‘She’s such a jerk’: Nicole da Silva on former Dr Who Jodie Whittaker

The Aussie actress worked with the first ever female Dr Who on a new six-part mystery thriller for Paramount+. It’s not an experience she’ll forget any time soon.

Nicole Da Silva is happy to share she thinks her latest co-star – the first-ever female Dr Who – Jodie Whittaker is such a jerk.

Not for her personality, mind you, that’s awesome – but rather because of the ease with which the award-winning Brit actress mastered the notoriously difficult-to-perfect-on-screen Aussie sound. Whittaker’s native broad Yorkshire accent disappearing without a trace as she morphed into her character in the new six-part mystery thriller One Night for Paramount+.

“Her accent is so, so strong but as soon as she started reading the script, she switched over into the most perfect rendition of the Aussie accent that I’ve ever heard,” Da Silva laughs.

“I was like, ‘You’re such a jerk’. I was just so in awe of her ability.”

Jodie Whittaker as Tess, Yael Stone as Hat, and Nicole da Silva as Simone. Picture: Joel Pratley

Production had even included the line, “Oh look at you now with your fancy (British) accent”, in case Whittaker faltered through the shoot.

“But across the board we were like, ‘We have to get rid of that line because your accent is so brilliant’,” Da Silva shares.

“But Jodie was adamant. We have to keep it in because she didn’t want egg on her face.”

While not a huge Dr Who fan, Da Silva had long been a massive admirer of Whittaker’s work especially on the brilliant Broadchurch, and was over the moon at working with her.

“I have to say she completely met and exceeded my expectations,” she says.

“She’s just so warm and gregarious and hilarious.”

The third piece of the One Night puzzle is Da Silva’s long-time friend, Orange is the New Black’s Yael Stone.

Thankfully the trio easily maintained their bonds once the cameras stopped rolling unlike their onscreen alter-egos. Created and written by the award-winning Emily Ballou (The Slap, Taboo), One Night is a six-part, character-driven mystery about three women – Simone (Da Silva), Tess (Whittaker) and Hat (Stone) whose connections – and lives – were irrevocably altered by the traumatic events of one night 20 years earlier.

It was this nuanced take on female friendships that initially attracted Da Silva to the project. She met her own three best friends when they were all placed in the same school class, and they’ve been with her through thick and thin for decades.

“One event during those teenage years can be the catalyst for a lifetime of functioning or functioning,” she says.

Fortunately for her, unlike Simone, it’s meant a lifetime of functioning.

“I think that was one of those game-changing moments – to know you have three amazing people who have your back, who’ve commiserated all the lows and celebrated all the highs.

“There’s so much emphasis put on romantic relationships but I know for a fact – for me – the relationships that have sustained me in my life have been my family and my friends.

“And we actually call each other soul sisters for that reason.”

Tammy McIntosh, Nicole da Silva, Danielle Cormack and Libby Tanner in season four of Wentworth. Picture: Foxtel

Another pivotal moment – and friendship – for Da Silva was meeting Danielle Cormack on Foxtel drama Wentworth. The pair have gone on to establish a production company, Four One On, mounting play Who’s Afraid at Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre in Sydney called Who’s Afraid. It was such a success that they’re now working to turn it into a feature film.

“Wentworth itself was a huge pivotal moment – never did I think that it would have the reach that it did,” Da Silva says.

“And obviously the friendships that were formed through that and the joy I have with being in a partnership with Danielle and creating our own work has been brilliant.”

Da Silva acknowledges she’s been a “bit of a lucky duck” playing a wide variety of characters on long-running TV shows.

“I’m pretty thankful for the roles that have come along in my life and the shows that I’ve been a part of,” she says.

Nicole da Silva relished freefalling as the complicated Simone in One Night. Picture: Joel Pratley

“One Night did feel special from the outset, I have to say – even as dark and kind of challenging as some of the material is.

“But sharing that experience with the cast – Yael and Jodie, and the crew, meant it was a joyous set to be on.”

Simone’s complex, rather complicated life came along at the most perfect time for Da Silva – she was feeling quite ungrounded herself.

“So as much as I try and anchor myself as a person, as Simone I was able to just free fall,” Da Silva shares.

“And I knew that I was so well supported by the script. And I was working with one of my favourite directors of all time.

“I literally was able to just free fall into the moment and trust that the world and the circumstances surrounding me would be able to support what we needed.”

After the intense shoot, Nicole Da Silva has been enjoyed time at home. Picture: Ten

Da Silva completely enjoyed the freedom of wearing her heart on her sleeve – and letting it rip passionately with Simone’s lack of filter. Although she admits in real life she doesn’t always have a filter either.

“I think it depends what mood and what situation you catch me in – but I’ve got to say, for the majority of the time, I probably don’t have a filter,” she says.

“Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I think honesty can be disarming and can be a great leveller.

“And I’m all for having a bit more of that in our lives these days.”

Da Silva is also all for having a bit more time at home after a hugely busy year. Apart from One Night, she was also in the second season of the Binge TV series Love Me. And in the dance-musical-drama film Carmen directed by choreographer Benjamin Millepied.

“The shoot for One Night was pretty intense,” she says. “We covered a lot of emotional, psychological territory, so it was nice to step back in to just my life as Nicole. And mum and dog mum.

“Just get back to me for a little bit. So I’m quite enjoying that.”

One Night, Friday, Paramount+

Originally published as ‘She’s such a jerk’: Nicole da Silva on former Dr Who Jodie Whittaker