Claire Skinner goes from being Outnumbered to a complete outsider in ITV1's feisty new Army drama Homefront (Thursdays) about the private lives of the wives and girlfriends of serving soldiers... You play Claire, the fiancee of widowed Major Pete Bartham (Greg Wise). What can you tell us about Claire and her situation? "Claire's discovering the hierarchy of Army life and Army wives. Like the audience she's seeing everything for the first time, learning about ranking, acronyms and all the challenges of it. It's a whole different world. She's got a lot of plates to spin - and there are loads of things she hasn't bargained for!" What do you think the new drama has that other Army dramas don't? "Homefront is bang up-to-date and shows the horror and threat to life these women live with. They keep the family together while the men come home in all sorts of shocking states. It seems to me these women are doing an almost impossible job and it must take an incredible emotional toll on them." How does Army life compare to Claire's previous life as a civilian? "I've concocted my own back-story for Claire and have her down as someone who finds it important to have her own job and career - viewers will see her going for an interview in a posh kitchen company. I also imagine her previous husband wasn't anything like Pete. She probably finds the order quite attractive because it's a different world and quite butch - although at times it drives her nuts!" How does Claire's outsider status manifest itself? "Sometimes Claire goes to places and doors close or people stop talking when she arrives. I was talking to one Army wife who said it would possibly be difficult for a woman in Claire's position, as the other wives might close ranks." What else did you discover about Army life during your research? "I spoke to real Army wives and read a couple of things. Some of the supporting artists were actually serving members and TAs, and they were talking about how wives wear their husbands' ranks. In Homefront my husband, Pete, is a Major, and my character discovers what this means to everyone else around her. It's a really interesting world." What was the appeal of making this drama? "I like that it's a really interesting topic and very current. Claire makes mistakes and says the wrong things because she doesn't know the world. All the women are holding onto a lot. But they've also got each other. They let their hair down together and also help each other through all sorts of things. It's really fascinating and there is a lot to think about. I hope we've made good drama."
