Liz Carr - Clarissa Mullery
Liz Carr has played Forensic Lab Scientist Clarissa Mullery, in BBC One’s Silent Witness since 2013.
Published: 29 December 2016
You need lightness to get through the dark and I think Clarissa and her relationships provide that in the show.
We see the arrival of Clarissa’s husband Max in this series! What can you tell us about him?
I am so relieved to be able to bring Max out of the closet! After 12 years of marriage and not a peep about him in previous series, it’s about time we get to meet the other man that Clarissa shares her life with. From the very first episode in series 16 when the audience was introduced to Clarissa, we’ve known she’s been married. Once when Leo Dalton (played by William Gaminara) who ran the Lyell tried to eject her out of the building, calling her Miss Mullery as he did so, however she very sharply corrected him, "it’s Mrs" and so, I have always played Clarissa as a married woman.
Max is Clarissa’s match. She’s not the kind of woman to tolerate anything less so he’s incredibly witty, smart and has his endearing nerdy side that she adores. He is a forensic data expert, he’s successful, has his own business, he’s cute as hell and has an absolute confidence about him that is evident from the first time we see him come into the Lyell. There’s a lovely intimacy between them. The director of the episodes, David Drury described their relationship as solid and enviable and I think that’s true.
In Clarissa, we have a character who is a wheelchair using woman. That’s quite rare to see in TV and what is good about Silent Witness is that it isn’t the reason Clarissa or myself are in the show. But that our lives are different because we’re disabled is something interesting to show. When I was growing up, there were so few representations of disabled characters, never mind disabled women on television. I do think we contribute making a tiny dent in the under representation of people like me on television. That’s why showing a long term relationship between these two characters was incredibly important to me personally. Growing up, I never got to see a disabled woman in a good relationship.
Did you work with the writer Richard Davidson on any of her storylines?
Richard Davidson and I have never met but through one phone conversation and a lot of very long emails from myself back and forth, commenting on scripts or giving pointers as to who I thought Max would be, we created a really believable character. Richard is incredibly generous as a writer so he was open to my suggestions and I think in a way he was open to my passion and belief that we have a responsibility to tell stories that show how the world can be and stories that make a difference. I’m very proud that there is the odd line of mine in there and I’m very pleased that I was able to be involved at all levels of this story from its development. Richard brings his story and script skills, and I bring my thoughts and experience of being a disabled woman, of how that impacts on relationships and of my own experiences of relationships as well.
What does Clarissa bring to the Lyell team unit?
Killer heels first and foremost and as of this series some great glasses! Someone recently described Clarissa as being the DNA of the Lyell - that could be because in five years she pretty much never leaves the lab so some people think she lives and works there to the point she is the lifeblood of the place. She brings such a strong, steadfast and sarcastic relationship with Jack. They are completely interdependent on each other and have such a strong bond. I think together they’re pretty unbeatable as a team. They have fun working together, they challenge each other, they bicker, they have banter, and I think people enjoy that about the two of them. Now, Clarissa also brings Max to the Lyell team unit so it’ll be interesting to see how Max being involved in a case impacts on her relationships with Jack…
This is now your fifth year on Silent Witness. Do you still enjoy filming the programme?
It’s hard work, long hours and early starts but there’s a great group of people working on the show and I love the cast so all of the other stuff pales into insignificance. I can honestly say however that the development of her storyline this series and then the filming has been the most fun, challenging and exciting time I’ve had on the show in the five years. I’m great friends with David Caves who plays Jack (in many ways we’re very much like Jack and Clarissa but without the crime fighting!) so filming scenes with him and with Daniel Weyman who plays Max was an absolute riot. We all get on really well so there was a great energy on set which is a bonus, particularly when the storyline is so dark and disturbing. You need lightness to get through the dark and I think Clarissa and her relationships provide that in the show.
