Interview with Sinéad Keenan on Unforgotten Season 6
DCI Jess James has earned a place for herself beside DI Sunny Khan on Unforgotten’s crime-solving team, just in time to unravel another mystery. In this Season 6 interview, Sinéad Keenan chatted with MASTERPIECE about the positive response to her joining the series, Jess’s unyielding ambition, and her favorite part of filming Season 6.
[This interview contains spoilers for Unforgotten Season 4.]
What feedback did you get after Season 1?
I was very, very relieved with the feedback, and people were incredibly kind and generous. I couldn’t have asked for better, really, in terms of response, because I know it’s a big ask of an audience for a show that has such a committed and dedicated following, for them to suddenly get on board with somebody new, particularly when their beloved character has been killed, and they’re expected to follow on through with some new interloper. So I was very pleased and delighted with the response, which was thankfully overwhelmingly positive.
Is Jess more comfortable leading the team?
Yes, the team weren’t comfortable last season. They were grieving and also Jess wasn’t doing a particularly good job, so that added insult to injury from their point of view. But I think now, she’s established relationships, good working relationships, with everyone on the team. Also, they look up to Sunny so much. So they tend to take their lead from him on the whole Jess front. And once they saw, towards the end of the last season, that he was getting on with Jess and they were working well together, they then followed suit to an extent.
Has Jess changed since we first met her?
I think if you find out something, if somebody throws that grenade into your relationship, you’re going to be changed by it in some way, shape or form, so certainly, that will have changed her outlook on relationships, and her relationship with Steve, but I don’t think that necessarily has stifled her ambition at work at all. She’s good at what she does, and she’s very comfortable and confident in her new position. It’s just something else she has to deal with. It’s another thing to add to the mental load, as they call it.
What was the most challenging thing you had to face this season?
To be honest, the most challenging aspect with this job – and actually, it’s with any acting job, it’s not unique to Unforgotten – is being away from home. But the production were brilliant. As soon as I had a day off, I was in a car straight down the M40 to see the kids. That’s always the toughest bit. But it’s the price you pay, which is hopefully worth it. But, yes, that’s the toughest bit.
Did you have a favorite scene or favorite moment?
I have to say, everyone was brilliant this year. In those interview scenes, you are up close and personal, watching some brilliant actors do their thing. But watching and acting with Victoria Hamilton was quite something. She is so brilliant and so lovely with it. That was a real pleasure. I was very lucky.
