Meet the cast of Agatha Christie's Seven Dials
Writer/producer Chris Chibnall and stars Helena Bonham Carter, Martin Freeman and Edward Bluemel on what we can expect from Agatha Christie's Seven Dials
Netflix
- Emma Cox
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'I find Christie fascinating – why would somebody write so much about how to kill?'
Helena Bonham Carter plays Lady Caterham
Why did you want to take this role?
I’m a fan of Agatha Christie, and of Chris Chibnall. The story is witty, fun and has lots of energy. There were changes to the book with permission from the Christie estate, but it retains the mood and has some ingenious twists. It almost out-Agathas Agatha.
Who do you play?
Bundle’s mother, Lady Caterham. She’s in a deep well of despair and grief and loss but she’s also very funny. I love her pretend absent-mindedness, which gets her off the hook in lots of situations. She pretends she’s impractical and useless, and she hates people. She wants a moat to keep everyone out. All she can really cope with is her dog who, by the way, was one of the best dogs I’ve ever worked with.
What do you love about Christie?
I’ve always wanted to play Marple, who’s a great heroine. The first film I remember was Death on the Nile, which was beautiful and full of famous people, and felt very exotic. But Christie was prolific – the best-selling author of all time – and wrote so many lesser-known books. I find her fascinating – why would somebody write so much about how to kill? She was a nurse in the war and learnt all about poison, which is a feminine way
to kill if you don’t have much strength.
Then after her husband left her, she met a much younger man who was an archaeologist and that informed her later books, set in Egypt and so on, because she travelled with him. He was digging, and she was digging in a different way. You always find some empathy with her murderers because they’re doing it from a place of pain.
Do you have a favourite parlour game?
We play a giant version of Cluedo on family holidays. Everyone pulls a piece of paper out of a hat. One person is the murderer and they get an object and a location – so it might be the swimming pool and a flipper – and they have to murder people by handing them the object in that location. It can go on for days, it’s wonderful. Nobody trusts anybody, and the kids love it.
Would you be a good sleuth in real life, or would you be better at getting away with murder?
I think both; one informs the other. I like detective work. I love being able to detect things and look at someone and deconstruct them. That’s what I do as an actor.
'It's Christie meets PG Wodehouse'
Writer/producer Chris Chibnall
Getty
How did you come to write this adaptation?
I’m a massive Christie fan so when I was asked to write an adaptation, it was an easy “yes”. I chose The Seven Dials Mystery because Bundle is an amazing character, it’s only been adapted once and it’s really funny. It’s Christie meets PG Wodehouse, with wit and energy.
You’ve made a major change: Lord Caterham has become Lady Caterham. Why?
It’s a really hard part to cast and we needed someone with gravitas and comic timing. John Gielgud previously played him, so that was our benchmark. We changed it to Lady and asked Helena Bonham Carter, which gives a fresh dynamic.
You’re drawn to crime: from ITV drama Broadchurch to your novel Death at the White Hart. Why?
Broadchurch was basically Agatha Christie by the sea, and my book definitely owes her a debt. I like the structure of those Golden Age detective novels, but set in a modern world. It also allows you to write an ensemble of different ages and experiences.
Do you have a favourite fictional detective?
Miss Marple. She’s there in plain sight but people ignore her, which allows her to observe everything.
Do you have a favourite fictional murder?
Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced. Starting a novel with an advert for a murder in the village paper? Incredible.
Would you be a good sleuth in real life, or would you be better at getting away with murder?
I wouldn’t be a good sleuth, but people might say I do get away with murder!
'We did laugh a lot. I don't want to be there if it's not fun'
Martin Freeman plays Superintendent Battle
Netflix
You’re back in the world of murder mysteries — what appealed about this adaptation?
Chris’s scripts bring it up to date in a way that feels relatable without trying to be hip and cool. It has a contemporary feel, while not cheating on the period. I didn’t really grow up with Christie, but the character of Bundle surprised me because she’s much younger than Marple and Poirot.
There are scenes filmed at Badminton House. Did you enjoy that?
I loved it, actually. I’m normally in a car park in Croydon, so it was a nice change. Now I can say I’ve done one of those scenes where one person is a murderer and I’m explaining the trajectory of the bullet.
Your character has some funny moments — did you enjoy embracing a comedic role again, after more serious recent parts such as
The Responder?
Some of it is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny and not just polite, Sunday-night funny. Battle’s not smooth like Poirot. He’s trying to explain this thing, but he keeps being interrupted by these posh idiots, and it drives him bananas. The frustration of someone being constantly thwarted is funny.
Mia said you kept making her corpse and break character…
Not actively, because that’s a dangerous game and it can end up boomeranging on you. There’s nothing more exciting than corpsing, but once you’ve started it can be very hard to stop, and that’s scary. But we did laugh a lot. I don’t want to be there if it’s not fun.
Do you have a favourite fictional detective?
I love the brilliance and arrogance of Sherlock Holmes, and how he’s so far ahead of everyone else in the room. I also like Columbo; the way people underestimate him, and he takes advantage of that. It’s such a great device having a detective leave the room then turn around and say, “One more thing…” I also love him having to deal with people of a higher social class. Battle’s the same, he’s not from an aristocratic background. It’s the revenge of the little guy or gal.
Do you have a favourite fictional murder?
Off the top my head, because I was in it, I know there were some great ones in Sherlock. Andrew Scott’s version of Moriarty was delightful to watch, the evil and dastardliness of his murders…
Would you be better at sleuthing in real life, or getting away with murder?
I’m too disorganised to be a good sleuth, and I don’t think I could get away with murder – as soon as I’m questioned, I start acting guilty.
'1925 is a period I haven't done yet, and I'm trying to tick them all off before I retire!'
Edward Bluemel plays Jimmy Thesiger
Mia McKenna-Bruce and Ed Bluemel in Seven Dials. Netflix
What appealed about this role?
I love a whodunnit, and I can’t resist a period drama; 1925 is a period I haven’t done yet, and I’m trying to tick them all off before I retire! And the costumes: high waist, wide leg, and a little cricket jumper. I’m so shallow, I love the fancy houses and outfits. And Bundle is such a great character, like a gender-flipped Tintin.
What do you love about a whodunnit?
They’ve come back into fashion with things like Knives Out. I love the big Christie adaptations but it’s exciting that this one is lesser known, because with Death on the Nile or Murder on the Orient Express, we all know who did it. This will keep everyone guessing.
What can you tell us about Jimmy?
I play Bundle’s friend. He’s probably living off a trust fund, and he’s a peacock, who unwittingly becomes Bundle’s sidekick in solving this mystery.
Who’s your favourite fictional detective?
I grew up on the Benedict Cumberbatch version of Sherlock Holmes, so I had a couple of “pinch me” moments working with Martin on this [who played Dr Watson in the BBC series].
Favourite fictional murder?
Bunny’s death in [Donna Tartt novel] The Secret History was shocking.
Would you be better as a sleuth, or getting away with murder?
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Neither. I’m not a good liar, and I’m too easily distracted and misled to be a good sleuth.
Authors
Emma Cox
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