Welsh actress Joanna Page recently opened up about the challenges she faced while filming the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who—all while juggling her new role as a mum! Sharing her experience on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Joanna revealed just how hectic it was to portray Queen Elizabeth I shortly after giving birth.
Imagine this: shooting scenes with Doctor Who legends like David Tennant and Matt Smith, all while navigating the craziness of life with a newborn. Joanna admitted it was “just awful” and described it as a “really embarrassing” period because, let’s be honest, who could focus with a baby in tow?
She shared, “I’m off filming with this little baby and it’s mad, trying to manage the biggest thing that’s ever happened in my life.” Being thrown back into a full-on acting schedule wasn’t easy. She detailed her days, starting with cluster-feeding in a Cardiff hotel and then squeezing into a corset for filming. All this while dealing with the challenge of forgetting her lines because, naturally, her head was in a million places at once.
Despite the whirlwind, the former Gavin and Stacey star stood her ground about having her baby close by: “I was adamant that the baby was going to be with me on set.” But with all the breastfeeding, expressing milk, and fitting in meals, it sometimes felt impossible to balance it all. “Lunchtime would come and I’d go into my trailer, feed for half an hour, express for 25 minutes, have one mouthful of food and then go back on set.”
Even with a top-notch cast around her, Joanna confessed to feeling self-conscious about performing with a Welsh accent as Queen Elizabeth. But hey, isn’t it refreshing to hear a celeb be so real about their struggles? It’s a great reminder that even in the glitzy world of TV, every mum’s journey is uniquely challenging!
Feeling seen, new mums? Tune in to Happy Place with Fearne Cotton to hear more! 🎬👶💫