Fackham Hall Stars On Laugh-Out-Loud Script & Forbidden Romance

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Actors Ben Radcliffe and Thomasin McKenzie were immediately impressed with the script for Fackham Hall, and were almost tempted to reveal the plot details. The film, written by comedian Jimmy Carr, his brother Patrick, and the Dawson Bros., playfully mocks traditional period dramas. It focuses on the wealthy Davenport family, whose lives are turned upside down when a family member is unexpectedly murdered.

Radcliffe and McKenzie star in Fackham Hall as Rose Davenport, the owner of the estate, and Eric Noone, a thief who unexpectedly gets hired there. As they become involved in the Davenport family’s chaotic life and a murder investigation, a secret romance develops between them, making the mystery even more complicated.

To celebrate the release of the film, ScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender spoke with Thomasin McKenzie and Ben Radcliffe about Fackham Hall. When asked what attracted them to the project, McKenzie jokingly said she was initially drawn in by “the script,” then praised its exceptional writing. She explained it was a script she found incredibly captivating and couldn’t stop reading.

They loved the script so much that they couldn’t help but share it with others. McKenzie felt compelled to tell his friend right as he was reading it, and Radcliffe even sent pictures of the script to his friends.

Ben Radcliffe: Not sure if I’d signed an NDA, and I totally shouldn’t say it, but I was doing that.

Thomasin McKenzie: You can say it now!

Yeah, it’s good. It was just really funny – I actually laughed out loud while reading it, which is something I don’t think has ever happened to me before.

Along with our interview, ScreenRant is excited to share a special clip from Fackham Hall. The video shows a sweet reunion between Rose (McKenzie) and Eric (Radcliffe) on Eric’s first day. He’s bringing tea to her room, and they chat about a funny novel she’s reading that parodies Fifty Shades of Grey, and the idea of forbidden romance, before being interrupted by another staff member. You can watch the clip below!

McKenzie & Radcliffe Had To Fully Commit To Their Scenes To Avoid Breaking Character

ScreenRant asked if the script was so funny that it was difficult to keep a straight face while filming, and how the actors prepared for delivering those comedic lines without breaking character.

Ben Radcliffe believes the key to their performance was complete dedication to their roles. They fully committed to becoming Eric and Rose, focusing on portraying the emotional truth of the scene even when the dialogue or events were absurd. They essentially had to forget they were actors saying and doing outlandish things.

I’ve noticed that lines I expect to be funny when reading a script often aren’t the ones that actually make me laugh during filming. It’s usually the little, unexpected moments that really get to me – things I might not have even noticed while first reading the script, but that really stand out when we’re shooting.

As a critic, I always find it fascinating watching scenes unfold on set. It’s rarely my performance that cracks me up, honestly – I’ve usually rehearsed my lines until they’re practically memorized! The real surprises, the genuine laughs, almost always come from another actor delivering a line in an unexpected way. There was a particularly brilliant last-minute addition during the scene where the inspector arrives – it turns the whole thing into a murder mystery, and his accusations are hilarious. I won’t spoil the joke, though – it’s too good! Let’s just say it really elevated the scene and leave it at that.

ScreenRant: I love the moment where you both agree Blackpool is the city of love.

Thomasin McKenzie: I have to ask you: As an American, did you get the joke?

I hadn’t realized that, but that’s what made it so amusing. The way it was presented clearly indicated it wasn’t Paris.

Ben Radcliffe: You’ve never been to Blackpool? You’ve got to go to Blackpool.

Thomasin McKenzie: It’s the most romantic city in the world! [Laughs] Clearly, it’s not.

I visited Blackpool a lot as a kid. They have donkey rides on the beach, a theme park, and it’s known for its rock candy. It’s a really famous place, but honestly, it’s not very romantic. It tends to rain a lot, though it can still be a fun trip.

ScreenRant asked Thomasin about her upcoming projects, noting she has another historical film, The Testament of Ann Lee, releasing soon. They expressed excitement for it and asked how filming that movie differed from her other period work, given its unusual setting and story.

It was surprisingly similar filming ‘Ann Lee’ to ‘Fackham Hall.’ I actually see a comedic side to the role of Ann Lee, mostly because the filming process was so funny. We’d often be shooting a really serious scene, but everything happening around us was completely ridiculous. It was a challenge to stay focused and take the material seriously with all that chaos and comedy going on in the background, much like with ‘Fackham Hall.’ The creative team and the entire cast were wonderful. The really crazy part is that I filmed both projects back-to-back – I finished ‘Ann Lee’ in Budapest and started ‘Fackham Hall’ just a week later!

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2025-12-05 19:01