Kate Phillips on Honoring The Time In Between, Game-Changing Moments and Her Lead Role In 'Miss Scarlet & The Duke'
Photography by David Yeo; Styling by Luci Ellis at The Wall Group
Makeup by Justine Jenkins; Hair by Patrick Wilson at The Wall Group; Interview by Alison Engstrom
Since you first started your career how would you describe your professional journey so far to where you are now?
I didn’t ever think I could be a professional actress. I loved it at school and outside of school; I found the rehearsal room a really safe place. I have always likened being in a rehearsal room to doing a team sport. I went to university and studied drama and then it was just really clear to me that I wanted to give it a go. It felt like the first time that anyone made me realize that I had some kind of potential and that was a massive gear change for me because up until then, I didn’t have any confidence at all. Landing a job in my third year at school felt completely unreal and like someone else’s life. I had to leave a term early and they managed to do something clever where I could still graduate and but not finish that last play. I was so sad to leave my group since I felt like it was a team sport and we had to be in it until the end together. I went off to do Wolf Hall and I still believe to this day that I wouldn’t have had the career I have had without that.
That’s incredible. How did that come to you while you were still in school?
In your third year, you have a showcase year and you are putting a lot of plays and the outside world is coming in and watching. An agent suggested that I go up for this audition and I did, but it wasn’t until months later that I actually met the director and the casting director. It’s hard to get jobs, you know, I know how lucky I have been and I love the work I have done. I still look back at that time and wonder, how did I do that? I had no idea what I was doing but lovely Peter Kosminsky did a very generous thing on set. He announced to the crew on my first day, this is Kate’s first day ever and everyone gave me a round of applause.
Do you find going into that situation a bit naive helped you?
It did for the character, I was playing Henry VIII’s third wife and it was observed that she was very timid and meek, as well as having a quiet tenacity. That’s what made it helpful, she was terrified and so was I (laughs) and I was able to channel that.
You mentioned in another interview that the Moments in between can be challenging when it comes to work in the industry. I think that ambiguity can lead to trusting the universe, would you agree?
Yes, I think you have to do so much work on yourself outside of the work. I have said, the doing the job bit is the easy bit; it’s all of the other stuff that isn’t. You have to take care of your mind. I dipped back into my old drama school to talk to the students and I believe there is very little control you can have as an actor in the industry. What you can do is prepare your body and mind so when the opportunities do arise, you are in the best place to seize them. You can’t control when those auditions will come and if they will, so you have to get really good at filling your life with things that come from you. That’s the thing you have to do every day, it’s the mindful practice that you have to dig into.
You have starred in many period pieces from Peaky Blinders to The Crown. When it comes to fully being immersed in your work, would you say it helps you from a creative standpoint since you get to be transported and the role comes to life in a more unique way?
I have only appreciated it since talking about it because I haven’t done anything contemporary. The period drama world has something lavish and luscious about it—the details, the costumes—it’s easy to transport yourself to a different world that is far from you. Every job is different but it’s just stunning how you can walk onto a set and you can appreciate the work that every department has done and all of the weeks or months of research to create that world, so it does make your job a lot easier.
Congratulations on landing the lead role of Eliza Scarlet in the new PBS Masterpiece series, Miss Scarlet & the Duke. What intrigued you the most about the script and the character?
Everything really, it’s such an unusual script in that it’s packed full of character. It jumps out to you straight away and by the time you finish the opening title sequence you immediately understand the tone. This period drama world is authentic, true, real, but it also has a punchy kick to it—there is a twinkle and a smile. It’s so warming there isn’t a scene that goes by without a bit of humor. It warmed my heart and she was immediately a character that I was dying to play. She’s great because she hasn’t got it all together. She has flaws and she has such a journey to go on. She has to grow up a bit, yet she has great passion and tenacity, she’s rude, clever, and snappy.
Talk about entering into a men dominated field. what I love the most about your character is how she isn’t intimidated. How can viewers expect her to evolve in the first season?
Her evolution happens alongside the Duke; their relationship becomes clearer, stronger yet more fractured. It’s really enjoyable to watch them come together and be teased apart because they desperately need each other when it comes to their work. Each episode is different in that it brings to life different things, for example, there is a lovely episode about the early Suffragettes. She is still a woman of her time and even though she has a sense of herself she doesn’t know about woman’s rights. She meets these women who are potentially going to commit these offenses and it confuses her. She has a journey to go on about what she believes in and that’s interesting. It’s why I think the audience likes and responds to her character because she feels real and is not perfect.
Out of all the characters you have played so far, who did you learn the most from?
Eliza because she was such a part of me for a long time. There is something about playing a part where you are on set every day and it’s the best thing to be immersed into that world. I’ve played a lot of great parts, but they were mostly supporting roles. My first experience of having my own character journey would have been on The Crown, where I played Venetia Scott, Churchill’s assistant. I will remember that experience for the rest of my life, I had such a wonderful experience doing that and working with John Lithgow. He is one of the greatest men, he has a lovely warmth and a twinkle in his eye.
Was it intimidating to step into the lead role?
You know what, I don’t think I was scared, it felt like the right part. My journey with the creative team—the showrunner and the writer—we just clicked and it felt like a very warm atmosphere to be walking into. Everyone was so kind and generous and they really trusted you, which I think aids in your prep as well. I learned everything before we started shooting, in the summer of 2019.
You shared on Instagram that you are training for a half marathon to benefit Macmillan Cancer Support. How did you get involved with the cause?
I wanted to run for a charity and I was aware of that cause and I thought that would be great, I will do it for them. I have had times where I am running three or four times a week—I did an organized 10K run and wiped me out a couple of years ago and I didn’t run again for about a year (laughs). I recently had a baby, and it’s amazing how your body just starts to click back and the idea of running doesn’t seem so scary anymore.
That’s incredible! Running is such an incredible way to clear your mind, it’s like a meditation.
It’s funny you say that because I never really saw running as that. People would talk about it like that and I thought, it’s awful; I feel sick, it’s painful, when does it get better? I was reading about how to properly train for a half marathon and I took to heart the notes about running slowly and running so you can have a conversation with someone, so when you finish, you could do it again. I only had ever run to exhaust myself. But this was a game-changer and I really enjoyed running, I just go really slowly.
Follow Kate Phillips on Instagram
Watch Season One of ‘MISS SCARLET & THE DUKE’ on PBS Masterpiece
A very special thank you to this London-based team!