Girls Aloud Star Gets Serious

Will Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding emulate the small screen success of band member Cheryl Cole? The 27-year-old makes her acting debut in BBC2 drama Freefall, set in London and centring on the now imploding world of finance in the City.

 

A hard-hitting film, it will explore the effects of the downturn on ordinary lives. Sarah Harding is Sam, a nail technician who dreams of owning her own chain of beauty salons. Her boyfriend Dave, played by Mamma Mia star Dominic Cooper (pictured), shamelessly lines his pockets by selling homebuyers mortgages they cannot possibly afford.

 

The superb cast is headed by Aiden Gillen (The Wire, Queer As Folk) as Gus, an amoral wealthy city worker. Just like Dave, he is purely motivated by the riches his job will bring him.

 

Freefall's impressive line-up also features former Bond girl Rosamund Pike, Anna Maxwell Martin (Bleak House) and Alfie Allen (yes, Lily's brother and Keith's son) who has also had bit parts in Atonement and Casualty 1907.

 

As directed by Bafta-winner Dominic Savage, the drama was completely unscripted, the actors improvising scenes and responding during filming to real events in the financial markets.

 

It forms part of BBC2's spring-summer season and is slated for a June broadcast.