I think it’s quite a shocking film in many ways, especially in its portrayal of their poverty and the honesty with which it describes burgeoning sexuality. I hope that people will feel connected to those themes and not in any way distanced by the era in which it was written. I think that that would not be doing the novel justice.
How did the costumes and the set help you find this character?
The costumes aren’t something that massively influenced me because you do your entire rehearsal process, obviously, without those. They can be helpful when it comes to the physical side of what you do, but I don’t think that they dictate the choices that you make. The setting however did have quite an impact on me because we shot in some quite spectacular rural locations. The film has a sort of romantic dramatic element to it. I think that certainly the area and the countryside around South Wales was something that put me in the right frame of mind.
How hard was it to develop the sibling relationship with Rose Byrne?
Oh, not difficult at all. She’s brilliant. I think that we were good friends and I liked her a lot. She’s a lovely, very sensitive actress. That was one of the most enjoyable parts of the film, working with her.
Did you two immediately connect and know where you were going with your characters?
Yes, we pretty much got on right away. Both of us were quite clear. The script is a very detailed script. It’s very clear what is expected of both performances so it was nice from the word go, really, to know where we were going, and to play off of each other.
The moat scene looks like you're freezing. That must have been tough to film.
It was really hard, actually. It was October and obviously the moat was unheated. We had to do it a lot of times. It’s quite difficult to actually remember things like focus marks and notes given to you by the director and lines, and at the same time be so cold you can’t really remember your own name. But it looks good so I feel like it wasn’t all in vein.
You've got a couple of big films coming up, including "Vanity Fair" with Reese Witherspoon.
Yes, that’s shooting at the moment.
You play her best friend and it’s a period piece. Any worries about getting typecast in period pieces?
I’m not one of the people that signs up to the idea that because you’re wearing a costume, you’re somehow pigeonholed. It’s very important to play lots of different characters. I know a lot of actresses who play lots of roles in contemporary films, but play the same part over and over again. I think it’s unfair to criticize actors for making choices when they concentrate purely by chance on period films, when in fact they’re playing a wide range of characters, which believe I’ve always tried to do.
You're also starring in "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights." Has the resurgence of movie musicals paved the way for a film like "Havana Nights?"
I think it’s certainly helpful that people are more prepared to mix dialogue and music. I think that hopefully people are more open to that in films they’re watching at the moment.
***SPOILER ALERT - This question gives away a plot point in "I Capture the Castle" and should only be read after viewing the film or reading the book.***
Personally if you could extend the story, do you see Cassandra ever becoming romantically involved with either Stephen or Simon?
No, I don’t. I feel quite strongly that Cassandra closes that chapter at the end of the novel. She realizes that had she been truly, truly loved by either of those men it would have happened at that particular moment in time. She realizes she’s not, and she’s prepared to wait for someone to really fall in love with her because she’s such a wonderful character. She realizes at the end that that’s not such a distant prospect.
