Keeley Hawes Reveals Why She Left Cop Dramas for Miss Austen

Keeley, when did you take on the role of Jane Austen’s sister, Cassandra, in Miss Austen?

As a passionate cinephile last summer, I stumbled upon the script for the first episode – I hadn’t previously read Gill’s book – yet, once I started reading, I simply couldn’t put it down. I devoured every word, then craved more. Intrigued, I swiftly purchased the book. As I delved deeper into its pages, I found myself laughing heartily, shedding tears, and eventually exclaiming a resounding “Yes!” to this captivating tale.

This was precisely what I’d been longing for. For quite some time, I’ve been working on grim police dramas with numerous female murders – a trend that has been prevalent. However, I’ve been expressing my desire for something fresh to my agents. ‘Miss Austen’ is a heartwarming tale of sisterly love, not about romantic entanglements involving men. It’s simply captivating.

Gill Hornby: “This story is about love. I’m glad you picked up on that. To be honest, when I learned that Keeley was involved, I shed a tear or two. Over the past four years, various scenarios had crossed my mind that made me think, ‘Oh no, not again!’ But as soon as they mentioned your name, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and certainty, thinking, ‘It’s finally going to happen.’ Because in this industry, very little actually comes to fruition. So many books get acquired, but they don’t make it far. It just felt like a blessing. And from that moment, I knew you were my Cassandra.

Gill, what drove you to tell the story of Cassandra in your novel?

“Throughout history, I’ve been particularly fascinated by women who encountered obstacles and needed to adapt, and the Austen sisters are a prime example of this. Initially, it was expected they would marry, possibly to a clergyman like their mother, but neither managed to do so. Consequently, they had to rely on their intelligence to survive. In truth, it was Cassandra’s intellect that supported Jane.

Despite the general dislike for Cassandra among Jane’s biographers due to her burning of letters, upon reading the surviving 161 letters, it became evident to me that Jane held an intense admiration for Cassandra. To Jane, Cassandra was remarkable, a presence she couldn’t live without, and she passed away in Cassandra’s arms. Keeley hits the nail on the head. This is indeed a love story – a tale of deep sisterly affection.

Throughout their entire lives, they always slept in the same room, indicating an exceptionally close bond. The world beyond seemed almost distant and irrelevant to them. I’d like to argue that Jane, known for writing captivating romances, lived an independent life without romantic attachments of her own. Often portrayed as a lonely spinster, but she was far from it. Her decision not to marry proved beneficial for her, as she might have only penned letters instead of the novels we all admire if she had married.

Cassandra prevented her from getting married. Cassandra possessed a modest inheritance that helped sustain them, and they were also joined by other unmarried women, whom I fondly refer to as a ‘spinster cluster’. In the Georgian era, if an individual spinster had £10, it was insignificant, but when four such spinsters pooled their resources of £10 each, they amassed £40 and could afford a house. Due to the high number of men who perished in the Napoleonic Wars, these spinster clusters were quite common.

The expression used is harmful, yet they were incredibly joyful – more so than if they had married without love, or if they had passed away during childbirth. It’s also worth noting that Jane wouldn’t have survived childbirth due to her advanced age; she was 41 years old. Moreover, throughout her writings, Jane often mentions spinsters – characters like Miss Bates in Emma and Mrs. Smith in Persuasion, whom she encourages us to contemplate deeply.

Why do you think Cassandra burnt Jane’s letters?

One possible explanation could be Jane’s frequent bouts of sadness, which the family might have tried to conceal. In fact, it’s even plausible that they weren’t fully aware. Additionally, I believe their sisters-in-law posed a significant burden and source of distress for both of them. This likely led to a lot of internal family disputes. Cassandra may have been concerned that the letters could potentially hurt feelings among the family members.

“In the end, it has kept Jane shrouded in mystery. She can be seen as a clean slate or a work of art waiting to be filled.

“She’s the ideal celebrity because there’s always more to learn about her. She’s similar to a deity; people can project their own interpretations onto her. Since it’s impossible to disprove anything, many believe she embodies Jane Austen or Lizzie Bennet. However, I personally don’t think she was Lizzie Bennet at all.

“There’s a certain magic in actors who maintain privacy about their personal lives. It’s becoming increasingly challenging due to press requirements and social media. Yet, this mystery adds power to their performances. For instance, when we don’t know who an actor is married to, our imagination can more freely project onto them, as demonstrated by Jane.

“Legacy management is no longer relevant since our digital footprint is widespread and permanent. The nonsensical messages we’ve sent via WhatsApp for years will continue to fill people’s phones for decades to come.

And Jane wrote anonymously because she didn’t want to be famous, did she?

“The truth is, it can be awkward. It’s tricky because the lines blur. I lead a relatively private life, but when you put your work out there, and then you go to the supermarket, people recognize you and greet you as if they know you. Mostly, it’s a positive experience, with people often addressing me as ‘Mrs Durrell’.

Many find a strong connection with Mrs. Durrell. As a single mom, she’s done something remarkable that resonates with many. In essence, she was a forward-thinking woman, much like the Austen sisters, and her story often elicits comments such as, ‘She reminds me of my own mother.’ Or, ‘I too am a single parent, I lost my spouse, but I raised my children just as she did.’ Such responses make one feel incredibly proud.

Do you hope Miss Austen will redeem Cassandra’s reputation?

“Indeed, yes. Keeley and I discussed this earlier. The Austen family, with eight children, is often admired for having a woman who continues to captivate us 250 years later as its central figure. However, it didn’t seem that way to them. Jane wasn’t the most extraordinary member; instead, Cassandra held that position!

As a cinephile, I’d rephrase it like this: “Though Jane achieved fame posthumously, it wasn’t until the closing years of the 19th century that her career saw a resurgence. It was only then that she truly found favor again. We owe a debt of gratitude to Cassandra, who tirelessly advocated for Jane, ensuring her legacy lived on.

Hawes: “What I thought was very unusual was that the Austen family encouraged Jane to write.”

At Steventon Rectory, Jane’s father possessed a vast collection of 5,000 books. As soon as she learned to read, Jane was given free rein to explore the library and read whatever she pleased without any restrictions. Additionally, her father conducted a school upstairs. The girls absorbed knowledge from this environment without formal instruction.>

Jane stood out as the most intelligent member within her exceptionally smart family. Her father acknowledged this and, believing it to be the wittiest piece he had ever encountered, sent off her initial manuscript of Pride and Prejudice to a publisher when she was 21 years old. Regrettably, the submission was returned unpublished. The book didn’t see publication until after her father passed away.

Hawes: “Isn’t it amazing that he did that?”

Translated: “Indeed, he was an exceptionally open-minded and unique individual. Their household served as a nest for creativity. Throughout the day, they’d each compose something, and in the evening, their leisure activity was gathering around the fireplace to share their writings. Since everyone would gather in one room after dinner because heating every room wasn’t feasible, they’d stimulate each other with their ideas. Remarkably innovative, don’t you think? A sort of paradise.

Gill, your brother Nick is also an author — was your home like the Austens’?

“No, it wasn’t a literature-rich setting. Since my parents stopped their education at 16, there weren’t many books around. However, we visited the library regularly each week. In those days, television was only broadcast for half of the day.

“I recall that my brother Jamie and I used to stage small theatrical performances, with him as the donkey and me sitting on his back. Since I was the youngest of four siblings, this was our usual setup. We did have a TV at home, but we didn’t just watch anything mindlessly. If we did watch something, it had a specific purpose. That’s probably why shows like EastEnders managed to attract 19 million viewers each week – everyone eagerly awaited its airing.

Keeley, how do you feel about Cassandra now you’ve played her?

“I adore Cassandra. Every day at work with her was a joy. If given the chance, I would have continued our series without hesitation. I truly missed her when we wrapped up. She’s remarkable – intelligent, witty, and loyal. Yet, not so perfect that it’s unbelievable. Her story is incredibly moving.”>

Hornby: “How did you feel wearing black and grey all the time?”

Hawes: “I quite liked it. I wear a lot of black anyway. And it’s lovely wearing a corset.”

Hornby: “Really? I thought it would be really uncomfortable. Should we bring them back?”

Hornby: “Have you never been in an Austen adaptation before?”

“I’ve never had the chance to be in an Austen production. However, my husband, Matthew Macfadyen who played Mr. Darcy in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film, has taken care of that part for me!

“It seems that, at age 48, I’m not typically cast as the romantic lead. Recently, I portrayed a retired assassin and even played a grandmother when I was 38. My spouse’s role doesn’t often involve him being a father figure.

Hornby: “He still gets to be a love interest!”

Hornby: “Yes, it was a spinster cluster production! It seemed a very happy set whenever I visited.”

In many productions, there’s typically a strong male presence due to the predominantly male crew members. However, it was extraordinary on this particular drama as the main cast was composed of women. It was a unique set where we all clicked and I felt quite attached to my fellow female cast members. On the final day, I found myself reluctant to leave them, which is unusual for me – I almost teared up! It’s hard to believe that I could feel this way.

“As I was penning the book, there was an overwhelming sense of joy in that small room, surrounded by Jane and Cassandra. When I went to view the final two episodes after they were completed, even the editor, producer, and executive producer found it hard to part ways because they relished our pleasant company.

What makes this especially meaningful to me is your warm welcome and acceptance of those remarkable ladies and their heartwarming tale of love.

2025-02-04 03:40

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