Interview with Guest Star Lara Steward
Season 3, Episode 5 of All Creatures Great and Small packed an emotional punch for the beloved Mrs. Hall, but she found support from a surprising stranger — a deaf volunteer at the train station named Penny. Read on for an interview with actress Lara Steward, the profoundly deaf actor behind the impactful role, and learn about her experience filming with the All Creatures Great and Small gang, what she thought of Mrs. Hall and Penny’s connection, and her surprising passion aside from acting. (Hint: It involves furry friends!)
[Warning: Contains spoilers for Season 3, Episode 5]
What was your reaction when you first read the part of Penny?
As a fan of All Creatures Great and Small, I was overjoyed to see that Penny is a strong person who is kind and very observant of what is going on around her, especially about Mrs Hall. I also love the fact that Penny was not the only deaf person on set. And it’s great to see parts where deafness is seen as a strength and not a weakness.
How did you feel about the character and her connection to Mrs. Hall?
It’s lovely to see that Mrs Hall adapted without complaints or making a big deal about it, so that is rather powerful and I’m so pleased to have been part of it.
We’ve been waiting for three seasons to learn more about Mrs. Hall and her son. What was it like working on this incredibly emotional episode?
Before going onto the set, I did not fully grasp how important the relationship between Mrs Hall and her son was. However, during the course of filming, through the moods of the crew and the other actors, I came to the realization of just how important this storyline was and I was very honored to be a small part of it.
You describe yourself as a profoundly deaf actor. Can you describe what that means and what it brought to this particular role?
Basically, I have no hearing at all. I have been profoundly deaf since the age of three. My cochlear implant is a wonderful tool to help me hear. Being deaf like Penny allowed me to bring authenticity to the role with the communication not only with Mrs Hall, but also with my fellow deaf colleague.
Take us behind the scenes of filming the episode. How did it logistically work for you?
When filming I have an interpreter at all times. Throughout the filming, I had a team of three glorious British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters who ensured that I had all the information at all times. [Director] Andy Hay also learnt a few signs, such as action and cut, so that was a really lovely experience.
On Instagram, you described an incredible moment with the cast when you wrapped the episode. Can you tell us what it was and why it was so moving?
I still tear up at the thought of that moment. When I was wrapped (finished all of my scenes), Andy delivered a moving speech to which everybody on the set responded with deaf applause. It’s a waving of the hands rather than clapping. It really touched me, as it meant that they have taken the time to learn some of my culture and thanked me for my work through it.
Your family has a pet shop – almost like living in a real life All Creatures Great and Small. For all the animal lovers out there, can you tell us what that has been like? And did you offer any animal advice to the cast?
It’s a dream to be honest, I love all of the customers, especially the furry ones! It’s certainly a different lifestyle to acting but it does bring me happiness. I’m afraid that I did not offer any advice to the cast, I mainly just babbled about my dogs and taught a few phrases in sign language!
How would you describe your personal experience as a profoundly deaf actor in the entertainment business? What would you say to other deaf or hard-of-hearing actors just starting out?
I have been so lucky to have worked with so many incredible people, although it is challenging at times to ensure that BSL and deaf culture is portrayed in the correct way — while also sticking to the script and the storyline. Most of the directors that I have worked with have been really open-minded and happy to make some changes if necessary.
I would tell them to chase their dreams and don’t let the barriers be too overwhelming, to just continue to knock them down. Also, do not be afraid of rejections — you’ll get the role of your dreams someday!
Is there anything you wish the hearing community understood better about the deaf and hard of hearing community and your experiences?
I do wish that people were aware that interpreters are needed not because deaf people cannot hear, but rather because hearing people cannot sign.
