PHYLLIS LOGAN
The 64-year-old actress, who played Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey, stars in Girlfriends (on Acorn TV from Mon., Feb. 24) as one of a trio of BFFs.
Why did Girlfriends interest you? What’s not to like? You’ve got these three women at the core of the drama. They have their squabbles, but they’re three great friends who look out for each other. You caught your breath every second page – “Oh no, that’s not happening!” – and it was funny. It was appealing on all fronts.
Did your character, Linda, stand out as the one you wanted to play?
All the parts were wonderful, but I fancied the challenge of being a woman who’s keeping this huge secret. You would think butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth and she has a bit of an airy-fairy demeanour, but there’s some grit there.
Was it refreshing to do something modern after Downton Abbey?
It really was. It was nice to not be Mrs Hughes in a corset. What do you think the chances of another Downton film are? It’s not been discounted entirely. We will probably be the last to know being actors. There’s a saying: actors are like mushrooms, we’re kept in the dark and occasionally thrown a pile of s--t. [Laughs] I’d love to do another one.
Next up, you’re in Misbehaviour about the first black Miss World in 1970.
I remember watching it at the time. It’s such an interesting story, and Keira [Knightley, who is in it] is such a nice girl. Girl! She’s a grown woman now, but I met her when she was 17 in Pirates of the Caribbean. My husband, [Kevin McNally], was a regular character in those.