Kate Phillips – Downton Abbey

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) You can currently be seen in the new Downton Abbey Were you a fan of the show before becoming a part of the film?

A) A huge fan. “Downton Abbey” was and is such a phenomenon. I loved sitting down to watch it every week and getting lost in the world of it all.

Q) What was your audition process like for Princess Mary?

A) It was relatively straightforward. The casting director, Jill Trevellick, brought me in to meet the director and producer. Before the meeting I felt I really connected to the part, so I was excited to go in and show them what I could do…Fortunately, they liked what I did.

Q) What kind of research did you have to prepare to depict Princess Mary?

A) We were lucky enough to have the support and guidance of etiquette coach Alistair Bruce. He knows everything there is to know about the royal family. He talked in detail about their position in society and of their very particular duty-bound outlook. Alistair was very strict about how I might sit and stand. These very ridged rules were so helpful when it came to embodying her. It helped me discover this very held exterior but with a wealth of emotion underneath.

Q) Were you looking forward to sharing a scene with anyone in particular from the cast?

A) I was really excited about my scene with the women – Michelle [Dockery], Laura [Carmichael] and Elizabeth [McGovern]. I was essentially having the cast of Downton over for tea…dressed as a Princess. It was very surreal.

Q) What was your first impression when walking into the famed home?

A) It was a real “pinch me” moment. Walking up over the lawns as I approached Highclere Castle on my first day of filming was crazy. It’s become such an iconic image, so to be able to see it and be about to step into that world felt very epic.

Q) What does it mean to you to be a part of this iconic series?

A) It’s feels like a very special thing. The film is a real celebration of the TV series and getting to share in that is really wonderful.

Q) We’re also seeing you in the much-loved series “Peaky Blinders.” Tell us a bit about your character Linda?

A) Linda joined the “Peaky” family as a devout Quaker, her quest being to save Arthur (Paul Anderson) and to give him the strength to change his lifestyle of substance abuse and violence. But the strength of the Shelby family was too great and over the series she has fallen to the dark side, swapping out her Christian values for drugs and alcohol. Her turmoil has been great this year as she struggles to regain a sense of semblance.

Q) What keeps challenging you about portraying her?

A) She’s so changeable, you never know how she is going to react in any given situation. She is still very much an enigma and an outsider – in that respect she keeps me on my toes. It’s a real gift to play a part that’s so varied and complex. I have Steven to thank for that.

Q) What has it been like working with co-star Cillian Murphy?

A) He’s an amazing guy and a real professional. It’s wonderful getting to watch him work. He’s a true talent and sets the bar high for the rest of us. I love the dynamic between Tommy (Cillian Murphy) and Linda so I hope we get more scenes together in the future.

Q) What do you think it is about this series that continues to make it such a fan favorite?

A) It’s incredible how this show has captured people’s imaginations. I think it’s a combination of things; Steven’s [Knight] scripts are brilliant and the story lines keep viewers hooked. People love a period drama, but “Peaky Blinders” is unusual in that it follows the journey of the working-class hero. You can’t help but root for Tommy despite his choices being morally questionable. I think there’s something thrilling in that. Tonally, it’s also doing something different to others shows. From the costume and hair to the soundtrack, the show has become almost iconic in in style. It’s this aesthetic that people can join in with.

Q) What other projects have you been working on?

A) I’ve just wrapped on a project called “Miss Scarlet and the Duke.” A new TV series by A and E that will air on PBS in the new year. It’s a detective show set in Victorian London that follows a young woman, Eliza Scarlet, trying to establish herself as a respected female detective. It’s wonderfully punchy and witty. I can’t wait for people to see it.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the work you do?

A) Thanks a lot!!! It’s not something I’d ever thought I’d get to appreciate. I’m very lucky to have been in shows that people have loved. It makes the job even more fun knowing there’ll be people to celebrate it with when it’s out. It’s really why you make the work at all, so it’s very rewarding knowing it’ll be received well at the end of it.