Poldark’s little secret

Aidan Turner, the actor who plays Ross Poldark in the BBC series shortly to return to our screens on Sunday evenings, has revealed one of the tricks of the cinematic trade. Not content with showing off his impressive shirtless physique while scything the corn, or emerging from the frigid Cornish sea in a recent publicity shot, he has also sought to give the impression of being bigger than he is. This has been achieved by the simple expedient of selecting a smaller horse. There is a long and noble tradition of vertically challenged actors (not that this is true of Mr Turner) relying on a boost from directors. Shelley Winters claimed she had to stand in a ditch while facing Alan Ladd. In Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart sat on cushions next to the taller Ingrid Bergman. They could have had a smaller piano.