Vinette Robinson, 43, grew up in Bradford. She decided to be an actor when she was 13, and has starred in Sherlock and The A Word, as well as playing Rosa Parks in Doctor Who. As head chef Carly in Boiling Point, she leads one of the most tense kitchen dramas ever made. She also recently appeared in mind-bending sci-fi The Lazarus Project, with Paapa Essiedu.
Was Boiling Point as stressful to film as it was to watch?
Yes, but it was also really fun. Boiling Point is an unusual process, in that we have a guide script, but you never learned your lines as such because all the dialogue was improvised. It was always moving on its feet.
Be honest, how much of The Lazarus Project could you follow?
There were times when we were like, “OK, so what are the rules of this?” Joe Barton is such a brilliant writer, so you’ve got the first series, which is dealing with the time loops, but then he takes the second series and goes, “Oh, I’ll make that even harder. We’ve now got multiple time strands and time loops.”
As a viewer, I find that reassuring.
There is a logic to it, but you did have to really engage your brain and check in with everyone else, be like, “Is this what’s happening?” How he writes that stuff, I have no idea. I imagine he’s got a wall of Post-it notes with strings hanging off.
Which TV show gripped you the most?
I was really thrilled for the return of Happy Valley. Do you remember when she’s sat in the chair and then James Norton appears behind her? That was a great moment. It’s a testament to Sally Wainwright that you can have such a long gap between series and people are still so hungry for it. I thought The Last of Us was brilliant. Bella Ramsey – what an incredible performance.
Which TV show are you most excited to see return?
Is The Last of Us coming back? I’m really not into computer games, so I wouldn’t have thought that would be something I’d like, but it’s so brilliantly written.
What’s your comfort watch?
Selling Sunset. Sometimes I just need mush TV where I don’t have to think. I used to hate reality TV, but I find myself watching it more and more.
Have you ever been starstruck?
Not generally by actors. I love the artist Grayson Perry. I walked past him at an event and my partner really embarrassed me by telling him that I liked him. I just didn’t know what to say.
What makes you turn the TV off?
Cruelty. Or if I feel like something’s a bit formulaic, a bit repetitive, TV by algorithm. I don’t think it leaves the space for the real hits of inspiration.
• The Bafta television awards with P&O Cruises will be broadcast on BBC One on Sunday 12 May.
