HOW DID YOU FIND FILMING THE LOVE SCENES WITH NIKESH PATEL, WHO PLAYS TOM?
I WAS like, "I'm sorry Nikesh, I literally don't know how to kiss. We have been in a pandemic for a year, I am single, I have not kissed anyone". He's probably the only person that I've kissed in a year!
HOW SIMILAR ARE YOU IN REAL LIFE TO YOUR CHARACTER, JESSIE?
Quite a bit. I think it's a tradition that's mainly, unfortunately, adopted by men in the past, particularly in films. I love Steve Martin and I love Albert Brooks; they would write themselves into these romantic comedies because they were in the position to do that.
And I think that it's so cool to be in the position to be able to do that myself, and put a lot of myself into the character. It's like the Sliding Doors version of me if I had not done comedy.
WERE THOSE MOVIES AN INFLUENCE ON STARSTRUCK?
I'm obsessed with romantic comedies from the 90s. So it was kind of working backwards from there and finding a premise that I thought fit in with my strengths as a performer, knowing that I'd be in it, and my background.
YOU'RE SPORTING A GREAT DRESS FOR THE SCENE WHERE JESSIE MEETS TOM ON A NIGHT OUT
What's great about that dress is that while we were making the show, it was when Strictly Come Dancing was on – I was obsessed, and then watching like old Strictly 'best of' compilations.
And then Tess Daly was wearing that very dress and I was like, "Oh my god, I'm in incredible company".
WILL WE EVER SEE YOU COMPETING FOR THE GLITTERBALL TROPHY?
This is my long-term plan. Post-50, I'll need to get my body back into shape. I'll have brutalised it for 20 years, but Strictly is gonna be my comeback.
I will have some aches and pains, but it'll be fine, we'll push past it and I'll be the Bill Bailey vibe – "Good on them for doing it". I will be on Strictly in 2041.
STARSTRUCK EXPLORES THE COMPLICATIONS OF DATING SOMEONE FAMOUS. HOW DO YOU FIND BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE?
I still have relative anonymity – particularly in this country. But don't get me wrong – I want my big break. And it better be coming!
Also, I'm starting to direct more and get into that aspect of it. So I think I'm lucky in that I can see stuff going more behind the scenes a little bit.
But I'm really bad at self-promotion. I need to get better at it. I think it's essential in this economy, and the world we live in.
DO YOU FEEL THE INDUSTRY IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEMALE PERFORMERS?
Female comedy is not a genre. I think female writers, creators, directors and producers having that control should be far more prevalent.
We – rightly so – celebrate Michaela Coel and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and you're like, "Wow, look at those women doing so much amazing stuff". But they should not be viewed as an anomaly, that needs to be on our screen all the time.
I've found sometimes that these people get lumped together because of their gender, and you're like, "Oh, we are all making very different stuff".
HOW DID YOU FIND BEING A WRITER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON THE SHOW AS WELL AS STARRING?
It's just been a joy. It's stressful as hell, but it's the thing I love doing. I love making TV.
:: Rose Matafeo's Starstruck is available on BBC Three now.
