There is the question, ‘Are his feelings for her growing to more for a work colleague?’ I love his gentleness. It’s a good relationship.

Do you think James takes it personally when he loses a case?

“Yeah he does, because it’s everything to him. He’s totally work and justice obsessed and I think towards the end of this series and particularly in the last episode you see the turn that is going to take us into series 3. And in the last episode of series 2, ‘Honour Bound’ I think you see him becoming more like the defence barrister he used to be when he will start playing tricks and he will not necessarily be so upfront with how he gets information from people. I think that you can just see it starting as this series ends.”

What is your favourite thing about James?

“Oh God, I like so many things about him. I like his fight for justice but that can also be really irritating. I don’t know how bearable that would be in a real human being. I like his dedication, his honesty, his passion.”

It is hinted that there could be something between James and Alesha. Do you think that they're both so work focused that they would refuse to admit the possibility to themselves or each other?

“Yes, I don’t think they’re in a great emotional place at the moment and I don’t think they can see the wood for the trees. They can’t actually look at each other in that way. I think they have clocked it subconsciously. In Episode 5, ‘Love and Loss’ he asks her what to do when his son comes to visit for the weekend and she tells him that she used to go to an ice rink. He asks her what she is doing on Saturday afternoon and she replies, ‘Watching you fall on your arse.’ I think it’s kind of their first date. I think it’s very sweet when it happens and they both obviously really enjoy the fact that it’s going to happen. You get this in Law & Order all the time where you suddenly get an insight into these people’s lives and it builds on what you know about those characters. I know Law & Order fans love those moments.

“So I think the relationship between James and Alesha is something that has grown, I think they started to write it because Freema and I get on so well. They started to realise that James and Alesha’s relationship was a good relationship to have. So their relationship is very much an ‘Are they or aren’t they? Will they or wont they?’ In series 1 James was getting over a horrible divorce and really plugged himself into work. In Series 2, he’s still plugged into work but he’s also more free. It’s good to see because sometimes he can be a little bit serious and obsessed. I call him Mr Ponky Pants. You want to grab him and shake him, which I sort of love but it’s great that we’re moving him away from that.”

Why should viewers come back and tune into Series 2?

“Viewers should tune into series 2 for fantastic stories that are tried and tested from the American series but with a fresh approach and a completely English slant on them. There are six main characters who are endlessly fascinating. And within those six characters come an extraordinary cast of British actors that I don’t ever see on any other TV programme. So our viewers should also watch for entertainment.”

Law and Order UK returns to ITV1 tonight at 9pm. Interview courtesy of the ITV Press Office. Interview and images copyright of ITV.

To read an interview with fellow Law and Order UK actor Bill Paterson click here >>

ATV Insiders can read an interview with actress Freema Agyeman by clicking here >>. If you are not an ATV Insider you can easily become one, just click here >>