Ten Questions with Kelly Macdonald and Damian Lewis

As a cinephile with decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must say that The Radleys is a film not to be missed. Damian Lewis and Kelly Macdonald, two heavyweights in their own right, join forces for the first time in this dark comedy about a family with a secret – they’re vampires!

Add The Radleys to your watchlist

Damian Lewis and Kelly Macdonald headline a new Sky Cinema film titled “The Radleys,” based on Matt Haig’s novel. At 48 and 53 years old, this Scottish woman and Englishman are collaborating for the first time, portraying Helen and Pete Radley, who appear to have an idyllic family life with their two teenage children. However, their seemingly perfect facade conceals a hidden darkness within their family.

Tell us all about the Radley family — what are they like?

Kelly Macdonald portrays a seemingly ordinary suburban family, but beneath the surface, they harbor unsettling signs of being a clan of vampires!

Essentially, they’ve enrolled themselves in a rehabilitation program for vampires, aiming to shield their children from a life that involves being a vampire. (Damian Lewis)

In a more conversational style,

Damian I must admit, it wasn’t unexpected that the idea of portraying two roles rather than one appealed to my vanity. The characters of the twins symbolize the internal struggle we all face: our primal, sensual, mischievous side versus our rational, logical, responsible self – the one who wakes up, goes to work, and raises a family. It was an enjoyable challenge to bring both aspects to life.

My children aren’t impressed by anything I do!

Kelly, unlike the rest of her family, we don’t see Helen’s fangs. Was that disappointing?

Kelly: Indeed, it was quite disheartening for me not to get fangs. Helen seems to be putting in more effort than anyone else to stay on the right path. Yet, she’s struggling and looking rather unhappy about it.

Damian, this is a bit of a comedic departure for you — was that why you took the role?

Damian: I don’t make strategic choices, I’m particular and cautious about my actions. It’s always about the project and the role first. You’re correct, Henry VIII isn’t exactly humorous. However, portraying Bobby Axelrod, a billionaire criminal from Billions, was a refreshing change, even if it wasn’t intentional.

Could you relate at all to the peril of keeping family secrets?

Kelly Hiding the truth unnecessarily creates discomfort. While it may feel uncomfortable to address issues directly, doing so relieves the burden and is simpler in the long run compared to maintaining a false front.

Among all the responsibilities you both carry, given that you each have teenage children and extensive work histories, which of your positions has left the deepest impression on your kids?

Damian My kids seem unimpressed by anything I do! However, during the time of Homeland, there was an instance when we were in a traffic jam and there was a massive billboard for the show. I didn’t pay much attention to it, as Helen [McCrory, his late wife] and I always tried to keep our work normal. But Gully, who was only five at the time, excitedly pointed out: “Dad, look! There’s a giant poster of you on the wall!

I don’t think I could say no to more Line of Duty

Kelly, are there any similar moments of recognition for you?

Kelly is generally quite low-key, but there are specific roles that would bring her out of the shadows. One such role was in “Boardwalk Empire” in America; if I were in New York, people would shout “Margaret!” at me!

Rather uniquely, you survived being a guest star on Line of Duty. Would you go back?

Kelly, it’s hard for me to refuse, as discussing that time brings back memories of Covid. I was gaining momentum when everything was shut down. We were the initial production to resume, but we were completely secluded in an unfamiliar city. It would be interesting to film it in a more normal environment now.

Hey Damian, it seems like you’re heading back to Wolf Hall for the follow-up, The Mirror and the Light. By any chance, have you caught Jude Law as Henry VIII in Firebrand yet?

Damian Not me, however, I recently came across a review and was considering messaging him with this: “Cease portraying Henry VIII, and halt receiving favorable reviews for it, as I am on the verge of doing so myself.” The book The Mirror and the Light primarily revolves around Thomas Cromwell, but it also delves into Henry’s downfall, worsening health, growing suspicions, and his transformation into an increasingly unpleasant character.

You’ve recently started following your musical dreams in middle age — is that gratifying?

Damian, I truly savor it! In fact, I’ve penned an original tune specifically for The Radleys. Although it isn’t synchronized in the film, it will be launched independently as a single. Its title is “Suck My Blood!

2024-10-17 19:06

Read More