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Blythe Duff - Actor
Blythe is a popular actor and star of the TV series Taggart. Blythe is from East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, where she was a Brownie, Guide and Ranger (Senior Section member)."Be on time for work, stay healthy and learn your lines !"
Scotland and being Scottish...
I love Scotland. When I worked in the theatre in the 80's and 90's I toured all over Scotland, to schools, tiny community theatres' and church halls. So I have been as far as Shetland and down to the Borders. I remember doing a show in a tiny village called 'Glenelg' where they had pinned the posters to the trees!
Another place in the Borders - Ettrick Bridge, the audience went back to their houses during the interval, for a cup of tea! So, I have seen lots of different places. I remember going on a Ranger Island Ramble to Jura and Islay, and had a great time. I also really like filming in Glasgow because I think it looks amazing on screen.
Cold! Rugged, scenic - a nice mixture of hills and water. Some good hotels and restaurants (although sometimes you might not be that lucky.) Nice people. Something for everyone.
I had to film a scene up in Fort William where Jackie Reid had to go undercover on an outward
bounds course. I had to learn to abseil down cliffs and was told the end scene would take place
over a huge waterfall.
I would be on a rope dangling over the stretch of water, and then 'the baddie' was going to
bounce the rope and I was to fall into the waterfall.
Unfortunately, I can't swim (I never got my Swimmers Badge at Brownies!) So I had to learn in
a swimming pool, with a diver but with all my clothes on - including shoes.
When it came to filming, it was an amazing week, learning all these different outdoor activities
and in the end I was really proud of myself and was very happy when I watched it on screen.
I love working on Taggart. I like my character and I like all the people I work with. I have been in Taggart since 1990 so I can't imagine my life without it, but I really like working on stage. That is where I feel very comfortable and I like the response of an audience good or bad.
Lots! I would be really keen to play 'The Baddie' in a kid's film. Like a Cruella D'Ville character. I also always enjoy comedy.
I remember being a Brownie - subs were a sixpence and I remember liking the tunic but not the
wooly hat with a pom pom on it! At Guides, I remember inspection was a very big deal. I learned
to put up a tent, when we went to Netherurd House.
We had to clean the pots so that they looked like we had just bought them! I remember Rangers
being quite cool. I liked the fact you could wear your jeans. We went on rambles. We learned
how to put make up on - properly! - (not on the rambles!) and we had 'fondue nights' - chocolate
ones!
'The Hostess Badge' - where you had to invite someone to lunch, make them a sandwich, a cup
of tea and a cake. Present it to them - without spilling it and wash up afterwards. Everyone
did this badge.
I must have done it because it was easy and I liked sponge cakes! I think I got craft badges
and I feel sure I must have gained a Drama Badge but don't remember doing it.
How would your friends & colleagues describe you in five words?
Bossy. Dedicated. Truthful. Honest. Generous.
Alex Norton and Colin McCredie in Taggart make me laugh. Sometimes when I am off camera and I am feeding lines to other actors, if I can't remember them and I don't want to stop the other actors' flow, I put in 'nonsense words' that jump into my head into the line instead.
Alex always stops and laughs and I have to tell him I'm very sorry, but from that point on we're always laughing!
Be on time for work. Stay healthy. Learn your lines. Never lose anyone their job.
To find out more about Taggart please see www.smgproductions.tv
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