This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine.
Nicola Walker reveals why she was so keen to join the cast of new series Alice and Steve, how she didn’t feel the need to watch any age-gap romance dramas in advance, and whether she wants to return for more episodes.
“My first reaction to reading the script was that I really, really wanted to be Alice. I hadn’t read a version of a woman like that for a very long time, if ever. I would describe her as a brilliant mother but an underachiever in her career. She’s also a brilliant best friend.
“In my real life I have a version of Steve – a friend that’s been with me forever. His name’s Rick and he’s an actor, and we are sort of the male and female version of each other. We are maybe the same person that’s been split into a male and a female.
“What I liked about Alice was that she wasn’t completely in control of her actions, although she’s totally convinced that her judgements are all correct. I liked that combination: total conviction and behaviour that is rather questionable. By having a relationship with her daughter, her best friend has created a Venn diagram that should never exist. It’s a terrible betrayal – Steve should know that is a line not to be crossed.
“In preparation, I didn’t watch any other TV shows with age-gap relationships because I’m an inherently lazy actor! Or to put it another way, I always say ‘everything is in the script.’ I’m a huge fan of Jemaine but I didn’t tell him that immediately as I thought that he might find it frightening. He took it very well. I’m sure it’s not his first barbecue in terms of having actors saying they think he’s incredible!
“I know that playing Steve and Izzy was a tough balancing act for Jemaine and Yali [Topol Margalith], and I think they do it brilliantly. Watching that scene on the sofa when they have that first kiss, as Alice I’d probably be running in and trying to hit them over the head with something. But as a viewer I could really understand why they’re kissing each other. There is something there between them.
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“The intergenerational stuff in Alice and Steve is completely brilliantly observed. The great thing is that culture moves on. For example, I love that in our business, the culture of how we view women is changing in a really interesting way. When I was starting out, previous generations of actresses had told me that if I hadn’t established a name for myself by the time I was 35 my career would be over.
“But TV started changing, and that was simply because there were more women in positions of power running production companies. In my own career I feel a bit like Alice. I’m not at the beginning, I’m not in the middle. I’m in whatever the next bit is, and that’s OK. But I am openly canvassing for a second series of Alice and Steve. I would love to do another one – I hope that we’re allowed to.”
Alice and Steve will premiere on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu in the US on 8 June 2026. Sign up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.
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