Character: Emily Gascoigne
Actor: Cheryl Campbell
Episode: A Lesson In Murder

Emily Gascoigne is a prisoner within her family, according to Cheryl Campbell who plays her.

"She is locked into something she can't get out of with any dignity. She is a prisoner to her own desired self-image and need to keeping up appearances. Emily is not a terribly happy woman. I wanted to create an air of loneliness around her, stuck in such a large house.

"Her relationship with her husband Lawrence is based on disappointment. Their marriage was serviceable for a few years and it allowed her to have a social life. He was respectful, upright and worthy - not top notch but his credentials were there. The disappointment came when their money problems started, followed by his secret behaviour of cutting her out. Their friendship was jeopardised because trust was not a top priority. What little solace she gets is from her daughter, but that's not perfect."

Cheryl was delighted to get a chance to work with Michael Kitchen, who stars as Foyle.

"It was an easy and effortless audition to say yes to, because I've been a fan of Michael for a long time, and David the director is very interested in actors. I loved doing it. The deceit of the murder-mystery is that a lot of the information is deliberately withheld from the viewer at the beginning. A lot of people in the film are red herrings; they are all possible suspects, like the scattering of shot."

Fans of Cheryl will see her with a new look in the film.

"I had my hair cut quite short and then this job came along. Ideally it would have been a bit longer, but it was quite liberating. It was waved and put in a period style look. But I am always known for having such long hair that when I go to the hairdressers they usually refuse to take much off!"

Cheryl's many credits include Absurd Person Singular, The Mill on the Floss, The Shooting Party, Bramwell, Midsomer Murders and Sherlock Holmes. Chariots of Fire, McVicar and Greystoke are among her films.

"I have worked on programmes that cover every period except mediaeval, but I'd love to do a comedy role or a tough modern love story. I did a contemporary play last year called So Long Life and all my friends said it was so refreshing to see me play someone with a real edge."

September 2002; Publicity Release