The Q&A: Jessica Hardwick
Scottish actor Jessica Hardwick stars alongside Idris Elba in the second season of hit thriller Hijack. She also plays an enigmatic teacher in Gifted, a show about a bunch of kids in Edinburgh who realise they have special powers. Here, she takes on our hard-hitting Q&A and talks otters, sharks and ghostly goings-on
What’s the punchline to your favourite joke? He had no body to go with.
If you were to return in a future life as an animal, what would it be? An otter. They look like they have the most fun.
If you were playing in an escape room name two other people (well-known or otherwise) you’d recruit to help you get out? Nick Mohammed as he’s good at solving puzzles. And Jennifer Saunders to keep it silly when things get too tense.
When was the last time you were mistaken for someone else and what were the circumstances? More times than I’m comfortable with I’ve been mistaken as a salesperson when shopping. Most of the time I bashfully correct them but sometimes it’s easier to just go along with it and pretend I work there.
What’s the best cover version ever? ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin.
Whose speaking voice soothes your ears? Stephen Fry.
Tell us something you wish you had discovered sooner in life? To trust that you’re enough and not to shape yourself into what you think others want you to be.
What tune do you find it impossible not to get up and dance to, whether in public or private? ‘No Diggity’ by Blackstreet and Dr Dre.
Describe your perfect Saturday evening? Pizza and a film or a games night with pals.
If you were a ghost, who would you haunt? Danny Robins. I’m a huge fan of the Uncanny podcast. He’s always saying he wishes he could experience a haunting to know if ghosts are real, so I’d try and get the word out through him.
If you could relive any day of your life, which one would it be? I think maybe one of those snow days at primary school when you got the day off and went sledging instead.
What’s your earliest recollection of winning something? The ‘effort prize’ in primary school: I’ve always been a bit of a try hard!
Did you have a nickname at school that you were ok with? No, but I always wished I did. I did have one that I hated but it’s probably too rude to put in print. Let’s just say it was a ‘creative’ variation on my surname.
If you were to start a tribute act to a band or singer, who would it be in tribute to and what would it be called? Dolly Parton, with a full band of female musicians, called The Dolly Birds.
When were you most recently astonished by something? Daily. The world is pretty astonishing.
Which famous person would be your ideal holiday companion? Daisy May Cooper. We’d get nothing done and possibly get arrested but it would certainly be memorable.
As an adult, what has a child said to you that made a powerful impact? My niece once told me she was ‘a little scared’. I think everyone gets scared, no matter what age we are, and actually it’s good to tell people. That always makes it less scary.
Tell us one thing about yourself that would surprise people? I love shark films.
When did you last cry? When I burned my arm cooking on Christmas Day.
What’s the most hi-tech item in your home? My breadmaker.
What’s a skill you’d love to learn but never got round to? Playing the guitar.
By decree of your local council, you’ve been ordered to destroy one room in your house and all of its contents. Which room do you choose? Probably the bathroom. It needs redoing anyway so that would definitely get the ball rolling.
If you were selected as the next 007, where would you pick as your first luxury destination for espionage? Iceland. I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights and I love good knitwear.
New episodes of Hijack’s second season are available every Wednesday on Apple TV; all episodes of CBBC’s Gifted are on BBC iPlayer now; main picture: Stewart Bywater.