Interview with Danny Miller about his storyline
Emmerdale's Aaron Livesy - played by 18-year-old Danny Miller - stuns his best mate Adam Barton (Adam Thomas) next week when he tries to kiss him after a car accident. The troubled teen is travelling home with Adam after an unsuccessful night out when he loses control of the vehicle and careers into the verge. The pair suffer only minor injuries but when Adam checks a cut on Aaron's head, he is overwhelmed by the moment and attempts to kiss his friend. Adam recoils in horror, while Aaron's completely taken aback by his own actions - and his journey of self-discovery begins. We recently gave Danny a call to find out more about the shock story twist - the fruits of which appear below.
In a nutshell, how did series producer Gavin Blyth explain the plotline to you?
"Well, basically he said that Aaron's such a naughty lad and he needed an explanation. There are hundreds of thousands of teenage lads out there who are struggling with it as we speak - they're sexually confused. They're worried about walking into a room and seeing a girl and being emotionally and physically attracted to them but then on the other hand doing the same with a lad - walking into the room and being attracted to them. More than anything - aside from giving a reason for why Aaron's the way he is - it's giving the opportunity to see what teenagers are dealing with out there played by an actor and how hard it is for someone with a lot of pride and a strong character to blurt out, 'I think I'm gay'. Aaron keeps it in so much because he's so worried about what people think of him."
How will this story be different to other stories of the same ilk?
"I think it's different because it's so unexpected. If you could pick one person in the village in Emmerdale who's gay, the last person you think of will be Aaron. You wouldn't think he's gay and the point is he's not gay - he's not come out gay and all of a sudden he's in a relationship with a lad or something like that. He's still trying to hold it in. I don't think any of the other soaps has ever had this alone character eating himself up inside and trying to convince himself more than anyone that he's not gay and doing anything in his power to prove that he's not gay."
How does Aaron end up losing control of the car?
"They get chucked out of this bar because they're under age. This barman comes over and asks for ID and Aaron pulls out some fake ID not knowing that Adam's already drawn on a fake moustache. The barman takes the ID off them and kicks them out. Aaron's only had one drink so he's driving them home and Adam reveals to Aaron that he drew a 'tache on the ID. Aaron then goes to look for a CD and takes his eye off the road and when he catches his next glimpse of the road, he sees a car that's about to hit him and swerves out of the way. It all goes pear-shaped from there."
How does the near-kiss come about?
"Again, it's a spur-of-the-moment thing. Along with all the confusion and the anger Aaron's got up in him, what happens is they have a car crash. Basically to add to the confusion and anger, he sees his special bond with a new friend who's actually finally given him an opportunity to speak his opinion and be there for him. He's completely misjudged the situation and in a moment of emotion and crossed wires he's gone in for a kiss with Adam. I think all the confusion and the shock he's just suffered from having his first car crash on his new licence in Ryan's car, it's just unbelievable. We're not trying to play it with any funny looks to one another or give the audience any hint, it just happens in the confusion."
Was it awkward to film the moment?
"It was very awkward - I don't know if you know but myself and Adam live together so it was very strange! But working with Adam's an absolute joy. He's so professional. He'll even be sat at home and be like, 'Shall we run the lines?' We said to each other maybe we should check the lines and go through them until we get it spot on - I really want this to work, it's a big opportunity for me and for you. I think only from the respect that we live together and we see each other every minute of the day it was a bit strange that I was going in for a kiss. On a couple of the rehearsals there was laughter because it was very strange. You'd never think yourself to be in the position that these two are in. Knowing myself and knowing Adam and his long-term girlfriend, he's the last person you'd expect in that position."
It's well known that Emmerdale has an older audience - how do you think fans of the soap will react to the storyline?
"That's a question I knew was going to come up and it's an answer I'm a little bit uncertain of in terms of the older generation not understanding the new generation, with respect. 79 or 80 year olds are not going to see how it is today and how people are struggling with various different problems. I think it will cause a bit of confusion amongst the audience but it's a question I can't tell you the answers completely, but the way that I've played it they can hopefully understand it from his point of view and that there are people out there who are in these kinds of situations. Maybe they can finally start to see things from Aaron's point of view and that he's just a normal human being."
www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/interviews/a189197/danny-miller-aaron-livesy-emmerdale.htmlHands up if you were shocked when you heard about the latest Emmerdale plot twist with resident village bad boy Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller)?
*raises hand*
This one's really got soapland talking - the least likely resident of the village begins to question his sexuality after a near-kiss with his best friend Adam Barton (Adam Thomas). And from hereon in, Aaron's in it for the long haul, as he initially denies that the moment happened, before embarking on a long journey of self-discovery.
If you haven't already, though, you're probably best reading the first half of the interview to begin with.
Already been there, done that? You'll be wanting to know how Danny feels about the twist and where it all goes for Aaron from here then. So, without further ado, here are the bonus bits from my chat.
How long have you known about this story twist?
"I filmed it about four weeks ago but I knew two months prior to that just because the producer Gavin [Blyth] had to check that I was happy to do it. He didn't want to just throw me to the lions without asking whether I wanted to take on such a big storyline."
What was your reaction when you were first told?
"Obviously I don't have any problems with homosexuality but from a straight lad's point of view, I was scared to what extent they'd want me to do it. At first, when the word gay came out, I was a bit worried but after Gavin explained it and put it into perspective, I came to terms with it and actually it's a brilliant challenge and it's a brilliant storyline so I can't say no."
How does it feel to be suddenly at the centre of the action?
"It feels good. The thing is, I wasn't finding out where I was going. I was sort of stuck in between whether he'd stay a bad lad or whether to go to a nicer sort of person. Now I've got a storyline and I know where it's going, it's good. I'm enjoying it."
Do you feel a strong sense of responsibility with this storyline, then?
"Oh, massive, massive responsibility! To be given this storyline and to perceive it in a real way and get it right and the way [Gavin] wants it and the way the public should perceive it is a massive responsibility for me. I sometimes feel now rather than going on set and throwing the scene away - not that I'd do that in the first place! - but going on set and knowing this is all linking is a massive responsibility."
Is Aaron gay, then?
"I don't know whether he is or he isn't. He's a very confused young lad. He's had a lot of problems in the past with his dad and with his mum so he's never had anybody who can put their arm around him and tell him it's going to be alright. That's what's different about the story and the character. I don't think any other soaps have put this across."
Has not knowing the answer yourself helped in the portrayal on screen?
"I think I can relate to Aaron - I've been playing him for over a year and I've got to know his feelings and how he'll react to things, even silly little things - and knowing him and his attitude and his personality has helped me see how he doesn't know."
So where does it all go from here for Aaron?
"It's just a road down denial to be honest. He doesn't want the whole episode to come out to anybody so now he begins an ongoing battle not only with Adam but himself. I'm telling Adam, 'You must have imagined it', or, 'You must have had a drink', or, 'You must be confused because nothing happened'. I won't say too much but he does his best to tell Adam that he's imagined it."
But there's going to come a point when this all comes out. How will Aaron react to that?
"I don't know because this is going to be an ongoing thing now. It's as much to do with meeting the storyliners and the producers to see where this is going really. There's going to be hell raised if it's found out that somebody's told other people about the near-kiss and I think that's what will anger him more - that people have found out. I don't know what the climax to it is though, so I can't really comment on it."
How does his friendship with Adam continue?
"Funnily enough, it's not [shattered]. I think what Adam's more bothered about is the safety and protection of his sister because Aaron's going after her. I think he's more bothered about his sister getting hurt, so in an attempt to save her Adam goes round to Aaron's house and says, 'Look, it's fine, we're friends. If you're gay I'm here to talk to you, I don't mind'. I think that's what freaks Aaron out more - Adam shouldn't be reacting like this - he shouldn't like me. It's more confusion for Aaron. It's just one thing after the other and he gets more and more confused over and over because of Adam's reaction more than anything."
Could you see Aaron in a relationship with a guy?
"I think for them to do that, it would take a lot of time and a lot of effort to make the viewers believe it. If they did that, I wouldn't have a problem with it because I think I'd know the right way to play it, knowing Aaron and knowing a couple of homosexuals myself I'd know how to play it, but from a viewer's point of view it would be rather difficult to take this naughty, unpunished school lad - I think the viewers would have a problem with seeing a whole new character. If it happens, it happens. I don't have a problem with it and having such a strong production team behind us I think we could convince them."
What's your opinion of Emmerdale's state of play at the moment?
"I think it's on the up. I think to be honest - and this is from a biased point of view! - it's challenging to be up there with the top two or three. It's strange because from watching it from about 11 or 12 years old I've never seen it as good as it is now. I give full credit to Gavin Blyth and Steve November for coming in and making a whole new Emmerdale - and obviously the other background team - the storyliners, story editors, producers - they've all just come in and changed Emmerdale. I think with storylines like this and more interesting storylines coming up, it's fantastic. There's no other phrase to describe it other than 'It's on the up' and I can only see it going up, up and up."
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- no mention of AA in the official spoilers from 28 Dec - 01 Jan.