12 8 DECEMBER 2022 News&Views Because only actors who have done it would know how funny, ridiculous and scary that could be.” This, of course, is the famous sequence in which Connie andMellors throw o the shackles of an oppressive society – along with all their clothes – and dance with joyous abandon in a summer downpour. When Joely filmed her version with costar Sean Bean, that didn’t go entirely to plan. “Ken Russell was blasting out music, and there were rainmachines going, and we were dancing around – and then a double decker bus went past, and everyone on the top deck could see right over the wall! Sean and I just looked at each other…” Lawrence’s book is a notoriously racy a air – in 1960, its republication by Penguin sparked the 20th century’s most celebrated obscenity trial, during which the chief prosecutor memorably asked if it was the kind of book “you would wish your wife or servants to read”. And the new version certainly doesn’t spare any blushes when it comes to sex and nudity – though, unlike in Joely’s day, Emma and Jack had the benefit of working with an intimacy coordinator. “I was really glad they had that, because it is very intimate,” says Joely. “I think if you can explore, and take risks, but within the confines of a safe space, then that’s the way to go. I mean, I also got lucky in that Sean Bean is a great actor, and somy experience was tremendously positive.” Recently, Sean caused a stir when, during an interview, he suggested intimacy coordinators “spoil the spontaneity” of sex scenes, adding: “Lady Chatterley was spontaneous. It was a joy. We had a good chemistry between us, and we knew what we were doing was unusual. Because she was married, I was married. We were trying to portray the truth of what DHLawrence wrote.”What did Joelymake of that? “I can’t speak on Sean’s behalf,” she says. “I think there’s room for both. I think that nowwe know about all the horrors that have gone on [on film sets], people do need to be protected. But Emma Thompson has spoken about this – about how she and her fellow actor and the director felt safe enough as a triangle to work it out between themselves. “I think as long as everyone feels safe, and has the power to feel their voice is being heard... And I don’t know, but I have a feeling Sean’s quote was taken out of context. It’s the Yorkshire thing – sometimes you say something, but you don’t mean it literally.” Joely is half-Yorkshire herself – her father was a chemist’s son fromShipley, while her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, was born into theatrical royalty as the daughter of Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. (Laurence Olivier famously announced her arrival into the world on stage during a performance of Hamlet at the Old Vic, with the prophetic words: “A great actress has been born this night.”) On the day Weekend meets Joely, the papers are full of pictures of her family’s visit to BuckinghamPalace the previous afternoon, for her mother’s investiture as a Dame Commander. “It was really special,” she smiles. “There was something verymoving about it – the fact that it mademy mum so happy. It was a beautiful moment.” Not everyone is as impressed by Dame Vanessa’s long stage and screen career, however. “A few years ago, I was withmy mumwhen someone said to her: ‘Do you workmuch? The Do you like to cook? “I love to cook. I’ve been nding that cooking is a great form of relaxation for me. I like the creativity, and the busyness of it. I plucked and cooked game the other week. I did go veggie for a while, but found my energy was dropping, so I thought: ‘If I’m going to eat meat, I need to know the process.’ Mellors would be proud.” Favourite cuisine? “Well, my mother is married to an Italian [actor and director Franco Nero] and I went to a French school, so there’s also that side of it. What’s amazing is you can get everything now from supermarkets or farmers’ markets. I’m a big fan of my local farmers’ market.” Do you eat in front of the telly? “Oh my God, yes. Sitdown dinners are only for the weekend, when people come round.” A LIFE ON SCREEN Joely as Mrs Bolton in Lady Chatterley’s Lover (below left); as the titular character with Sean Bean in the 1993 version (below right); with her mother and older sister Natasha in 1967 (bottom right) ‘I’ve never just put on a costume and turned up. I’m interested in playing characters that have life experience’ F O O D B I T E S Photographs: Craig Gibson/StillMoving Images for Net ix, Parisa Taghizadeh:Net ix © 2022, Shutterstock, Alamy Stock Photo
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