“Riveting and insightful” – film star’s verdict after joining ambulance crew for night shift

Saltburn star Rosamund Pike has described her night shift with two London Ambulance Service paramedics as “riveting and insightful.”

The acclaimed actor joined the ambulance crew last year to prepare for her role in the psychological thriller Hallow Road, which is now in post-production.

Speaking to a journalist at The Telegraph, she said: “I play a paramedic, so for research I went out with London Ambulance Service, which was riveting and insightful.

“I met two paramedics who took me out on their night shifts and opened up to me about the toll it takes on them, the cost of spending every day around life-and-death situations.”

Rosamund observed paramedics Erica Greene and Tom Hazelwood as they responded to sick and injured patients across the capital.

Erica recalled: “She really wanted to understand more about what it’s like working as a paramedic so she could bring her character to life and get all the details right.”

Hallow Road – which also stars Matthew Rhys – is about two parents in a race against time when they receive a distressing call from their teenage daughter in the middle of the night.

In the Telegraph interview, Rosamund said: “It’s an 80-minute thrill ride, one of those where you read the script and it has you utterly in its grip.”

Scriptwriter William Gillies consulted paramedics at London Ambulance Service for clinical guidance on some of the film’s most dramatic scenes.

On the night of her observer shift, Rosamund was also taught basic life-saving skills, learning how to give chest compressions and use a defibrillator.

She made a video urging all Londoners to learn those life-saving skills and sign up to be a London Lifesaver.

In the video, Rosamund says: “I’ve just been taught how to save a life with London Ambulance Service.

“It takes only a few minutes to learn these skills and give you the confidence to use them when it matters most.”

The actor goes on to explain that most cardiac arrests happen in the home so people who learn how to give chest compressions could end up saving a loved one.

She ends the video saying: “Please follow me and sign up to be a London Lifesaver.”

You can become a London Lifesaver here.

London Lifesavers is funded through a grant provided by NHS Charities Together to our charity, London Ambulance Charity. If you would like to donate to our dedicated charity, please head to our Just Giving page or visit our dedicated campaign webpage for more information.

ENDS