|
==Development==
[[File:Lacey Turner 2016.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Lacey Turner]] (''pictured'') plays Molly Dawes.|alt=Image of Lacey Turner]]
In October 2012, it was announced that actress [[Lacey Turner]] would star as Molly, a young woman "with little future"<ref name="Picture">{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a458899/lacey-turner-as-molly-dawes-in-army-drama-our-girl-first-picture/ |title=Lacey Turner as Molly Dawes in army drama 'Our Girl': First picture |first=Alex |last=Fletcher |date=14 February 2013 |access-date=20 June 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104212252/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a458899/lacey-turner-as-molly-dawes-in-army-drama-our-girl-first-picture/ |archive-date=4 November 2021 }}</ref> who joins the [[Royal Army Medical Corps]], for the show's [[Pilot (Our Girl)|pilot]].<ref name="Star">{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a431532/switchs-lacey-turner-to-star-in-bbc-army-drama-our-girl/ |title='Switch's Lacey Turner to star in BBC army drama 'Our Girl' |first=Kate |last=Goodrace |date=18 October 2012 |access-date=20 June 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018150641/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a431532/switchs-lacey-turner-to-star-in-bbc-army-drama-our-girl/ |archive-date=18 October 2023 }}</ref> The character begins as a beautician from a dysfunctional home who "makes a new life" for herself by joining the army as a [[combat medic]].<ref name="Training">{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2013/03/21/lacey-turner-army-training-for-our-girl-was-tough-but-it-changed-me-3551874/ |title=Lacey Turner: Army training for Our Girl was tough but it changed my life |first=Keith |last=Watson |date=21 March 2013 |access-date=20 June 2024 |website=Metro |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906040944/http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/21/lacey-turner-army-training-for-our-girl-was-tough-but-it-changed-me-3551874/ |archive-date=6 September 2014 }}</ref> Turner admitted she chose to be part of the project as she was impressed by the scripts immediately after reading them, as she found Molly's character to be "inspiring".<ref name="Wimp" /> After her casting was announced, Turner explained that Molly had always dreamed of being accepted, leading her to want "something more" from life.<ref name=Describes>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p016k9fv |title=Lacey Turner describes her character Molly Dawes |first= |last= |date=19 March 2013 |access-date=19 June 2024 |website=BBC One |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604230643/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p016k9fv |archive-date=4 June 2022 }}</ref> A spokesperson for the BBC billed Molly as "colourful", "unique" and "powerful", comparing Molly to Turner{{'s}} ''[[EastEnders]]'' character, [[Stacey Slater]].<ref name="Star" /> Turner addressed Molly's similarities to Stacey, drawing comparisons as "she's a council estate white girl and they're both quite loud".<ref name="Training" /> She explained that they differed as Molly changes as a person throughout the story, explaining this was because "she believes for the first time that she can do something and that she is someone".<ref name="Training" /> Turner described Molly as "interesting", admiring her traits of "strength" and "determination",<ref name="Star" /> and noting that Molly is "a tough cookie" and "quite a mouthy character".<ref name="Describes" /> Turner opined that her character is "a girl who you cannot help but love" and expressed excitement to be a part of the project.<ref name="Picture" />
The army training was "tough" for Molly at first, as Turner explained she is "not the type of person who takes orders", but it changes her for the better.<ref name="Describes" /> To play Molly, Turner herself had to prepare, which included improving her fitness and being trained in marching, weapons, and medics.<ref name="Describes" /> She found training for some scenes "tough", explaining: "The military kit on your back can weigh six stones and a medic like Molly might have to drag an injured 10-stone man across sand. I did weapon training, lots of fitness work and did as many stunts as I could myself".<ref name="Wimp" /> After watching real soldiers undergo their basic training, the actress joked that she wouldn't be able to join the army herself.<ref name="Describes" /> To research for the part, Turner attended an [[Army Training Centre Pirbright|Army Training Centre]] in [[Pirbright]], Surrey talking to female recruits who she saw in Molly.<ref name="Wimp">{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-previews/girl-lacey-turner-challenge-playing-1779272 |title='It was tough as I'm the biggest wimp ever': Lacey Turner on challenge of playing tearaway who signs up with Army |first=Jennifer |last=Rodger |date=23 March 2013 |access-date=23 June 2024 |website=Mirror |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240619234606/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-previews/girl-lacey-turner-challenge-playing-1779272 |archive-date=19 June 2024 }}</ref> She admired how recruits would "change and mature" throughout their training, calling it a "life-changing experience" to witness.<ref name="Wimp" /> Turner was surprised by the number of women at the training, considering it an "eye-opener" and adding that many of the women came from similar backgrounds to Molly.<ref name="Reality" /> Turner also commented that she was occasionally mistaken for a recruit as she was wearing, in her words: "proper military uniform".<ref name="Wimp" /> Turner considered herself "too much of a wimp" to join the army, explaining that she could handle the preparation, but would be "too scared" to go to war.<ref name="Reality">{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a467957/lacey-turner-talks-our-girl-reality-tv-eastenders/ |title=Lacey Turner talks 'Our Girl', reality TV, 'EastEnders' |first=Alex |last=Fletcher |date=23 March 2013 |access-date=20 June 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502085701/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a467957/lacey-turner-talks-our-girl-reality-tv-eastenders/ |archive-date=2 May 2019 }}</ref>
The show was picked up as a series, with Turner reprising her role as Molly.<ref name="Picked">{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a535163/lacey-turners-our-girl-picked-up-for-full-series-on-bbc-one/ |title=Lacey Turner's Our Girl picked up for full series on BBC One |first=Tom |last=Eames |date=2 December 2013 |access-date=20 June 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024200255/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a535163/lacey-turners-our-girl-picked-up-for-full-series-on-bbc-one/ |archive-date=24 October 2020 }}</ref> Turner was enthusiastic to return, explaining: "I love Molly. She's feisty, she's disobedient and she's passionate which I think is what draws me to her. She has a passion to belong and she wants to do better and help".<ref name="Plays">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/ourgirl/lacey |title=Interview with Lacey Turner, who plays Molly Dawes in BBC One drama Our Girl |first= |last= |date=12 August 2014 |access-date=20 June 2024 |website=BBC Media Centre |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525152930/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/ourgirl/lacey/ |archive-date=25 May 2023 }}</ref> Turner admired how "ballsy" and "fearless" Molly was, and appreciated how the series allowed viewers to "see her grow into a woman".<ref name="Helicopter">{{cite web|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/news/lacey-turner-i-loved-hanging-out-of-a-helicopter-in-our-girl-151087 |title=Lacey Turner: 'I loved hanging out of a helicopter in Our Girl!' |first=Frances |last=Taylor |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=20 June 2024 |website=What's on TV |language=English |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816195951/https://www.whattowatch.com/news/lacey-turner-i-loved-hanging-out-of-a-helicopter-in-our-girl-151087 |archive-date=16 August 2022 }}</ref> She suggested that Molly considered the army as an "opportunity to become part of a team and a family" and to "feel like she belongs", in contrast to her home life.<ref name="Plays" /> Turner teased that the series would show a "more grown up" Molly, despite noting that Molly would maintain her "disobedience", "feistiness", "fight", and "passion".<ref name="Plays" /> Turner considered that the biggest challenge of playing a central character was that she was in "pretty much every scene", however, she found it "an exciting challenge" and thought of it as being "just about getting it right".<ref name="Plays" /> The actress hoped that she had accurately depicted soldiers at war.<ref name="Plays" /> As the series took place in [[Afghanistan]] and was filmed in [[South Africa]], Turner expressed that the heat was one of the hardest aspects of filming, especially given the heavy uniform, but admitted that she found the challenge "fun".<ref name="Plays" /> She also opined that the abundance of crickets made filming difficult, noting: "They were everywhere".<ref name="Helicopter" />
|
