May 20 - Interview with Rhianne Barreto who plays Rani in The Outlaws which returns on May 30 (UK) & May 31 (US)

Can you recap your character Rani in series one and two?

In season one you find Rani, a brainiac with an offer to study at Oxford. After stealing some goodies from a shopping centre, she finds herself in community service. She meets a boy called Ben, and there is an instant connection. They get embroiled in a criminal gang and drama ensues.

Rani has a pretty wild coming of age journey. She is someone that is incredibly intelligent, who grows and develops herself to use that intelligence, to help others - and become a badass.

When Rani leaves Ben at the seaside last series and steals a car, what ultimately does she want?

Ultimately, I think she wants to be a part of a plan that is hers, and that she has agency in. She’s not going with anything because of someone else’s dream. I think her for her whole life, her parents and with Ben, it’s been everyone else’s idea of what she should be.

What is the toughest challenge Rani faces in this series?

The toughest challenge my character has faced is listening to themselves, or just even knowing themselves. So much of Rani’s life has been other people telling her what she wants or what she should want. I think in this series, she’s having to make choices for herself.

What have been some of your favourite scenes to film this series?

It’s really nice to film the group scenes, they’re really fun. It feels like we’re in a theatre play, a big scene takes stamina and it’s fun to support each other and play through that.

Is there a storyline that particularly surprises you this season?

I think all of them surprise me! I think they’re all really exciting. I think Myrna (Clare Perkins) and John’s (Darren Boyd) story is really beautiful and I think that will be really enjoyable to watch, because Clare and Darren are so great.

What have been some of your favourite locations to film on?

It was nice being on a farm and in nature, though it wasn’t so good for my hayfever!

What has it been like reuniting with your castmates this series?

It’s been so lovely, it’s really nice to come back and work with people that you have a shorthand with. It just feels like a comfortable relationship that is such a dream. I really love the cast.

What themes are explored in series three?

Danger, death. Love, and family.