Character: Evelyn Richards
Actor: Abigail Cruttenden
Episode: Casualties of War
In name, a secretarial assistant to Professor Townsend but in fact an intrinsic part of the work carried out at the research centre. Evelyn has to assume the title of secretary as the Admiralty would not accept that a woman, no matter how able, was vital to the development of such innovative scientific break through. Unhappily married to Michael Richards she is an equal to Hans Lindemarn in immorality and duplicitousness.
February, 2007; Publicity Release
Abigail Cruttenden turned to her grandmother and great-grandmother to help her play the role of Evelyn in Foyle's War.
"My great-grandmother, who is 90, had two little girls during the war and was a great source of information. She told me about the emotions of women at the time. My grandmother was similar to Evelyn, as she was going through a divorce which was very unusual at that time.
"She gave me great background and explained how she brought up my mother and her sister alone from two very young children. It was an amazing thing to do and I tried to absorb as much of my grandmother as a young woman into Evelyn, as I think they had similar spirits and drive."
Evelyn is a scientist working at a military research establishment responsible for developing new-style bombs, but her marriage is going through a difficult time.
"She is incredibly intelligent - a brilliant scientist - and that's what drives her more than anything. She has been very successful at work and has grown away from her husband Michael, who, although interesting, has not been as successful as she has.
"She is fully ensconced in the project of the bouncing bomb, and she is probably at work all the time, where she gets involved with another man, while Michael is drinking at home."
Abigail enjoyed the experience of filming a wartime drama.
"I was also in Charlotte Gray, so I knew a lot about the period. I love the clothes - I think they are very flattering. I am in quite dowdy clothes in Foyle's War to suit Evelyn's character, but I really liked what I wore. Even though they are not sexy or frivolous, they were great and helped me to get into the character."
Abigail is married to actor-turned-writer Joe Frazer and is mum to two daughters.
"The girls are aged seven and two so they keep me pretty occupied. When I had Evie as a baby I was on my own, but now I have a partner life is a bit easier and it's opened up new possibilities for work. I've tended to work in film and TV but I'm hoping to do a bit of theatre too."
Abigail made her name as a youngster in the series P'Tang Yang Kipperbang and her other credits include six Sharpe films, Jane Eyre, Sherlock Holmes, Love on a Branch Line, Anna Karenina, Sword of Honour and the feature film Hideous Kinky.