Gavin and Stacey star Alison Steadman has revealed filming the hit sitcom was a “nightmare” - and watching birds helps soothe her anxiety.
The 78-year-old plays loveable Pamela “Pam” Shipman on the hit show which will return to our screens on Christmas Day.
But she said filming earlier this year turned problematic because photographers and fans were so desperate to know if Nessa, played by Ruth Jones, and James Corden’s character Smithy ended up tying the knot.
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature festival, Alison said: “The main thing is when we were filming, truly the paps were everywhere taking pictures, it was a nightmare and there was people at the end of the street, here, there and everywhere, and the main thing that Ruth and James Corden were saying to everyone is we don't want to spoil it for you, we want Christmas Day it to be a surprise and once you know a bit of secrets or a story its going to spoil it. And that is what I want too.”
Alison also admitted she finds line learning harder than ever adding: “Line learning is incredibly difficult once you get over 70. Your brain slows down a bit.”
But it is Alison’s relationship with nature that helps ease her anxiety - in particular bird watching.
She continued: “My grandmother was a very keen bird watcher. She would teach me about feeding birds and she would feed birds all the time.
“My aunt was a real animal lover. She had a tortoise called Sammy.
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“A hole had been drilled through his shell and he had a ring through it and so he had a long rope so he could crawl all round the garden and never get lost.
“She had him for 70 years and then he was given to her son when she died and so they were great animal lovers.
“They taught me the love of animals and watching animals and I find it the most relaxing thing.
“If ever I'm a bit stressed or I'm tired and I've been working hard or learning lines or perhaps I can't learn the lines and I'm a bit anxious I look out of my window and I get my binoculars and I just sit and watch the birds for 20 minutes and it really calms me down. I love it.”
