June 21, 2024: Interview with Emma Myers who plays Pip Fitz-Amobi in “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”

Complete Series Paperback Boxed Set available here:https://amzn.to/3VSdQYq

Who is Pip?

Pip is a very strong character, just so determined. The way Holly Jackson has written her in the books and the way it’s been translated on screen by Poppy Cogan was such a joy to play. Pip’s journey and what she goes through is quite a lot. She’s a completely different person from the start to the end. It was really fun exploring that.

Can you give us a bit of an overview of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder?

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is the story of Pip and her determination to solve a murder that happened in her hometown five years ago. She doesn’t believe who was accused of it, did it. So she goes on this mission to uncover it herself. Along the way she finds out lots of twists and turns, secrets and some bad people.

What was it about the scripts that made you want to join the project?

I just like the drama of the scripts and the way it flows. It tells a really good story, which has been translated really well from book to script. Sometimes it’s really hard adapting things to screen, but the way Poppy has done it has been phenomenal.

Can you tell us about working with Dolly Wells (Director) and how you brought Pip to life?

I really loved working with Dolly. She’s very collaborative. When were in prep, we had a lot of rehearsals and just feeling things out and really getting to know the character. It was really helpful to have her sit down with us for a couple weeks. We all established our characters very early on and it was because Dolly really wanted us to have a sense of our character from the get go instead of having to figure it out as you go. That’s one of the things that really makes her just amazing to work with. She cares very much about her actors and really wants to make sure that they shine independently on screen in different ways.

Can you tell us about Pip and Ravi’s relationship, how they’re drawn together?

At the start, it’s not that Pip and Ravi are enemies as such, it’s more like Ravi doesn’t really like her that much because she’s digging into his family’s private business that perhaps she shouldn’t be digging into. It is painful for him. But as a twosome, they really balance each other out. Ravi gives her the strength and determination to keep going. Also, Ravi’s just a good guy, and Pip needs that in her life.

How is it working with Zain?

Zain is a funny guy. He knows how to have a laugh, as you guys call it, some quick banter. It was fun to work with him and see his take on Ravi. I love watching people learn their characters and really get into it, and it was great to watch him through this process. I’ve not worked with somebody like him before, it was a good experience.

What was it like working with Anna and Gary, who play your parents?

Leanne is played by the wonderful Anna Maxwell Martin and Victor is played by the equally wonderful Gary Beadle. I loved working with the two of them. Nothing is serious with them. Even a sad, depressing scene is not serious with them. So the tone on set is not depressing. It’s always fun when they’re around. They’re just very knowledgeable, experienced and so professional, but fun at the same time. It was really a pleasure to work with both of them.

Who is Pip’s friendship group?

Pip’s gang consists of Cara, Connor, Lauren and Zach. Cara is really a big staple in Pip’s life, she goes to her for everything. She’s more like a sister to her than a best friend. Their relationship is amazing. Working with Asha, who plays Cara, was so great. We became very close on set. Our dynamic in the show is the same as our dynamic in real life so it’s a very special relationship to be shown on screen. We’ve got the wonderful Raiko playing Zach, Jude playing Connor, and Yali playing Lauren. All of them are just hilarious. I want them as my friendship group. Each and every one of them was spectacular and amazing actors and so fun. We became really close.

Can you tell us about the world of Little Kilton?

A Good Girls Guide To Murder is based in a small town called Little Kilton, which in the script is described as a chocolate box village. It’s a very strange setting for a very mysterious and taboo murder but that makes it more interesting. There is this small community, where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows each other’s business and yet something tragic has happened that is shrouded in mystery it seems. It is a fascinating setting for a drama.

How does the story develop?

The show starts with this warm, happy tone, just a girl trying to do a school project. But as Pip uncovers clues, stories, it takes a shift. The show deals with a lot of themes of racism, sexual assault and drugs and abuse. The way the show handles these topics, is important. The way the story is told, is heartbreaking to be honest with you. It’s not the happy little town that people think it is.

What do you think makes it different from other crime or detective shows?

The show is different from a lot of other crime shows, namely that the detective is a teenage girl and it’s a female driven story. It’s really interesting, and the twists and turns that are in it are so well done and so well fleshed out. Holly really thought about every single thing up until the end, and you can totally tell when you read the book and then the way it has been translated into the scripts. Poppy just did that phenomenally. It’s one of a kind.

Did you have a favourite location to film in?

My favourite location was probably the Hastings mansion because the party was so fun. Myself and Asha had these amazing star costumes, the crowd, it was just great. I also loved filming at the police station and getting to do scenes with Jackson, who plays Dan Da Silva.

How does the murder board help depict where Pip is at in the investigation?

I personally find it helpful to put out visual things to keep track of everything and remind myself of stuff. Pip does as well. It’s good for her to visualise everything at once. It was such a fun day on the first day of shooting the murder board, putting everything up and writing it. I knew it was going to be so fun. It was beautiful, honestly stunning. It looks great with all that detail on the wall, especially as the investigation goes on.

What are you most excited for?

I think everybody’s going to enjoy the performances. I really believe that this cast have brought their characters to life and done it in such unique ways. I’ve been so lucky to work with all of them and they’ve made my performance better. I feel more passionate about this when I’m with all of them and I love them so much. People are going to enjoy seeing the characters that they’ve read for years finally on screen and it’s going to be really fun.

Complete Series Paperback Boxed Set available here:https://amzn.to/3VSdQYq

It’s the Summer holidays, but teenager Pip Fitz-Amobi is focused on an unusual school research project. In Little Kilton five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell went missing. Her boyfriend Sal Singh sent a text confessing to the murder before being found dead, seemingly taking his own life. Andie’s body was never found. Case closed. However, Pip isn’t so sure and is determined to prove Sal’s innocence.

The six-part series is based on Holly Jackson’s smash hit novels and stars Emma Myers (Wednesday), Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, A Spy Among Friends), Gary Beadle (Rye Lane, Small Axe), Mathew Baynton (Ghosts, Wonka) and newcomer Zain Iqbal.

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder was filmed in and around Somerset, England. Commissioned by the BBC, the series is produced by Moonage Pictures (The Pursuit of Love, The Gentlemen, Bodies) in co-production with ZDFneo and Netflix.

All episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from Monday 1 July.