Lena Dunham has opened up on Andrew Scott and Billie Piper’s ‘beautiful connection’ in her new film Catherine Called Birdy.
The medieval comedy, written and directed by the Girls creator, boasts a cast of British legends, including Andrew and Billie alongside Joe Alwyn and Bella Ramsey, with an appearance from Russell Brand.
In among the comedy are some pretty powerful scenes, including one that sees Billie’s Lady Aislinn giving birth, with her husband, Lord Rollo (Andrew) supporting her, and daughter Birdy (Bella) tearfully watching.
‘It was such an honour,’ Lena told Metro.co.uk, before praising Bella’s performance, who nailed the scene in one take.
‘We shot long complete takes rather than shooting it in chunks because I wanted the actors to really get to feel it front to back,’ Lena explained.
‘And then Bella’s coverage was the last that we turned onto and [she’d] been so in the emotion, and also so able to just access it, that it was literally one take of Bella watching, and it produced these beautiful tears.’
‘But that scene was very, very powerful,’ Lena went on. ‘There are times when, as a director, a lot of times you’re so involved and thinking about, “Okay, did I get my shots? Did I get this? Does everyone have what they need?” that maybe you don’t even experience the emotion of a scene completely. You experience it intellectually, but not spiritually until you’re watching in the edit. And that was one scene where live on set, you couldn’t help but just feel every breath.
‘And what I loved is that Andrew and Billie had such a beautiful connection. And they had also given me some really amazing notes on the scene that it inspired the whole monologue and conversation between them. So I feel like everyone had really collaborated to make that scene what it was, and I just felt so lucky.’
Game Of Thrones actress Bella, meanwhile, was more than happy to watch Billie and Andrew at work.
‘I just was really there to watch it and experience Billie Piper’s majesty and wonder in that scene,’ she said.
‘It was amazing for me to watch and to see Billie come alive and really guide the situation.’
Catherine Called Birdy follows a 14-year-old girl (Bella) in Medieval England as she navigates the life and suitors her father (Andrew) has in mind for her.
Lena has previously described it as her ‘longtime passion project’.
Catherine Called Birdy is released on Prime Video on October 7.
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