‘The story hit me in a deeper way’

As a dedicated movie enthusiast with a soft spot for period dramas and a keen interest in the lives of actors off-screen, I found myself drawn to “Playing Nice” like a moth to a flame. Having followed Jessica Brown Findlay’s career since her days as Lady Sybil Crawley on Downton Abbey, it was both intriguing and heartwarming to learn about her real-life journey into motherhood and her return to acting postpartum.

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Recently, admirers of Lady Sybil Crawley might have thought she’d moved from the upper class to working below stairs due to Jessica Brown Findlay’s absence on our TV screens. In reality, the actress who played Lady Sybil in Downton Abbey has been occupied with a new role – one that is her most challenging yet – as the mother of twin babies.

Ever since November 2022, she’s found herself in a cozy environment she calls a “nappy bubble”. She explains that the previous year was spent at home with her boys, taking care of things leisurely. Due to the high-risk nature of carrying twins, she was unable to work after the first trimester.

When the opportunity arose for her to portray Lucy, a gifted artist married to Miles (James McArdle), who is an entrepreneur, in the production by Rabbit Track, it seemed as if destiny was guiding her. “I had been away from work for some time, so when I read this excellent script with such a talented cast, it left me speechless,” she reminisces. “I couldn’t get enough of the script. It felt like such a precious role to receive. Despite its dark undertones, it also seemed like the ideal return from maternity leave. I firmly believe that real-life experiences are the best teachers for an actor. So, being able to contribute my recent life experiences to this role felt providential.

She initially landed the role due to her past collaboration with James [Norton] in a short film. They continued their conversation for hours on a train ride back to London, and then went their separate ways. Over the years, they would encounter each other only occasionally. However, she eventually received an offer for this role.

Just as a new mother might feel apprehensive about returning to work, she was equally anxious. On her first day back, she wondered, “Will my mind function at the same pace again? After all, as a new mom, you’ve been constantly learning and adapting – yet in ways that are different from your professional life. However, after that initial day at work, realizing that everything was still there – not just the same knowledge, but even more – filled her with joy. She felt grateful for this opportunity and also for her partner who encouraged her, saying, “Go! Soar! We’ll manage. We’ll make it work.” That statement of support was crucial.

When we filmed those scenes, I had my post-baby bump

It appears that her real-life spouse, actor Ziggy Heath, is quite different from her on-screen husband, Miles, who is portrayed as a domineering and abusive man. In the storyline, they face an unexpected situation – their child was accidentally swapped at birth – and Miles responds by trying to exert control, particularly over his wife. Actress Brown Findlay skillfully depicts Lucy, a character who seems constantly on edge, as if anticipating an unseen blow. “Lucy is essentially good-hearted,” says Findlay, “but she doesn’t have much power in her life. There are strong societal norms about how she should look, behave, and act. On the surface, everything seems normal.

As the actual parent in this group of four, Brown Findlay likely experienced the intense narrative more personally. “It affected me more profoundly. This was my initial return to work after our twins were born. It might seem odd given the story’s theme, but I didn’t have a better time. The darker a tale, the more united you become. I had strong support during this project. In fact, my family and I all relocated to Cornwall together, which meant everyone was just a short drive from the set. That was fantastic because it allowed me to be close to my children while working, without having to take on roles that could potentially upset me.

The play provides a unique glimpse into the high-strung atmosphere of a neonatal unit, a setting that actress Brown Findlay personally knows well. “We spent 12 days in the NICU after our sons were born,” she recounts. “Our hospital stay extended beyond two weeks, from my labor until our discharge. When we filmed those scenes, our boys had recently celebrated their first birthday. As I stood there, I couldn’t help but reflect, ‘This time last year, I was here.’ I still carried the remnants of my post-pregnancy belly. Some of those emotions were still resonating within me, feeling so familiar yet overpowering.

She highly commends Kate Hewitt for her compassionate approach during their interactions. “Kate Hewitt, our director, was truly remarkable. As a mother herself, she would approach me with kindness and deep respect, subtly checking in without drawing attention or making it seem like a spectacle. It felt almost dreamlike. Yet, I believe that experience allowed me to empathize with the feelings of being a parent, and perhaps capture some of the unclear, intense, raw emotions that come with it.

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2024-12-23 16:38