Filming in South West 'just heaven' says actor
Red Planet PicturesAn actor in a TV drama says filming on location in the South West was "just heaven".
Zahra Ahmadi, who plays Det Sgt Esther Williams in Beyond Paradise, said it was "quite difficult to put into words just how beautiful it is" after filming the fourth series in Looe, Launceston, Saltash and Tavistock.
Beyond Paradise is set in the fictional town of Shipton Abbott in Devon, which was filmed in Looe.
Ahmadi said: "You don't need to even be from a town like that, I'm from Plymouth, which is a city, but I still know of these towns and you know, they're beautiful, but they've got their secrets."
Red Planet PicturesThe actor said: "The colour of the water when I was in Cape Cornwall the other day, it's crystal clear, it's blue, especially now in spring when everything's coming alive.
"The sheer number of greens that exist, the flowers are all in bloom, the birds are out - it is just heaven," she said.
Series four continues the personal story of Det Insp Humphrey Goodman - played by Kris Marshall - who Det Sgt Williams, from the Shipton Abbot police team, helps to solve a series of bizarre crimes in the town.
Ahmadi said: "I think this is one of the important messages that comes from the show.
"I really believe this kind of policing needs to be held on to and promoted more because it's a really important way of ensuring the safety of a community whilst working with the community to ensure that.
"It's a much more kind of personal way of policing and I would say it's fairly effective too."
Red Planet PicturesThe fourth series was focussed on myths and legends, she said, which she had found thought-provoking.
Ahmadi said: "My granddad passed away a few years ago and I've always been quite scared of ghosts.
"But I was desperate for them to be a real thing because I would have absolutely loved to have another encounter with him and I still sometimes do.
"I think I always have really believed in them, but also now I'm at a point in my life where I'm less scared.
"I'm like, OK, then let's get these people that I've loved and lost, let's have a little chat.
"You can haunt me, that's fine."
The actor confirmed there would be a fifth series of the drama and said "it was the icing on the cake".
