If you’ve ever watched Miranda Hart’s hit comedy series, Miranda, then you’ll recognise Sarah Hadland as Miranda’s sidekick Stevie. The actress caught up with YOU magazine this weekend, which those of you with a Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday newspaper subscription will have received.
We often hear of people coming up to television stars and asking to hear their catchphrase, but Sarah’s experience is a little more odd. “People do come up to me and say, ‘Oh, I just want to push you over, you’re so little.’ I go, ‘Well, that would be assault so don’t do that.’”
Of course, if you watch the show you’ll know that it’s because Miranda is often pushing Stevie over in classic slapstick comedy style, but you may not know that a lot of things on the show have actually been inspired by the cast’s own experiences.
“The Heather Small stuff?” says Sarah. “That was just me singing round Miranda’s flat. She went, ‘Why did you sing that?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know, I just sang a bit of M People.’ That’s how that came about. She’s very clever at bringing attributes of me, Patricia [Hodge, who plays Miranda’s mum] and Sally [Phillips, Miranda’s old schoolfriend] and putting it into a character.”
Although the actress is 41, Sarah still looks fabulous, though she won’t be going near the botox needle any time soon. “For me, at this point in time, being able to move my face is important for my livelihood. Also, I think the great thing about comedy is that you’re not employed for your looks. All those years of auditioning and thinking, ‘Oh God, that girl’s going to get the part. She looks absolutely beautiful.’ And then you realise your currency is your comedy, and that is something that is unique to you and it doesn’t change.”
The new series of Miranda starts on Christmas Day, so be sure to tune in after dinner. If you want to ensure you never miss a copy of YOU, subscribe and save on a The Daily Mail & The Mail on Sunday newspaper subscription today.
Posted by Claire Sharp.