Gillian Anderson, known for her roles in The X-Files and Sex Education, recently admitted that she was scared to play the role of former Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis in an upcoming Netflix drama. The drama depicts Maitlis’ 2019 interview with Prince Andrew. Anderson had reservations about taking on the part, so much so that she initially declined the role of the interviewer in the film Scoop.
The quote stated is from an actress who was hesitant to play a character based on Emily Maitlis. The actress felt intimidated by the prospect of playing a living and highly respected public figure, as well as by the fact that many people are familiar with her. Despite her initial reservations, the actress eventually decided to take on the role. She felt that her fear of the part was a sign that she should push herself out of her comfort zone and take on this challenging role.
Gillian Anderson and Billie Piper were speaking at the Langham Hotel, which is located approximately 100 meters from the New Broadcasting House where the BBC’s Newsnight is produced. During the event, Anderson expressed her admiration for Emily Maitlis, the Newsnight presenter, and even joked about their friendship. Anderson praised Maitlis, saying “I think she’s amazing,” and added that she had met her before and had behaved with her as if they were close friends.
In an interview, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress shared a story about an encounter she had with journalist and newsreader Emily Maitlis. According to the actress, the two had met at a Cancer Research fundraiser event hosted at the headquarters of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) last year.
The actress went on to explain that she had arrived at the event without any preparation and was looking quite disheveled. However, when Emily Maitlis arrived, she looked stunning – like a movie star. She had a great tan, was wearing a short white skirt, and looked perfectly put together. In contrast, the actress joked that she looked like Emily’s great aunt in the photos taken that night. Despite the contrast in their appearances, the two seemed to have hit it off at the event.
Actor Gillian Anderson, who portrays former Newsnight host and journalist Emily Maitlis in the TV series The Crown, recently revealed that she was not able to interview Maitlis in preparation for her role. The reason behind this was that Maitlis is currently serving as the executive producer for a rival Amazon series titled ‘A Very Royal Scandal’. The three-part series will feature Ruth Wilson as Maitlis and Michael Sheen as Prince Andrew, and will delve into similar topics as covered in The Crown. Despite not being able to interview Maitlis, Anderson has successfully portrayed her character on screen, earning critical acclaim for her performance.
In reference to their encounter, Anderson mentions that the other person was quite aware of the fact that she was being played, but she was herself working on a project and hence was quite strict in terms of boundaries. The Netflix adaptation of the story features Rufus Sewell as the prince and is based on Sam McAlister’s memoirs, where he talks about how he landed the royal interview and was present on the set throughout much of the filming. McAlister is portrayed by Piper, who describes her as a formidable woman with an exceptional art of negotiation, high energy, and unlike anyone she has ever met. Piper also reveals that she had to wear an £11,000 worth wig to achieve the look of McAlister’s trademark wavy blonde locks, which she proudly beams about. Anderson expresses her genuine surprise on hearing the price and jokes that the wig was made from unicorn hair and that’s where the budget went.
Actresses Lily James and Emily Anderson recall their reactions when they watched the original Prince Andrew interview. James goes into detail, saying she was “agog” and overwhelmed by what she saw during the broadcast. She was left speechless and couldn’t believe what she was witnessing. Anderson, on the other hand, had heard about the interview and put off watching it, as she knew it was a “car crash in slow motion”. The interview raised many questions that she wanted to avoid.
Despite the availability of the original interview online, the pair believe there is every reason to make a film about it. They claim the story behind the interview and the people responsible for acquiring it are worth exploring. Anderson argues that the fact that it was women, particularly McAlister, who played a pivotal role in making the interview happen was what most appealed to them. They are both convinced that the moments leading up to the interview are worth dramatizing as they capture all the fascinating details.
To recreate the actual interview, Anderson and co-star James Sewell memorized a ten-minute section of the original interview. Anderson describes the process as feeling like a play, with Sewell independently employing the same technique. They studied every rhythm and break in speech and replayed the original audio numerous times. When filming the scene, there were six to eight cameras, and the duo had to get it right on the first take. The preparation paid off, as they were able to complete the ten-minute stretch without interruption.
The actresses describe the experience as fun, scary, amazing, and weird. They fell into the rhythm of the interview and how the questions were asked. After completing the scene, they took a breath and looked at each other, saying, “That was it!” Finally, the original interview reportedly left Prince Andrew happy.
In the Netflix film, on which McAlister has worked as an executive producer. This film is based on her book Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews. After taking voluntary redundancy from her Newsnight job in 2021, she wrote the memoir, which gives an insight into her experience of working with different people, including heads of state and CEOs.
McAlister shares her theory about why Prince Andrew believed that the recording of his interview had gone well. She attributes it to what she calls “royal delusion,” where people at a certain level, particularly those with a high level of power, often believe that they have never done anything wrong. This, according to her, depends on their level of understanding of their capabilities and their power. In Prince Andrew’s case, she believes that his 59 years of being told that he was incredible contributed to his delusion.
Despite leaving Newsnight, McAlister is still proud of the program, which is undergoing significant cuts. She believes that once it is reduced to 30 minutes, the powerful will sleep more soundly.
When asked about Maitlis’s Amazon series, McAlister remains diplomatic, insisting that there is “no animosity” between them. She describes their projects as “complimentary” and admits that she is unsure if anyone plays her in that version of the story. She even asks the person she is speaking to if they can find out for her, indicating her relaxed and friendly demeanor.
During the filming of a Netflix movie, there was a moment that moved one of the real-life characters to tears. This happened while watching the main actress, Billie Piper, recreate her daily routine of arriving at work. The real-life character was overwhelmed by the accuracy with which Piper encapsulated her life for over a decade. Seeing Piper bouncing with curls, lashings of lip-gloss and coffee in hand was a surreal experience for her. She never expected that someone like Billie Piper would end up playing her in a movie.
What made the film even more special for this real-life character was that it highlighted what went on behind the scenes at Newsnight to make the interview happen. The film showcased the hard work and dedication of the producers who were responsible for bringing the story to the public. It was a long-lasting satisfaction for her to know that people were finally hearing about the work that they do. She often receives compliments from producers who are amazed by the way the movie brought to life the efforts of those working behind the scenes.
In an article discussing the upcoming release of the Netflix film “Scoop,” which follows a journalist’s investigation into a rich and powerful man’s past, two regular customers at Pizza Express named Anderson and Piper were interviewed. They both shared that they frequent the restaurant more often than Prince Andrew, who infamously mentioned visiting the chain in his interview with Maitlis. When asked about their Pizza Express habits, Piper revealed that she visits about once a week, as she has young children. Anderson added that she has been to the Woking branch, and when asked if it was for research, she humorously replied that it was for pizza. When asked about Prince Andrew’s potential reaction to the film, both Anderson and Piper firmly agreed that he would not be watching it. “Scoop” is set to stream on Netflix from Friday 5 April.
