The Cup – a six-part comedy series for 91Èȱ¬ Two
Tanya Franks plays Sandra Farrell
Tanya Franks starred as Karen in two series of the popular BAFTA-nominated comedy series Pulling. In The Cup she plays Sandra who is married to Vincent, owner of a struggling local firm of funeral directors and proud sponsors of the team.
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Their tomboy daughter Ali plays in the team as an ill-disciplined midfielder who insists she is "not a ****ing girl".
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Tanya explains: "I play Sandra, who is chairman of the football team because her daughter Ali is a huge football fan.
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"She's a pretty ballsy lady and ropes in her husband's undertaking business to fund the team as she thinks they have enough money.
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"It soon becomes apparent that, in fact, they don't, and they are willing people to die so they can up the funds!
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"She also sees this sponsorship as a good PR opportunity for Farrell's Funeral Directors and gets the local television documentary makers involved – she's a pretty determined person."
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Tanya enjoyed finding out a bit about successful women in the footballing world.
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She says: "I couldn't help but read a bit about Karren Brady, Managing Director of Birmingham City FC and an award-winning businesswoman – she's obviously very much in people's minds at the moment as a woman who's a driving force in a man's world, although saying that I'm not sure that my character's much like her!"
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Tanya explains what appealed to her about The Cup: "I do always seem to play strong characters and Sandra is pretty determined.
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"The series has found a great balance between the children and the adults and the way in which the adults are often far more immature than the kids!
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"I really liked the idea of the documentary style although it did take a bit of getting used to, having to acknowledge the camera to make it realistic whereas usually you're desperately trying to avoid looking at it!"
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She found she could easily relate to her character and the other pushy parents surrounding her: "I'm not a mum but I think naturally as a human being you feel affection for children, you want them to do well and you're incredibly protective and encouraging of them.
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"I can see Sandra in a lot of women I've met who are not exactly power driven but like to be the matriarchal, authoritative figure, in control of their environment."
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