Ten Questions with Kelly Macdonald and Damian Lewis
On fame, family secrets and playing married vampires…
- Craig McLean
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He starred in Homeland, Billions and Wolf Hall. She made her name in Trainspotting, Operation Mincemeat, Swallows and Amazons and Line of Duty. Now Damian Lewis and Kelly Macdonald lead a new Sky Cinema film The Radleys, based on the novel by Matt Haig. The 48-year-old Scotswoman and 53-year-old Englishman are working together for the first time, playing a married couple, Helen and Pete Radley, who are parents to two teenagers with a seemingly perfect life. But their family has a dark secret…
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Tell us all about the Radley family — what are they like?
Kelly Macdonald They’re an outwardly normal family in the suburbs. But inwardly they’re a worrying bunch of vampires!
Damian Lewis Essentially, they have put themselves in the recovery programme for bloodsuckers, hoping to protect their kids from a life of vampirism.
Damian, you play Pete who is a sensible family man in recovery, while his wayward twin Will, is living his best life as an active bloodsucker. How was it playing dual roles?
Damian It might not surprise you to hear that my ego was tickled by the thought of playing two parts instead of just one. The twins represent the duality that exists in all of us: our lustful, carnal, visceral, naughty self, and the more rational, sensible self that gets up in the morning, goes off to work and has children. It was a fun opportunity to play both sides.
My children aren't impressed by anything I do!
Damian Lewis
Kelly, unlike the rest of her family, we don’t see Helen’s fangs. Was that disappointing?
Kelly Yes, that was very disappointing for me, not getting fangs! Helen is working harder than anybody to keep on the straight and narrow. And she’s failing. And the most miserable.
Damian, this is a bit of a comedic departure for you — was that why you took the role?
Damian No, because I’m not that strategic. I’m very fussy and very careful about what I do. The starting point is the project and the role, always. But you’re right: Henry VIII is not the funniest. [Billions’] Bobby Axelrod, who I’ve been doing for the last few years, is a billionaire criminal. So, while not a conscious decision, it was a lovely breath of fresh air.
Damian Lewis in Wolf Hall. BBC/Company Productions Ltd/Giles Keyte
Could you relate at all to the peril of keeping family secrets?
Kelly Not being transparent is an unnecessary burden. You might have a moment of awkwardness facing up to something but then that’s it. It’s out there. And that’s much easier than pretending otherwise.
You’ve both got teenage kids and long CVs — which of your roles have your kids been most impressed by?
Damian My children aren’t impressed by anything I do! But there was a time during Homeland where we were stuck in a traffic jam in front of this enormous billboard for the show. I ignored it, because Helen [McCrory, his late wife] and I tried to normalise what we did, but Gully, who was five, went: “Dad, there’s a huge picture of you on the wall!”
I don't think I could say no to more Line of Duty
Kelly Macdonald
Kelly, are there any similar moments of recognition for you?
Kelly I’m pretty under the radar, mostly. There’s certain jobs that will change that. Boardwalk Empire in America was one of them – if I was in New York I’d get “Margaret!” shouted at me!
Rather uniquely, you survived being a guest star on Line of Duty. Would you go back?
Kelly I don’t think I could say no. It slightly gives me PTSD just talking about it, because it was Covid. I was just beginning to find my feet when we were shut down. We were the first production to go back, but we were totally isolated in a strange city. I’d be curious to experience filming it in a normal world.
Kelly Macdonald in Line of Duty. BBC
Damian, you are returning to Wolf Hall for the sequel The Mirror and the Light? Have you seen Jude Law’s Henry VIII in Firebrand?
Damian No, but I just read a review and was going to text him and say: “Stop playing Henry VIII, and stop getting good reviews for it, because I’m just about to do it.” The Mirror and the Light is about Thomas Cromwell, but we focus on Henry’s descent, deteriorating health, increasing paranoia and him becoming more unpleasant.
You’ve recently started following your musical dreams in middle age — is that gratifying?
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Damian I really enjoy it. I’ve actually written an original song for The Radleys. It’s not synced in the movie, but it’ll be released as a single. It’s called Suck My Blood!
Authors
Craig McLean
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