Luke Norris is Dr Dwight Enys
Playing a prisoner of war took a lot of preparation for Luke Norris, whose character Dr Dwight Enys is captured by the French in the third series of Poldark.
Published: 30 May 2017
I watched lots of videos and listened to interviews with people who were suffering after having been to war or going through a difficult experience because, although the show isn’t necessarily as dark as most of these people’s real lives, you also don’t want to trivialise things like that.
He sets the scene.
"At the end of the last series Dwight has been reunited with Caroline but he had already signed up to the Navy and is obliged to go to war. So at the start of series three is away on his posting, on the travail.
"A French fleet wrecks the ship he is serving on and he is thrown into, what is effectively, a prison of war camp. It would have been horrific, there are people being murdered and tortured all around him while he tries to hold it together and save the people he can without proper equipment or supplies."
And in order to look the part Luke wanted to lose some weight.
"I was conscious it may not ring true if I wasn’t a little more angular than usual. So I did a diet and exercise regime to look a bit more drawn. The lack of sleep due to our new baby probably helped too and I got that for free! Perfect timing."
Another element that Luke wanted to delve further into was Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).
"Because of this element which our writer, Debbie Horsfield, has added to Winston Graham’s story, I did a lot of research into PTSD. I watched lots of videos and listened to interviews with people who were suffering after having been to war or going through a difficult experience because, although the show isn’t necessarily as dark as most of these people’s real lives, you also don’t want to trivialise things like that.
"There was no documentation from the period because PTSD was only diagnosed after the First World War but even then it was called shellshock and people weren’t really au fait with it the way we are now. The whole idea of life back then was cheaper in some respects, people were expected to live shorter lives and to endure hardships in a different way and men were expected to just cope in the same way they are now in a lot of societies and cultures. The notion of PTSD playing a role in the way a man’s mind behaves after the event would have been scoffed at."
And what of Dwight and his beloved Caroline Penvenen this series?
"A lot of the things that they feared may be the case when they come together manifest when they do get reunited in the series but because of what they have each been through there is some friction between them.
"Caroline was obviously pining after Dwight and waiting for him to come home but then when he does come home he is not the attentive sweetheart who left, he is brash and difficult and unwilling to let her in to his world."
There are lots of new cast members this series, what do they bring to the process?
"It completely changes the atmosphere on set. The new cast are all really lovely people and they are also younger than a lot of us so there is a lot of enthusiasm and excitement and it reminds the rest of us how lucky we are to be filming this drama. Josh (Agnew), one of the directors, has a real boyish excitement about him as well and Stephen (Woolfenden) too, the other director, had a real enthusiasm and this year everyone felt fortunate to be there.
"That sort of zeal definitely makes the early starts more bearable, particularly when you’re out on location in the woods and it’s freezing cold and raining, it helps to have those personalities around."
Were there any new locations this year that Luke was particularly struck by?
"Bishops Palace in Wells, where the prison scenes were filmed was really incredible. Vast rooms with wonderful ceilings that were beautifully lit by our DOP (Director of Photography) and the art department did an amazing job of making them look authentic. That location definitely sticks out for me because I did a lot of tricky filming there and I am looking forward to seeing how it looks on screen."
And what sort of reception does Luke receive while out filming on location?
"Because I play someone who is morally upright and generally on the right side of things people are very generous and kind to me and assume I will be quite nice. I think Jack (Farthing) has a very different experience because he plays someone who is generally not very nice. I am lucky that I am met with the generosity of spirit that Dwight has with others."
Luke is currently under commission with the Bush theatre to write a play. Another of his works Growth is going back out on tour with Paines Plough this summer.
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.
