John Hollingworth is Captain Henshawe
John Hollingworth who plays Ross Poldark’s right hand man and friend, Captain Henshawe, reveals he owes his new found love of Cornwall to filming Poldark.
Published: 30 May 2017
It was Henshawe’s warmth that initially drew me to the role, that and his relationship with Ross and the fact he is always up for doing whatever needs to be done to help his friend.
"One of the best memories I will cherish from working on Poldark is the amount of time I have spent down in Botallack in St Just on the Cornish coastline.
"I didn’t know Cornwall at all before doing Poldark and maybe one of the biggest things I will take away is an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of coves and moorlands! It is somewhere I have fallen in love with and my wife and I now fantasise about moving down there.
"It is definitely one of the memories I will treasure, standing there and looking out over the sea on those sunny days and being part of an incredible production you can be so proud of. Those moments don’t come around too often."
John reveals what he thinks makes Poldark distinctive from other period dramas.
"What is different about Poldark is that it is not as polished an age as a lot of other period dramas, it is a bit dirtier, there are more horses and mud.
"What is great about the project is that compared with other dramas of that era, Poldark is a bit more aggressive, a bit more real and down in the muck, with people who are struggling to get ahead with their lives.
"That is very much part of the socialist vision behind what Winston Graham has written, an examination of the have-nots and how they progress alongside the emergence of a middle class. It is a really valuable and interesting part of the story. Often period dramas only look at the rich and Poldark looks at the other side of the spectrum too."
However, he believes this is one of many reasons for Poldark’s global success.
"It’s definitely not just one thing that makes it popular and that is part of its charm. None of us knew what a big hit it was going to be and in a way that was brilliant. No one said yes to it because we thought it would be this global success, we said yes because we thought the scripts were fantastic and it was a really interesting world to inhabit.
"It is such an unexpected story, the way Ross (Aidan Turner) and Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) get together, it is brilliant and romantic. It is great to have a drama about someone who treats people well and looks after those less fortunate. That’s the moral that’s at the heart of it; it is brilliantly written Sunday night drama with a conscience."
John tells us what he enjoys most about his character and what is in store this series for him.
"It was Henshawe’s warmth that initially drew me to the role, that and his relationship with Ross and the fact he is always up for doing whatever needs to be done to help his friend.
"With the dastardly character of George Warleggan it is nice to have a decent, good-hearted character too - the law abiding good guy. I feel really lucky that Debbie Horsfield writes such interesting characters. Winston Graham did a fantastic job to begin with and Debbie has done an amazing job of bringing them to life and modernising them slightly, especially when it comes to the smaller characters.
"In series three Henshawe is having the time of his life and has the best story line yet. He is braver, funnier and gets away from the mine. His storyline gravitates away from tin and copper and money counting and it becomes about being a best friend to Ross and supporting Ross and Dr. Dwight Enys (Luke Norris) in their mad endeavours."
Whilst they play close companions on screen, John reveals that him and Aidan have really bonded off screen too.
"I have never been in a scene without Aidan so the journey of Poldark for me, has also been a journey of becoming mates which has been one of the best parts of the job.
"I was at university in Dublin so we knew a lot of the same people and I had previously been in Being Human with Aidan briefly a few years ago and so there were a couple of connections there that allowed us to become friends really quickly.
"It has been amazing to witness the transformation of his career, it’s been a real journey to be on his shoulder and watch what he has been through. The hours that he works on set are so gruelling it has always been fun to have a laugh with our scenes."
Other than building wonderful on and off screen friendships, John has particularly enjoyed another aspect of this project.
"The one thing I have loved almost more than anything is the amount of time on set with the camera crew. We have been blessed to have three amazing crews and I am a camera geek so it is fascinating to learn more about the shots and the lenses and to watch a series of incredible lighting designers go about their work.
"On a long running drama you spend a lot of time with the crew and it is a privilege to work with people at the top of their game, shooting a drama with the quality of a film. Mammoth Screen and BBC One have delivered a product that looks perfectly at home on the big screen. That has been the difference in TV drama in the last ten years. It has been great and I have gone into producing short films and the knowledge I gained having worked with the camera teams on Poldark has been invaluable."
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.
