You’d forgive her for having that sinking feeling, but Aiysha Hart says she’s “living the dream” on the BBC’s new drama series, Atlantis.
The show is the replacement for huge Saturday night hit Merlin and channel bosses hope it will have the same family-friendly fantasy appeal.
Aiysha plays gorgeous Princess Ariadne, heir to the throne.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_itzsxNOfFM%3Frel%3D0
“I’m living in a magical world half the time,” laughed Aiysha when The Sunday Post caught up with her during a filming break.
“It’s wonderful. When I see myself all dressed up in costume I just think, ‘This isn’t me’. I don’t get to be glamorous every day.
“Like any girl I love to get glammed up, but I’m more a jeans, denim shirt, cool leather jacket and Converses type.
“So this is like living the dream of being a princess, wearing a crown and beautiful dresses.”
The 13-part series is full of swashbuckling adventures and Greek myths about the city that supposedly sank without trace.
With Merlin gaining big audiences for five years before it finished just before Christmas, the BBC are pulling out all the stops to make its successor a similar hit.
Aiysha’s love interest is Jack Donnelly, who plays dashing hero Jason.
While both are relative newcomers, they are joined by established stars Juliet Stevenson, Sarah Parish and Mark Addy.
“It’s a very sweet, innocent kind of love between Ariadne and Jason,” says 25-year-old Aiysha.
“There’s nothing hot and steamy, it definitely caters for a family audience.
“I think the cast is a nice mix and us younger ones can learn from more experienced ones.”
Filming has taken Aiysha from baking hot Morocco to the forests and woods of Wales.
But much of the filming has been done in studios so the ancient Greek backdrops and mythical creatures can be added later by CGI.
“The boys have had more of that kind of stuff to do because they’re in more action scenes.
“I’ve had my share, though, and you have crew members running round the set pretending to be animals and we have to react to them.
“It’s a very strange way to spend your day and at first you’re just laughing so much.”
The series should get a great boost this weekend as it’ll be screened alongside Strictly’s return. It’s also set to be shown on BBC America.
“I’ll probably watch it with my family and friends and it’ll be quite a scary thing,” adds Aiysha. “I don’t like watching myself in anything.”
BBC1, Saturday nights
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