For the past 4 years actress Tamzin Dunstone has faithfully portrayed Holmes modern day house keeper Miss Christine Blake in No Place Like Holmes. Today she takes a moment out of her busy life to talk to us about Shoes, Sherlock and Shower caps...
Q: After show creator Ross K Foad you are the cast’s most senior member having been playing Miss Blake since 2010. Did you ever envision you would still be doing this back then?
A: I can’t quite believe that it has been 4 years!! Honestly, I don’t know how Ross has put up with me all these years. I can still remember the first audition and thinking this was a great part but never considered Miss Blake would have blossomed in the series as well as she has. After the first year I knew Ross was an amazing writer, great actor and was so easy to work with that I hoped it would still be running and I still hope it will be running in another 4 years as well. There is so much more to explore with the characters and many more creative story lines that Ross will do that I don’t see it ending anytime soon.
Q: What do you think has changed the most from when you started the show?
A: Dr Watson... His hair cut changed the whole shape of his face, voice and everything that is definitely the biggest change.
Q: In the book “The Story and Scripts behind No Place Like Holmes” Ross describes Miss Blake and Holmes as only being minor extensions of you both. To what extent would you say that is true?
A:This question had me in giggles. Firstly I would like to say what a great book “The Story and Scripts behind No Place Like Holmes” is. Another genius idea from Ross and a little glimpse into behind the scenes and let’s face it everyone loves that!
So are Miss Blake and Holmes minor extensions of who we really are? OMG yes!!! I hang my head in shame and admit that friends and family would struggle to see where I end and Miss Blake starts. I can talk the hind legs off a donkey and it isn’t necessarily coherent it is just a flow of drivel. Picture this, a stuffy Ross dressed in the finest Holmes outfit pacing up and down behind the camera, trying to find the second where I take a breath, to interrupt me whilst his parent’s ears are assaulted by the sheer onslaught of my reply to the question: “how are you?” whilst Ross politely asks if we can get on with it now. Ross is a dream to work with, so enthusiastic and knowledgeable I feel insignificant compared to him every time we are on screen but I know that Miss Blake has a loveable way of still having the upper hand. Ross was born in the wrong era and is so much like Holmes that conversations between us rarely differ from those between Holmes and Miss Blake, I tell him where I got my new shoes from even though he isn’t the faintest bit interested.
Q: Who have you enjoyed working with the most onscreen?
A: That is a ridiculous question!! You can’t ask me to answer that! Every member of the cast is amazing. Even if I only have brief scenes with them, I can see how talented and passionate they are. I can’t pick just one person. I love working with Ross as it is so easy, we know the characters and add lines in and his comical timing just makes the scenes flow. But I also love working with Mike Archer who plays Dr Watson. He is a lovely person, a great actor and a pleasure to work with. I always have a great time when I work with the boys and lots of laughs, usually at my expense. I would love to work with Mrs Hudson. I know this is very unlikely but I admire Linda-Jean Barry and think she is an outstanding actress who I can learn a lot from and behind the scenes she is nicest person you will ever meet. Both Linda and Gene give Ross so much support he is very lucky.
Q: How about your favourite episode to date?
A: That is easy I loved Red Rising (Season 3 Episode 1). It was great to get out of the studio where we normally film and actually transform Dr Watson. This episode was hilarious. We had so much fun and all the passers-by were so intrigued. I don’t know how many times we got asked if we were filming. There were genuine moments when Ross was fiddling about with the camera when I went off window shopping and had to be called back. The original script for that scene was actually shorter than it became as they just kept rolling whilst I wittered on, so funny to shoot.
Q: Will we ever get to meet the infamous Aunty Pat?
A: Hahahaha.... curiosity killed the cat. Everyone has built up a picture of what Aunty Pat should look like; sometimes it’s better to keep the suspense. Ross ultimately has the final decision so until he decides to reveal her only I will know what Aunty Pat is like in real life.
Q: In the photos for the latest upcoming episode “ A Study In Secrets” you are seen wearing a full boiler suit and a shower cap...what is all that about?!
A: Not just a shower cap but a pink satin one with a black bow! Anyway, you will have to watch the episode!! All I am saying is that Ross said the word ‘sewer’ and I said Miss Blake is not getting her clothes dirty I will bring the boiler suit. The suit looked a bit plain so I tried to add a little bit of Miss Blake to accessorize as only she could do!
Q: After show creator Ross K Foad you are the cast’s most senior member having been playing Miss Blake since 2010. Did you ever envision you would still be doing this back then?
A: I can’t quite believe that it has been 4 years!! Honestly, I don’t know how Ross has put up with me all these years. I can still remember the first audition and thinking this was a great part but never considered Miss Blake would have blossomed in the series as well as she has. After the first year I knew Ross was an amazing writer, great actor and was so easy to work with that I hoped it would still be running and I still hope it will be running in another 4 years as well. There is so much more to explore with the characters and many more creative story lines that Ross will do that I don’t see it ending anytime soon.
Q: What do you think has changed the most from when you started the show?
A: Dr Watson... His hair cut changed the whole shape of his face, voice and everything that is definitely the biggest change.
Q: In the book “The Story and Scripts behind No Place Like Holmes” Ross describes Miss Blake and Holmes as only being minor extensions of you both. To what extent would you say that is true?
A:This question had me in giggles. Firstly I would like to say what a great book “The Story and Scripts behind No Place Like Holmes” is. Another genius idea from Ross and a little glimpse into behind the scenes and let’s face it everyone loves that!
So are Miss Blake and Holmes minor extensions of who we really are? OMG yes!!! I hang my head in shame and admit that friends and family would struggle to see where I end and Miss Blake starts. I can talk the hind legs off a donkey and it isn’t necessarily coherent it is just a flow of drivel. Picture this, a stuffy Ross dressed in the finest Holmes outfit pacing up and down behind the camera, trying to find the second where I take a breath, to interrupt me whilst his parent’s ears are assaulted by the sheer onslaught of my reply to the question: “how are you?” whilst Ross politely asks if we can get on with it now. Ross is a dream to work with, so enthusiastic and knowledgeable I feel insignificant compared to him every time we are on screen but I know that Miss Blake has a loveable way of still having the upper hand. Ross was born in the wrong era and is so much like Holmes that conversations between us rarely differ from those between Holmes and Miss Blake, I tell him where I got my new shoes from even though he isn’t the faintest bit interested.
Q: Who have you enjoyed working with the most onscreen?
A: That is a ridiculous question!! You can’t ask me to answer that! Every member of the cast is amazing. Even if I only have brief scenes with them, I can see how talented and passionate they are. I can’t pick just one person. I love working with Ross as it is so easy, we know the characters and add lines in and his comical timing just makes the scenes flow. But I also love working with Mike Archer who plays Dr Watson. He is a lovely person, a great actor and a pleasure to work with. I always have a great time when I work with the boys and lots of laughs, usually at my expense. I would love to work with Mrs Hudson. I know this is very unlikely but I admire Linda-Jean Barry and think she is an outstanding actress who I can learn a lot from and behind the scenes she is nicest person you will ever meet. Both Linda and Gene give Ross so much support he is very lucky.
Q: How about your favourite episode to date?
A: That is easy I loved Red Rising (Season 3 Episode 1). It was great to get out of the studio where we normally film and actually transform Dr Watson. This episode was hilarious. We had so much fun and all the passers-by were so intrigued. I don’t know how many times we got asked if we were filming. There were genuine moments when Ross was fiddling about with the camera when I went off window shopping and had to be called back. The original script for that scene was actually shorter than it became as they just kept rolling whilst I wittered on, so funny to shoot.
Q: Will we ever get to meet the infamous Aunty Pat?
A: Hahahaha.... curiosity killed the cat. Everyone has built up a picture of what Aunty Pat should look like; sometimes it’s better to keep the suspense. Ross ultimately has the final decision so until he decides to reveal her only I will know what Aunty Pat is like in real life.
Q: In the photos for the latest upcoming episode “ A Study In Secrets” you are seen wearing a full boiler suit and a shower cap...what is all that about?!
A: Not just a shower cap but a pink satin one with a black bow! Anyway, you will have to watch the episode!! All I am saying is that Ross said the word ‘sewer’ and I said Miss Blake is not getting her clothes dirty I will bring the boiler suit. The suit looked a bit plain so I tried to add a little bit of Miss Blake to accessorize as only she could do!
A huge thank you to the wonderfully talented Tamzin Dunstone who you can see more of in the next Episode of NPLH "A Study In Secrets" due to start in late February.
For more information on Tamzin Dunstone click here.
For photos for the upcoming episode click here
To buy "The Story and Scripts Behind No Place Like Holmes" click here.
For more information on Tamzin Dunstone click here.
For photos for the upcoming episode click here
To buy "The Story and Scripts Behind No Place Like Holmes" click here.
