Downton’s Jessica Brown Findlay is binge watching the Kardashians. She chats to us about her new project, The Flatshare, coming to Paramount+. 

The Flatshare is based on the Beth O’Leary book of the same name, and follows two twenty-something year olds, Tiff and Leon, living on completely opposite schedules. So opposite, in fact, that they share a one-bedroom flat. While Leon works nights, Tiff has the bed and the space – and vice versa – never quite meeting. And yet, little by little, they realise that they might just be more than roommates. Tiff is played by Jessica Brown Findlay while Anthony Welsh will play Leon.

Tell us about The Flatshare – what can we expect?

The return of the Rom-Com meets the London rental market.

What about any flatshares you’ve lived in?

I once rented the living room of a place. So, it was mine after ten. But before then it was a waiting game for other flatmates to leave.

Why do you think the show will resonate with people?

I think it speaks to the relentlessness of cities… How you can feel swallowed up by them and generationally how hard it is to gain stability. 

And any funny on-set stories?

Yes… The very first day of rehearsals I thought they had put things out for breakfast and made myself a bowl of cereal. But then, after about an hour, I realised that it was part of set and kindly provided by our props department! I basically walked in and started eating the scenery!? It broke the ice and Anthony and I and our director Pete found it very, very funny. 

Now, quick-fire:

I’m tuning into… Bad Sisters and Minx. 

What I’m reading… Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (Orion, £8.99). 

The last thing I watched was… Lena Dunham’s Catherine Called Birdy. Wow. 

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… My husband’s face when he becomes a father. 

Favourite painting… Combing the Hair by Degas is a favourite that I always go to find at the National Gallery – I also love Far from the Beaten Path by Dan Hollings. 

Favourite film of all time… It depends what time of year it is, right now it’s back to When Harry Met Sally. The ultimate autumn movie. 

Band/singer I always have on repeat… Laura Marling and Neil Young.

My ultimate cultural recommendation… Walk everywhere, you might stumble upon a diamond of a spot. Hidden gallery, tiny restaurant, a quiet square, music. Or an old friend. 

Cultural guilty pleasure… The Kardashians, Love Island, re-runs of The Hills, any reality TV. I love it! 

What’s next for me is… A spot of child labour, then I’m going back to the First World War – and learning how to play football.

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Shot in Norway and based on the novel of the same name by Jo Nesbø, here is “The Hanging Sun – Midnight Sun” told by the protagonists: Alessandro Borghi and Jessica Brown Findlay

Alessandro Borghi is John, a man who runs away from a troubled past and a life of crime. Jessica Brown Findlay is Lea, a woman who lives in the shadow of an abusive husband (for whose disappearance she is held responsible) and an oppressive father. They are the protagonists of The Hanging Sun – Midnight Sun , the film directed by Francesco Carrozzini who, after making his directorial debut in 2016 filming Franca: Chaos and creation (the documentary dedicated to his mother Franca Sozzani , historical director of Vogue Italia), he shot his fiction film starting with Midnight Sun , one of Jo Nesbø ‘s most introspective and dark novels .

The two characters are complex, tormented, marked by a path of suffering and trapped in a present contaminated by a dark past. The film – which after closing the Venice Film Festival out of Competition on Saturday 10 September, will only be in cinemas from 12 to 14 September (it will soon arrive on Sky Cinema) – will show us if there will be a redemption for their destinies. We talked about this with the two actors, two completely different characters : he Roman, extroverted, impulsive, she English, attentive, measured.

What did you like about this story?

Jessica Brown Findlay – The characters: they are two people who observe, do not judge and who have the courage to be in conflict with the rules of the world in which they grew up and in which they do not find themselves. And then the setting: total tranquility, the profound silence of the place where history comes to life.

Alessandro Borghi – I read the book after agreeing to participate in the project. But the gestation of the film started some time before and had a lot to do with my relationship with Francesco. We met 7 years ago in London, on the set of a photographic campaign, then we met in Los Angeles and then in Venice. And during all this time we talked, chatted, discovering a sharing of values ​​and a sense of Italianness that united us. Two years ago, during a brunch in Venice, Francesco told me about The Hanging Sunwarning me that he had already decided the cast, all English. The next day, however, she calls me and tells me: “I’ve decided that I have to do this film with you”. I, displaced, of course I accepted. And from here began a long creative and emotional process that we carried out together. The film is very different from the book: it is a more psychological thriller than the novel. A project in which Francesco and I have made our friendship available.

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We are a little late on posting the 33rd birthday post but better late than never 🙂 And to celebrate, we share a UHQ 2012 shoot of Jessica that we only had in very low quality over the gallery!

Photoshoots > 2012 > Set 08: Glamour UK

We were missing 2 short films to be uploaded on the gallery, now, you can enjoy screencaps, promotional pictures, on set pictures and production stills from Hero from 2018, featuring James Norton, Charles Dance, Harper Gray and Mark Stanley and Onions from 2020 featuring Ziggy Heat and Shaq B. Grant.

Film Productions > 2018. Hero (short)

Film Productions > 2020: Onions (Short)

Jessica Barden has set her latest project in the shape of the sports drama An Unsuitable Game from the BAFTA-award-winning filmmaker Mandie Fletcher (Absolutely Fabulous), which will launch sales next month at TIFF.

Barden (The End of F***ing World, Hanna, The Lobster) stars alongside Jessica Brown Findlay (Flatshare, Harlots, The Hanging Sun) and Sian Clifford (Fleabag) in the flick, which is inspired by the true story of a group of female friends who form an amateur football team at the height of the first world war. Despite incredible opposition from the establishment, their male co-workers, and the press – they start to draw crowds and growing popularity. The film is described as a timely, uplifting story of women being disruptive, funny, and inspiring.

“This is a story that just has to be told, about the extraordinary women who forged the first steps on the road now trodden by the triumphant Lionesses,” Mandie Fletcher said of the project.

Maya Amsellem, Managing Director of WestEnd Films added: “Westend remains committed to supporting strong female voices and stories and we are thrilled to bring An Unsuitable Game to the marketplace – a true celebration of women and their friendships, ambition, and spirit that we know will inspire audiences worldwide.”

The film will begin shooting in Spring 2023 in the UK.

As expected, Jessica graced the Red Carpet over 3 events on 79th Venice International Film Festival. Firstly, she was caught arriving to The Hanging Sun Photocall wearing a white dress (over 150 photos on the gallery), later that day she attended the premiere of the same movie wearing a beautiful pink gown by Maison Valentino (over 130 photos on the gallery) and attending the closing of the festival wearing a black dress by Maison Rabih Kayrouz (70 pictures available on the gallery).

 

Premieres, Special Events and other Appearances > 2022

From the pictures we can see Jessica and Ziggy efforts to became parents has finally came to light after several tries of IVF! They are expecting their first child. And we wonder if the pink dress might be a hint to the children’s gender. Let’s wish all the best for this family!

Lea has finally been seen on the first sneak peek of The Hanging Sun which will have it’s premiere on Biennale 2022 in September. The movie has the running time of 93 minutes and has Alessandro Borghi, Jessica Brown Findlay, Sam Spruell, Frederick Schmidt, Raphael Vicas, Peter Mullan, Charles Dance as part of the cast.

The movie is about a former employer on the run when a reluctant hitman seeks refuge in an isolated village where he is faced with events that test the true nature of his conscience.

Film Productions > 2022. The Hanging Sun > Sneak Peek #1