The Lords and Ladies of Downton have returned.
Ushering in a new year and a new era on screen, Julian Fellowes‘ acclaimed drama series has graduated from six television series, to now two acclaimed filmic continuations.
To coincide with the anticipated release of Downton Abbey: A New Era (you can read our review here), which sees Violet Crawley’s scandalous past bring about a trip to the South of France, as well as a film crew seek out Downton for their own movie-making agenda, Peter Gray spoke with the cast and crew – including creator Fellowes, director Simon Curtis, producers Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge, and cast members Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Penelope Wilton, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Dominic West, Sophie McShera, and Robert James–Collier – about returning to their familiar hunting ground, welcoming new players into fray, and how a classic Hitchcock thriller served as narrative inspiration.
Let’s get the obvious question out of the way. How did it feel coming back?
Penelope Wilton: Oh, it was wonderful coming back. Especially to come back after we had all been in lockdown. We felt very lucky to be working again. Also, to see other people! We got a bit hysterical seeing one another.
Hugh Bonneville: I think, just to add to that, we all felt very privileged to be working when so many weren’t. We had done this show for so long that if not us taking it for granted, we at least wore it like a pair of comfortable slippers. We knew how the cogs turned, but this time it felt very different. Coming out of such a horrible experience, to have this form of escape entertainment, it was something we felt very conscious of.
Elizabeth McGovern: It’s this type of extraordinary thing that you’re only able to appreciate when you’re in a series that runs as long as Downton Abbey. We go through things together as a group, and grow together, and become wiser together, (so) when you finally come to act with each other it’s all there. You don’t have to work for it. You can’t fake it.
For Hugh, you’re the newcomer here, how was the experience of filming for you?
Hugh Dancy: It was great, from start to finish. I didn’t know what it was going to be like, because everyone had been doing it for so long now, and I knew they’d be a tight-knit group. I was welcomed with open arms. It was very easy.
It really does look like one big happy family, is it like coming home, in a way?
Michelle Dockery: It always does. It’s so lovely. It’s been 12 years now since we started the show, so it’s a great feeling to come back together, but also exciting to have new cast come in and shift the energy a bit.
Joanne Froggatt: It does feel warm and wonderful. To be able to come back and do one movie was one thing, but to do two was just incredible. As they’ve said, we’ve known each other and worked on-and-off for 12 years, so we are a big family and we have a ridiculous amount of fun.
And Laura and Dominic, you’re similarly new to Downton here. Were you fans of the series and how was it to be on set?
Laura Haddock: I was a fan of the series, so when I got the job I was like “Oh God!”. When I read the script I remember thinking I was really ruining it for myself if I didn’t get it. It was just the best set to be welcomed on to. They know each other so well, and they’re all really funny, and silly, and mischievous. It was great.
Dominic West: I was totally terrified. It’s so iconic. You come over the hill and see the castle, which I didn’t think was real, and you walk in and see the whole cast! My first scene was with most of the family. I was terrified. I couldn’t get my lines out, I was blushing…it was quite frightening. I hadn’t experienced that before. But, as Laura said, they all know each other and they quickly relax you.
Laura Haddock: I remember Hugh telling me that this is one of the easiest sets, Julian Fellowers (the creator) is really easy-going and if you ever want to ad-lib a little bit, you can, he’s really encouraging of that. I was sitting next to Hugh at a dinner scene and I was thinking “This doesn’t sound quite right, but if Hugh Bonneville is saying it…”, so the next take I added my own line in and then I heard “Cut!”, and it quickly dawned on me that this is not the set to do that (laughs). Hugh’s an absolute joker! So naughty.
Sophie, your character is quite enamoured with Laura’s (Myrna Dalgleish). Are there any actresses that you have personally looked up to in your career?
Sophie McShera: Oh my gosh. Loads! I feel so lucky to have done Downton because I’ve had this amazing education from these incredible actresses, who are then mentors and friends. All these amazing women who I still get to learn from. Maggie (Smith), Phyllis (Logan), Imelda (Staunton)…it’s just incredible. I’m inspired by (this) lot the most.
Looking back to where the characters began on their journey on Downton, could you envisage them being how they are now?
Sophie McShera: No. My character’s thing was just getting through the day and not being punched by Mrs. Patmore (laughs), so I didn’t envisage much more for her. It was so scary everyday for Daisy, so it’s amazing to have this journey.
Robert James-Collier: Well, I was told I’d be either sacked or arrested at the end of series 1. I was told it’s a great part, but the only downside is that (my character) leaves at the end, but Liz Trubridge, the producer, she said that Julian (Fellowes) really liked what I was doing and asked if I wanted to stay on, and I was like “Yes please!” So, to be talking 6 series and 10 years later? Couldn’t envisage at all.
Julian, as the creator of the film, how does it feel to finally have the film released? How’s that journey been for you?
Julian Fellowes: It’s been quite bumpy. Because of the difficulties of COVID, we didn’t know if we could go to France and if we could do this or that, but I was always quite optimistic. It felt fun to be getting back together. We had them (the characters) leaving, for once. We wanted to make a very strong statement about the twentieth century arriving, and we had the idea about the film (within a film) and everything, so I feel quite bouncy about it. I hope people like it.
On the subject of the characters leaving for France, Liz, how did you go about finding that absolutely beautiful location?
Liz Trubridge: Well, to be honest, we had a tiny window in June of 2020, I think it was, where the production designer, the location manager and I all went to have a look, and the one (villa) we picked was the first one we saw. We all walked in and thought “Well, it has to be here”, we couldn’t better it. It was perfect in so many ways.
Julian Fellowes: That’s the Downton way, really. When Gareth and I went looking for houses (for the show) we looked at about 17,000 houses (laughs) and we woke up one morning and went back to (the first one).
Simon Curtis: But, on the other hand, we had to look for UK locations in case we couldn’t go (to France). There was one moment I was looking at a pond in Gunnersbury Park in Ealing (West London) and I had the producers trying to persuade me this looks like the French riviera.
Simon, congratulations on your work here. How was it to work on this film and be a part of such an institution?
Simon Curtis: I’ve always loved the show, and I think it’s just the greatest ensemble. I admire Julian. And when I heard there’d be a trip to the south of France…that was the clincher (laughs).
And Gareth, the story of the film within a film has a connection to your family, doesn’t it?
Gareth Neame: My grandfather, in 1928 as a very young man, worked on Alfred Hitchcock’s film Blackmail. That was really the inspiration for this movie, because Blackmail started out as a silent movie, and whilst they were making it The Jazz Singer, the first talking picture, was released. Hitchcock and his producers realised they were behind the curve, so when their film came out they knew they’d be yesterday’s news. Hitchcock stopped production and inserted dialogue half-way through, and that was absolutely the inspiration for this story.
The character of Myrna Dalgleish, and this is exactly what happened on Blackmail, (is based on) the original actress (of Blackmail) who was Hungarian, and when she was asked to speak her dialogue no one could understand what she was saying. Another actress was brought in to read her lines, in the exact way we’ve portrayed her.
Julian, were the stories explored in this film ever narratives you pondered exploring throughout the show? Was it a brand new idea or originate from something you thought previously?
Julian Fellowes: I think the main stories were thought of for this film. We had a strong agenda about making a statement about the twentieth century and, as we said, Gareth had very strong ideas about getting them out of England, so those ideas coalesced to become the film. As for the lesser stories, to a certain extent you’re just going along chatting with people you know pretty well at this stage. We’ve known these characters for about a dozen years, so these stories evolve quite naturally.
Downton Abbey: A New Era is now screening in Australian theatres.
