Oliver Dimsdale (Harley Street) Interview
Starring Paul Nicholls, Suranne Jones and Shaun Parkes, Harley Street is a glossy, post-watershed 6-part medical drama series for ITV, set in London’s famous medical district, in a new stylish Harley Street practice. Oliver Dimsdale plays Dr Felix Quinn.
Please describe your character Dr Felix Quinn.
Felix is a talented doctor. He’s driven, intelligent and very successful. He’s followed in the footsteps of his father which has probably helped him achieve his own practice on Harley Street. Felix is very ambitious and his aim is to make his practice the most prolific. He’s a very charming man and treats Martha like a lady.
Why is Felix so keen to go into business with Martha?
It may seem as though it’s a way to usurp Robert’s position because their practice is the direct rival to his, but it’s more complex than that. He genuinely wants to do anything to be with Martha and I think he sees it as a way to her heart. Martha is his ultimate woman, as she is someone who he sees as his intellectual and physical equal.
Tell us about Felix’s relationship with Robert.
His relationship with Robert is based on the fact that they both desire Martha. Robert has a massive chip on his shoulder about Felix and hates him sniffing around her. Felix thinks Martha can do so much better than Robert because he sees him as a happy-go-lucky philanderer. He is also jealous of Robert’s business relationship with Martha and the fact he gets to be with her all the time.
What appealed to you about starring in Harley Street?
I really liked the fact that most of the show centres upon the relationships between the doctors. It’s cleverly balanced out with some original but carefully considered portraits of real life medical experiences which are very well written, but because the drama focuses upon human relationships it’s all the richer for it.
How did you feel when you read the scripts?
When I read the first scripts I was excited about the possibilities for the development of the character and the direction the writers would take the love triangle.
