Interview with Luke Pasqualino
Interview with Luke Pasqualino, who plays Elvis Harte in Our Girl
Published: 28 September 2017
We know Elvis is back on the scene, but we don’t know if he’s invited Georgie along as a medic or because he’s interested in her. But all will come to light!
Where do we find Elvis at the beginning of this tour?
We find Elvis on a plane to Syria; he’s assembled his team together, all his SF boys. He’s drafted Maisie into drive them and asked Georgie to tag along as his medic as he needs someone he trusts. We know Elvis is back on the scene, but we don’t know if he’s invited Georgie along as a medic or because he’s interested in her. But all will come to light!
Did you have to do any preparation to get back into the character of Elvis?
I watched some of series two to get the feeling back for it. A lot of it was remembering how to use weapons, how to stand and hold the weapon correctly, recapping all these bits at Bootcamp and getting together with our military advisors Nigel and Roger. We needed to make sure everything looked as it should and to look like it was believable that I would be in the SF.
It’s more physicality to get back into character. At Bootcamp we did a bit of paintballing which was fun, and we did a couple of activities too. In one activity the aim was to kill Nigel, our military advisor, before he killed us. We had to do it really stealthily; it had to be silent and just done with hand signals.
What are Elvis’ feelings towards Georgie in this series?
They are as they always have been. Incredibly head over heels in love with her and he wants to reconcile. She obviously still has her guard up and that frustrates Elvis, to know that there’s little he can say or do to win her back, but that doesn’t stop him from trying! I do respect him for that. Elvis and Georgie are still very much up and down with their feelings and what their future has in store for them as a couple. It’s all very much unknown and I think audiences will be surprised…
What’s it like working with Michelle?
Working with Michelle is amazing - she’s hilarious. How could anyone not get on with Michelle! She knows everyone’s name on set and a complete pro. She’s beautiful and lovely inside and out, and Michelle has really taken the show to new levels. She’s happy to be back working on it again, has an emotional connection to the show and all she wants to do is do the show justice and make everyone proud.
What have the stunts been like this year, have you learnt any new skills?
No injuries but I got my finger caught in the magazine of a gun which holds the bullet which hurt! I also had to learn to fast rope this year! Elvis’s stunt double jumped out of helicopters last year but this year they let me do that, which was great.
Can you tell us about new character Maisie?
Elvis is in one of those situations which goes from bad to worse. Maisie and Elvis have their own history, and when Georgie finds out, he knows he has his work cut out and it’s another hurdle to jump over. What would the love story between Georgie and Elvis be if there wasn’t a bit of a spanner in the works? Maisie is that spanner.
Episode four is very dramatic for your character - what can you tell us about that?
You will be on the edge of your seat…
How would you describe Our Girl to a viewer that hasn’t seen the series before?
I think it has something for everyone, whether you are 14 or 84, you’d enjoy it. It doesn’t target just one audience or for a certain age group. It’s got romance, action, some comedy and it shows relationships and the idea of what military life is like.
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.
