Strange times for Tamzin
Tamzin Outhwaite stars in the five-part drama and quickly realised it offered something a little bit different. "Initially I thought it was a sci-fi project," she says.
"Then I read the script and realised it wasn't at all. It's about a bunch of police officers trying to work out whether there is a worm hole between two time zones."
The story begins with scientist Christian, played by Emun Elliott, receiving crime-scene like images – apparently from the future.
He contacts DI Rebecca Flint, played by Tamzin, and with the assistance of police colleagues Ben (Mark Bonnar) and Callum (Chike Okonkwo) the four decide whether they should attempt to play God and stop future events from happening.
Confused? Tamzin was. "At first I thought I wasn't going to be able to get my head around this script. I thought we were going to be solving crime in the future but then it wasn't like that at all," she says.
Describing the series, the actress explains: "We come from this old school 1970s-style police station and then we're put into Christian's work place, called the lab.
"We're told this operation will be to try and piece together images which have come from somewhere. We don't know where they've come from and whether it's perhaps God or aliens."
Tamzin, 39, has been telling pals it's "essentially a hard-hitting police drama" but asked how she would describe it to people at her local pub, she jokes: "If only I could get to the pub!"
Since becoming a mum last year, the former EastEnders actress has been busy juggling her professional and family commitments.
Paradox was filmed in Salford, Greater Manchester, while home is London, with her husband, actor Tom Ellis, and daughter Florence.
"Florence spends half the week up in Salford with me and half the week back home. She's very well travelled for a one year old and she seems to love it," says Tamzin.
The cast is male-dominated, meaning Tamzin has little opportunity to talk babies with her colleagues.
"There are barely any girls on this set and not many of the men have children," she says.
"Luckily, Abigail Davies, who plays the boss, Amelia, has a 16-month-old. The other day we sat down at lunch and were talking about our kids.
"It was lovely and such a release. It's difficult for other people to understand if they don't have young kids."
When Tamzin does get to go home and spend time in London she's also having to modify her behaviour.
"There are 30-plus men on set and they're all pitching in with their jokes. I think, 'Yeah I can do that, too'. There's lots of banter.
"When I'm on a set with men, I'm ruder and cruder because I'm trying to stay in line with the boys.
"It's funny because Mark and Chike are probably more feminine than I am and are sweet, soft and lovely."
This ability to prove herself to her male colleagues extends to Tamzin's stunt scenes. Although she has a stunt double, she is keen to be a part of the action.
She said: "The stunt co-ordinator on the programme is called Eunice, who won TV show Gladiators a few years ago.
"There was one scene where I was driving a car very fast with Chike next to me.
"The crew told me to pull the brakes on late.
"During one take I put the brakes on and it must have taken 15 seconds for the car to stop – it felt like an age.
"The crew had just started to peel off and run to the sides except one camera man who managed to get the shot.
"Afterwards, Eunice commented 'Don't do that again, please'!"
Tamzin has been enjoying life on the Paradox set and is keeping her fingers crossed for a second series.
"There's definitely enough material," she said.
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