SHAMING OF ROYAL WRONG, SAYS A VERY BRITISH SCANDAL STAR CLAIRE FOY
ITWASAVERY British Scandal – but dubbing its protagonist the “Dirty Duchess” is misogyny, says Claire Foy.
The actress, who also played the Queen inthe Crown, takes on the role of the Duchess of Argyll for tonight’s first episode of the BBC One drama.
Famed for her charisma, beauty and style, Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, dominated the front pages in a 1960s divorce featuring accusations of theft, violence, drugs, secret recording, bribery – and a very explicit photo.
She was accused of sleeping with 88 men, including film stars, royals and Cabinet members and was dubbed “The Dirty Duchess” by the media.
But Claire, 37, wants viewers to take a more enlightened approach.
She said: “Calling her the ‘Dirty Duchess’ is so misogynistic and I would like to think things have changed but I don’t think they have.”
She continued: “In this story, what
I’m keen on is how easily she fell in love and how she kept letters and mementos of her lovers.
“I think that was the romantic side of her and her sexuality was linked to that. But also in this story, no one should have the right to know that side of her. It’s no one’s business and it never was. It’s straight misogyny.”
Claire believes modern attitudes differ little from the 1960s. She said: “The law doesn’t treat women very well. She was an interesting woman and the more stories about interesting women, the better.”
Written by Sarah Phelps, the three-part drama series also features Paul Bettany as the Duke of Argyll.
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Avery British Scandal, BBC One, tonight, 9pm