I always knew Matilda was gifted, so it was no
surprise to me when she said she wanted to get into
screenwriting. She’s a born observer and can really
convey the human psyche. She has also become a really
wonderful friend — I forget she’s my kid.
Matilda
I was extremely shy growing up. I wouldn’t want to
talk about things with Mum, which I think was a great
source of frustration to her because she was always
trying to get me to open up. I was just naturally in my
own head, and I lost myself in books and writing. I think
it took until I was teenager for that to change. By then
I loved talking to my mum and hearing what she had
to say. We would lie in my bed for hours, chatting and
psychoanalysing things. She always really listened.
It wasn’t until I got to uni that I truly grasped the quirks
of my childhood. Everyone had spent their formative
years doing serious things, whereas I’d grown up
surrounded by the arts and entertainment, with lots of
adventure. It was hugely exciting going to visit Mum and
Dad on set all over the world. I loved seeing Mum dressed
up as Lady Cora on the Downton set at Highclere. The
detail that goes into producing an authentic period
drama is phenomenal. I remember the props people
PORTRAIT BY ANNA BATCHELOR
stRanGe
habits
Elizabeth
on Matilda
Her expressions
— she just
comes up with
the most quirky
looks that kill her
father and meMatilda on
Elizabeth
Mum’s ability to
get lost in the
car. As kids we
were lucky to get
where we were
going. Thank
God for sat-nav!doing a stamp book that was only going to be on screen
for seconds, and how much attention they put into it.
Mum always let me be who I was. That was striking
because I went to a very intense, academic all-girls
school, where my friends were shoehorned into their
future careers. It was so nice to come home and not get
that stress. Having parents in the business definitely
influenced my decision to become a writer but that
didn’t make it easier. Until I found confidence I was
always comparing myself to them and thinking I would
be seen as a failure. I love being able to bounce my ideas
off them and get their feedback on my writing.
After four years living on my own I was back at home
for lockdowns 1 and 2. Suddenly my life hadn’t changed
since I was 14. But it was a really beautiful time too
— we’re a very close family but we’d been so busy in
recent years. I moved in with my boyfriend in
Hammersmith back in October but I still speak to
Mum on a daily basis, and it’s not just a superficial
“How are you? Great ...” chat. It never is with Mum nInterviews by Sarah Ewing
Downton Abbey: A New Era is released in UK
cinemas on April 29. Matilda’s comedy drama
Dinosaur is available on BBC iPlayerThe Sunday Times Magazine • 9