Zosia March

Zosia March is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Camilla Arfwedson. She first appeared in the series fifteen episode "The Kick Inside", broadcast on 10 September 2013. Zosia arrives at Holby City hospital to start her first year of the Foundation Programme. Zosia has vested interest in psychiatry and has worked on both Darwin and Keller wards mentored by Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley) and Sacha Levy (Bob Barrett) respectively. She is characterised as a forthright, intelligent and unafraid to challenge the hospital hierarchy. The show soon introduced Zosia's estranged father, Guy Self (John Michie). They share a dysfunctional relationship following the death of her mother. Their feud jeopardises Zosia's career and on one occasion she is thrown off Keller following a rude confrontation. Other storylines revolve around close colleagues Arthur Digby (Rob Ostlere) and Dominic Copeland (David Ames).

The character has been well received by critics. The Sun's Colin Robertson branded her the "feisty junior doctor". A South Wales Echo journalist praised her integrity regarding patient care. But one Daily Post reviewer felt that Zosia and Guy's storyline became "far-fetched".

Casting

Camilla Arfwedson attended three auditions to secure the role. Firstly she auditioned for casting directors and then with producers. The third audition was carried out on set wearing scrubs and reciting medical dialogue. The actress was determined to get the part because the character breakdown was fascinating.^[1] On 16 July 2013, it was announced that Arfwedson had been cast in Holby City and already began filming. The character was billed as an "plain-speaking F1", while executive producer Oliver Kent said "there are already some very strong opinionated characters in Holby City but none quite like Zosia. Zosia isn’t afraid to tell it how it is so viewers can expect sparks to fly!" Arfwedson added that she was excited to see how Zosia would develop.^[2]

Development

Characterisation

The actress created character traits inspired by people she knew. She also recognises aspects of her own in personality in Zosia's persona. Zosia does not suffer fools and behaves in a "sexually voracious" manner. Arfwedson told Benita Adesuyan (Daily Express) that her character "likes to pin men down then discard them as she wishes. She’s very determined and ambitious, and she doesn’t really care about upsetting people.” Arfwedson rose to the challenge of portraying lengthy medical dialogue. She explained that because Zosia is "so bright and so good at what she does", she wanted Zosia to sound as convincing as possible when discussing patient cases.^[4]

With a cool and collected manner she does not suffer fools gladly. Arfwedson attributes a "no filter" complex - she does not think about what she says or how other perceive her. In turn this paints her as unfeeling, "very matter of fact" and obsessive about work.^[1] She appears almost "robotic" but that is a facade to conceal personal issues. The actress concluded that "I think she has little social awareness and avoids building relationships due to her past experiences." When she debuts on the wards of Holby City, Zosia wants everyone to know how "brilliant" she is.^[1]

Career

Zosia spends time being mentored by Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley) on Darwin ward. But she soon gets bossy and he tries to remove her from his ward.^[5] Zosia forms part of a new team on the hospital's Keller ward consisting of herself, Arthur Digby (Rob Ostlere) and Dominic Copeland (David Ames). Harper said that Arthur is left confused by Zosia. He added that he has to fight for his place more with Zosia and Dominic placed on the ward.^[6] The show developed Zosia and Dom into a "best friend" partnership.^[7] When Dominic creates a false story of how his mother died, Arthur decides to expose him as a liar. But the truth does not faze Zosia as she aspires to be a psychiatrist, Dominic being a sociopath only makes him more interesting.^[8]

The show's series producer Simon Harper announced that viewers would witness a "new side" to Zosia. The change comes following the arrival of Guy Self (John Michie) and it becomes clear that the "driven nature" is a family trait. Guy's arrival also makes Zosia's life unstable. Harper explained that "So far she's been very much in control and is very alpha for a junior doctor, but we're going to learn that there's more complexity and vulnerability behind the polished exterior."^[9] Michie labeled the relationship between Zosia and Guy "strange and dyfunctional". Following the death of Zosia's mother guy began drinking and had affairs. This distanced the pair and Guy chose to come to Holby City not only to help his career. Michie said "he wants to retrieve the love of his daughter". This task is made extremely difficult because "she blames him for everything thats wrong in her life."^[10] When Guy tries to make amends with Zosia she rejects him and makes it clear she only wants a professional relationship with him. But her animosity towards Guy begins to affect her career progression.^[11]

The pair do develop some level of respect. As seen in a storyline where they bond over the treatment of a patient named Beth Forbes (Lois Chimimba). Zosia misdiangoses Beth and Guy realises she has a brain aneurysm and tries to safe her life. However, an Inside Soap soap columnist reported that Zosia was only taking "baby steps" in her approach to repair their "damaged relationship".^[12] But Zosia's rude temperament soon gets her into trouble on the anniversary of her mother's death. Zosia is thrown off the Keller ward after confronting a patient's relative, Owen Saunders (Joe Claflin). She is then "hell-bent on drowning her sorrows". But Owen follows her to the bar and spikes her drink with GHB. Zosia is aware of is this and forces him to drink it causing him to fit.^[13]

Jesse Law

In April 2014, a new Consultant Anaesthetist Jesse Law is hired on Keller Ward. Jesse is an old friend of Guy's and is already acquainted with Zosia. Don Gilet who plays the character told Katy Moon from Inside Soap that Zosia calls him "Uncle Jesse" and this causes others to tease him.^[14] A reporter from the Grimsby Telegraph reported that the inclusion of patient Lindsey Kendal (Claire Sweeney) in Zosia's storyline would help develop a romance story with Jesse. Zosia is accused of not empathising with patients and is referred to as a "grumpy Kate Adie" on a feedback form. Jesse teases her over the event and suggests working on Lindsey's case to develop her rapport with patients.^[15]

Arfwedson told a What's on TV reporter that Zosia is fond of Jesse because of his history with Guy. A fondness that develops into a flirtation. Zosia is "terribly efficient" getting the job done which causes her failure to empathise. Her bossy attitude means people are "terrified" of her. But Jesse is the only character within the show able to tease and amuse her.^[16] The actress added "[he makes] her laugh and he doesn't give in to her demands, which is even more attractive to her." Zosia tries to deny the attraction but Dom helps esculate her feelings by passing judgement. Zosia decides to seduce Jesse following a series of flirtatious jibes. Afwedson explained "Zosia's a very predatory person - she's very animalistic in her approach and just pounces on Jesse with a kiss. But whether she's making a move on him out of genuine feelings or because of an agenda, who knows..."^[16]

Reception

Colin Robertson of The Sun branded Zosia a "feisty junior doctor".^[17] The Daily Express‍ '​ Adesuyan said that sweet is not a word anyone would use to describe the "forthright junior doctor" Zosia.^[4] Jamie Downham writing for Yahoo! said "super-smart junior doctor" who arrived on the Darwin ward with "in all her nightmarish glory".^[5] Trinity Mirror columnist Jane Simon said that Elliot had his hands full with Zosia and called her "way too clever for her own good".^[18] She also described her as "scarily confident, straight talking to the point of rudeness and not afraid to ask for what she wants."^[19] Simon later noted a rise in neurological and psychiatry stories following Zosia and Guy's introductions. She branded her a "wannabe psychiatrist" and "stroppy junior doctor" - a Daily Mirror reporter went with "straight-talking".^[20][21]

A writer from STV.tv said that they could not wait to watch Zosia learn the truth about her mother's death.^[22] But a writer from the Welsh Daily Post was not impressed. They quipped "these explanations are getting more far-fetched by the week. I'm just waiting for Guy to tell Zosia that her mother wasn't really her mother at all, but a secret agent working undercover for MI5."^[23] A writer from the South Wales Echo praised Zosia for making it clear where her loyalties lie regarding hospital policy. They also noted that she is willing to risk her reputation to wipe the "self-satisfied smile of Guy's face".^[24] A Daily Mirror writer noted that Zosia is ambitious but had "bitten off more than she can chew" when she tried to treat a vulnerable patient in need of psychiatric help.^[25] Inside Soap's Laura-Jayne Tyler was happy with Zosia and Jesse's romance. She believed that it served as a good opportunity to see Guy "get a taste of his own medicine".^[26]

References

External links

• Zosia March at BBC Online
• Zosia March at the Internet Movie Database