Sue Johnston, the 82-year-old actor known for iconic roles in Brookside and The Royle Family, is starring in the new BBC sitcom Ann Droid, created by Diane Morgan and Sarah Kendall. The show follows a recent widow named Sue who receives a dated humanoid robot named Linda, played by Morgan, as a companion after her son moves out. Johnston, who typically avoids watching herself on screen, found the series so absorbing that she forgot it was her. 'I very rarely do that and I just enjoyed it,' she said.
A Personal Connection to the Role
Johnston's enthusiasm for Ann Droid stems partly from her admiration for Morgan. The two met on the set of the Sky sitcom Rovers before Morgan gained fame with Philomena Cunk and Motherland. 'Which you don't with everyone. We're both silly about our dogs; we just made a connection,' Johnston said. She compared Morgan to the late Caroline Aherne, creator of The Royle Family: 'They've got that northern, straight-face, cut-through humour. And they're geniuses.' Morgan, in turn, said Johnston was the only choice for the role, calling her 'a perfect human being.'
Loneliness and Independence
The series explores themes of loneliness and aging, which Johnston recognizes from her own life. 'There is a loneliness that creeps in when you're old and you're on your own,' she said. After a fall last year, her son wanted her to move closer, but she remains fiercely independent. 'If he could have got me a robot, he'd have got me a robot!' she joked. Johnston, who divorced director David Pammenter decades ago, lives alone with her dog.
A Career of Iconic Roles
Johnston first gained fame as Sheila Grant in Brookside in 1982, a role she called 'a shock.' 'Suddenly I was a celebrity. I didn't want to be!' she said. She went on to play Barbara in The Royle Family and forensic psychologist Grace Foley in Waking the Dead for 11 years. Recently, she has taken on edgy roles in series like Generation Z, where she played a pensioner turned zombie, and Truelove, about a group of friends who decide to help each other die. She attributes the increase in substantial roles for older actors to her generation's rebellious spirit. 'It was almost revolutionary how we broke out of the traditions our parents grew up in,' she said.
Behind the Scenes of The Royle Family
Johnston recalled the relaxed atmosphere on The Royle Family set, where the cast never left the sofas between takes. 'Ricky's a great raconteur, so is Craig [Cash] and Caroline,' she said. They had a 'naughty corner' for those who laughed or forgot lines, which eventually became a cell-like structure with a blue light. Johnston still feels the loss of Aherne, who died in 2016. She keeps a painting of Aherne at the bottom of her stairs and greets it every morning. 'It's horrendous,' she said of the loss.
Looking Ahead
Despite her busy career, Johnston worries about work drying up, a common fear among actors. 'You finish the job and you say: 'Great, I can't wait to be on the sofa with the dog.' Then two weeks later you think: 'Oh, that might be my last job,'' she said. However, with Ann Droid set to premiere on 17 July at 9.30pm on BBC One, it seems her sofa time will be short-lived.
