Tuppence Middleton transforms into Elizabeth Taylor ahead of new role
Tuppence Middleton transforms into Elizabeth Taylor as she prepares to portray her on stage… sharing that she ‘completely relates’ to the iconic star
She’s best known for portraying Lucy Smith in period drama Downton Abbey.
But Tuppence Middleton is swapping the maid’s quarter for the life of a legend as she prepares to take on the role of Elizabeth Taylor in production The Motive and the Cue.
Despite the role being quite the shoes to fill, the actress, 36, has shared that she isn’t too nervous ahead of the gig, admitting: ‘Bring it on’.
Talking in a new interview with Tatler, the star admitted to ‘completely relating’ to Elizabeth as she noted their similarities of being ‘total romantics’.
While Tuppence also took to the magazine’s cover with a stunning photoshoot, which saw her transform into the Hollywood legend.
Icon: Tuppence Middleton (left) has transformed into Elizabeth Taylor (right) for a new photoshoot as she prepares to portray her on stage
Tuppence will act alongside actor Johnny Flynn as Elizabeth’s on-off husband Richard Burton in the production, which is written by playwright Jack Thorne and directed by multiple-Oscar-winner Sam Mendes.
Speaking on the new role, and Elizabeth herself, the star has made some comparisons to the two actors lives.
She told Tatler: ‘Liz was a total romantic and I completely relate to that. Most actors are, because we love the idea of dipping our toes into other people’s lives: “What if I’d been born there, or lived in that period?”’
Continuing: ‘I’ve always found it terrifying appearing in public as myself – doing the red carpet, or presenting an award. But playing Liz? Well, bring it on.’
The play will kick off at London’s National Theatre in April, depicting the 1964 scenes which saw police attempting to control the crowds as Elizabeth arrived to Broadway every night to watch her husband perform.
But this buzz could be the hardest thing to recreate, according to Tuppence.
She explains: ‘Almost the hardest thing about it all is to communicate to a younger audience quite how famous Burton and Taylor were’.
Similar: Talking in a new interview with Tatler, the star admitted to ‘completely relating’ to Elizabeth as she noted their similarities of being ‘total romantics’
Co-star: Tuppence will act alongside actor Johnny Flynn (left) as Elizabeth’s on-off husband Richard Burton (right) in the production
See the full feature in the June issue of Tatler available via digital download and on newsstands from Thursday 27th April
During the open and honest interview, Tuppence also detailed her mental health, explaining how she deals with anxiety and OCD.
Noting that she uses rituals, therapy and occasional antidepressants to manage her struggles, the actress explained that now it’s about ‘managing it’.
The star has been candid speaking about the struggles she faces, also detailing the battle during a recent interview with the Guardian.
Referencing rehearsals for the play, she explained how her emetophobia has got in the way of work at times.
‘Johnny and I have to kiss in this [play] and one of my obsessions is being emetophobic, that’s fear of vomiting,’ she explained.
Adding: ‘And so I get preoccupied with, “Oh what if Johnny has norovirus”?’
She first spoke on OCD and anxiety in 2021, explaining at the time that she had developed the former as a child and has found ways of managing it into adulthood.
Former role: Tuppence pictured in Downton Abbey
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