Moya seat on Lavender Hill

I am looking forward to seeing Moya Brady in The Bench because I've worked with Moya more than anyone. We are both from Blackpool and met in school when we were 16. The first time I noticed Moya, we were doing English A level.

The teacher went round the class asking who in history each student would most like to have been. Moya said the Tsarina Alexandra, Empress Of Russia. I remember turning round and thinking 'who the f**k is she!' She noticed me because I said, "Jesus." We both obviously had ego problems. The two people most likely to move to London and be ambitious.

Later we moved to London together, and even did our first film together. Since then we've appeared in Mike Leigh's Life Is Sweet, Little Dorritt and several other projects. Moya's always been a great actress. Once you've seen her, you don't forget her.

Moya sent me a copy of the play, which is by Russian writer Alexander Gelman. It is a two-hander, with the entire action taking place on a park bench. Moya plays alongside Francis Magee, who is probably best known as Liam in EastEnders - I wouldn't know because I am writing a book and I've put my TV in a cupboard.

Two-handers are my favourite kind of play because they are most like situations in real life. Most conversations are two way, after all. The tone reminded me a little of Albert Camus's The Fall. And this is a perfect part for Moya because she's got the gift of the gab. The author also sounds interesting - a former builder and factory worker who ended up being a speechwriter for President Yeltsin.