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Churchill: An interview with Brian Cox and Miranda Richardson

Eva Mackevic

BY Eva Mackevic

1st Jan 2015 Film & TV

Churchill: An interview with Brian Cox and Miranda Richardson

We interview Brian Cox and Miranda Richardson, the stars of the powerful new biopic Churchill, about what it takes to portray an iconic historical figure and why Churchill had a lot in common with Family Guy's Stewie Griffin. 

Interview with Brian Cox and Miranda Richardson—stars of Churchill 

Churchill is the powerful new Winston Churchill biopic, following the Prime Minister in the torturous 96 hours leading up to the pivotal D-Day landings of June 6, 1944.

Terrified of repeating his deadly mistakes from the First World War, exhausted by years of war and plagued with self-doubt and depression, he dreads the idea of the Allied invasion of the French coast. We see a version of Churchill that's very human in its fragility, both psychological and physical: he is now old, relying on a walking stick and is frequently treated like a child by those around him. 

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Brian Cox strikes the perfect balance between vulnerability, gravitas, and humour as the famed Prime Minster, delivering an awe-inspiring performance. His rendition of Churchill’s famous speeches, fiery temper and unrelenting persistence will move you to the core.

Cox refers to playing Churchill as both a challenge and a pleasure, putting an emphasis on the performance element of his personality: "He was paramount as far as broadcasting was concerned but that was also to do with a construct. That was not him, that was his performance, he had a bit of an act to him." 

Miranda Richardson is his unflappable wife Clementine—always at his side to offer support, advice and sometimes a much needed telling-off, keeping her husband grounded and composed.

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The supporting performances are equally superb, including John Slattery as the dignified Dwight Eisenhower and Julian Wadham as the defiant Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery. 

The specific timeframe keeps the pace dynamic and engaging, making the film feel like an intense thriller, even if the final outcome is a well-known historical fact.

We chatted to Brian Cox and Miranda Richardson about what it’s like portraying someone as iconic as Churchill, the significance of his relationship with Clementine and why he “resembles all babies and all babies resemble him". 

Churchill is in cinemas everywhere from June 16

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