Interview with Ben Aldridge
Interview with Ben Aldridge, who plays Captain James in Our Girl.
Published: 28 September 2017
Captain James is dealing with a post-earthquake disaster zone which he isn’t very comfortable with. He likes an enemy he can see being in the field of war
Where do we find Captain James at the start of this series?
At the beginning of this series we find him in Nepal, its unknown territory. He’s dealing with a post-earthquake disaster zone which he isn’t very comfortable with. He likes an enemy he can see being in the field of war. He’s a bit afraid basically. He’s not quite sure of his footing this time, which was interesting to play, and it progresses from there.
Is there any difference between Captain James from series two to the Captain James of series 3?
I think he started to become a little war weary in series two and that’s progressed even more. We go back to Afghanistan in this series and I think he starts to question the British involvement in the country. He’s done five tours there - was it worth it? He’s starting to question what he does and the ethics of it. We see him losing it a little bit.
How’s it going with Molly?
He mentions her once or twice in this series but we’ll get more insight in a later tour.
Can you tell us about where you’ve been shooting and how long?
We started off in Nepal for two weeks, it was a beautiful country. Waking up to the Himalayas every day was sensational. Then we came back to South Africa; we love filming there, it’s beautiful and with a great crew.
What about Bootcamp?
We had another boot camp led by Colonel Nigel Partington who always trains us. This one was less hectic, I think because we’ve done a few of them now so it’s less scary. But it did end with a massive training exercise where I was in charge the whole day with millions of casualties, wounded soldiers and blood. For preparation, I always return to a BBC documentary called Our War, and I have a couple of books that I dip back into and watch war films to get myself back into that headspace.
Have there been any challenges for you on this block at all?
It’s been very physically demanding, there’s a lot of action but it’s just fun. Every day is a fun day on this set.
Have you had a favourite scene to film?
There’s a scene set in Kabul where 2-Section is attacking a target building and we storm it. That was fun scene as it was very high octane and we filmed it like the Bourne films, very shaky and handheld.
The end of episode three is big for Captain James…
Captain James experiences a massive betrayal from someone he thought he could trust. As a result, he almost loses the section and jeopardises everyone’s life. For the first time in any drama that I’ve seen on TV, it gives a look into life in Afghanistan and for the soldiers in their Army who fought alongside them. It’s been written very carefully and delicately and well handled. It’s hard-hitting drama.
Tell us about Maisie and how she affects the dynamic?
Maisie is a natural rebel. She doesn’t adhere to the protocol for the Army, or the chain of command. Her character is quite rebellious and heroic. It causes some problems for her as she’s trying to save the day. But actually she’s not too dissimilar to Georgie in that way. She’s fun, spunky and sassy.
Would you be friends with Captain James in real life?
Probably not, we’re not overly alike I don’t think! We might have an awkward chat...
Character Biographies
Corporal Georgie Lane
Gutsy, passionate and unstoppable, Georgie is an army medic from Stockport who relishes the adrenaline that comes with the adventures of her work. Having completed a number of tours, she’s proven she has strength, courage and, above all, a big heart. Georgie’s decision to join the army has since led her to the front line in Afghanistan, where she met her first true love and heartbreak, Elvis. After another failed romance, Georgie has spent every waking moment devoting herself to her work - despite the fact that thoughts of what could have been are never far from her mind.
Elvis Harte
Elvis is a cheeky Londoner who has grown into a remarkable leader, joining the SAS selection after a number of tours with the army. Fearless, self-confident and cool under pressure, Elvis has worked across both covert and overt operations fighting for counter terrorism and drug operations in the Middle and Far East, Afghanistan, and, most recently, Syria. Having already broken Georgie’s heart, he’s determined to make amends.
Captain James
A charismatic leader and brilliant officer, Captain James is an army man to the core and well respected by the men who fight alongside him. The consummate professional, he had no problem keeping his private and his personal life separate - until he met army medic and now wife, Molly Dawes, while on tour in Afghanistan. However behind closed doors, Captain James battles many demons.
Private Maisie Richards
Brash and fearless, Maisie has always been front and centre of any group within which she finds herself. A free spirit, she often pokes fun at Georgie’s traditional ideas of love and romance. Maisie is from a typical working class background and has worked hard to become a skilled driver, but is eager to prove herself as a capable and fearless fighter. However, as confidence risks turning to recklessness, she soon finds herself pushed to her limits.
