Interview – Why Swede Caroline Is A First For Jo Hartley

She’s one of the most familiar faces in British film and TV – This is England, After Life and now green-fingered comedy, Swede Caroline – and she thrives on a challenge. It’s the reason why actor Jo Hartley decided to take the plunge and immerse herself in the world of giant vegetable growing for her latest film. For the first time ever, she’s playing the lead and she’s executive producing.

As the Caroline of the title, she and her giant marrows are forces to be reckoned with and she’s aiming to win big at the national championships. But some of her plants are stolen and, when tracking down the thieves proves tricky, the other plants have to be moved to an unusual place of safety. Despite the efforts of her friends, it’s Caroline who discovers there’s more to the theft than meets the eye – and there’s a definite whiff of local corruption in the air.

In the exclusive interview below, Hartley explains her reasons for taking the role and executive producing for the first time. The film, which she describes as “a bizarre and wonderful creation”, is a mostly-improvised mockumentary, prompting comparisons with Christopher Guest’s This Is Spinal Tap and Best In Show. She also reflects on her other current role, in TV’s Passenger, which sees her playing a cop for the first time. And, looking ahead, she talks about the follow-up to last year’s Bank Of Dave – and the difficulties of keeping a straight face when working with co-star Rory Kinnear.

Swede Caroline is released in UK cinemas on 19th April | Read our review