16 January 2024 , 21:56
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With a young daughter following her into acting, it was a recent cinema trip that thoroughly depressed Fay Ripley about the industry.
The Cold Feet star has had an astounding career, but admits she fears for 21-year-old Parker as she forges her own path. Fay says: “To be honest, I am still fearful for [Parker]. That’s just me, as a woman, having come through this industry. I think there’s quite a lot of pretending and it’s not as good as the poster says. There’s a lot of talk of change and how marvellous things are but I went to see a film at the weekend. Watching a young actress naked for most of the film just depressed me as I have a young daughter going into the industry and I thought, ‘Really, are we still there?’
“And the film is being held up as a sort of feminist piece and I thought, ‘Not to this female it isn’t’. I could be describing any number of films or TV series, so you can wrap it up and pretend it’s a new Golden Age, but I would encourage more change.”
Fay with John Thomson in Cold Feet (Granada Television)Fay and actor husband Daniel Lapaine, 52, have another child together, 17-year-old Sonny, whom Fay jokes she hopes will avoid showbusiness and become a plumber instead.
The 57-year-old says: “Whether Parker asks for our advice or not, we give it. It’s useful to be around people who do know the ups and downs of a business and my God, there are many ups and downs. As a young woman, there are a lot of hurdles and there’s a lot to be warned about. I’ll always be there to cushion the blow. And I know there are many blows to come because it is the nature of what we do. Having said that, the highs are pretty high. So it’s also fun to watch her enjoying the good stuff too.”
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Fay admits she doesn’t like watching herself on TV, so she won’t be sitting down with the family to see her latest drama, Finders Keepers. The four-part Channel 5 drama is the story of keen metal detectorist Martin, played by Neil Morrissey, and his gobby son-in-law Ashley, played by James Buckley.
James, Neil and Fay in new series (CHANNEL 5)They find Saxon treasure worth millions and face a dilemma of whether or not to keep it. Fay plays Martin’s wife Anna, who slowly starts to cotton on that they are hiding something.
Brought up by antique dealers, Fay has always been excited by any form of treasure and spent her formative years rifling around antique shops and going to auctions with her mum and stepdad. She says: “Finding that bit of treasure has been built into me. I’m like a magpie, always looking for shiny things. My house is pretty full, I’ve got some very nice tea sets. Also, don’t ever expect me to pay what’s on the ticket. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to get my pants at half price in Marks and Spencer, but I do like a bargain.”
But for the million dollar question: faced with the same dilemma, would Fay keep the cash?
“The truth is, I think I would keep it,” she laughs. “If I thought it belonged to somebody I would return it, but if it was Saxon and no one had a claim? But in my family my nickname is ‘Dobber Ripley’. I’m like a vigilante, on a hotline to the police station if I see anything suspicious or to dob in bad drivers or litterbugs. I’ve played a Detective Inspector in Suspects, I’ve still got the lanyard, so I’m practically qualified.”
She adds: “There was a burglary on our street when I was playing that role. My daughter witnessed it. The cops turned up, like Laurel and Hardy, and they went to go into the premises and I saw that they were not wearing gloves. I said, ‘Guys, you need to wear gloves. You will dirty the site.’ They said, ‘Oh god, we’re always doing that’. I got them some gloves and thought, ‘Do I need to run this investigation?’”
One piece of treasure Fay was glad to get her hands on, though, was a video message from Inbetweeners star James, which she says she was hounded for.
She explains: “It was the blokes in the house, my son and my husband. They are hugely aware of James’s cameo empire and they were trying to get free messages from him. I got one in the end.”
- Finders Keepers starts tonight at 9pm on Channel 5 and My5.