Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: How to be a master manipulator Childermass-style
Enzo Cilenti
Actor
Did you know that you have a commanding magnetism on screen, even in scenes where you have few lines?
No I did not know that. And it’s Childermass who does, I don’t.
Is that something you cultivated as part of your character?
Well I mean from a pragmatic point of view, you’ve got to be doing something to make it interesting. You just kind of cheat stuff: have your eyes looking in different directions, make sure they’re hitting the light. The great thing about this was having the book by my side all the way through. It was the bible. So I think, more than any other job, I knew what was going through my character’s head and what the next step would be.
Childermass is brilliant because he’s always planning and plotting – he’s not reacting. He’s usually a few steps ahead. He’s very, very active. He leans on walls but he’s not taking a break, he’s working out how he hopes things will unfold and he’s usually quite successful. And he’s there to push, and to put that firm hand on proceedings should he need to.
Childermass persuades Norrell to go to London - but does he have his own reasons?
Viewers have seen Childermass’ firm hand but it’s more subtle in episodes one to three. What hints can you give the audience about why they should pay attention to Childermass?
Well we don’t know much about him. The Raven King keeps being referred to and we don’t know who it is or if we’ve actually seen that character on screen yet. (Although if you’ve read the book you do.) Maybe it’s Childermass. If you think of the Raven King as some kind of deity, Childermass more than anyone else, other than Vinculus, is connected to him, and that’s why we should keep our eyes open.
Who was your favourite character when you read the scripts?
It was Childermass. And I had a plan B in case I didn’t get that role: Vinculus. He’s just brilliant. I would not do it justice in the way Paul Kaye has, he’s absolutely perfect for it. Vinculus is cool! You know, he’s irreverent.
Members of the York Society of Magicians are greeted with Childermass' own charm
How would you describe the relationship between Childermass and Norrell? Does Childermass’ demeanour suit his position as Norrell’s assistant?
No, it certainly doesn’t, but there’s a lot to not like about Mr Norrell. Eddie Marsan gives a really human portrayal which I wasn’t necessarily expecting, being familiar with the Norrell of the book. The more time I spent with Eddie on set and acting with him, the more I felt a sense of protection towards Norrell. Childermass, there’s a wryness about him, there’s a definite sense of humour about him and he can’t help himself from being sarcastic.
You know, Childermass is Norrell’s fixer. He sorts absolutely everything out for Norrell, so he quite rightly believes, you know, that he deserves to have a little bit of his fun. And Childermass isn’t someone who respects rank for the sake of it.
Enzo (Childermass) with Paul Kaye (Vinculus) between takes
It’s a story about celebrity in some ways.
It certainly is. Of course it’s Mr Segundus who actually writes the piece in the newspaper about Norrell magically bringing the statues to life in York Minster. But Childermass doesn’t tell him to send it, Childermass suggests it. Childermass doesn’t tell him to do anything, he very rarely does.
I believe he asks Segundus whether he knows if local news might feature in London newspapers, to which Segundus says yes. He asks whether they might be interested in it and Segundus says yes, and Childermass says nothing, he just stares at him. And then Segundus eventually relents and says – well, perhaps I should write a letter...
And it’s a testament to the author Susanna Clarke, in that very early moment it crystallises the way Childermass goes about his business and the effect he has on people. The strength and the confidence he has, even though Segundus is theoretically one of his betters, he just stares him out.
Enzo Cilenti plays John Childermass in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell continues on Sundays at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.
Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.
