SOCIETY SCANDAL
PHILIP GLENISTER AND TAMSIN GREIG STAR IN A NEW PERIOD DRAMA…
IT’S INTERESTING HOW PEOPLE LIVE WITH LIES AND SECRETS” TAMSIN
Yearning for something to fill that Downton Abbey-shaped hole in your viewing life? This might do the trick: Downton creator Julian Fellowes is back with this new six-part miniseries set among the London upper classes in the 19th century.
The saga begins in 1815, as James Trenchard – a merchant who has risen through the ranks to become chief supplier to the Duke of Wellington – is thrilled to have his new-found status confirmed by an invitation to the Duchess of Richmond’s ball. It’s a night that’s set to change everything, not only because the Battle of Waterloo breaks out, but also there are personal consequences for the family, which will be felt 26 years down the line, when we rejoin the newly well-off clan as they move to upmarket Belgravia…
“James is a self-made man,” explains Philip Glenister, who plays him. “He started from humble beginnings, and has worked his way up to become a successful property dealer – and he’s enjoying the excesses that brings! Fortunately, his wife Anne is far more sensible and keeps him in check, but I suppose it’s the beginning of the nouveau riche, if you like – he’s keen to become a part of the high society.”
“I found the challenges of playing a woman when she’s 35, and also when she’s 60, intriguing,” reveals Tamsin Greig, who plays Anne. “Just to see what happens to a person – how different they are coming through a tragedy, as well as the extraordinary change of dynamic that happens because they shift socially.” While the passage of time has been good to the Trenchards, it’s also been tinged with great sadness after the death of their daughter Sophia in childbirth following her secret wedding to Lord Bellasis – who died in the battle. But the reappearance of Sophia’s now grown-up son Charles, and the doubts over the legitimacy of their marriage, rake up old wounds for the clan, who have had to keep Charles’ existence a secret from everyone – including
Lord Bellasis’ family.
“James is particularly a man of his time,” points out Philip. “In term of emotions, they’re pretty stunted – he doesn’t express them. But with Charles, the grandson, I think there is a guilt there, and a feeling that he must do everything in his power to protect the memory of Sophia.”
“It’s interesting how people live with lies and secrets,” muses Tamsin.
“But I think they’re both capable of hiding information. Anne’s described as ‘opaque’, which I think is a telling adjective; she’s had a lot going on. So it’s about how you live as you unpick the seams of that fabrication.”
Julian has adapted the series from his own novel, and Philip enjoyed having that extra mine of information to dip into…
“He writes in such nuance and detail – he doesn’t skip anything,” shares the actor. “It’s a subject he knows a lot about, and it’s nice to be taken on this journey by someone so knowledgeable!”