‘Why my current role makes ME CRY'

Cold Feet actress Fay Ripley opens up on why Jenny’s storyline really matters to her

- HAYLEY MINN

In the 23 years Fay Ripley has starred in Cold Feet, her character Jenny Gifford has been through many trial and tribulations. But Fay reveals that playing Jenny this time around has been her biggest challenge to date.

In the upcoming series, Jenny has just finished her treatment for breast cancer, and Fay, 53, explains how she felt a duty to tell the story accurately – especially as her stepmother has the disease in real life.

Struggling to hold back the tears, Fay says, ‘She’s in recovery and if I even talk about it, I’ll cry, because she’s so incredibly sweet about it.

‘She’s fine, she’s good, but she rings me after every episode as it’s so hard for her to watch.’

Fay continues, ‘The added responsibility of not wanting to get it wrong means you definitely try a bit harder. Let’s say it’s a party scene, and you’re drunk and you’re having an affair – you can’t get it that wrong. But suddenly, if you’re playing someone with breast cancer and you’ve talked to thousands of people about their journey, whether it’s on social media or on the street, or with your friends and family, it really matters.’