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. She has a vested interest in psychiatry and has worked on both Darwin and Keller wards mentored by Elliot Hope and Sacha Levy 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. 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 and Dominic Copeland and romances with Sebastian Coulter and Oliver Valentine, whom she later married.
The character's most prominent story has been the depiction of bipolar disorder. Zosia begins to drink excessively, use drugs and her behaviour becomes uncontrollable. Through her eventual diagnosis the show explored stigma attached to the illness and treatment involving lithium. The story has received acclaim from mental health charities and organisations. Arfwedson chose to leave the role in 2017, and made her departure in the nineteenth series and returned for one episode in the following series. Arfwedson agreed to reprise the role in 2018 for an extended guest stint and Zosia appeared across two months in 2019. She also made a cameo appearance in 2021. The character has been well received by critics. The Suns Colin Robertson branded her the "feisty junior doctor". A South Wales Echo journalist praised her integrity regarding patient care. However, 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. On 16 July 2013, it was announced that Arfwedson had been cast in Holby City and already began filming. The character was billed as a "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.Development
Characterisation
The actress created character traits inspired by people she knew. She also recognises aspects of her own personality in Zosia's persona. Zosia does not suffer fools and behaves in a "sexually voracious" manner. Arfwedson told Benita Adesuyan 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.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. 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.
Early career
Zosia spends time being mentored by Elliot Hope on Darwin ward. But she soon gets bossy and he tries to remove her from his ward. Zosia forms part of a new team on the hospital's Keller ward consisting of herself, Arthur Digby and Dominic Copeland. 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. The show developed Zosia and Dom into a "best friend" partnership. 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.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 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." 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." 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.
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. Zosia misdiagnoses Beth and Guy realises she has a brain aneurysm and tries to safe her life. However, an Inside Soap columnist reported that Zosia was only taking "baby steps" in her approach to repair their "damaged relationship". 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. 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.
Affair with 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. A reporter from the Grimsby Telegraph reported that the inclusion of patient Lindsey Kendal 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.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. The actress added " 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..."
The pair continue their affair in secret but it soon becomes problematic. Arfwedson told Katy Moon from Inside Soap that Jesse really understands Zosia. She is played as an "ice queen" yet she just "melts" in his presence. Jesse tries to distance himself from Zosia and she attempts to win him creating negative consequences for her. The actress detailed the scenes in which Zosia sneaks into an important neurological operation to be close to him. But Jesse cannot cope with her distraction and she kisses him. But the move causes "everything to blow up in her face". The episodes which aired in July feature Jesse ending his relationship with Zosia for good when she becomes too serious about their future. But when Guy finds out about their affair he punches Jesse and he leaves Holby City. Arfwedson assessed that Guy could not accept Zosia and Jesse because the latter "is such a player" and has been sleeping with his daughter.
Bipolar disorder
One of the characters most prominent stories has been her battle with Bipolar disorder. Holby City story producer Kate Hall said that the show decided to explore the storyline when they learned about mental health statistics in medical professions. Those working in the system do not report their illness out of fear of being perceived as weak. Hall described the character of Guy as an "eminent neurosurgeon" who has no time for psychiatry. Hall said it allowed writers to explore the issue of stigma against Zosia's illness from both a professional and familial point of view.The story begins on-screen when Zosia behaves recklessly following her break-up with Jesse. She treats a cancer patient who reminds her of her dead mother. The experience leaves Zosia upset and she turns to recreational drugs to "numb" her pain. She then has a "wild night out" with Dom and comes into work after. Arthur is shocked by their state and has to cover for them. Ostlere who plays Arthur told Katy Moon that Zosia and Dom should be reported to their seniors. But Arthur feels compromised because he cares about them. He added that his socially awkward character was not able to deal with Zosia's outlandish behaviour. Zosia begins to feel unwell, collapses and stops breathing. Arthur breaks hospital rules and steals drugs to revive Zosia. The actor explained that "he's afraid they'll get found out and will all be struck off". The trio make a pact to keep the incident a secret, but Arthur worries that it will happen to Zosia again because she is so "emotionally fragile". Arfwedson branded the scenes "very high octane and very exciting". She likened the entire episode to a "mini-movie" and where Zosia is sweaty, greasy haired and looks bad. The actress concluded that personally it was "terrifying" to watch.
Her behaviour continues, Arfwedson observed the character "spiral out of control" as she puts patients lives at risk, takes drugs and nearly burned down her flat. Zosia's mental state causes real concern for her father Guy. Zosia keeps a video diary where she discusses her thoughts and state of mind. He realises that she needs help and sends her to a rehab clinic. While there she is told that she has bipolar disorder but Guy refuses to believe it. Arfwedson stated that "mentally unstable" Zosia is "terrified of her ability to lose control, but she doesn't want to admit she's got this problem; that scares her more." She fears that her career is ruined and her dreams of being a psychiatrist herself will be unattainable. The actress added "It leaves her wondering: 'How can I understand other people, if I can't understand myself?'" When she is discharged he ignores a psychiatrist's advice that Zosia undergoes more intense treatment. Zosia insists that she is of sound mind to return to work. As the CEO, Guy is able to let her return and even invites her to work alongside him in the operating theatre. But while in there he notices that Zosia is still unwell. She behaves in a "frenzied and disruptive" manner and Guy struggles to concentrate on the procedure and has her removed from the theatre. The actress described her character as having "waves of clarity where she feels almost super-human and everything makes sense". But then she start talking really fast, no one can understand her and she cannot understand why. At this point Guy accepts that he has been in denial and Zosia is ill. He lets Zosia remain at the hospital under the agreement that she takes her medication to control the health.
Zosia begins to take a mood-stabilizing drug called Lithium and some that die from the illness refuse to take the drug. The actress explained that some real life patients with bipolar fear Lithium because they believe it changes their personality negatively. Zosia initially refused the treatment as she shared the same view of Lithium. Guy ensures she takes the medication and she obliges to keep her place at the hospital. Arfwedson wanted writers to write a more positive direction for Zosia following her diagnosis. She claimed "it's important for Holby to show that people with mental illness can be successful, can get help and that drugs aren't necessarily a bad thing."
Arfwedson found it "absolutely exhausting" to portray the condition. She admitted it was hard to get out of character because when she got home she would be learning lines for the following day. To avoid feeling manic herself, she would socialise, meditate and do yoga to forget about Zosia. The storyline had positive outcomes for viewers. People with the condition contacted the actress to credit her portrayal with saving their lives. Arfwedson said she found it "quite moving" to think she was making a difference in real life.