One of the audience favourites from this year’s BFI Flare, Madfabulous turned the spotlight on Henry Cyril Paget, an extravagant nineteenth-century aristocrat who gained notoriety as The Dancing Marquess. As his story reaches a wider audience this week with the film’s arrival in cinemas, we sat down for an exclusive chat with its Welsh star, Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin), who took on the challenging role of Paget, known to his friends as Toppy.
The 5th Marquess of Anglesey had a short but spectacular life, full of colour and luxury, but died at the age of 29. By that time, he’d lavished the family fortune on extravagant theatrical productions and a lifestyle to match, so the coffers were empty. But, as the film shows, he was also hugely generous, caring for local orphans and looking after his devoted servants, as well as having an unconventional marriage to his cousin Lily (Bridgerton’s Ruby Stokes).
In the interview below, Howells talks about how the film’s distinctive title came about and why it sums up the spirit of the story, as well as describing his feelings about Paget and how the man is still something of a mystery. “I was flabbergasted by everything he did and represented, especially at that time. It was a real gift of a role for me.” He also reflects on how much he learned from working with Rupert Everett (Napoleon), who plays his butler and father figure. “I was so lucky to be on set with him every day. I’m still in the early days of my career, and I love learning. I’m like a sponge!” At the end of filming, Howells was able to take home one of the costumes he’d worn in Madfabulous – a tweed suit – but also owns up to having kept a “souvenir” from his time playing Emcee in the London stage production of Cabaret – and being asked to return it!
You can watch the full interview here:
Madfabulous is released in UK cinemas on June 5th.
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