Rich decorations, historical intrigue, relationships between the nobles – those above – and their servants – those below – a trip to France and twists and turns, this new ‘Downton Abbey’ is breathtaking. Meeting Raquel Cassidy, who plays Phyllis Baxter, and Kevin Doyle, who portrays Joseph Molesley.
Filming of Downton Abbey: A New Era took place during the pandemic in the spring and summer of 2021, when all of Europe was locked in. “The health protocols, wearing the mask and losing weight when shooting, all of that took time. In a more intimate scene — and we have one together in the film — it definitely puts a barrier between you and the game. But compared to everyone else, we were very fortunate,” Raquel Cassidy said during an audio conference interview with agency QMI Memories commemorates the weeks between France and England when her character, who accompanies Phyllis Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and her husband (Hugh Bonneville) as they visit the south of France to take possession of a house owned by the Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith). was bequeathed. in 1928.
“We’ve also respected what we’ve done by being extremely careful not to take any chances in our personal lives.”
“I’m glad I wasn’t one of the producers. I think they had a lot more things to do than on a normal shoot. There was a lot of uncertainty, we didn’t know if actors would need to self-isolate due to COVID or if we would have access to the planned filming locations,” said Kevin Doyle, whose character Joseph Molesley lives with Lady Mary. (Michelle Dockery) in Downton and helps film a silent film that gets chatty during production.
Far from superheroes?
The two plots skilfully distill a mixture of nostalgia of bygone times and a sense of imminent upheaval.
“I don’t know about the nostalgia,” the actor replied. On the other hand, for Raquel Cassidy, “the nostalgia for that period certainly comes from the “magic” and the beauty of the places, be it the Downton house or the sumptuous estate on the French Riviera, not yet a tourist resort full of tourists that we know today.
Kevin Doyle liked that his character was involved in the production of the film, which was filmed at Downton Abbey. “It was fascinating to see how a film was made back then. It was so precarious…the fact of doing a silent film and then all of a sudden the audience just wanted talkies.”
As Raquel Cassidy points out, “The female characters are so strong.” As in the series, “The Dowager Countess is the strongest. With her money, Lady Cora saved the family with cunning and grace, and her strength grows in the film because of what lies ahead. Edith (Laura Carmichael) who wants to work and whose husband encourages her, Lady Mary… and I could go on.
Discretion, a quintessential English brand, explains, in the eyes of Raquel Cassidy, the success of what must now be called a film and television franchise…even if it’s years away from Marvel productions.
“Julian Fellowes [auteur du livre, producteur et scénariste] I’ve always wanted to show how characters react to the pressure they’re under. And they’re quietly heroic,” said Kevin Doyle.
“The appetite for superheroes is not felt by all categories of viewers. But the heroism is there, in the characters of Downton Abbey […] Mr. Molesley is very discreet… and just as heroic,” added the on-screen impersonator of their romance, who remembered the letter Phyllis writes to Joseph while in France.
Downton Abbey: A New Era hits theaters across Quebec on May 20.