EXCLUSIVE: Outrageous’ James Purefoy on ‘joy’ of reuniting with co-star as hidden Batman link explained
Two British icons of the screen finally join forces in the new period drama Outrageous, releasing this week on U and U&Drama
Outrageous star James Purefoy has opened up about working with his long-time friend Anna Chancellor for the first time ever in the upcoming period drama.
This scandalous series coming this week on U and U&Drama takes viewers back to the 1930s when the shadow of World War II was beginning to loom.
While Nancy Mitford (played by Bessie Carter) becomes a reputable writer, her sisters follow drastically different career paths.
Under the stern eyes of their parents, David Freeman-Mitford aka ‘Farve’ (Purefoy) and Sydney Bowles aka ‘Muv’ (Chancellor), the family is catapulted into notoriety as the sisters become rebels, socialites and even rub shoulders with fascists.
Speaking to Reach at Outrageous’ London premiere, Purefoy explained his co-star has been a dear friend for years despite never sharing the screen.
“She’s an amazing actress,” he said. “She’s the godmother to my eldest child, I’ve known her 35 years and this is the first time I’ve worked with her.
“It was just a joy working with a really old friend because there’s a lot of shorthand there and it was a very easy fit for us.
“It was just an enormous pleasure every single day.”
Throughout the six-part drama, the Mitford patriarch struggles to keep his foothold in high society following a substantial loss during the Wall Street Crash.
Although he attempts to rule his household with an iron fist, his anarchic daughters have other ideas.
As Britain faced economic turmoil in the years preceding the war, his daughters Diana (Joanna Vanderham) and Unity (Shannon Watson) blindly swear allegiance to the British Union of Fascists.
Meanwhile, Muv is simply desperate for her daughters to find good husbands during an era when family connections meant everything.
“The thing about Anna is she’s so curious about everybody and everything,” Purefoy added.
“She will talk to anybody about anything. And is always interested, and that’s what makes her such a good actress.”
This isn’t the first time Purefoy and Chancellor have been involved in the same project, however.
Chancellor portrayed a fascist herself, the villainous Dr. Frances Gaunt, in the popular Batman prequel series Pennyworth, starring Jack Bannon as the nocturnal hero’s future butler Alfred.
Despite not sharing scenes together, Purefoy also had a major role in the Epix and HBO Max series, playing Captain Gulliver ‘Gully’ Troy, aka Captain Blighty, in the second and third seasons.
As two legendary stars of the British stage and screen, don’t miss the chance to see Purefoy and Chancellor as married aristocrats in this scandalous new drama that truly lives up to its title.
Outrageous premieres Thursday, 19th June on U, U&Drama and BritBox.