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Alison O'Donnell as DI Tosh in Shetland© ITV Studios / Jamie Simpson / BBC

Shetland star Alison O'Donnell reveals 'absolute low point' of filming show - details

The Scottish actress stars as DI Tosh in the BBC drama

Nicky Morris
TV and film writer
6 days ago
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Alison O'Donnell has starred in the BBC's hit crime drama Shetland for over a decade and while she feels "lucky" to have spent 12 years playing DI Tosh, it hasn't come without its challenges. 

In a recent interview, the actress opened up about an "absolute low point" of filming the police series.

Alison O'Donnell in Shetland© ITV Studios/Robert Pereira Hind/BBC
Alison O'Donnell plays DI Tosh in the drama

"The absolute low point was when I had unbelievable sickness in my pregnancy and possibly a stomach bug on top of it and was just lying on the stairs where we were filming and the crew were hefting things up and down past me and I couldn't move," the mum-of-two told The Scotsman. "Trying to do those long days with sickness and tiredness, I remember that being a nadir."

The actress went on to say that starring on the show for so long has allowed her to "have a family". "We didn't know from season to season if it would go again, but I was lucky that it did, so being able to have my kids and be supported through pregnancy and breastfeeding and having tiny children and coming out the other side, whenever that will be," explained Alison, whose co-star is fellow Scot Ashley Jensen.

WATCH: Are you enjoying series 9 of Shetland?

Alison welcomed her first child, a daughter, in 2017. At the time, she told The Scotsman that while she hadn't always "had this ambition to be a mother", she surprised herself by "how much I love it". 

Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder and Alison O'Donnell as DI Tosh McIntosh© BBC/Silverprint Pictures/Jamie Simpson
Ashley Jensen plays DI Ruth Calder

"I have never, ever been this happy. I didn't know it was possible to be this happy," she said. 

In 2020, Alison became a mum for a second time with the arrival of her son. She previously told The Sunday Post that having a newborn baby and toddler in lockdown was "the darkest and most difficult thing I've ever lived through" as she missed having people stop by. "I felt totally alone, we were completely on our own with nothing to break up the days," she continued, adding that she was pleased to return to work when restrictions lifted. 

Alison O'Donnell as DI Tosh McIntosh in Shetland© BBC
Alison said starring on the show has allowed her to have a family

Alison shares her children with her partner, Scottish playwright DC Jackson, whom she met when the actress starred in his 2011 play, My Romantic History.

DC has penned a number of plays, including The Marriage of Figaro, Threeway, and Kill Johnny Glendenning.

Alison O'Donnell as Amy and Iain Robertson as Tom in the Bush Theatre's production of D.C. Jackson's My Romantic History© Robbie Jack/Corbis via Getty Images
Alison met her partner D.C. Jackson when she starred in his play, My Romantic History

Alison previously revealed that she started to land "more interesting roles" after meeting her other half. "I'm not saying he's the power behind me," she explained, adding: "But our relationship made a difference."

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