Charlotte Riley, the 35-year-old actress from Stockton-on-Tees, has revealed how her husband Tom Hardy's northern charm won her over. The couple met on the set of ITV's 2009 adaptation of Wuthering Heights and have since built a family together. Riley, who now stars as Kate Middleton in Mike Bartlett's TV adaptation of King Charles III, shared that her family found it hilarious that someone from Teesside was cast to play the Duchess of Cambridge.
Riley described her unconventional audition for the role, which took place while on holiday in France. She plastered on pale makeup to achieve an 'English rose' look and filmed her try-out using an iPad propped against a window. She admitted that breaking the fourth wall on screen was a powerful experience, reminiscent of House of Cards.
Discussing her portrayal of Kate Middleton, Riley sees the character as a pragmatic CEO of 'Windsor Corp' rather than a Lady Macbeth figure. She believes the real Kate is likely a 'powerhouse behind closed doors' and has accepted her role as 'the queen of column inches' for the sake of the monarchy. Riley researched the role by watching cheesy documentaries and diving into YouTube for unguarded phone footage of the Duchess.
Riley also touched on the challenges of parenting under public scrutiny, noting that she keeps her own family private but acknowledges the immense pressure Kate faces. She expressed admiration for Princes William and Harry's recent mental health advocacy, given their difficult childhoods.
The actress is set to return as May Carleton in the period gangster drama Peaky Blinders this autumn, despite not being horsey in real life. She fondly remembered working with the late Tim Pigott-Smith, who played Prince Charles and offered her wise counsel as she returned to work after becoming a parent.
