RADA

Casting Network UK

Cheeky Maggot Theatre Company

ITV

Granada TV

Amanda Donohoe will return to series television in the  U.K. early next year.  The series is still in production through October, but there is already buzz about a new actress who will appear along with Amanda and Kris Marshall.  Ms. Amber Agar was gracious enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer  some questions about the series and making the switch from stage to screen. This interview was conducted via email and edited for clarity.

Can you give us some general background on the new series?

I can't really give away too much about the series as I'm sure you understand.  It's called "Murder Squad"   and the central characters are DI Susan Alembic (played by Amanda Donohoe) and DS Luke Stone (played by Kris Marshall).  Susan is his boss and has been an investigator for quite a while.  She's experienced, in control and cares about her job.  Her father had been in the force too.  Her juniour and working partner is Stone.  A bit of a maverick - still learning and very bright.  They have a good working relationship.  Each episode is a different story and has a slightly different feel to it.  So you'll have to watch and find out!

How do you fit into the series?  There are rumors that you and Kris Marshall's character have a possible romantic relationship.

I guess there is a bit of a 'will they won't they' for my character and Kris's.  At the start of the series, there seem to be some unresolved issues.  Luke is so passionate about his work he often gets caught up in that.   I play Dr. Annie Parvez and I think Annie is pretty much in love with him, even if she won't admit it.  What the outcome is, who knows?  That's one for the writers.  But it's been great fun to do. I think for most of the characters it is their job that is most important and so we see them struggle with that and their other life.

You are fresh out of RADA and have mainly been involved in theatre.  How did you get involved with this television project?

I left RADA [Royal Academy of Dramatic Art)] last year and since then did quite a bit of theatre, both fringe and professional.  Fringe is a great place to get experience and try new things.  You get to play away from your casting and that's such a joy.  I've mainly played geeks since leaving, in theatre (which is totally against my casting) so [it] has been great fun.  I've also been lucky enough to play Lady MacBeth for The Orange Tree Theatre which was great.  I was just in the middle of a run for an off West End play when I had the casting for Murder Squad.  And that was it really!

As I'm sure you know, Amanda Donohoe also has strong theater roots and has been successful in making the transition from stage to big screen to small screen series.  Can you talk a bit about what it's like working with her and Kris Marshall?  Are you finding that you are learning more about your craft and business from them as you go?

It's been great working with those who have been in the business for longer than me and everyday you learn from those you work with.  It's been amazing and everyone has been so welcoming.  It's a nice, close community in lots of ways.  They're a great set of actors and all very, very talented.

You are relatively young to the business.  As you get more experience, are you finding surprises or new techniques evolving in your acting?  Or do you tend to  think of acting on a technical level as opposed to being instinctive?

I prefer instinctive work.  Of course you need technique and often in TV and film you have to be technically precise.  But within that, if there is still freedom and intuition that's when you get the most exciting work.  If you can marry the two, that's a winning combination and that's what I am aiming to be able to do.  I admire greatly actors like Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Ed Norton - who have the precision and yet that amazing instinctive quality.  There has to be some truth in what we do - otherwise why do it?