The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
MY MOTHERIN-LAW TOLD ME: DO NOT MESS THIS UP!
Dominic West tells Alex Green of family pressure over his performance in The Pursuit Of Love.
T he actor, who plays the patriarchal Uncle Matthew in the adaption of the 1945 novel by Nancy Mitford, said his mother-in-law had “very sternly” told him how much she loved the source material.
Set in Europe between the First and Second World Wars, the story follows the romantic adventures of Linda Radlett, played by Lily James, the secondoldest daughter of an upper-class family.
Dominic West plays James’ father, who he described as “so outrageous and so politically incorrect”.
He added: “His attitude to life is so not what most people think today in regards to political opinions; how to raise children, the role of women in society, they are all so backwards. I couldn’t really resist him as he’s so fun to play. Even in the 1930s he had unconventional views but he’s a softie behind it all.
“My mother-in-law very sternly told me how much she loved the books and told me not to mess it up.”
West, best known for roles in Les Miserables and The Wire, described Uncle Matthew as “this legendary figure” based on Mitford’s own father.
“He was an old school countryman,” he said. “Uncle Matthew hunts children and is quite a frightening patriarchal figure. Pretty much every scene I’m in I’m shouting at someone, but because he fought in the First World War he particularly hates the Germans. There’s an entrenching tool hung on the wall which reminds him of how he killed 10 Germans in a row. He regards everything foreign as unspeakable and cannot imagine why anyone would want to travel or leave England. He would not fare well in a world of gender equality and regards everyone with contempt. But there is a warm heart to him which is why he’s interesting.”
Emily Mortimer has written and directed the three-part series, which also stars Emily Beecham as Radlett’s best friend and cousin Fanny Logan.
West and Dolly Wells feature as Linda’s parents, while Fleabag star Andrew Scott features as Lord Merlin, the Radlett’s wealthy and eccentric neighbour.
Lily James said her grandmother had shaped her idea of feminism and that she often thought of her during filming.
She said: “It’s an honest exploration of female friendship. You see these two friends grow together, grow apart, come back together, have children, success, failures, heartache but they are united.
“There’s a great honour to have that friend that means the world to you and ultimately is your soulmate. It’s a celebration of female friendship.
“The book celebrates you making your own choices.
“My granny has shaped my idea of feminism. I thought about her a lot during filming as she is French, lived through the Second World War and moved to England, met my grandfather, stayed here, had a family.
“She’s a real matriarch of our family. I admire her and how she’s lived her life.”
Meanwhile, Emily Mortimer said it was initially “freaky” filming The Pursuit Of Love during the pandemic, but that she felt “blessed” to have a job. The Mary Poppins Returns star – who wrote, directed and acts in the series – said the production was a great distraction from Covid-19.
She said: “It’s had its pros and cons. It’s been quite bonding. Initially there was something exciting about being with a lot of people after not being with anyone for months on end.
“At first, it was freaky to be in rooms with people but it was a great feeling to be back at work, thinking about something other than the pandemic. I felt genuinely blessed to have a job.
“There is something about this story being set between the wars, at a time when life was very fragile and everyone was living like there was no tomorrow. Our generation hasn’t had that experience of life in such an intense way. I hope this cheers people up. It is about painful subjects but there’s an energy to it.”
Andrew Scott plays the wealthy and eccentric Lord Merlin in the BBC One period drama. He says he was excited at returning to work.
“Ironically I feel very safe on this set because you know everyone has been Covid tested,” he said. “The film crew did an incredible job every day; wearing masks all the time and as actors you have to make more of an effort as you can’t read people’s faces as you normally would. Everyone was so thrilled to be back working.”
The Pursuit Of Love starts on BBC One on May 9.