Pop-Culturalist.com

Jack Lowden and Jeremy Irvine are the stars of the must-see new film Benediction.

Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Terence Davies, Benediction explores the turbulent life of WWI poet Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden). The writer and soldier was a complex man who survived the horrors of fighting in the First World War and was decorated for his bravery but who became a vocal critic of the government’s continuation of the war when he returned from service. His poetry was inspired by his experiences on the Western Front, and he became one of the leading war poets of the era.

Adored by members of the aristocracy as well as stars of London’s literary and stage world, he embarked on affairs with several men including revered actor-singer Ivor Novello (Jeremy Irvine) as he attempted to come to terms with his homosexuality. At the same time, broken by the horror of war, he made his life’s journey a quest for salvation, trying to find it within the conformity of marriage and religion.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Jack and Jeremy about Benediction, the moving script, and more.

PC: Jack, you’ve said in the past that one of the privileges and challenges of being an actor is to make the experiences of the characters you play look and feel real. How did you create the space for yourself to take on Siegfried’s journey as he grapples with his PTSD and exploration of his sexuality?
Jack: I really can’t emphasize enough how much it came from Terence [Davies] and the script. It was a very unique project in the sense that very little was down to our interpretation. It was all Terence. If Terence could have, he could have acted every single part. It was more an exercise in execution and trying to do justice to Terence’s script because he felt the whole thing. It really came down to him, to be honest.

PC: Jeremy, you’ve been a part of a lot of projects that are set in distinct times in history. What is it about period pieces that excite you as a creative? How does that change the way you prepare for a character?
Jeremy: I’d say it doesn’t change the way you prepare, and also it’s not something I actively go looking for. You read good scripts, and those are the ones that you chase and hopefully get cast in. Obviously, directors think I look old-fashioned. [laughs]

PC: There is this interesting relationship that develops between your two characters. What was that collaboration like as you brought that dynamic to life on screen while also filming during a pandemic?
Jeremy: Quietly. [laughs] Jack, do you remember when we had to do a scene where we kissed and then immediately had to put our masks back on?

Jack: Yeah.

Jeremy: That made me laugh because we were in the middle of lockdown. Masks came off. Snog. Then masks back on.

Jack: That’s so true. That was ridiculous. We were terrified of standing in each other’s spaces and sharing cars, but at the end of the day, we had to stick our tongues down each other’s throats. How COVID-safe is that? [laughs] There you go. We were meat-puppet sacrifices every day.

Jeremy: We’ll see if Jack and Jeremy survive. If they do, we’ll let production get ahead on some bigger movies.

PC: The film has made its way around the festival circuit, and it’s been incredibly well received. What do you think has resonated most with audiences? What do you hope they take away after they see it?
Jack: Terence has a very specific way of telling a story. I think the very specific can sometimes be very universal. It’s a very unorthodox way of telling a biography. It’s something that I don’t think people will see coming at the moment. It’s quite a fun piece in that way.

Jeremy: I wasn’t expecting to be moved as much as I was by the film when I saw it. I remember feeling that the script had this strategy to it in how it shows that all these people aren’t allowed to really be themselves and speak out against the war. I bawled over the movie and especially Jack’s performance in it.

PC: You’ve both done it all throughout your career. What was it about this particular character and person that stood out to you? Is there a scene that you’re really excited for audiences to see when the film drops?
Jack: It’s a remarkably talented cast. We’ve said this before: it can be quite a lonely experience, particularly if you’re the lead in a film (speaking from my point of view). I was supported so well by everyone—and not just by their talent but by them as individuals. Jeremy being one of them in particular who really helped me. It was fantastic to be sat across from him. The camaraderie amongst the actors was a very typical British thing. Most actors in Britain don’t really take themselves that seriously. It was a fantastic atmosphere.

Jeremy: To add to that, I didn’t have the pressure that was on Jack in this. It was a great opportunity to have fun with the character and take it as far as Terence would let me.

PC: Besides this film, where can audiences see you next?
Jack: I don’t know. Wherever they want. I want to hopefully go on stage sometime soon. That’s what I’d love to do. I’d really love to do that sometime soon, if I’m allowed.

Jeremy: It’s funny. I was thinking about sending an email to my agent the other day asking about that. I would like to go back and do that. I’ve got a couple of movies coming out—a horror film which I haven’t seen yet, which will be exciting. I haven’t done many of those. I think it’s coming out later in the year and then a TV series as well.

Make sure to follow Jack (Twitter/Instagram) and Jeremy (Instagram). Benediction is out now in select theaters.

Photo Credit: Laurence Cendrowicz / Roadside Attractions