Ashley Madekwe (Secret Diary Of A Call Girl) Interview

The thought of being naked as new character Bambi in the second series of ITV2 drama Secret Diary Of A Call Girl had new girl Ashley Madekwe heading for the healthy eating section of the supermarket.

“I realised there is nothing like the thought of your naked body on screen to make you body conscious,” says Ashley. “I’m naturally small but I’m not the most healthy or toned person in the world. In the past I’d just have laughed when I saw magazines full of girls starving themselves to be skinny and thought, ‘that is ridiculous’. But there really is nothing like being on TV naked to make you think, ‘I’m not perfect’.

“I started exercising and I ate sensibly. I was definitely aware more than I had been previously. My skin has improved – I’ve been eating more fruit and vegetables. I’ve been doing hot room yoga; Bikram yoga. I started getting a facial every time because you sweat so much.”

Describing her character, Bambi, the new call girl on the scene, Ashley explains: “Bambi is a big ball of energy. She is a little bit naive and vulnerable but she masks that with bravado and cheekiness. She thinks Belle is glamorous and everything she’d like to be, so she tries to emulate her. She wants to be a prostitute like Belle and while Belle doesn’t try to deter her, she doesn’t advocate prostitution as a career, which I think Billie and I felt was quite important.

“Bambi is resolute and thinks it’s a great way to make money to buy the nice things she likes, so she goes for it anyway. Eventually Belle sees that if Bambi works by herself she is going to get into trouble so she hooks her up with her old agent Stephanie. From that moment on Bambi is going for it 100 percent.”

Ashley continues: “Bambi is very sweet, her heart is totally in the right place and she would do anything to help Belle, whom she thinks the world of.”

Explaining why she was attracted to the role, Ashley says: “I saw the first series and thought it was really well done. I think there are dramas that depict the other side of prostitution, like Band of Gold, but this is a totally different kind of show. Also Bambi does get into trouble. There are repercussions and it’s not all plain sailing.”

Bambi has a transformation during the series.

“The physical change in her is quite quick. When the series starts she is wearing bright colours, mini skirts, trainers, big hooped earrings then by episode four there is a total turnaround; she is wearing muted colours, her hair is up and she is a lot more ladylike, more classic. I had some gorgeous things to wear towards the end.

“I didn’t really have to do many scenes in just my underwear, which surprised me. One of my favourite outfits was a little red riding hood costume at a fairytale sex party. The idea of dressing up was fun but the sex scene was a little scary. In my head I have to think that this is just a job and be really focused and just do it and be very professional. It’s not just about the sex, it’s very technical – ‘put your hand here, put your leg there’ and ‘could you move your arm to cover your breasts’.

“Having done it last year Billie had some good tips. When I came to do a sex scene she was full of tips. She was telling me about simulating blow jobs and very kindly explained how to make them look more realistic.

“I was watching Billie’s body double and she was doing a sex scene for Billie and she was very committed to it I thought. And I watched Samantha from Sex and the City for a bit of research. She has done so many sex scenes.”