Interview with Nico Mirallegro
A chilling three-part drama, Rillington Place is based on the real-life multiple murders carried out by John Christie in Notting Hill in the 1940’s and 50’s.
Published: 22 November 2016
We wanted to tell this story truthfully, how it deserves to be told. To give it the justice it deserves for Timothy Evans and his family.
How much do you know about Timothy Evans’ life?
Timothy Evans was a loving and family orientated man. He wanted to look after them and make them proud. When he was younger he caught tuberculosis in his foot which put him in and out of hospital and that disrupted his schooling (from that people say he wasn't well-educated). He had common sense but just missed some vital years of schooling. Having spoken to family members, he just seemed like such a normal, everyday person who got on with things and worked hard. He loved Beryl and Geraldine very much.
How well do you feel you understand Tim?
Tim was a very complex man. He moved about when he was growing up and never quite settled properly. He loved to tell stories, storifying as he called it, to make people laugh, to make people warm to him. He had this beautiful imagination that life was sweet to mask the hard times of the age. He adopted this persona of a chap around town, a bit of a wideboy in London but reverted to normality when he was back home. It’s interesting to play that as there’s obviously a deeper attachment to why he tells these stories.
How much research did you do for the project?
I read books, statements and court statements, watched documentaries and I spoke to his sister which was a really emotional experience. She was his closest sister. To get the feeling, that aura and to understand how she felt about him, and the love his mother and the rest of the family felt was invaluable source of information.
What would you say has been one of the challenges with the role?
There are only a few moments in this piece where Beryl and Tim are genuinely happy. The rest was deeply emotional. To stay in that frame of mind for two months was challenging.
How did the set help with your performance?
Rillington Place almost acts as a character within itself, it’s incredibly creepy and dark and there are so many crevices and holes. It’s like another side/personality of Christie.
Pat’s set was stunning in the worst possible way. The roof was crumbling, the floorboards built on stages so we get the sound of going up and down the stairs so the Christies can hear us, and it echoes above like it would in a flat. Eerily scary on your own!
How have you found working with the rest of the cast and Craig?
Jodie and I have worked together before and we know each other really well. Jodie’s a dream to work with. She gives you so much. It’s the same with Tim. You just have to watch him and react. He was thoroughly in the character. Samantha Morton is incredible, which is no surprise to anyone. Three people I admire. I’ve learnt a lot.
Working with Craig was wonderful. It’s quite rare that you do something and you get to be so free with it. The script is the script and we have dialogue but once we get on set, he gives you that feeling of complete freedom.
What made you want to take up the role?
To be working with this team of people. everyone that's involved is one thing but the real draw for me was the story. We wanted to tell this story truthfully, how it deserves to be told. To give it the justice it deserves for Timothy Evans and his family. Still after all these years his name hasn't been exonerated for the death of Geraldine. It’s somebody’s life we’re talking about.
