Destined for Greatness
It looked like you had great chemistry with Richard Madden, your Prince Charming, on the red carpet at the film premiere. Did you become close on the set?
We did. He was cool. Because we both were entering this world together, and for both of us it was our first big film, we bonded on that. He's a really good man-he really was a real support-and also we just had fun right from the start. We became like mates. We have a similar sense of humor, I think.
Cate Blanchett played your stepmother and Helena Bonham Carter played your fairy godmother, too. How was it working with them?
To have scenes with actors like that makes you way better. All you have to do is respond because their characters are so deep and layered and colorful and rich, so in a way you just have to enter into their moment and share the moment, and when you look into their eyes, they're telling the truth. It was the most unique acting experience I've had. And Helena is so funny. Those scenes were such a hoot.
What about all those period costumes? They seem a little less free and more constricting. What are the best and worst parts about wearing those dresses and corsets?
The best, which outweighs everything else, was in that blue gown-I felt completely transformed. And that's what fairy tales are all about: transformation. When I put that dress on, I felt like I could be a princess. But then I'm glad that it only lasted a night! Or like, a movie-magic night. It was just so big, so heavy. With corsets, it's interesting when you put them on, realizing that's what women actually wore-that's what they wore every day, and they're just so constricting. I'm not surprised they ditched those corsets! In the blue dress it was particularly tight. On the one hand, it helps in the way you stand and the way you move, but on the other hand, it takes your breath right up into your chest. When I was trying to dance, I didn't have the capacity to breathe to support the physicality, and so I had to keep taking breaks and loosening the corset. But as I said, it was worth it.
You also wore a pretty remarkable dress for the wedding scene in Downton Abbey, which we in the U.S. have only recently seen. Will we see Lady Rose again in season 6 even though she left for America at the end of season 5?
I hope so. I really hope so. It's sort of down to what Julian writes-it's down to timing-but I'm pretty certain that that's not the end of Rose.
