Over-the-top fashion, drinking, craziness: the gospel according to Absolutely Fabulous The Movie

Over-the-top fashion, drinking, craziness: Melissa Hoyer talks the gospel according to the Ab Fab cast.

EVEN five minutes with the stars of Absolutely Fabulous The Movie — on the conveyor belt that is called a film junket — gives you a taste of the camaraderie and friendship between Joanne Lumley and writer and follow star Jennifer Saunders.

The pair also let slip another film could be on the way. In fact, both Joanne and Jennifer would be very keen to be back for the movie sequel.

“I can imagine it,’’ says writer and star Jennifer.

“I am imagining someone else writing it. That would be nice!”

And yes, the pair could see their filmic alter-egos Patsy Stone and Edwina Monsoon fitting into the Australian social landscape, very, very well.

“You’re all very forthright and don’t pull any punches,’’ says Jennifer.

“It’s quite nice I think. I think British people often couch things in a different way and pretend. Australians are sane. I like that.”

Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders arrive ahead of the Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Australian premiere in Sydney. Picture Scott Ehler

“I think I would live here,” chimes in Joanna (or is that Patsy talking?)

“Snap out of it,” Jennifer interjects.

“I think Patsy and Edwina would morph into the Aussie landscape very well. They’d fit in,” adds Jennifer. “It looks like normal behaviour for them. They wouldn’t ruffle any feathers over here.”

Writing the movie of the series that gave us 39 episodes, over five seasons was no easy task.

“It is a huge pressure because you don’t want to let the series down,” says writer, Jennifer Saunders, who also plays overwrought fashion publicist Patsy Stone.

“Because we love the series too, I was quite conscious of making it for fans and put in quite a few jokes that they would recognise.

“It’s also got to travel at a pace.”

Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders on the Aussie red carpet at the Absolutely Fabulous The Movie Australian premiere in Sydney. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Special guests appearances are everywhere from Jerry Hall to Lulu, Emma Bunton, Rebel Wilson, Graham Norton, (the voice) of Kylie Minogue, John Hamm, Joan Collins, Kathy Lette, Dawn French, Cara Delevigne, Jean Paul Gaultier, Perez Hilton and even Barry Humphries.

“It’s so sad,’’ smiles Joanna, of her meeting up with Barry, who plays a moneyed, porn film maker from the 60s named Charlie in the film.

“In her mind Patsy remembers this awful porn baron and the terrible sad films she’d done like Boobarella she actually gets knocked back (by Charlie) in the film. That’s unheard of.”

“Barry dressed as him is one of the worst things I have ever had to walk up to ever,” says Jennifer.

But think of Barry dressed as Les Patterson and you get the picture: “Gawd, you have to sit six rows back otherwise you would get spat on when you see Les Patterson!”

As to what the heart of the series and film show is really about, the answer may surprise you.

“It is a show about a family, it’s about a family, basically,’’ says Jennifer.

“It’s a show about a mad woman who drinks, takes drugs and is encouraged by her friend and whose daughter has had to take all the responsibility.

“She is pulled by her daughter one way and is pulled by Patsy the other way.

“It’s not really about fashion,” adds Jennifer.

Dynamic double act: Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders arrive ahead of the Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Australian premiere in Sydney. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“Sure, she works in fashion PR and always looks ridiculous. She always wear clothes too small. It is really about a person who has never really found herself.”

Both the stars loved working with Kate Moss, who basically plays herself in the movie, and who is accidentally pushed over a balcony by Patsy. Kate is presumed dead and Patsy and Eddie are on the run from a potential criminal charge.

Presumed dead. Kate Moss as she appears in a scene from the film, Absolutely Fabulous The Movie. Picture: David Appleby/Fox Searchlight Pictures

“She is just gorgeous,” the pair echo about working with Kate.

“She is a sweetheart. She is a proper professional and as someone who has been at the top of her game for so long knows how to work hard,’’ says Joanna.

“She arrives scrubbed like a teenager and she was so nervous and she didn’t want to rehearse too long and she turned up, she knew her lines and was such a professional.

“We love her.”

Follow Melissa on Twitter and Instagram @melissahoyer

Absolutely Fabulous opens on August 4 in Australia

Joanna Lumley at the Absolutely Fabulous The Movie Australian premiere at State Theatre in Sydney. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Originally published as Over-the-top fashion, drinking, craziness: the gospel according to Absolutely Fabulous The Movie