Jessica Brown Findlay is currently starring in the upcoming film "Winter's Tale" directed by Akiva Goldsman. The film tells the story of a burglar, Peter, who falls in love with an heiress, Beverly, as she dies in his arms. When he learns that he has the gift of reincarnation, he sets out to save her. Findlay is playing Beverly and the film marks her first major Hollywood film after having appeared in "Downton Abbey" and the independent film "Albatross."
Findlay had a chance to speak to Latinos Post about the experience of working on the film and the challenges of her role.
Latinos Post: How did you first get involved with the film?
Jessica Brown Findlay: Well, I read the script and was blown away by it because it was beautiful. I put myself on tape in London and did that a few times and very quickly was doing a screen test in L.A. And I was lucky enough to be picked to do it.
LP: When you were developing your character, did the novel influence any acting choices?
JBF: Whenever you're doing something that's based on a novel, in a script you'll have a scene but in a novel there is an entire chapter in that moment. There is a wealth of knowledge that you can always go back to and use and take from. But to be honest with you, Akiva's script was so brilliantly done and so rich with description that really after a certain point it was just all about the script.
LP: What were the biggest challenges of taking on the role of Beverly?
JBF: Despite Beverly's situation, making sure that life, joy came through and that warmth in the character was present all the way through. It was also about making sure that being in that situation, she was not feeling sorry for herself. Not that she would but she just defies all of that and achieves that bravery and light through the end.
LP: What was it like to work with Akiva Goldman on his directorial debut?
JBF: Akiva knows absolutely everything about the script and story and has poured his heart into it for so many years. So if you were ever on set and you had a question about anything, we were lucky enough to have our writer on set all the time. At the same time he left the script when it was done and then was very much in that director role when we were working on set. He has extraordinary energy and was incredibly generous.
LP: What was it like to work with Colin Farrell and how did you develop the chemistry with him?
JBF: It's wonderful to work with Colin. He's extraordinarily talented and very kind. We spent a few days before we started filming with Akiva. The three of us were talking through that relationship, which is good to have. But again it was all there on the page. So really it was just the case of bringing that to life in a very honest and simple way.
LP: Actors say costumes help them develop their characters. Was this the case with Michael Kaplan's lavish work?
JBF: You're right. Costumes really helped add to the character. It makes them feel real, you're in their clothes. It was incredible because we made the choice that she's always very warm with her consumption. Everyone else is in winter coats in thick wool and she's in light summer dresses and its very free flowing. And there were no corset or anything because that wouldn't make sense if you had consumption. So I felt very relaxed and comfortable in those clothes and it allowed Beverly to be free and to be able to express herself physically in the way that she does. That really aided that. It could have been very restrictive but it wasn't at all.
LP: Having been in "Downton Abbey" and now in "Winter's Tale," what attracts you to period pieces?
JBF: It always comes down to great stories, great storytelling and wonderful people. When I read this script it was all there and it excited me so much and it could be a really exciting challenge. You always want to be challenged and that's what drew me to it.
LP: Which scene did you enjoy filming the most?
JBF: My favorite scene to shoot was the ball scene. Colin and I had so much fun. It felt a bit like a party and there were so many people there and our set was incredible. And that was a real special moment.
LP: Having trained in ballet, did that help you learn the choreography for the Ballroom scene faster?
JBF: The choreography was traditional mixed with a quaky sort of waltz. But really even though I trained in ballet, it was kind of important that it was fun and that they stumbled, tripped up and laughed at what they were doing and it was not perfect because that's much more real. And it was much more honest because they don't care what they look like; they're just having fun. It was much more about the emotions of scene and the dances helped bring that out.
LP: What are you most excited for audiences to see?
JBF: I'm just waiting for audiences to fall into this story, which allows you to feel so many different emotions but be able to come out with a real sense of warm and fuzzy feelings.
LP: What are you most excited for 2014?
JBF: There are so many things. It's an exciting year. But I keep having to pinch myself every time I see a poster of "Winter's Tale." One night I went past one in the car with my friends and we all saw this big poster and that was an exciting moment. I never thought that would happen.