Line of Duty’s Rochenda Sandall and Stephen Graham decided their characters would not be romantically involved in the show – because sex storylines are “boring”.
The fifth series of the BBC One drama, which ended on Sunday, has gripped viewers watching the work of anti-corruption unit AC-12.
Sandall joined the cast in the latest series of the Jed Mercurio police procedural as Lisa McQueen, a member of an organised crime group, alongside Graham as undercover officer John Corbett.
On playing a strong female lead, Sandall told the Press Association: “It’s really important for me, the character itself is a very rare gem of a character.
“Women don’t often get to play those parts, and if they do there’s some kind of sex involved or sexual allure about the character.
“Lisa didn’t have that. I think there was one line where Miroslav says ‘are them two shagging or what?’, but me and Stephen decided that that would be nothing to do with it at all.
“And that it was a friendship and an admiration and an adoration of power and leadership.
“The power play between the two of us, of who’s actually in charge, was fascinating to play, because it’s never obvious. When we killed him off, people were massively surprised by the fact that Lisa had okayed that.”
Sandall continued: “We talked about (a relationship) and we said no, it cannot be that way.
“He loves his wife and that’s evidently clear to the text, so to make it about sex would have been rubbish.
“It was always on the cards that sex wasn’t a thing because sex is really boring. Everybody does it, we’ll leave it to Game of Thrones – they seem quite good at that.”
The actress, who also starred in Charlie Brooker’s interactive film Bandersnatch, said it was amazing to work with Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar and Martin Compston for the popular drama.
The broadcaster confirmed the show will return for a sixth series but is yet to announce which cast members will feature in any forthcoming series.
Sandall said she would jump at the chance to work with Mercurio again, whether it be on Line of Duty or any other project.
“People have asked me before if Jed has another project would you work with him and the clear answer is yes, because his text is so great,” she said.
“It’s strange when you read another text after you’ve been in such a fantastic text, you can see the holes in the structure.
“You take it for granted, I guess, but his text is so secure and so brilliantly complex, that it’s an absolute joy to work on.
“So, if there’s anything else, I’d be like, yes, I’ll take any size part, please, please have me.”