Jessica Brown Findlay says Playing Nice reflects the “hazy, wild, visceral reality” of parenthood

As a cinephile with a penchant for period dramas and a soft spot for strong female characters, I have eagerly anticipated Jessica Brown Findlay‘s return to our screens since her departure from Downton Abbey. However, it wasn’t just her on-screen presence that was missed; as a fellow mother of twins, I found myself deeply moved by the personal journey she embarked upon in welcoming her own little bundles of joy into the world.

Recently, enthusiasts of Lady Sybil Crawley might find themselves questioning if she’s transitioned from an upstairs lifestyle to one downstairs, given Jessica Brown Findlay’s absence on our screens. However, it turns out that this talented actress from Downton Abbey has been engrossed in another challenging role – becoming the mother of twin babies, her most demanding task yet.

Ever since November 2022, she’s been immersed in what she calls a “nappy bubble”. In essence, she had spent the year at home taking care of her boys and doing small tasks. After her first trimester, due to being pregnant with twins and categorized as high risk, she was unable to work.

When offered the role of Lucy, a skilled artist married to Miles (James McArdle) in ITV’s Playing Nice, it seemed as if destiny had stepped in. “Being away from acting for a while, finding such a fantastic script with this talented cast left me absolutely astounded,” she reminisces. “I couldn’t get enough of the script.

Playing this role was such a precious opportunity. Though it’s quite challenging, it seemed like the ideal transition from maternity leave. I firmly believe that real-life experiences are crucial for acting, and being able to utilize my extensive personal experience made it feel serendipitous.

She initially landed the role due to her previous collaboration with James [Norton] in a short film. After that, they spent hours conversing on a train journey back to London, and subsequently went their separate ways. Over the years, they would cross paths occasionally, but not closely. Then, she received an offer for this particular role.

Returning to the big screen after a long break, I felt a tinge of apprehension. “On this opening night, I wondered if my creative juices could flow at the same pace as before. It’s true, during my hiatus, I’ve been growing and learning in ways that were quite different from my usual roles. But stepping back into character after that first performance, realizing that my skills and passion hadn’t diminished, but rather grown, was a truly exhilarating feeling. I felt blessed to be given this chance once more, and deeply grateful for my director who encouraged me with words like, ‘Go! Shine! We’ll handle the rest.’ Such support is invaluable.

It appears that Lucy’s real-life spouse, actor Ziggy Heath, contrasts starkly with her on-screen husband, Miles, who is portrayed as a domineering figure. In the challenging situation they face, having unknowingly raised the “wrong” child after a mix-up at birth, Miles reacts by exerting control, especially over his wife. Brown Findlay skillfully depicts Lucy’s cautious and guarded character, hinting at her constant readiness to retreat as if from an unseen blow. Lucy is essentially a compassionate individual, yet she lives a life where she doesn’t always have much autonomy. There’s a significant pressure on her to conform to certain expectations regarding her behavior, appearance, and demeanor. However, everything seems acceptable at first glance.

Brown Findlay, being the actual parent of the quartet, likely experienced the intense narrative more personally. “It affected me more profoundly, given that it was my first return to work after our twins were born. It might sound strange due to the grim subject matter, but I didn’t have a better time. Sometimes, the darker a story is, the more camaraderie you feel. I had great support during this project. In fact, my family and I all relocated to Cornwall together, which meant everyone was just a short drive away from the set. This was incredibly beneficial because it allowed me to avoid roles that could negatively impact my mental state while being apart from my children. However, I had to be cautious and ensure I could always return to them.

As a film aficionado, I can’t help but express my admiration for a drama that provides an uncommon glimpse into the high-strung realm of neonatal units – a place I’ve personally walked through. “For twelve days,” I recall, “our newborn sons were under the care of the NICU. Our hospital stay extended beyond two weeks, from labor to discharge. During our filming, our boys had just celebrated their first birthday. Each moment on set, I was struck by the echoes of last year’s experience.

Even though I no longer had the baby, a small part of my post-pregnancy figure remained. Certain emotions lingered within me, feeling both familiar and intensely powerful.

She highly appreciates the considerate manner in which she was handled by Kate Hewitt, our director. “Kate Hewitt was exceptional,” she said. “She’s a mother herself, and her approach was always gentle and full of respect, taking time to check on me privately without drawing attention or making it seem like a spectacle. It was quite extraordinary, but I believe that in this subtlety, I was able to empathize with the feelings of being a parent in those moments, and perhaps capture some of the fuzzy, intense, raw truth of the experience.

2024-12-23 19:38

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