The tale of two literary giants’ first meeting...
As Sky original drama Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse airs this Christmas, DANIELLE DE WOLFE discovers more from star Dawn French
NEW Sky original drama Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse is based on the moment a six-year-old Roald Dahl meets his writing hero Beatrix Potter.
The drama brings together stop-motion animation and live-action footage, with Dawn French, 63, stepping into the shoes of Beatrix, alongside famous faces including Jessica Hynes, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Nick Mohammed, Nina Sosanya and Bill Bailey.
We discover more about what to expect from star Dawn.
Can you tell us a bit about the Roald & Beatrix story?
BEATRIX POTTER is writing the tale about three blind mice and she’s wondering if anyone is taking her seriously; whether the publishers are just making money off her and don’t care what she writes.
She’s losing her eyesight and she’s wondering what her life has become. She’s resisting having to wear glasses, but she needs to be able to see for the pictures she’s drawing.
Then she meets Roald Dahl?
THE key moment is this little boy runs into her garden, and that is the six-year-old Roald Dahl, dressed in a very interesting little blue jacket, looking like Peter Rabbit.
His father has died, his sister has died, and he’s feeling very sad so he goes to visit Beatrix’s house.
From her point of view he’s just a pesky boy in her garden, one of many children that came and bothered her.
Do Roald and Beatrix find common ground?
THE beautiful thing about them is that they’re living parallel lives: they couldn’t be more different, really, at different stages. But there’s this beautiful moment where they come together which changes both of them in different ways.
Were you a fan of Beatrix Potter prior to this?
OH YES. I remember having Beatrix Potter books as a child and loving the pictures.
I had to revisit those distant memories when Jennifer and I played Porcas and Dorcas in a film called Little Pig Robinson (1990) which was adapted from a Beatrix Potter book.
We had to dress as pigs and yes, that did involve wearing prosthetics before you say anything cheeky, thank you!
How did you find filming under Covid-19 restrictions?
I HAD a very strange moment on set with Rob (Brydon) where we have to hug each other. It was very good because I hadn’t hugged people for so long.
Even my own husband is a key worker so we were being very careful with physical contact for those first few months. So to be hugging this other guy was so odd. It was in the script and we were all being tested so it was OK to do, and it felt wonderful because I hadn’t touched anybody for so long!
Watch Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse on Christmas Eve on Sky One at 8.15pm and on NOW TV.