Eleanor Tomlinson is Demelza Poldark

"Ross and Demelza have a realistic relationship and that is what people like about them. It has never been a fairy tale romance. They have a lot of arguments and problems in their marriage but they have two children and so they question what they should do, whether they should stick it out or separate? It is interesting to see how they handle everything from living together to having children and how the threat of other people to a relationship is very genuine.

"It is not solely a modern issue; it is very real and has been going on for generations. The series has such resonance as it makes you realise that the things we deal with today were ever thus. The reality of playing a woman who is in a marriage which isn’t all roses but is complicated and nuanced has been really interesting."

Demelza knows all too well the threat another person can pose to a relationship and that is even more prominent this series.

"Last series ended with Elizabeth finding out she was pregnant and that is very much where we pickup Demelza, waiting to see when this baby comes.

"Whilst Demelza is dealing with the emotions surrounding that, she has decided to stay with her husband through thick and thin, with the hope he will now include her in his decision making and they will handle this and everything else as a team and as the power couple that they are.

"However, Ross slightly falls short of the mark with regards to that as he doesn’t quite know how to handle something like this himself. As a result, he cuts Demelza out which just exhausts her and as the series goes on she is constantly feeling left out and not respected and she becomes distant."

As a result Demelza welcomes the attention of a new man in uniform...

"Ross and Demelza’s relationship becomes a little fractured and she gets a lot of attention from a new young man, Hugh Armitage (played by Josh Whitehouse) who, more than anything, just makes her feel special and attractive whereas Ross has been ignoring her. Demelza is flattered and she begins to fall in love with the idea of being wanted.

"However, it is not a relationship that deliberately comes into the show to create scandal it is more of a slow burn that comes from being left behind by her husband who doesn’t include her in his decisions. It’s more the struggles of a real relationship and of being ignored which allow eyes and hearts to wonder.

"I had read the books so I knew it was coming but I was very excited to see who it would be, who could possibly compete with Ross Poldark…"

Other new cast members come in the form of Demelza’s two brothers Drake and Sam Carne, played by Harry Richardson and Tom York.

"It has been so lovely creating the bond between Demelza and her bothers and it has been really nice to have new actors come in as it gives the whole series a new injection of energy. They are both absolutely brilliant actors and have done a fabulous job with their characters.

"Ross has got quite involved with them too and he particularly warms to Drake. Maybe Ross is feeling guilty about his own actions and so he is anxious to extend open arms to Demelza’s family and tries to do something good by helping her brothers."

Eleanor has enjoyed filming alongside the new cast with the exception of perhaps one scene…

"We have had difficult moments on set in the past with freezing cold sea water or being buffeted by gales but this series was quite a nice shoot for me. There was one moment however when I had to run into a pond to help Drake (Harry Richardson.) The pond absolutely stank of algae so that was pretty grim. Poor Harry was lying face down in it for a solid 40 seconds before I ran in to get him out!"

But generally Eleanor relishes playing one of the feistiest characters in period drama.

"Demelza is such an independent female character who makes her own decisions and cuts out her own path and that is what myself and our audience love about her, that she is a strong and somewhat modern woman for a period drama.

"It’s so rare to come across a character who grows so much, to start off as an urchin mistaken for a boy and to end as the wife of Ross Poldark and Lady of the house is an extraordinary journey to take the character on and it’s been brilliant."

And she reveals the effect playing such a strong character has had on her personally...

"Demelza has taught me a lot about myself and playing her has made me a more confident person. The more I learn about her and the way she handles situations, the more I admire her. I have taken a lot of her on board in my personal life, as I believe she is a great role model for women.

"She is very true to her own beliefs and she has no airs and graces and that’s what I love about her. Demelza is no shrinking violet, she is a strong powerful woman and I enjoy playing a female role that is so liberated. I am all team Demelza."

Character descriptions

Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner)
Ross attempts to deny his nature and isolate himself from the affairs of others but, with the stakes now higher than ever, he must find a compromise between what he wants and the needs of those who depend on him.

Demelza Poldark (Eleanor Tomlinson)
Demelza decides she will no longer be passive in her own life but, in learning to be her own master, she must determine what she truly wants for herself and how far she’s prepared to go for it…

George Warleggan (Jack Farthing)
No longer content to lord over Truro through finance alone, George finds new worlds and opportunities opening to him, but the obstacles he faces turn his journey of ambition into one of discovery on several fronts.

Elizabeth Warleggan (Heida Reed)
Contrary to her expectations, Elizabeth finds herself once again navigating a world of uncertainties and guarding a grave secret. She comes to learn, however, that she wields far more power than she’d previously realised…

Dwight Enys (Luke Norris)
A man of integrity and compassion, Dwight finds himself pushed to his limits by the war with France, battling not only the French but his own demons and the doubts they rouse; both abroad and at home.

Caroline Penvenen (Gabriella Wilde)
Rich, beautiful and clever, Caroline navigates society’s tiers masterfully but finds the complexities of married life, and love, can be altogether more challenging.

Tholly Tregirls (Sean Gilder)
Tholly was a friend of Ross father’s before he fled Cornwall and the law many years ago. His womanising and recklessness haven’t been forgotten, and his ability to stir the adventurer in Ross could spell trouble for all…

Morwenna Chynoweth (Ellise Chappell)
Morwenna is Elizabeth’s cousin, and finds herself in George’s employment to support her sisters and widowed mother. Morwenna soon discovers, however, that there are things more important in life than one’s sense of duty or place…

Sam Carne (Tom York)
Sam arrives in his sister Demelza’s world determined to follow in his father’s footsteps, spreading the Methodist word. But how can Sam profess to save strangers when his own brother courts temptation?

Drake Carne (Harry Richardson)
A good natured free-spirit, Drake has many of the qualities of his sister Demelza. He seeks his own place in the world and finds himself unwilling to settle for the limits life seeks to impose; especially concerning his romantic destiny…

Hugh Armitage (Josh Whitehouse)
As the nephew of Lord Falmouth, Hugh has grown up in the shadow of expectation – a fact he is keenly aware of. But Hugh is also a romantic and wilful. He would do as he chooses with his future, and being true to one’s heart rarely comes without a cost…

Osborne Whitworth (Christian Brassington)
Osborne is from an esteemed family and a reverend. Driven by lustful desires, the widower seeks a new wife and George sees there is a social advantage in helping him…

Emma Tregirls (Ciara Charteris)
Lusty and headstrong, Emma isn’t a follower of anyone. When the Carne brothers arrive with God in tow, Emma is therefore the first to poke fun at Sam’s piousness - but people have a strange way of getting under your skin and, as they say, opposites often attract…

Lord Falmouth (James Wilby)
A man of ancestral power, his will has dictated the people and politics of Truro for generations but Falmouth finds a revolution in thought occurring, one that threatens to upend the status quo…

Sir Francis Basset (John Hopkins)
Sir Francis is one of the wealthiest men in the county but where Basset chooses to ally himself will have significant consequences for the people of Truro…

Tom Harry (Turlough Convey)
Tom Harry is George’s right hand man and delights in carrying out his master’s dirty work. With George’s rising power, Tom Harry finds his own increased – and he’s only too happy to wield it.

Aunt Agatha (Caroline Blakiston)
Resilient and wily as ever, Agatha resists the Warleggan occupation of Trenwith with all the fervour she can muster, sparing what energy she has left to look out for the Poldarks both at home and at Nampara.

Prudie Paynter (Beatie Edney)
Prudie is Nampara’s loyal servant and an increasingly central part of the Poldark unit. For all her bluster, Prudie is as loyal as they come and not averse to voicing her opinion - whether it’s asked for or not!

Ray Penvenen (John Nettles)
Caroline's kindly, sweet-toothed Uncle Ray has raised her since she was orphaned. Ray is one of the county's wealthiest and most powerful gentlemen.

Cary Warleggan (Pip Torrens)
George’s uncle, Cary is shrewd and determined to win the respect of the ruling classes. However, his uncouth manner and lack of humanity works against him.

Captain Henshawe (John Hollingworth)
An old friend of Ross, Henshawe was Mine Captain of Wheal Leisure when Ross’ father was alive. He is well-respected in his field.

Harris Pascoe (Richard Hope)
Ross’ banker and long standing friend, Pascoe is a shrewd businessman. He frequently counsels Ross to be more cautious in his business dealings, and frequently fails.

Reverend Dr Halse (Robin Ellis)
Halse is a powerful Magistrate who has little sympathy for the poor. However, whereas he once held Ross in contempt, he begins to see the value in Ross, and we sense Halse is not as blinkered as we’d reason to believe.

Zacky Martin (Tristan Sturrock)
One of Ross’ oldest and loyalist friends, Zacky has worked in his mines for years and is well respected by both commoners and local gentry alike.

Related Media Centre Links

• Filming started for Poldark Series Three

Related Web Links

• Mammoth Screen