Rose Leslie has opened up about how being pregnant actually helped her when she filmed action-packed drama Vigil’s second series.
The actress, 36, announced in July that she had welcomed her second child with her husband Kit Harington, after confirming they were expecting in February.
Rose was pregnant while filming Vigil’s hotly-anticipated second series alongside Suranne Jones, after the huge success of the BBC drama’s first instalment in 2021.
Now, Rose has candidly revealed how being pregnant actually helped filming for the second series of Vigil because it was cleverly written into the show, slated for release from December 10.
The first season saw Rose’s character Kirsten Longacre and her partner Amy Silva (Suranne) torn apart when Amy had to investigate a death on-board a submarine while Kirsten assisted her from dry land.
Rose Leslie has opened up about how being pregnant when she filmed action-packed drama Vigil actually helped her (she is pictured while pregnant on the show)
The actress, 36, confirmed in July that she had welcomed her second child with her husband Kit Harington, after confirming they were expecting in February
And Rose revealed how her baby news gave writers an ‘organic’ reason to separate the couple again, as it meant heavily pregnant Kirsten was unable to travel to the Middle East with Amy amid a brand new investigation into drone warfare.
Speaking at a Q&A at BFI Southbank on Monday, Rose explained: ‘Being pregnant meant that Kirsten had to stay home and be in Scotland, as a result that pulled us apart again in a very natural, organic way.
‘There was no way I’d be following [Amy] out, so I felt coming from that premise, there was a reason why their relationship was going to be torn again.’
As well as the new investigation getting underway, Kirsten and Amy’s relationship is also delved into as they enter potentially dangerous environments while expecting a child together.
The couple already have a daughter Poppy – the child of Amy’s partner Iain Torrens, who tragically died in a car crash after Amy was faced with the choice of saving him or Poppy, in a devastating storyline explored in season one.
Rose also shared how her real-life pregnancy helped speed up the development in Kirsten and Amy’s relationship as it saw them take a step forwards in their romance.
‘Me getting pregnant helped with the development, put a fast track on it,’ she said, as she told how Kirsten and Amy will butt heads during the investigation as Suranne’s character tries to look after her, while she wants to prove she is capable.
‘I was really interested to see where we went and the fact that one of us was having a baby kind of helped! It sits so well in this huge show,’ Suranne added.
Rose was pregnant while filming Vigil’s hotly-anticipated second series alongside Suranne Jones, after the huge success of the BBC drama’s first instalment in 2021
At a Q&A about the upcoming series, Rose revealed how being pregnant actually helped filming for the second series of Vigil as she spoke about how it was written into the show
Rose revealed how her baby news gave writers an ‘organic’ reason to separate the couple again, as it meant heavily pregnant Kirsten was unable to travel to the Middle East with Amy
‘These are two women who decided to have a family together, they already have a daughter, a child on the way, but they are also defined by their careers and their work, so they are going to start butting heads, when one is trying to look after the other, and the other wants to do everything.
‘I think it brought an element of fun, but a seriousness of ‘how does that change the relationship dynamic?’ which was interesting for us and it took it somewhere else.’
Rose also delved into the process of filming the high-action thriller while pregnant with her second child, wrapping up all of her scenes before she gave birth.
She said: ‘World Productions were fantastic at accommodating my pregnancy and making sure that my pick ups weren’t too early… that I got wrapped by the time I was 37 weeks, and I highly appreciated that.’
Vigil’s second series sees Kirsten and Amy called to investigate following multiple unexplained fatalities at a Scottish military facility, where they enter the closed ranks of the air force in Scotland and the Middle East and face deadly drone warfare.
Suranne and Rose also opened up on playing LGBTQ+ characters in the show, telling how they made sure their was an LGBTQ+ writer on the crew for Vigil’s second series.
Rose said: ‘Suranne and I wanted to make sure that within the writers room, there was an LGBTQ writer within that room, just so we were able to get across the relationship that we have, that they are two people, in love, and their sexuality in no way defines who they are.’
Suranne also explained how filming Gentleman Jack saw her welcomed by the LGBTQ+ community and said she takes her role as an ally ‘very seriously’.
She shared: ‘Through Gentleman Jack I found a community that was so open and wonderful and receptive, and willing to share their experiences with me, and I was like ‘wow this could be another part of the job, that you can really connect on another level’.
‘I think by doing that particular job, and then this one, I’ve been very welcomed as an ally and I take it very seriously.’
The first season saw Rose’s character Kirsten Longacre and her partner Amy Silva (Suranne) torn apart when Amy had to investigate a death on-board a submarine
The upcoming series, which features a new investigation into drone warfare, will see the addition of several new cast members including Romola Garai and Dougray Scott
Rose’s comments came as she appeared at a Q&A at BFI Southbank with Suranne, new co-stars Dougray Scott and Romola Garai, writer Tom Edge and producer Jake Lushington
Suranne and Rose also opened up on playing LGBTQ+ characters on screen, telling how they made sure their was an LGBTQ+ writer on the crew for Vigil’s second series
Suranne also told how filming Gentleman Jack (pictured) saw her welcomed by the LGBTQ+ community and said she takes her role as an ally ‘very seriously’
The first series of Vigil was the UK’s most-watched new drama launch since Bodyguard in 2018, attracting over 13 million viewers. Series one won the International Emmy and secured a BAFTA nomination for Best Drama Series.
The upcoming series will also see the addition of several new cast members including Romola Garai, Dougray Scott, Amir El-Masry, David Elliot and Chris Jenks.
Elsewhere, Rose and her husband, Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, welcomed their second child together in July, not long after the star wrapped filming on Vigil.
At the time, they announced that they were ‘delighted’ to have welcomed a baby girl, a sibling for their two-year-old son.
As with their little boy, the couple haven’t made their daughter’s name, or other details surrounding her birth, public.
Kit’s spokesperson told PageSix.com: ‘They’re delighted to have welcomed a little girl into the family.’
The Eternals actor admitted in March how he and Rose had been more ‘practical’ with her second pregnancy, whereas they took a more ‘romantic’ view of parenthood when they were expecting their son.
He told Entertainment Tonight: ‘We’re really practical about it at the moment. And actually, almost too practical.
‘With our first child there was so, sort of romantic, for one of a better word, and this other one we’re like, ‘Right, okay, let’s get.’ We know how efficient we have to be. Let’s get down to parenting.
‘My mum says that she never remembers us being little kids or the early parenting much, because you’re so present in it. And I think that’s what kids allow you to be, is incredibly present in the moment, ’cause you’ve got no choice.’
Kit announced he and Rose were expecting their second child together during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in February.
Rose and her husband, Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, welcomed their second child together – a baby girl – in July, not long after the star wrapped filming on Vigil
Kit and Rose met while filming their hit HBO show Game of Thrones and began dating in 2011, before tying the knot in June 2018
Speaking about his firstborn, Kit said: ‘He is about the get the shock of his life, which is that he’s about to get a brother or sister.’
He continued: ‘You know with the first baby, you’re like, walking on clouds and dancing through fields and daisies for nine months? Well, the man is anyway.
‘This time, the reality check comes much shorter and you get practical, like, real quick.’
Kit and Rose met while filming their hit HBO show Game of Thrones and began dating in 2011.
They announced their engagement in The Times newspaper in September 2017 and married the following June in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
