Yorkshire-raised Nathalie Armin is back on our screens in Showtrial, the latest role in an eclectic career that has taken her across stage and screen. “A slow burn, but varied and rewarding,” is how she describes her acting career to date. “And even though there’s still a way to go, the roles for women are getting better. There were times at the beginning when it felt like I was always going to be limited to a certain type of casting, but that has changed, and fortunately, there’s more choice now. I still haven’t played anyone from North Yorkshire, though.”
Roots in Yorkshire
Nathalie fondly recalls her Yorkshire upbringing: “I look back on my childhood very fondly. There was a group of local children, and we all played together. We were neighbours and in and out of each other’s houses daily. We moved around a lot when I was growing up; I was shy but had to adapt to new social situations quickly.”
She continues, “I really remember misty walks up Roseberry Topping, the smell of the woods, Cleveland Hills. We had a beck in the woods near my house, and we would swing from a rope over it. My rope-swinging skills were pretty finely honed.”
The Path to Acting
Drama was an outlet for Nathalie from an early age. “It pretty much started with playing Mary and a Shepherd in the school nativity,” she recalls. Her theatrical journey continued through the Teeside Indie scene and Cleveland Youth Theatre.
At 18, Nathalie moved to London to attend drama school. “I was homesick but also very excited to be starting drama school,” she says. Her first professional role? “An episode of Casualty. My hair got caught in some factory machinery, and I got scalped!”
A Flourishing Career
Nathalie has built an impressive theatrical repertoire, including performances in A Little Life (West End), Force Majeure (Donmar Warehouse), Behind The Beautiful Forevers (National Theatre), and Othello (RSC), among others. Nathalie says on the joy of stage acting, “The live element is thrilling – the spontaneity, the having to adapt to unpredictable circumstances at the moment always keeps you on your toes.”
Her television career has flourished, with roles in Juice (BBC Three), Magpie Murders, Too Close, Marcella, Vera, and Unforgotten.
Showtrial: A New Challenge
In Showtrial, Nathalie portrays Leila Hassoun-Kenny, a rigorous CPS lawyer leading the case against the accused. She stars alongside Adeel Akhtar and Michael Socha.
“The writing is excellent, and I loved season one,” Nathalie says. “I had to do quite a lot of research. I had to learn what the Crown Prosecution does and how likely they are to bring a case to court. I think it’s a thrilling story with some complex, challenging questions at the heart of it.”
Keeping Yorkshire Close
Despite her busy schedule, Nathalie still cherishes her Yorkshire connections. “I don’t get back as often as I’d like, but it’s always lovely when I do. I make sure my brother takes me to some of our old stamping grounds – places like Yarm and Scarborough. And nowhere does better fish and chips than Whitby. I definitely miss that.”
Showtrial season 2 is on BBC One every Sunday at 9 pm. Watch it here.
