Mutual Friends
Sarah Alexander plays Liz
Writer Anil Gupta describes Sarah's character, Liz: "A beautiful, intelligent woman with a successful career, Liz has one real problem, but it's a biggie. She's in love with Patrick.
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"They were together and nearly got married but, surprise, he got cold feet.
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"She's moved on but now 鈥 despite having no maternal instinct whatsoever 鈥 she is aware that her reproductive window is closing and there's only one person she would ever want to have a family with."
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He continues: "I'm not sure who first suggested Sarah Alexander for the part of Liz, but she's great and not only do she and Xander work well together but she and Keeley have a really good dynamic."
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Best known for starring roles in such comedy series as Coupling, The Worst Week Of My Life and Smack The Pony, Sarah did not hesitate when she was offered the role of Liz, Patrick's ex fianc茅e.
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She says: "It's something a bit different for me. I haven't done a drama comedy before, so it was a new challenge.
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"Having taken time off to have my first baby, born in April this year, I wanted to do something different and I wanted to choose it carefully.
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"When I saw that Xander was in the series I thought: 'Yes! I'll do it!'
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"Also, there are great storylines, good characters and good writing and we all just get on so well."
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Sarah and Alexander go back a long way.
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In the mid-Nineties Sarah met Ben Miller when they filmed an advert for disposable cameras together, and through him met Alexander.
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She went on to appear in the original Armstrong & Miller sketch show, which ran between 1997 and 2001, including the recurring sketch, Nude Practice.
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Sarah describes Liz as: "Extremely strong, very tough and, irritatingly for her, she's still in love with Patrick.
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"Before the series begins they were in a rather tempestuous relationship and were due to get married, but he changed his mind.
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"He didn't quite leave her at the altar, but something quite close to the wedding.
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"They're both moving on 鈥 she's recovered superficially from it, and we discover in the first episode that she's now having a relationship with Harry, Patrick's former business partner and now arch rival.
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"Her head is saying Harry and her heart is saying Patrick.
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"It's annoying because she's a woman who likes to be in control and he's a hindrance to that.
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"They do have a fantastic relationship though 鈥 one of those friendships where they each know what the other is thinking, they share the same sense of humour, can still make each other laugh, have secret jokes.
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"It's very comfortable and yet they still excite and fancy each other."
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Why did Patrick ditch her then? "I think it's that old clich茅 of being a commitment-phobe.
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"He's a child, very immature but then that's also why she loves him.
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"She doesn't want to be too grown-up; she was prepared to get married but the idea of settling down, having children and an Aga is not really Liz 鈥 she's too cool for that.
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"His immaturity and hopelessly shambolic attitude endear him to her 鈥 but they're also unfortunately the qualities that made him leg it!
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"As to whether the two get back together 鈥 well, you'll just have to watch the series!"
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Sarah adds: "Liz runs a modelling agency. She's pretty strong, independent and shoots from the hip.
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"She has no children, no husband, in contrast with the rest of the group.
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"She's the one the girls all want to see married off, but she likes her independence.
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"Her best friend Jen has a son Dan, but Liz barely recognises his existence. For Liz, Jen is a potential drinking partner!"
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As a new mother herself, happily settled, Sarah found she had to remove herself a bit from the situation Liz is in..
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She says: "I'm very into families and enjoying it very much, so I had to take a deep breath.
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"I find myself standing tall, not just to get closer to Xander's height, but to get away from my natural stance of left hip tuck out and arm doing air babies!
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"I do relate to her in lots of ways 鈥 but she's not where I am in life."
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Sarah laughs: "Mind you, it's great fun and great to ditch my child 鈥 but only for an hour or two!"
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She adds: 鈥淚 was offered this job on my son Sam's first birthday, and I thought that was rather telling.
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"It felt right and good and the transition has been great. I'm enjoying being back at work."
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Sam appears in the baby fantasy scene, "except we only see the back of his head because he shunned the camera in favour of a cupboard!"
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Sarah concludes: 鈥淟iz is the friend we all have who we want to see settle down and have what we have, but they're probably perfectly happy running their own lives.
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"Liz and Patrick would be great together because they're unconventional and brave and interested in life and curious, willing to do quite crazy things. We'll just have to wait and see if they do鈥︹
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