Call the Midwife’s Sister Monica Joan has opened up about filming new episode of the BBC drama aged 90
Call the Midwife icon Judy Parfitt has opened up about new scenes at 90 years old as the drama prepares to take a break.
The beloved actress has portrayed Sister Monica Joan on the BBC period drama since its television debut in January 2012. The nun is popular among the residents of Nonnatus House and the wider Poplar community thanks to her quirky personality, love of cake, and empathy for those most in need of her advice.
Sister Monica Joan has dedicated her life to religious service, but her calling in life was met with outrage from her family. Leading a life as a nun meant she was never accepted among her loved ones, but thankfully, she found peace among the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House.
The new season of Call the Midwife, commencing on Sunday (January 11), ushers in 1971. The fresh era delves into the effects of the Women’s Liberation movement, premature births, cancer diagnoses, and various other subjects.
As the period drama journeys into the 1970s, a 16th series has been confirmed. Additionally, a prequel set in Poplar during World War II, focusing on the early days of Nonnatus House, is in the works.
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A spin-off film set in 1972 abroad will also be aired, as the regular series of Call the Midwife makes way for the prequel and movie.
Judy has reflected on filming the latest episodes of Call the Midwife after celebrating her 90th birthday in November, and it is challenging, partly due to the circumstances, along with storylines, and partly because of the kind of actress she is.
“I have to be a character and inhabit them,” Judy told the Radio Times. “I can’t act any other way. I can’t sort of be external and watch myself.
“In these episodes, I’m playing scenes that there’s no way I can leave behind. It’s been horrendous, on occasion. For an actor, a vivid imagination is wonderful to have – and hell to live with.”
Just also revealed she was taught by nuns and is happy with her character’s disposition on the show, Judy added: “I’ve always wanted to play a nun because I was educated by nuns, and I loved Monica Joan’s character.
“The way she was written as quirky and offbeat was a joy; she spoke in a different way from everybody else, which is hell to learn.”
Throughout the Call the Midwife festive special, broadcast on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, some of the storyline shifted from Nonnatus House as catastrophe befell the order’s Hong Kong outpost.
Sister Monica Joan remained in London to assist the skeleton crew in maintaining essential services, with the character anticipated to feature in forthcoming episodes for series 15.
You can read Judy Parfitt’s complete interview with the Radio Times here.
Call the Midwife series 15 starts on Sunday, 11 January at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.mirror.co.uk ’
