Actress Recounts Terrifying Experience Portraying Notorious Killer Tracie Andrews

Actress Emma Rigby has spoken about the psychological toll of portraying Tracie Andrews, the woman convicted of the brutal 1996 murder of her fiancé, Lee Harvey. The upcoming Channel 5 drama, "Under Suspicion: Tracie Andrews - Lover, Liar, Killer," delves into the shocking crime that occurred nearly 30 years ago.

Rigby, 37, who previously starred in "Hollyoaks" and "Prisoners' Wives," said the intensity of embodying Andrews, a convicted murderer, led to sleepless nights and a pervasive sense of dread. "I couldn't sleep very well. I wasn't sleeping when we were shooting. I was kind of all consumed about her because she was such a complex character, I don't think I switched off much," Rigby told the Daily Mail. "I kept on continually reading about her, watching clips, listening to her voice, and trying to get into that zone."

Lee Harvey, 25, was stabbed 42 times with a pen knife by his fiancée, Tracie Andrews, after they stopped their car on a country lane near their home in Alvechurch, Worcestershire. Andrews initially fabricated a story about a road-rage attack involving two men. Her deception unraveled during a widely publicized press conference, where she appealed for the supposed attackers to come forward while sitting next to Harvey's grieving mother. Rigby noted the importance of portraying Andrews's detached demeanor during such moments. "The coldness, it was important, sometimes when you play a role you can bring a sense of connection to it and a love for the character, but for this I didn't have anything for her."

Rigby admitted to feeling genuine fear while filming the recreation of the murder scene. "As I was filming I was actually afraid and kept thinking about the horror that Lee had gone through that night, and when we shot the scene where Tracie attacks Lee, I remember shaking, there was so much adrenalin and I just couldn't stop thinking about poor Lee and how alone he must've felt," she stated. She emphasized the responsibility she felt in portraying a real-life killer, aiming to present Andrews's actions and their consequences without eliciting sympathy.

The production team, led by writer and director Grant Armour, researched the case extensively, consulting accounts from Lee Harvey's mother, Maureen, and Senior Investigating Officer Ian Johnston. While attempts to contact Andrews directly or speak with her mother were unsuccessful, Armour did connect with Lee's sister, Michelle. The team also worked to recreate the infamous press conference scene.

Tracie Andrews was charged with murder on December 19, 1996, and found guilty in July 1997, receiving a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years. She was released in 2011 after serving her minimum term. Since her release, she has changed her name multiple times, undergone cosmetic surgery, and remarried. The drama reportedly concludes with Andrews asserting to police that she was more famous than Princess Diana, a statement reflecting her perceived delusions of grandeur.

"Under Suspicion: Tracie Andrews - Lover, Liar, Killer," airs on Channel 5 on Wednesday at 9 p.m.