In Downton Abbey do you enjoy wearing the period dress as Sybil? It is such a huge part of the role, it’s so integral to the way that you get in touch with your character and relate back to them and you can’t help but to change the way you walk, sit, stand because a corset will do that.
That kind of period costume instantly takes you from a 21st century life to that period, it’s so helpful. I love that transformation, the physical, visual change is great. I really enjoy that.
читать дальшеDo you ever have any input in what Sybil wears?
It’s pretty much all down to the genius of Susannah Buxton the head costume designer.She’s so brilliant down to such small details that to the untrained eye might not matter or even be noticed but you do start notice. For instance, Sybil's shoes are always flatter and more comfortable than the other two girls because she’s more sensible and needs to be able to get around quickly and wants to, rather than the other girls who squeeze their toes into narrow shoes with higher heels. Mary is more fashionable and Sybil is less so.
Do you ever get dress envy? Is there a particular dress that one of your co-stars has worn?
I do think this year some of Michelle’s (Lady Mary) dresses are amazing but I can’t even begin to moan about dress envy because I come out saying: “Oh, this is so itchy.” And Jo Froggatt (who plays housemaid Anna) is always like: “Hello! I’ve worn the same two dresses for two years!” so I’m absolutely not in a position to complain.
Do you and the rest of the cast hang out backstage?
The three of us - the Crawley sisters - get on so well and we have such a laugh. When I look down at the schedule and realise there’s going to be three of us in a scene, I always think they’re going to have to add another 10 or 20 minutes because we’re going to be laughing. But when we’re all together, the whole cast enjoy each others company, it’s just fantastic fun.
Everyone gets on so well and it’s sort of a little theatre company feeling, it feels like that and it’s just so much fun.
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