'I don’t like the way the spotlight feels': Traces' Laura Fraser on fame, Breaking Bad, and her Glasgow roots

With a knack for choosing roles that turn into boxset gold, Hood editor Maxine Eggenberger finds out how Scottish actress Laura Fraser has ensured her career has kept pace, without having to play the fame game.

Laura Fraser isn’t your typical Hollywood star. Having travelled from her home city of Glasgow to the set of our pre-lockdown shoot in Musselburgh, the moment she walks into the room, the mood instantly changes. Instead of an awkward first-time meeting with a revered actor with a career spanning more than two decades, it’s as if we’re reuniting with an old friend. ‘That was a wild taxi ride,’ she laughs as she recounts some rather serious road accidents she’s been in over the last few years, while simultaneously shedding her tweed coat and flat cap. Serious subject matter aside, her smile is warm and unrehearsed, and the entire crew is immediately put at ease—myself included.

This is her first photoshoot in years; not that you’d know it. Fame is not something Laura seeks—instead, she sees it as an occupational hazard. ‘I've tried to avoid the spotlight where possible. I just don’t like the way it feels. It’s a catch-22; you need to make yourself more visible to land more interesting work, but the more high-profile jobs require more press obligations, which always makes me feel self-conscious. And why would I want to do that to myself?’

Why indeed. That said, there’s no denying Laura’s star quality. Having cut her teeth on the likes ofCasualty and Taggart, practically a rite of passage for Brit actors on the up, she went on to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Man in the Iron Mask, the late Heath Ledger in A Knight’s Tale, and Sir Anthony Hopkins in Titus.

Most recently, her brilliant performance as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle in Breaking Bad and subsequent series Better Call Saul has undoubtedly won her a whole new legion of fans, once again putting Laura in the position of being a reluctant star. With an equally impressive stint on the cult show, The Missing, and a pivotal role in the new Scottish thriller series, Traces, while she may not be willing to play the fame game, Laura’s endearing on-screen presence and palpable talent ensure she remains very much in-demand. But she’s the first to admit that not all of her projects necessarily go to plan. ‘I don’t enjoy every job. Sometimes dynamics just don’t work—that’s the way it goes.’ This is refreshing to hear, particularly in an age where toxic comparison and blatant bragging runs rife. ‘I suppose I just try and work as little as possible,’ she laughs. ‘When you’re going to another country and working with a crew you've never worked with before, it can be incredibly scary, and take a long time to settle in. It’s not all fun and games.’

So, what was it that initially drew the fame-shy Laura to the acting profession? Unlike some of her counterparts, who crave exposure, Laura reveals it was the need to connect with herself that made her take to the boards. ‘I was at war with my emotions. Like many families, we didn’t speak about the stuff that mattered. I was drawn to acting as it allowed me to recognise and explore many emotions I hadn’t allowed myself to feel before.’ The more in touch with her emotions she became, however, the more she’d have to overcome.

Rejection is part of being an actor but Laura admits it's something she struggled and, to an extent, still struggles with. ‘I never overcome it; the difference is now, I allow myself to feel it. I know that it’s never really personal, but it’s still something that’s happening to you. You feel it inside. Itdoesn’t mean you’re not good enough. When I was younger, I supposed I looked at it a bit more harshly and took it to mean, “well, they must think I’m shit”, or “I’m not famous enough”. I’ve learnt, though, that often it isn’t personal. Now, I acknowledge the rejection, allow myself to feel it, and get through it.’

Laura, however, is not easy going—not by a long shot. ’It would be lovely to be a person who can take things lightly. Breezy, I’d love to be breezy. It’s a running joke in my family—my husband and my daughter will sarcastically say, “mum’s easy-breezy”. I am definitely not.’

It was five years ago when Laura decided it was time to reclaim her Scottish roots and move her family back to her native Glasgow. After years spent living close to New York City, was it the right decision? ‘Oh, absolutely’, Laura confides. ‘I’m so happy to be back. I was a bit worried that my husband [Dublin-born actor and writer Karl Geary] wasn’t going to like the change, but this has been the best place we’ve ever lived. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to get out, but we’re so lucky—we have so many things here, and I truly appreciate them now. The architecture, the landscapes, the healthcare! But especially the people. Your daily interactions with people feel so different here—I don’t think I’ll ever tire of them.’

It’s evident that Laura’s 14-year-old daughter, Lila, is her world. When I asked if she deliberately chooses strong female roles with meat to their bones in the hope of one-day inspiring her, Laura is quick to reveal what she would prefer her daughter to be inspired by. ‘It would be a bonus if I thought I could inspire her in some way, but ultimately it’s more inspiring to see someone doing what they truly want to do, for them, whatever that may be. I find that very admirable.’

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the world of film and television is at a tipping point and, whether she realises it or not, Laura is at the centre of this much-needed change. The work ethic and strength of conviction she and other headstrong women in the industry share are causing a ripple effect. Her latest project, the aforementioned Traces, is a testament to this. In the series, which airs January 4th 2021, she plays Sarah Gordon, a Professor of Chemistry, who helps a young lab assistant work to bring a killer to justice. Women are being given roles of higher grit and intellect than ever before, but that’s not the only shift Laura’s seen of late. ‘It’s only recently that things have started to change.Traces was created by an all-female production crew, which was incredibly inspiring. It’s much like coming into this room, with an all-female team; you feel immediately comfortable. When we were filming Traces, I appreciated feeling so comfortable. It certainly doesn’t have to be all-female all of the time, but it does need to be 50/50. Molly Windsor, who plays the show’s protagonist, she told me that she’s only ever worked with female directors and predominantly female crews. She’s 22, but I thought “that’s brilliant!”, and a sign of amazing things to come.’

Finally, it seems doors are opening for women—and that’s true for Laura, too. Next year will see her realise one of her greatest ambitions; to sit in the director's chair, bringing a screenplay she has written to life. ‘I've always wanted to direct; I got to direct a 12-minute short last year, which allowed me to do so within a supportive environment. But I am so excited to work on my screenplay and then direct it.’

True to form, Laura’s vision is anything but feeble. Her film, set against a post-apocalyptic future, will explore food shortages and ultra-violence, all on Scot soil. ‘How I’m going to do this on a low budget, I still don’t know,’ she self-queries. We, on the other hand, do not doubt that she’ll make it happen.

As our day draws to a close, donning her flat cap and tweed coat, she politely declines our offer of a car, instead opting to walk to and take the train back to Glasgow. To say Laura isn’t your typical Hollywood star is an understatement—of the greatest kind.