Laura Aikman (Part One)

This week Emily and Ray take a stroll with the wonderful Laura Aikman and her brilliantly named French bulldog, Eric Cantona.

Laura is perhaps best known to millions of Gavin & Stacey fans as Smithy’s formidable girlfriend Sonia, but her acting career stretches back much further. She chats to Emily about growing up in Hertfordshire with an actress mum and stuntman dad, becoming a child actor herself, and playing Anthony Hopkins’ daughter in Surviving Picasso.

They also talk about Laura’s career in shows including Archie and the acclaimed BBC drama This City Is Ours, before getting into that unforgettable return to Gavin & Stacey. Laura reveals the extraordinary lengths she went to in order to keep her appearance in the Christmas finale secret, even from her own parents, and the hilarious reaction video that subsequently went viral.

Laura also talks about her new play, Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy, a contemporary reimagining of the Helen of Troy myth in which she stars alongside Michelle Dockery. It runs at Stratford East from September 3rd to October 10th, and tickets are available at https://www.stratfordeast.com.

It’s a wonderfully relaxed conversation with an actress who is thankfully absolutely nothing like Sonia. Plus, the simple joy of repeatedly hearing someone shout things like “Eric Cantona, stop licking me” throughout a dog walk.

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Walking The Dog is produced by Will Nichols

Music: Rich Jarman

Artwork: Alice Ludlam

Photography: Karla Gowlett

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