Interview with Emun Elliott
Interview with Emun Elliott, who plays Dr. Andy Brenner in Trust Me
Published: 26 July 2017
I love the premise. This idea of somebody taking on someone else's identity and trying to get away with it felt like a dramatic idea to set a story around
What appealed to you about this project?
I love the premise. This idea of somebody taking on someone else's identity and trying to get away with it felt like a really dramatic idea to set a story around. I had never read anything like it. I also wanted to grab the opportunity to work with Jodie as I've been a fan of her work for a while now.
How would you describe your character?
He's a consultant who's been working in this particular hospital for the last seven years. He's calm, experienced and knows exactly what to do in most situations, so is the opposite direction of Cath in that way. He's recently divorced and has two young children.
In what way is your character challenging to play?
He's a doctor, so one of the challenges was trying to make some of the medical procedures look convincing. Andy is so well trained in his field and so accustomed to working on the hospital floor, so it was important that whatever he was doing looked like second nature. Doctors are famously unflappable and controlled in some critical, life-or-death situations, so channelling that air of calm and expertise was important to me.
What drives him?
He's driven by a genuine passion for his occupation and for humanity. He knows how important his job is and is someone who takes that responsibility seriously. People’s lives are literally in his hands everyday, so the stakes are through the roof. On another level, he's recently divorced, so working long hours and preoccupying himself with other people's problems takes his mind off his personal life.
Did you receive any training on medical procedure?
We did. We were lucky enough to be invited into St John's Hospital in Livingstone where we were given a backstage tour of each department. Dan Sefton, the writer, also took us through various procedures that were in the story. Using a dummy of course!
How else did you prepare for the role?
Aside from the training and expertise advice we were given before shooting, I just tried to immerse myself in a medical environment as much as possible. I spent time in hospitals, watched a few documentaries that focused on the NHS and doctors in particular and tried to get my mouth around as much medical terminology as possible.
Do you like working in Scotland?
Of course! I was born and brought up in Edinburgh and went to drama school in Glasgow so I feel a real connection every time I come home. It was nice to see my family and friends in-between shooting days. We even shot a scene on Portobello beach in Edinburgh which is literally where I grew up!
What makes Edinburgh a good backdrop for a drama?
Edinburgh is a beautiful city that's steeped in history. It's about time it got some more screen time. There's a volcano in the heart of the city, a castle, ancient architecture and rolling hills, so it really is a city that deserves to be seen on screen more.
Have you ever worked with any of the cast before?
I had worked with some of the crew before as I've worked in Scotland quite a bit over the years. My good friends Brian Ferguson and Ally Craig came in to do a few scenes with us which was a joy, as I hadn't really spent time with them since we did Black Watch together ten years ago.
What are the biggest challenges that you have faced so far during filming?
It's usually time. You could spend weeks, sometimes months as an actor preparing for a scene or a specific moment in the story then when it finally comes around to shooting it you have maybe two or three takes to get it right and put all of those ideas into the scene. It can often lead to a sense of frustration afterwards, but you just have to learn to trust in your preparation and let it go.
Character biographies
Cath Hardacre/Dr. Ally Sutton (Jodie Whittaker)
Everything about Cath says that she is honest, hardworking and uncompromising. In a well intentioned meeting with the hospital board Cath loses her job - and with that the means to provide for her daughter. In a moment of desperation, Cath steals her best friend’s identity and applies for a job in Edinburgh, adopting the persona Dr. Ally Sutton. As Ally, she becomes a trusted member of the emergency department and against her better judgement falls for her colleague, Dr Andy Brenner.
Dr. Andy Brenner (Emun Elliott)
Andy is a consultant in the emergency department, a doctor whose professional and charming manner puts even the most nervous patient at ease. Tired of playing second fiddle to his career, Andy’s ex-wife ended their marriage, taking their children with her. To his surprise, Andy soon finds himself falling for Ally, who is his intellectual counterpart. She represents the light at the end of the tunnel after his painful separation and he finally feels he’s getting his life back on track after the acrimonious split from his ex-wife. But Andy doesn't know Ally as well as he thinks he does...
Dr. Brigitte McAdams (Sharon Small)
If anyone is going to survive the sinking ship of the emergency department, it is Brigitte. She is the clinical lead in the department but she considers it a poisoned chalice of endless paperwork. Openly admitting that she is only in the profession to keep her daughters in private school, Brigitte has fallen out of love with treating patients and lacks confidence when she must take care of a serious medical case. Brigitte’s slightly bonkers approach towards medicine means that her team rally around her when they sense that she is losing her nerve.
Karl (Blake Harrison)
Karl was on the path to making something of his life, but it all came crashing down after he lost his job. With his contract severed and his debt increasing, Karl found himself in the throes of alcohol addiction. His relationship with Cath suffered as a result and they separated shortly afterwards. Since then, Karl has been in a constant cycle in and out of alcohol rehabilitation. When Cath moves to Edinburgh, it gives him the push to change his life for the better. Karl realises how much he misses his daughter Molly being present in his life and vows to do all that he can to be closer to her. But will Karl’s good behaviour be rewarded with the family reunion he longs for?
