| The Sun Interview 2 |
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| Martin with Tamzin in Eastenders |
| Martin, who has a daughter Harley, 12, and son Roman, nine, says: “Chris Cooper is a very down-to-earth, ordinary guy who has completely good intentions towards his little girl. That’s what attracted me to him. I wanted to get rid of the Steve Owen-style tricks and open my heart and soul. I sat down and read my lines with my wife and she said he was more like me than anyone I had ever done. “It’s very easy for me to put myself in the same situation as Chris Cooper. He’s got a little girl who is changing into a woman, which is the same as my own daughter. “She walks into her room looking 13 and comes out looking 27. It’s very frightening — but you have to go with it. “Then Chris’s little girl starts to hate him. I kept thinking, ‘God, how would I feel if Harley started thinking that about me?’ I could feel his hurt.” You sense Martin would be destroyed by turmoil in his real family. Harley and Roman are his world and quitting the relentless filming schedule of EastEnders has meant he gets to spend more time with them. “It’s nice to get quality time with your family,” Martin says. “What I find now is that I work very hard for a few months then get a couple of months back at home hoovering and doing the school run. “They get used to you being around, then they want you to go back to work! I’ve worked for that in a way. |
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| Martin, who has a daughter Harley, 12, and son Roman, nine, says: “Chris Cooper is a very down-to-earth, ordinary guy who has completely good intentions towards his little girl. That’s what attracted me to him. I wanted to get rid of the Steve Owen-style tricks and open my heart and soul. I sat down and read my lines with my wife and she said he was more like me than anyone I had ever done. “It’s very easy for me to put myself in the same situation as Chris Cooper. He’s got a little girl who is changing into a woman, which is the same as my own daughter. “She walks into her room looking 13 and comes out looking 27. It’s very frightening — but you have to go with it. “Then Chris’s little girl starts to hate him. I kept thinking, ‘God, how would I feel if Harley started thinking that about me?’ I could feel his hurt.” You sense Martin would be destroyed by turmoil in his real family. Harley and Roman are his world and quitting the relentless filming schedule of EastEnders has meant he gets to spend more time with them. “It’s nice to get quality time with your family,” Martin says. “What I find now is that I work very hard for a few months then get a couple of months back at home hoovering and doing the school run. “They get used to you being around, then they want you to go back to work! I’ve worked for that in a way. |
| Martin and Shirlie |