by Although Joanna Scanlan started learning the Welsh language only last year, she started to challenge herself by filming her new Channel 4 drama in both Welsh and English.
Larkins starred in The Light in the Hall, a television series set in Wales where he plays a grieving mother whose daughter’s murderer is about to be released from prison on parole.
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But despite growing up in Wales and having a Welsh family, Scanlan explained that he only started learning the language when he joined the Iaith Ar Daith student program last year.
Scanlan admitted that he could no longer believe he was taking on a Welsh-speaking role, as two versions of the show were filmed, one in Welsh and one in English.
He said: “I can’t believe they thought of me first and thought I could do it second! The only way I can make sense of this is if they’re crazy enough to think I can do it in Welsh,” he said. drama, then I must be crazy enough to try and although it was so compelling, I loved every second of it.
“And it’s tough, no doubt, but you get so many rewards for that work that it’s pretty overwhelming. You just want to go back and do it again.
“It was absolutely amazing and I can’t thank them enough for making fun of me. I’m surprised and I’m a better person for doing it, no doubt about it!”
The actress admitted that she felt the depth at times to deal with language differences.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m swimming in the sea in the dark in the middle of the night, just hoping I’ll get to shore,” she said.
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But he said that his nephew helped him a lot with his lines.
“When you’re my age, you’re pretty proficient at most of the things you do in your life,” he said. “When you go to the kitchen, you can cook your meal. When you get really bad at something, it’s a really terrible feeling of humiliation. Actually, no one is judging you, but you are judging yourself.
“And so it’s really nice to have a family member because you feel less vulnerable when you make mistakes in front of them. He’s 100% supportive and always sends me nice messages.”
Scanlan added that the Welsh family is very proud: “They are really excited about this. My mother is particularly excited about this because she is a long-time Welsh supporter and has many friends involved in the development of the Welsh language.
“He’s always been very proud to be Welsh and living in Wales. He speaks a bit of Welsh so he was really excited.”
The Light in the Hall starts tonight at 9 am on Channel 4.
