Life In Squares is the period drama that’s got everyone talking – it’s racy, has a stellar cast and the costumes are absolutely stunning. Based on the lives of the notorious Bloomsbury Set, it concludes tonight, fast forwarding to 1937. The episode features the incredible Lucy Boynton, 21, as Angelica Bell – the daughter of Vanessa and Clive Bell. We spoke to Lucy, who has also appeared in Miss Potter and Ballet Shoes, about the show's racy reputation, double denim and working with Renee Zellweger…
GD: There are a lot of sex scenes in the series. Do you think it lives up to the racy hype surrounding it?
LB: It’s not quite as intense as it is being made out to be. It’s not soft porn! It’s so beautifully shot and is done in a very emotive way and the focus isn’t as much on the sex as is being made out. But the sex is definitely a part of it - they were very good at loving!
**GD: Tell us about your storyline...
LB: I play Angelica Bell who only found out that she was the daughter of artist Duncan Grant (James Norton and Rupert Penry-Jones) when she was 18-years-old. Until then she had believed her father was Clive Bell, the art critic. Angelica really comes to life in the final episode. It explores her relationship with David Garnett (Ben Lloyd-Hughes) who was twice her age. She wrote a book, Deceived With Kindness: A Bloomsbury Childhood, about how that relationship had a lot to do with her never having a father figure. I could talk about her for hours!
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GD: What did you know about the Bloomsbury Set before you filmed the series?
**LB: I knew a lot less than I realised. All of them are household names but I learned so much more and we filmed at Charleston, the country home where Angelica grew up, so I got to spend two weeks there absorbing as much information as possible. I was extremely lucky because Angelica wrote her book. It’s an actor’s dream because it’s really detailed about how she reacted to things. I can take her word for it.
GD: Did you want to keep any of the costumes?
LB: Oh my god yes! My parts were set in the 1930s and 1940s and there were beautiful costumes. We went to a huge costume warehouse called Cosprop and it was heaven walking around. I bought a pair of the trousers I wear in the series! They are high waisted, black and have a flared look with button detail and I have totally stolen that look.
GD: We’re really excited for your new film Sing Street…
LB: Me too! It’s set in 1980s Dublin. It’s such an exciting project. The film is about a band of young teenagers seeking fame in Dublin. I play the female lead called Raphina who is a ballsy and confident character, but actually has a more fragile side to her. She’s been through a lot at the age of 17. She was such a fun character to play.
GD: What did you think of the 1980s costumes?
LB: Well it was so different to Life In Squares! Lots of bright blue eye shadow, a gallon of hairspray, and huge curly hair. A lot of double denim too.
GD: What was it like working with the legendary Aidan Gillen on Sing Street?
LB: He was a lot of fun. I didn’t do a lot of scenes with him but there are a few that involved the entire cast. He is so very kind and introduced himself to everyone which wasn’t necessary. He’s a very cool guy.
GD: You worked on Miss Potter with Renee Zellweger back in 2006. What was that like?
LB: Incredible because that was my first professional job. I was 12-years-old at the time so I was going back and forth between maths lessons to do read-throughs with Renee and Ewan McGregor. It was just a tad surreal. I had everything planned about what to say to Renee when I met her for the first time, but in the end I left the bathroom at the read-through with wet hands and bumped straight into her. I had to shake her hand with soaking wet hands so I mumbled something and ran off! She’s fantastic though and was so kind and caring.
Life in Squares concludes tonight, 9pm, BBC2