Donkeys and chaos? It’s just another day at the office for The Durrells star Daisy Waterstone

IF you are keen on following the advice of never working with animals or children, then The Durrells definitely isn’t the job for you.

But Daisy Waterstone, who plays daughter Margo in ITV’s hit series which is back tonight, insists she couldn’t be happier.

It’s shot on idyllic Corfu and Daisy says having that as a filming location is a dream.

“It can be boiling hot at times,” 23-year-old Daisy told iN10.

“I have to wear factor-50 and stay in the shade as much as I can because I’m so pale-skinned.

“But then you forget about the heat, look out at the sea and just think how amazing it is.

“It’s very nice having that as your ‘office’. The scenes can take longer with all the animals we use but if they won’t do what we want them to do, you just have to accept what they will do.

“You can’t force them, and you get used to the chaos on set. The donkeys get bored and walk off all the time and it wouldn’t be The Durrells without that chaos.”

Keeley Hawes is back once again as Louisa Durrell, mum of naturalist Gerald and widowed head of the somewhat batty family who set up home on the island in the 1930s.

It’s based on Gerald’s bestselling books and Daisy says she feels the TV adaption – it pulls in up to eight million viewers and this is now the third series – does them justice.

“I hadn’t even heard of the books,” admitted Daisy.

“So when I got the part I read the Corfu Trilogy to get a sense of Margo and I loved them. They hold a huge place in my heart.

“I’m a big reader and I know it can be upsetting to see something you’ve enjoyed destroyed by an adaptation.

“But a lot of people have told me how pleased they are happy with it.

“And as a new fan I think it is very true to the books.”

Daisy’s mum, Rosie Alison, is a film producer and dad is Tim Waterstone, the man behind the bookshop chain.

She insists the famous surname really hasn’t played a part in her acting career.

“It hasn’t been either a help or a hindrance,” says Daisy.

“My dad founded Waterstones and I’m very proud of him but it hasn’t had any impact on my acting.

“My mum wasn’t that keen on me becoming an actor when I was young but once she realised how much I wanted it she said I just had to do it.

“And my dad always said I would never be happy if I didn’t do this.

“He’s right – I honestly can’t remember a time I didn’t want to act.”

Margo is around 17 in this latest series and there’s a bit of a love affair in the offing, but playing someone who is many years younger is commonplace for Daisy.

Incredibly, she actually played a seven-year-old in a stage play just last year.

“Being taken for younger than I am is the story of my life,” smiles Daisy.

“I have to carry ID everywhere, especially as I’m a smoker and would never be able to buy my cigarettes.

“I like taking roles that are younger than me because I’ve already been that age so I can see it from that character’s perspective.”

Much as she likes the stories, Daisy admits she would have found the ’30s much too restrictive an era.

Being cast in a primetime network show has opened numerous doors for the chatty young actress who says she is being seen for other roles that would have seemed unattainable otherwise.

She’s taking the level-headed approach of just working hard and seeing what kind of parts come up.

But she says there’s one kind of role she can’t quite see herself playing – that of an action hero.

“I definitely won’t do an action thing because I’m very unathletic,” she adds.

“It would be horrendous. I can see myself trying to do it – and then panting!”

The Durrells, ITV, tonight, 8pm.