Jess in Vogue (May 2014)

written by Ana on 07 April 2014

Beautiful, ballsy and never predictable, Jessica Brown Findlay tells Charlotte Sinclair about her gutsy new role – and why, despite doing justice to the ballgowns, she’s happier when she’s dirty. (Photos by Boo George) The issue hits newsstands today. We will get scans for you as soon as possible!

She made her name playing the much-love Lady Sybil in period drama Downton Abbey, but is appears actress Jessica Brown Findlay is not well suited to the genteel lifestyle. She has disclosed she “absolutely hates” corsets pledging never to wear one again after being killed off on the popular show.

Brown Findlay, who will soon star in the BBC’s Jamaica Inn, said she turned down another series of the programme fearing it had grown too big, with fans’ obsession with on-screen events leaving her baffled.

She told the May issue of Vogue: “There was a moment during filming when everyone was suddenly saying ‘Oh, so and so said something about the show.’ Or, ‘Have you seen this on Twitter?’” “I just felt, ‘Why does that matter?’ It’s great to be involved in something that people really enjoy, but it made me nervous as opposed to excited.

“So when I was asked about renewing my contract, I thought: ‘God, what if it just keeps getting bigger and I can never play anything other than Sybil?’ “The way to try and stop that was to stop playing Sybil.” On the downside of costume dramas, she added: “I hate corsets. I absolutely hate them. Ugh. I don’t think I’ll ever wear a corset again.

“I don’t even own scales. Getting into a smaller jeans size is not going to make me a better actor.”

The full interview is in the May issue of British Vogue, out from Monday, April 7.

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