Mr Selfridge actress Aisling Loftus in hotel drama play at The Langham

 
Alex Lentati
30 January 2014
The Weekender

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Mr Selfridge star Aisling Loftus says the most challenging part of her latest role will be avoiding eye contact with her boyfriend as she acts out violent sex scenes in a West End hotel room.

The 23-year-old actress is appearing in The Hotel Plays by American playwright Tennessee Williams, which will involve three separate stories being performed in rooms at The Langham Hotel in Marylebone.

The plays are the sexual thriller Green Eyes, starring Loftus and Game Of Thrones actor Gethin Anthony; hostage drama Sunburst with Carol Macready, Daniel Ings and Jake Mann; and The Pink Bedroom which will include Helen George and Gyuri Sarossy.

Loftus is best known for playing Agnes Towler opposite Jeremy Piven in the hit ITV drama. Her latest role will see her as the just-married Mrs Dunphy violently arguing with her husband on her honeymoon night. Loftus, who is dating actor Jacob Anderson, explained that the audience of only 35 will present a new challenge.

She said: “It’s so exciting — not just because I’m a massive Tennessee Williams fan but because of the nature of it being set-specific. The audience will be in reaching distance. It’s exciting but also petrifying. I’m used to TV and getting lots of chances to perfect a scene. I know it’s a cliché but with theatre you only get one.

“In our play there is a lot of violence between the characters. I suppose the challenge is to make the audience feel as uncomfortable as possible without looking away — we’ve still got to engage them. Making eye contact with the audience — that’s something I’m trying not to think about. I wouldn’t want to fall out of the flow if I spotted my boyfriend. He is great — he will come a few times. He is very supportive.”

The Hotel Plays will run from February 11 to March 8 with tickets available from thehotelplays.co.uk

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