Downton Abbey movie stars enjoy taking a step back into the past
Fans of TV series Downton Abbey have been looking forward to the movie which boasts a wonderful script, cast, and costumes. Two of its stars, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery, were excited to take a step back into the past to resurrect their roles.
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The delectable Downton Abbey is back on the big screen and the movie is a feast for the eyes and the soul, say two of its leading ladies.
Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery who play Cora, Countess of Grantham and daughter Lady Mary Crawley respectively, reckon a serving of the syrupy goodness that is Downton is the tonic we all need.
“It’s real escapism — it gives you a chance to switch off,” says Dockery.
“It’s like having a warm bath.”
“My theory is because the world we live in is so stressful and we feel there is nothing we can have faith in anymore, it’s an escape into a version of the past that seems so solid, in which everybody knew their role and where there was warmth and respect in the way that human beings treated one another,” says McGovern.
“It’s reassuring.”
It is a highly idealised version of the past — one where everyone is inherently good underneath — but it’s this element that McGovern thinks is Downton’s appeal.
“That is definitely something that is not of the Zeitgeist,” she says.
“When I look at movies and television programs people are responding to now there is a kind of nastiness to every character. It is what critics love and seems to mirror the way people feel about themselves, so it’s interesting that something like Downton Abbey strikes a chord.”
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It’s also, of course, incredibly glamorous and both women adored wearing their beautiful period costumes.
“Cora’s first line is, ‘If I know anything about royal visits we’ll never stop changing our clothes’ and she does not let her audience down,” McGovern says.
The movie is based around a royal visit and grand ball, which means even more lavish costumes than the TV series. Dockery says her favourite dress was her stunning blue ball gown.
“It was custom-made for us by (French design house) Fortuny,” she says.
She explains each character has their own colour palette of clothes and a lot of the costumes were vintage items found in Paris, then remade.
“You have this beautiful combination of old and new.”
But the clothes were so delicate, she could hardly move.
“I wore this black velvet cardigan and couldn’t really bend my arms or it would have ripped at the elbows, so it informs your posture,” she says.
Sadly, Dockery didn’t get to keep any of the clothes as they have gone into exhibitions, but the 37-year-old says Downton gave her a passion for fashion.
“I wasn’t that interested before, but it’s changed the way I look at clothes,” she says.
“Now I love fashion and have learnt a lot about what works for me and what doesn’t.”
Dockery and McGovern are in a London hotel suite ahead of the Downton Abbey premiere, with Dockery chic in a tan trouser suit from Sezane and McGovern relaxed in black sweater and jeans.
The camaraderie between the cast is clear.
“I love my character Mary. It was so wonderful going back to play her again,” Dockery says.
“We are all close outside of work — I see a lot of Allen (Leech, who plays Tom Branson) and Laura (Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith). It’s a rare thing to step back into something that you know so well and know the people so well, even the crew.
“It was very easy slipping back into it, it was like we never left.”
While almost all of the old favourites are back in the movie, there are some new faces. Lily James makes way for Tuppence Middleton and Imelda Staunton joins the family, but as always, it’s Dame Maggie Smith (left) who dominates the Crawley clan as the Dowager Duchess.
She’s also central to a moving scene with Dockery who says the Oscar-winning actor is even wittier in real life.
“It has been such a privilege to work with her for so many years and become close to her. That scene was very special and emotional,” she says.
“I was very close to my grandmother so that scene had a lot of depth and resonance to it. It is something I will never forget.”
And while on-screen Mary is gaining independence, McGovern says she’d never want to be Cora for real as she’s too restricted.
“I would be very, very frustrated if I was in Cora’s role in real life. It would drive me crazy,” she says.
“I am much more of a modern woman and have more expectations.”
Those expectations have seen the 58-year-old take her 40-year career into new directions, including forming rock band Sadie and the Hotheads and writing a script which she hopes to
get made.
Next, she stars in War of the Worlds with Gabriel Byrne.
“I suppose (the band) is breaking the rules and why shouldn’t I?” she says.
“I don’t know what will happen with that, but it really nourishes me. It’s my voice as opposed to being given a voice.”
As for Dockery, she is appearing in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen with Matthew McConaughey and TV series Defending Jacob with Chris Evans.
But what she really wants to do is dance.
“I would love to do a musical before I get to an age where I can’t kick my legs anymore,” she says.
As for Downton, something tells us we’ll be back.
“It depends on the reception,” Dockery says.
“But I would be very up for it.”
So would we.
* Downton Abbey is in cinemas now.
Originally published as Downton Abbey movie stars enjoy taking a step back into the past
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