Lisa Maxwell has always been on the good side of the law, playing DI Samantha Dixon in The Bill, but now she has turned evil, playing our panto baddie in Aladdin. We sat down with Lisa to talk about going bad, her TV career, unwinding with an auction site or too and her party trick.
You are best known for playing DI Samantha Nixon in The Bill for seven years. What was it like to play a character for that long?
Very comfy because you get to know who she is quite early on, and then you don’t even have to think about how she’d react in certain situations. There’s something really nice about knowing how a character might react in any given situation because, as an actor, it’s nice not to have to be nervous. And she was great, a proper bossy boots; very smart; a degree in criminology and forensic psychology; small, blonde, but very powerful.
You were also on Loose Women – what was that like?
It was absolutely brilliant. I did that for about seven years, too – it’s like I get the seven-year itch, isn’t it? We were all very good mates. We still have a WhatsApp group now, so stay in touch. I think it was a bit of a golden era, so I was very lucky to be a part of it.
What we said on camera was exactly what we were like off camera as we would go out together, stay at each other’s houses, and confide in each other. If one of us was suffering or had an issue, we were all there for each other. I was very lucky to have had that.
Tell us something we don’t know about you.
I don’t know if people know that I sing so much. I was trained in all aspects of theatre performing arts as a kid. It was when I had to do Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow and sing all of her songs like her that I think people were a bit like ‘bloody hell’.
I’m singing in the panto, which I’m quite excited about. Although I’ve done loads of musicals, people always think of me more as a comedy actress.
I can also carry a pint of beer in the small of my back.
You’re playing the Professor Bellatrix Bottomburgh. Are you excited
I have never been a baddie. I’ve played Aladdin in York at the Opera House, I’ve played principal girl many times, but I haven’t done panto for twenty-odd years, and playing a baddie is just a box ticked for me. And I’m a professor, so I’m a clever baddie – the worst kind! I’m hoping for lots of hisses and boos.
What about being a baddie will you enjoy most?
I think kids love being scared, and it’s quite a powerful role, so I’m looking forward to scaring the living daylights out of Norfolk. I love the theatrics of it all, I don’t think you can ever be too over the top. I want to blow the roof off with the boos and hisses and be really hated because I represent evil.
How do you unwind after a hard day on the stage?
Probably scrolling on auction sites, which is a bit sad, isn’t it? I tend not to drink when I’m doing theatre, and I find that now I need as much energy as I can for the stage. So probably auction sites and a bit of crap telly.
Have you ever been to Norwich before? What are you looking forward to doing while you’re here?
I have. The last time I was in Norwich was at this theatre, and I was doing Boogie Nights, a 70s musical that Shane Richie and I created out of a love of 70s songs. That was before my daughter was born, so about 25 years ago! Although I did go on a holiday on the Broads with my husband and daughter about 10 years ago.
Norwich is lovely, though. I’m looking forward to going to the beach on walks, and my husband is going to visit with my three dogs around New Year’s, so that’s what we’ll be doing.
What is your perfect day?
Wake up late at home with my husband and daughter and get the rest of my family around. Have a home-cooked brunch made by my husband, walk the dogs in beautiful weather, go for a pub lunch at home in the Cotswolds, have a kip afterwards, watch Love Island or scroll on auction sites, then go to sleep and wake up late the next day as well.
What is your favourite part of Christmas?
All of it, I love Christmas, which is why I haven’t done a panto for 20 years, but now that everyone’s flown the nest, I thought I’d give it a go. I wanted to do something completely different at Christmas but equally as Christmassy. This year, I have one day off, so I’ll probably meet my family at my aunt and uncle’s house, or they’ll come here. I love all of it but, particularly the decorations.
If you could play any evil character, who would it be and why?
I’d like to be a female version of Logan Roy, Brian Cox’s character in Succession. He’s a patriarchal media magnet with a feuding family, and he’s dark and damaged with no principles.
Aladdin is on at Norwich Theatre Royal until 5 Jan. To book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office on 01603 630 000.
