The Pursuit of Love is such a celebration of life... it will be fun to watch
Lily James leads the cast of the BBC’s latest period drama. The actress and co-star Emily Beecham tell GEORGIA HUMPHREYS about their characters and what the audience can expect
DOWNTON Abbey star Lily James is playing another aristocrat – this time the wild, wayward and loveaddicted Linda Radlett in the BBC’s latest period drama.
The three-parter, The Pursuit of Love, is an adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s 1945 novel of the same name, set in the interwar years. Our heroine gallivants off to find true love, her hunt for a husband taking her from her Oxfordshire manor all the way to Paris.
Fleabag’s Hot Priest, Andrew Scott, is eccentric neighbour Lord Merlin, and The Affair star Dominic West plays strict patriach Uncle Matthew.
“This will be a wonderful show for people to watch, because it’s such a celebration of life,” says Lily, 32.
“And it’s so funny; there’s the satire and the wit and the honesty, and a bohemian lifestyle that I think is very provocative and intoxicating. It will be really fun for people to watch.”
Lily plays the fearless Linda, while
Emily Beecham takes on the role of her cousin, Fanny Logan, the narrator of the story.
Written and directed by actress Emily Mortimer – who also stars in the series as Fanny’s mother, The Bolter – the romantic comedydrama follows the misadventures and adventures of the two women who, consumed by a desire for love and marriage, are on the hunt for the ideal husband.
As the story progresses, Linda decides to follow her heart, to increasingly wild and outrageous places, while Fanny settles for a steady life – putting their dynamic friendship to the test.
Set in Europe between the world wars, social and political divisions split the nation, and the duo’s diverging choices raise personal questions that remain relevant today.
The show – which also stars Dracula’s Dolly Wells – is both moving and comical in its exploration of its timely themes: freedom, love and sex, and the mystery of the human heart.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! and Cinderella star Lily says everything about Linda feels “radical, because she lives life so honestly, and she’s unafraid”.
“She has all this passion and fire and energy, but no structure to put it into, because she wasn’t educated, and the restraints on women’s choices were so great,” she says.
“And yet, she still carves out this life following her own heart and making great sacrifices.
“The courage to be who she is feels radical, even now.
“It’s difficult to watch the story of Linda at times – when she abandons her daughter. That feels brave, radical storytelling in itself. You don’t see that portrayed [often].”
She hopes viewers will have “sympathy and empathy and understanding” for Linda’s choices.
“There’s even postnatal depression in this; there’s a lot of stuff that feels so deeply important and brave to tell.”
At its heart, The Pursuit of Love is a story about friendship and Emily Beecham, 36, who was born in Manchester, says of her character: “Fanny’s rather in love with Linda, as lots of people are.
“Her life becomes a lot more enhanced around Linda,” notes the star, who is best known for 2017 film Daphne, the Coen Brothers film Hail, Caesar! and US TV series Into The Badlands.
“She’s obsessed by Linda, who is her best friend.
“She comes across as an introvert; it’s her journey of finding her voice.
“It’s their pursuit of love and them trying to find their place, mark, passion and meaning of life.
“There are societal boundaries due to them being women but it’s so colourful.
“It’s brilliantly hysterical. Nancy Mitford had a sharp and wicked humour.”
Lily has been involved with making an adaptation of The Pursuit of Love a reality for a couple of years, because her agent had the rights to the book.
“It’s really special that it actually happened and I fell in love with the book. It’s the first time I’ve been involved in something since its genesis, and I adored it,” she says. “I’ve done quite a few adaptations of books and Emily’s adaptation is by far the best.
“She’s focused making it a story about two friends who are almost sisters and what it’s like to be a woman.”
Lily says the series is an honest exploration of female friendship.
“You see these two friends grow together, grow apart, come back together, have babies, 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 courage to be who she is feels radical, even now Lily James on her character, Linda
■ The Pursuit of Love starts on BBC1, tomorrow at 9pm