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Felicity Finch answers - part one
26 October 2006
We had a record number of questions for Felicity Finch (Ruth), so we are splitting her replies into two parts. Part two will appear next week
Felicity Finch (Ruth Archer)
Would you like your character to have an affair with Sam? Do you think that Ruth could cope with the deception and lies? I always think of her as someone who is very straightforward and doesn't hold back with her feelings. Do you think Ruth and David will still be together in twenty years time?
Diane McKee
(Similar questions were asked by Helen, Paul, Sherry, Suzanne Stewart, Lorraine, quietnorthernlass, Karina Gregory, Sharon Henley, Margaret Cooper, Francesca Strausfeld, Carmel and Grumpy Pumpy)
Whew! Not sure about all this - it's a bit close to the bone at the moment.I don't think it's a question of liking or not. I think what's more important to me with any storyline is that it is believable and that I can believe that it could happen to the character. As Ruth is currently trying desperately to sort out how she feels about Sam and David I find it difficult to answer whether I would like an affair or not. Because I feel so involved in the storyline I find it difficult to stand back and just be me….so you'll just have to wait and see what happens and then decide if I would want what happens! And no, I think you are right - I don't think she can cope with deception and lies - it is so totally against the way she usually runs her life. And as for whether they will still be together in twenty years time - how can I possibly comment with things as they are at the moment?
Comments: Do you think women identify with the character of Ruth as a working Mum?
Gill Aspinall
Yes, definitely. I think Ruth does her best to juggle work and home life but sometimes she fails and sometimes it can get her down if she doesn't get out on the farm enough. She wants to feel that she's sharing the load with David and really contributing towards the success of the farm. I'm sure many women identify with the continuing struggle and the inevitable feelings of inadequacy which come when failing to keep all the balls in the air.
You may have noticed from The Archers message board that Ruth has something in common with Margaret Thatcher - she seems to polarise people's opinions. One group of people can't stand her and think that she is overexposed, while the other group love her and think that she is the salt of the earth. How do you feel about this?
Tim Saville
(Sally asked a similar question)
I have to confess I never look at the message board. Partly because I never seem to have the time to 'play' on a computer and partly because I know I wouldn't find it at all helpful to read anti-Ruth comments. This doesn't mean I can't take criticism - and it is after all the character people are commenting on, not me! I can understand why she might get up some people's noses but she certainly wouldn't mine. I have in the past experienced the drunken woman I don't know at a party suddenly grabbing me and yelling "I hate your character!" But I'm glad to say I've had many more people when they find out about my "other self" saying she's their favourite character. So I try to follow the advice of a very wise elderly teacher at my drama school who was my guru: "no matter what anybody ever says about you - halve it."
Do you feel disheartened & frustrated that the character of Ruth has changed so much recently? She used to be independent, assertive, fun loving and fair-minded with a healthy love of her work & family - balanced by her obvious failings as a 'text book' home-maker (a wonderful contrast to Jill). Now she just moans, fails, relates to few and seems very one-dimensional. Is this just another typical syndrome of scriptwriters "writing off" interesting female roles after a certain age or are we all missing the plot?
Chrasyc
(Ruan Milborrow, Bob Larkin, Gerry and John Flashman asked similar questions)
Hmmm…not sure about this one as, not surprisingly, I don't recognise the Ruth you describe! Whenever I've been in a play in the theatre, I never judge the character I'm playing until the job has ended. As The Archers is like being in a play which never ends I'm afraid I'm unable to be objective… sorry! However what I will say is that maybe she's going through a mid-life crisis without realizing it, Judging by what's happening as we speak, maybe that's the fairest explanation for now. Far be it for me to even think of blaming the writers - they know Ruth nearly as well as me!
David and Ruth have seemed to provide the moral benchmark for the series. A hard-working, loving family who enjoy the more simple pleasures of rural life. Are you therefore comfortable with the Sophie storyline that threatens to upset the Bramley-apple cart of Brookfield or do you feel it provides a window of realism on David and Ruth's utopian family?
Clare Jones
(Similar questions were asked by Ben Hardy, Ann Teather, Sue Hardcastle, Sue Jones, David Harris, Rosarie, Jenny Mitchell and Alberta)
I think some people found Ruth and David's life a little too good to be true so maybe it was inevitable that something would come along to throw everything up in the air. So, yes, I find it believable that the return of Sophie has been the catalyst for so much upset. Jealousy and a fear that your partner is falling for somebody else is a situation which I feel many people can empathise with, even if it hasn't actually happened to them. I think the fact that she was his fiancée and is obviously very attractive makes it even more threatening.
How close is your character to you? Have you both grown closer or apart over the years?
Diane Phillips
I'd say we are pretty similar - Ruth may be a little more direct than me. I think I probably shy away from confrontation, except when really provoked and even then would probably deal with it in a slightly more controlled manner. I'm not talking about the present story line here. I feel for better or worse we are all capable of the extreme emotions which are flying around at the moment. We have completely different lives and I wouldn't mind a bit of hers and I reckon she wouldn't mind a bit of mine!
Ruth is often accused on The Archers message board of being a bad parent and preferring the company of cows to that of her children. What do you think? I have to say I disagree; I like Ruth and think she and David make good parents.
La Sharpissima
That message board again! Just as well I don't read it, huh?! Ruth adores her children but she just happens to have the job she loves yards away from the house, so it's pretty easy to pop out for a quick de-stress when necessary. But seriously, Ruth is a working mum and puts her all into the farm, including the cows of which there is no doubt she is incredibly fond. However, there is also no doubt that the kids always come first for her and David. (Mind you at the moment there's rather more than just cows in the cow shed…)
You may have encountered strong criticism of the script-written character of Ruth on the message board and of the vocal range you as an actor use to deliver her. That range differs markedly from your very attractive voice as a BBC presenter/reporter. What degree of input are you given into the writing and the vocal presentation of Ruth?
$quirrel Grumpkin
We are given very little input into the writing but I think the writers would agree that the each character is a combination of their imagination and what they hear the actor bring to the character as they develop. So it's a sort of collaboration. The actors have the freedom to change the odd line if it's not expressed quite as we feel our character would say it. As for Ruth's "vocal range" - I have never analysed it and don't intend to start now. A character's voice grows organically (good farming word) out of the actor until it feels right. Just to illustrate the point, someone wrote in to say they didn't have a question but just wanted to say… "beautiful voice" !!
Do you think that in the past Ruth has been far too smug and self satisfied? It seems right to me that she now has something to make her question her life.
Robert C Rose
No, I would never describe Ruth that way. But you are entitled to your opinion, of course. Ruth has always been a person who tries to be fair-minded, direct and honest and I certainly think she's very sensitive to other people's problems. Also, since she had breast cancer I think she's definitely mellowed and matured and has become someone who tries to count her blessings and appreciate life from day to day. But of course this isn't always possible and David's current behaviour has certainly brought out sides of her that even she didn't know she had… but we are all capable of this, are we not?
What are the qualities that you admire in Ruth's character?
Laura
Oh dear, whatever I say here really doesn't mean I'm being immodest in thinking I'm like her, honest. She's feisty, strong willed, determined, honest, sensitive, optimistic (most of the time!), passionate...
Read part two>>
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