'The Crown' Season 3: Marion Bailey says a 'glorious bra' stuffed with lentils and birdseed helped her get into Queen Mother's shape
As 'The Crown' sets the stage for its third installment, Marion Bailey succeeds Victoria Hamilton to play Queen Mother in the hotly anticipated Netflix series. As the show takes a leap into the era of 1964-70, it will shed light on big-league events such as the rise of Beatles, England winning the soccer World Cup and the independence of Kenya. If that wasn't all, the series will delve into interpersonal conflicts in the palace.
In an exclusive interview with MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), Bailey teases the events that will be seen in the new season and sheds light on Queen Mother's "multi-faceted" personality and how she stepped up to take the responsibility of being the Queen in her time. The actress also talks about the similarities of her character with her personal traits and says how doing her impressions was the most "challenging" part.
What was the most challenging scene or aspect from Queen Mother's life to portray on screen? Tell us about one thing from her personality that matches yours and one that is extremely distinct from your persona.
Most challenging for me was finding her physically. I have to say that I was enormously helped by the brilliant costume and make-up teams. The Queen Mother was somewhat better endowed than myself and so a glorious bra was made for me, which I understand is stuffed with lentils and birdseed! Once that’s on, I feel I’ve got her shape. I only need to avoid standing too near a bird table. I’ve also got a great wig and first-rate make up artist.
I guess the personality match with me is that we both enjoy the outdoors, good food, and a glass or two of something delicious and intoxicating. The strongest aspect in which we differ would be the fact that I couldn’t in a zillion years have coped with living in the goldfish bowl that is the life of royalty.
In season two, Queen Mother gives the following advice when there is trouble in Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's paradise: “The first 10 years of marriage are just an overture. That there’s often a crisis at 10 years, but then you work it out and settle in and it’s only then that it really gets into its stride.” Does she still play a significant role in counseling her daughter on marriage through seasons three and four?
Well, I don’t want to give away what happens in seasons three and four, but I reckon it’s safe to say that the Queen Mother was always ready to offer guidance and advice to her family on marital matters!
If we turn the pages of history books, we know that Queen Elizabeth lived to a hundred and one years and had an active public life until just a few months before her death. What all aspects of her fascinating persona can we expect to see in 'The Crown' since she was greatly loved by all?
Again, without offering any spoilers, I’d say the Queen Mother was certainly multi-faceted. She’d had some tragedies in life with the death of brothers during the First World War and of course the relatively early death of her husband. She undoubtedly possessed a toughness, strength, and stamina that must have been essential when carrying out her duties, especially during the Second World War when she insisted on staying in London during the blitz. She’d married her husband without any idea that she would one day become Queen, but she certainly stepped up to the plate and got on with a job that she probably never wanted.
Equally, she had a very soft, warm quality and was very cultured. She loved ballet as well as horse racing; she was an excellent and keen angler; she enjoyed a good party and by all accounts had a great sense of mischief.
Is her speculated struggle with colon cancer a part of the new season as her battle with the disease was never made public during her lifetime?
It doesn’t feature. Of course, there were various rumors, not necessarily accurate and my understanding is that she made a good recovery after an operation in her 60s. The new episodes from season three premiere on November 17, 2019, on Netflix and there are speculations about a fictional plotline about Lord Mountbatten and the Queen Mother forcibly splitting Prince Charles and Camilla Shand. In case you missed the first part of the interview, read it here.
