A) I’ve just wrapped on a project called “Miss Scarlet and the Duke.” A new TV series by A and E that will air on PBS in the new year. It’s a detective show set in Victorian London that follows a young woman, Eliza Scarlet, trying to establish herself as a respected female detective. It’s wonderfully punchy and witty. I can’t wait for people to see it.
Declan O’Dwyer, director of the upcoming Miss Scarlet and The Duke, graciously agreed to do this short Q&A with our admin exclusively for Andrew-Gower.co.uk. Read what he had to say about the series, working with Andrew Gower and his favourite pizza topping!
The Irish born director, writer and producer previously worked on a number of BBC productions (Robin Hood, Merlin) and directed the original pilot of Being Human. He was a writer and director for the History Channel documentary Barbarians Rising and was nominated for an EMMY award in 2019 for his work on Free Rein. In 2014 Declan O’Dwyer was the first international signing from The Black List. In summer 2019 he directed all 6 episodes of period crime drama Miss Scarlet and The Duke, created by Rachael New and starring Kate Phillips, Stuart Martin and Andrew Gower.
What can fans expect from Miss Scarlet and the Duke? How would you describe the overall tone of the series?
Miss Scarlet and the Duke is the story of the first female detective in Victorian London. Conjured from the mind of Rachael New. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously – but it does expose the prejudices society put on women in the Victorian era and draws many parallels to society today. But, all that said – it is a fun show – with the relationship between Miss Scarlet, and the Duke at its core.
In a comment I read someone saying Miss Scarlet sounds like “Remington Steele in Victorian times”. Would you say this is an appropriate comparison?
Ha! I’d not heard that one. If comparisons have to be drawn (they always will) I would say it’s more like a Victorian Moonlighting. But hey, I loved Remington Steele – and it’s another good reference.
Can you tell us a little about Rupert Parker, the character Andrew Gower is playing? Who is he? And I must add that the moustache is fabulous!
At the moment, I can tell you very little about Rupert Parker I’m afraid. I will say only this, he is a man ‘out of time’ with Victorian London.
Inevitable question: how was working with Andrew Gower?
What’s it like to work with Mr Gower? Well, first and foremost he’s a beautiful human being – so it was always a joy having him on set. He’s a proper laugh to have around – always brought amazing energy. He’s a grafter as well, the consummate, consummate professional. I’d jump through fire to work with him again, any day of the week, twice on Sunday.
Andrew Gower as Rupert Parker in Miss Scarlet and The Duke
Do you have a story about filming that you can share? Something that was especially challenging, something funny that happened, or a favourite set?
Too many to mention. And probably many I can’t, or shouldn’t – in a good way. The schedule was extremely challenging. We shot all six episodes in 51 days. We often had to shoot up to 7 pages a day. That’s very tough on a crew (especially shooting a period piece) but it is especially tough on the actors (imagine memorising 7 pages of dialogue – day in day out). Kate Phillips lead from the front. She was amazing. Always on it. Never complained. (and she’s brilliant in it).
I have to say, despite the schedule pressures (we shot the show in Dublin, doubling for Victorian London) the crew were magnificent and the set was an absolute giggle.
Miss Scarlet and The Duke sets in Dublin (Ireland)
On Miss Scarlet you basically worked with two leading ladies: show creator Rachael New and Kate Phillips, who plays Miss Scarlet.
Haha. Yes! They are one in the same. Miss Scarlet is the very thinly veiled alter ego of Rachael New. It wouldn’t surprise me if Rachael is wearing Miss Scarlet’s costume right now as she writes series two.
Rachael is the creator/Showrunner (she’s in charge basically) and has built this fantastic world for us to play in. Kate brings Eliza Scarlet to life (as Stuart does with The Duke). And they are a really great fun to watch. Their chemistry and relationship is magic. They got on like a house on fire also, so that helps.
But yes – two leading ladies. I consider that an honour.
Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet / Director Declan O’Dwyer and Creator Rachael New
How do you feel about women taking over and being more and more in control in film business?
I’ve never known it any different to be honest, Isabel. Throughout my career I’ve always worked alongside and for amazing female writers, producers and executives. The change I can see, and it’s a very positive one, is more stories come from the female gaze. And that can only be a good thing.
You’re a director, a writer and a producer. Do you have a preference?
Directing. Hands down. I hate writing. I only ever started writing – because I wasn’t getting offered the kind of scripts I wanted to make. Rather than moan about it – I wrote stuff. I was very fortunate, people liked it. It opened doors in Hollyweird. (Not a typo).
Have you always wanted to be a director?
No, I aways wanted to be a movie star. Not an actor – a movie star. But I can’t act for toffee. Best for everyone that I stay behind the camera – and aim it at people like Andrew Gower.
Andrew Gower in Miss Scarlet and The Duke
Is it true that you always wear a tuxedo on the first day of filming?
Yes – the tuxedo thing on the first day is true. Be it in jungle or desert, rain or snow. It harks back to my very first directing gig. It was an in-joke with the crew, about being out at an awards ceremony the night before – and going straight to work.
Eleven years ago, you directed a pilot episode – starring Andrea Riseborough as Ghost Annie – which was later picked up as a TV show which later had Andrew Gower in his breakthrough role, who later starred with Andrea Riseborough in Black Mirror and now you worked with him on Miss Scarlet. Six degrees of Kevin Bacon or does the UK really only have 12 actors?
Andrea Riseborough, Russell Tovey and Guy Flanagan in the original Being Human pilot
Is there a question you always wanted to be asked in an interview but no-one ever thought to ask you?
What’s your favourite pizza? Mine’s a simple Margarita.
Thank you so very much, Mr O’Dwyer, for agreeing to answer our questions. We‘re really excited about Miss Scarlet and the Duke and can‘t wait to see it!
Thank you for asking me to do this. It was fun.
Miss Scarlet and The Duke is scheduled to be released on PBS in the USA in early 2020.
They had a few nice things to say about the cast, …
BEACHAM: I love our cast. I adore them. First of all, they’re such kind and generous people, and they’re just a genuine pleasure to be around. […] But also, they’re incredibly talented. We have actors who you could give garbage, and they could make it look art.
… shed some light on where those unusual character names come from, …
BEACHAM: […] I got Imogen Spurnrose ‘cause I was reading a poem, and the end of one line was “spurn” and the beginning of the next line was “rose,” or something like that. It’s fun, finding those names that feel right. […] I want to find the sound that says who the character is.
… and how far ahead they’re making plans for the series, …
GUGGENHEIM: We talked a lot about where Season 2 would go, on set, and in talking about Season 2, we’ve already outlined and talked about Seasons 3 and 4.
Andrew Gower: I’m handed a gift, basically. In the sense that before you even meet me, or when you meet me, I’m holding this family secret. […] For me, gold dust to play.
Fans and critics unanimously agree that the Beauty and the Beast like love story between Imogen Spurnrose (Tamzin Merchant) and Mr Agreus (David Gyasi) is one of the most compelling and intriguing storylines in Carnival Row‘s first season.
Mangala Dilip (meaww.com) talked to both actors and Andrew Gower (who plays Imogen’s brother Ezra) about their characters.
[Ezra] is probably one of the most ignorant characters I’ve ever played, maybe will play, but the beauty of ignorance is there’s always the revelation with those characters when something happens and when the truths hit home.
On the question what attracted them to their respective characters, Andrew answered:
I hadn’t read a script that has female characters so shaped and so formed and living and challenging the men in a Victorian period film is something that is really refreshing. […] That sort of works for me right now as an actor who is attracted to those projects consistently, and that is the work I’ve done in the past and this specifically is the one that I went, “Ah, we’re dealing with female characters that we haven’t dealt with before, and I get to be in scenes with them.
We can’t wait to see Andrew in yet another series set in Victorian times (the “real” one this time) with a strong female lead in Miss Scarlet and the Duke!
He further explained about his Carnival Row character Ezra and how he approached him:
I think a lot of people like to keep things out of how they are because they’re terrified of change. Why do you put a woman in a corset to stop her challenging you? Why do women and men sit in different rooms so they can’t gossip? I read this etiquette book to play Ezra and it was really helpful, because every time I was in a scene with my sister [Imogen], she was breaking every etiquette rule in that book, so basically, that’s obviously going to make me angry because she’s not abiding…
Andrew was very philosophical about [expectations being a tricky thing], saying “People are gonna like the show, and people are not gonna like the show. But that in itself is the show.” […]
Andrew had the perfect example […], in the way he approached a character like Ezra, who is very much not the hero of this tale. “I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t read anybody’s storyline other than my own because I was like: That’s what Ezra would do.”
In her review of the show Lissette Lanuza Sáenz also added:
[…] the storyline involving Imogen, Agreus and Ezra [is] the strongest of them all. In fact, Imogen’s journey throughout the series, though a little predictable, has enough gravitas to it that in the end, I didn’t just feel for her, I wanted her to win, and Ezra’s turn as, well, a Victorian man, through and through, is acted so convincingly that you can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.
Andrew Gower attended the Carnival Row world premiere at the famous TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood on Wednesday 21 August 2019. We’ve collected a series of interviews with him from the red carpet at the LA screening.
Watch the videos below to see what Andrew has to say about the Victorian noir series, his character Ezra Spurnrose and what viewers can expect. Enjoy!
Visit our Gallery with more pictures from the event and read all newsCarnival Row!
Did you attend the Outlander convention in New Jersey this weekend?
We are still trying to find more pictures of Andrew Gower from this event!
If you took any pictures yourself OR saw any online, please contact us! We’d love to add them to our gallery.
Photographer Terri Squires gave us friendly permission to use her set of pictures from Andrew’s panels on Saturday (18 August) and Sunday (19 August) and you can find them in our gallery.
Please feel free to use and share our pictures but we’d kindly ask you to not remove the watermark and give proper credit to us. In case of doubt or if you prefer an un-watermarked version, please contact us first!
Please feel free to use and share our pictures but we’d kindly ask you to not remove the watermark and give proper credit to us. In case of doubt or if you prefer an un-watermarked version, please contact us first!
Our gallery has been updated with complete sets of pictures from Andrew Gower‘s panels with co-stars Stephen Walters and Stanley Weber at the Outlander Vegas convention last weekend. It sure looks like everyone had a great time!
Please feel free to use and share our pictures but we’d kindly ask you to not remove the watermark and give proper credit to us. In case of doubt or if you prefer an un-watermarked version, please contact us first!
We got some more information on Ezra Spurnrose, Andrew Gower‘s character in Carnival Row, and Andrew confirms he will be a series regular.
He also gave us an update on Humpty Dumpty, the documentary about Merseybeats singer Tommy Quickly that he is developing with fellow Liverpudlian actor Stephen Walters.
We filmed a lot of it but it has been delayed and we are hoping to have something to show people by the end of this year.
Double Yay interview Andrew Gower about appearing in the Nutritiously Nicola!web series. They talk to Andrew about abs, beach bodies, favourite foods, instagram, and Guy Titt.
ETA: Unfortunately, the video is currently unavailable but you can visit our Gallery to see all our super cute screencaps!
The National Museum Scotland teamed up with Historic Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and the Royal Collection Trust to bring you a guide to 26 of Scotland’s historic Jacobite sites. Delve into a fascinating period of loyalty, loss, exile, retribution and risings. Visit sites of victory and defeat and discover the ill-fated campaigns to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British throne.
Even Bonnie Prince Charlie himself – aka Outlander actor Andrew Gower – thinks it’s a good idea!
Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this clip!
Andrew plays the Prince in the TV adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling books. (…) Find out what he thought of the exhibition and how he felt coming face to face with objects connected to a historical character he knows so well.
Finally re-united, Andrew Gower and Stephen Walters posted this video on Twitter to thank their fans with their very own version of the popular Beatles song “Don’t let me down” for the continued support of their “passion project” Humpty Dumpty on Kickstarter. The campaign reached an amazing £15,000 recently.
The Kickstarter page will remain open until 8 July 2017 and please keep tweeting and re-tweeting the link! More support, financially and by sharing the link on Social Media will be a “huge help” to Andrew and Stephen and their micro-budget film!
Outlander Podcast features Andrew Gower in their episode 156 talking with him about all things Outlander, his character Bonnie Prince Charles Edward Stuart and the upcoming ScotCon.
Andrew’s part covers approx. the first 20mins of the programme.
[Update: Andrew’s appearance at ScotCon was eventually cancelled.]
In this episode, we share our interviews with Outlander composer, Bear McCreary, as well as our very own Bonnie Prince Charlie, Andrew Gower, and learn more about the upcoming ScotCon. We also wrap up our San Diego Comic Con redux and chat with Star Trek’s Jason Matthew Smith and Sharknado 4’s Caroline Williams.
Here’s another interview with Andrew Gower about playing Winston Smith in 1984 and what tempted him to take on the part. Being Human and Outlander (and their loyal fanbases) get a notable mention, too.
You’ve done some beloved dramas, like Being Human and Outlander. What’s the fan response been like?
Yes, both Being Human and Outlander are known for their loyal fanbases. The beauty of both of those jobs was that the characters were very removed from me. So I’ve been lucky to get off scot-free, without any strange encounters. The wigs, blood and strange onscreen faces/voices – they haven’t found their way into my day-to-day life. Yet.
Theatre.com talked to Andrew Gower about playing the lead in 1984 and his time as Cutler on Being Human.
You graduated from drama school [the Oxford School of Drama] six years ago but are only now making your West End debut.
Yeah, which is funny because when I left drama school, I always envisaged that my career would be on stage; I never saw it going down the route of TV and film, so for this to be only my third theater job and in something so incredible and illustrious is really amazing.
Only one week away from the big Outlander season 2 finale, Yahoo Entertainment “tracked [Andrew] Gower down by phone in England — where he is doing a play and was on his merry way to get a haircut — to ask about all things Bonnie, from wigs and catchphrase drinking games to how he researched the role and his favorite scenes.”
Watch this video with a few short statements by visitors and cast of 1984during press night at The Playhouse London, including Andrew Gower (Winston Smith).
If ever I was to say to the younger generation, now is the time to come and see this.
Visit our 1984 Gallery for more pictures from that evening.
Access Hollywood released an interview with Graham McTavish (Dougal McKenzie) and Andrew Gower (Bonnie Prince Charlie) about Outlander episode 2×10 “Prestonpans”.
Graham McTavish was full of praise for his co-star’s acting:
“One of the things that I loved about what Andrew did with the part was how he physically created the Prince,” Graham said, when we asked him about working with the Season 2 “Outlander” actor. […]
“[Andrew] made some really great [acting] choices with that.”
The article also mentions Andrew’s ongoing rehearsals for 1984 in London’s West End.
Access Hollywood conducted a Q&A with Andrew about his role as Prince Charles Edward Stuart on Starz’ hit TV show Outlander.
Andrew (who Sam Heughan has praised, calling him “magnificent in the role”) hit the books before slipping on the salmon-colored silk coat of his “Outlander” character, diving deeply into the details, all the way down to the accent. In a new interview, he told Access Hollywood more about his preparation for the role, and offered insight into his character’s tearful reaction after the loss of the cargo in Saturday night’s episode.
A video of the making of “The Return of Sherlock”, the episode in season 7 of Murdoch Mysteries in which Andrew Gower reprises his role as Sherlock Holmes, has been added to the CBC website.
Infamous detective Sherlock Holmes finds himself entwined in another of Murdoch’s cases this season. Writer Carol Hay talks about why they brought him back into Murdoch’s world, and returning actor Andrew Gower offers insights into how he prepared to play such a beloved icon the second time around.
The lovely ladies at Omnia, a free online zine, have included an article about Andrew Gower in their latest edition.
He’s very unassuming, small and skinny and rather awkward, but he’s an excellent actor, very emotive and funny, and absolutely deserving of everything good that comes his way.
Damien Molony has been interviewed by Spotlight about his nomination for the prize in 2011 and his career since then. There are a couple of questions about Andrew Gower and their work together on Being Human:
Did Andrew Gower [2010 Spotlight Prize winner] try to give you any tips?
We didn’t actually shoot anything together until episode seven so we didn’t really talk about it that much. He used to give me encouragement and I would try and do the same because I think he is absolutely amazing, a brilliant actor. He goes into so much depth with his preparation. I learnt a lot from just watching him rather than him teaching me.
Mark Gatiss has been interviewed by EW.com about the finale of Being Human season 4, “War Child”. It’s a great little interview, made all the better by the question about the trailer:
Can you explain why he’s rubbing Cutler’s face in the preview?
Because I wanted to. I said to Andrew [Gower], “I just got an idea. I should run my hand down your face and stick my finger into your mouth. Is that alright?” And he said, “Yeah, whatever you like.” So I did it. What I like about it is it’s so invasive. First of all, he has those filthy fingernails. I thought, he regards this man as less than the dirt on his shoes and he should just show it. It’s also slightly pervy. I enjoyed that.
Entertainment Weekly have posted an interview with Andrew Gower about episode 6 of Being Human season 4 (“Puppy Love“). The interview covers Cutler’s backstory, his last vestiges of humanity and how he based some of Cutler’s mannerisms on Ian Curtis of Joy Division.
Cutler likes other people to do the work for him—and manipulation is one of the things he’s very good at.
He said: “It was very exciting and unexpected. My mum was away and I couldn’t get hold of anyone so I was just sat on the tube grinning with a cheque in my hand and a bunch of flowers.”
Digital Spy have uploaded an interview with the cast of Frankenstein’s Wedding, including interviews with Andrew as well as David Harewood and Lacey Turner.
The Liverpool Echo have published a long interview with Andrew following the screening of the first episode of Monroe and previewing next month’s Frankenstein’s Wedding. It also covers his life in Liverpool before he left to attend the Oxford School of Drama, and Andrew talks about his love for The Beatles and his music project Emerson.
