Downton Abbey star, 69, left with bag over head in graveyard for new show
Phyllis Logan is set to leave her genteel image behind in the quirky new crime series, Murder Most Puzzling.
Playing Cora, she lives in an opulent home with niece Sherry (Charlotte Hope), forming an unexpected pillar of strength after Sherry's traumatic break up. The tie between them is complicated but warm-hearted.
"It's sweet," Phyllis Logan comments. "Even though Sherry gets very frustrated with Cora, they adore each other. Cora didn't have kids, but she and her niece are a real family unit. Cora just wants Sherry to get over her divorce."
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They uproot from London to Bakerbury, a quaint town where the stillness hides murky secrets and murder victims are found with baffling riddles. Enter Cora, known as the Puzzle Lady, whose knack for solving puzzles lands her in hot water with the local constabulary.
"She really interferes with the investigation," Phyllis remarks. "I mean, who the hell does she think she is? But it's so nice to have a woman of a certain age challenging the system."
Cora isn't one to shy away from peril, as Phyllis teases a particularly risky moment for her character. Recalling the experience, Phyllis divulges, "I was on my knees with a plastic bag over my head. I did that in the middle of the night in a graveyard with a smoke machine. It was very atmospheric."
Despite being game for the action, Phyllis didn't perform her own stunts. "There were lots of stunts, like people falling into graves," she shares, "I had a fall so we had a stunt double for that. They were a great team."
Best recognised for her sophisticated roles as Downton Abbey's Mrs Hughes and Lovejoy's Lady Jane Felsham, the 69 year old actress is ditching the corset – and lighting up a cigarette. In this six-part series, Phyllis portrays Cora Felton, a sharp-tongued crossword aficionado with a wild side.
"She's a wonderful breath of fresh air," Phyllis enthuses. "I love the way she drinks Bloody Marys for breakfast and smokes like a chimney. She's pleasant enough, but she really doesn't give a toss. That's what I aspire to be – but not necessarily smoking and drinking vodka."
Cora's been married – and divorced – multiple times, but Phyllis found the chaos exhilarating. "She has this vibrant backdrop to her life," she explains, "Her marriages have all ended in divorce but she'll enter another one. She's still a bit of a romantic. She hasn't turned into an old cynic."
Although seemingly set in the Yorkshire Dales, the show was actually filmed in Northern Ireland, making full use of the atmospheric scenery.
"We used some countryside which could be anywhere," Phyllis reveals, "But it was lovely filming there. It's a great place, and we had a great time."
And there was a personal connection, too. "We filmed in a place outside Belfast called Ballymena," she recalls, "It's where my maternal grandparents were born. They left to go to Scotland."
Co-star Adam Best, who plays lead detective DCI Hooper, was ready to aid her in a personal quest. "He said he'd drive around the area to see if we could find out more about my grandparents," shares Phyllis, "But we never really got the chance to do it."
With hectic schedules, filming for 10-to 12-hour days, there was hardly any time for Phyllis to unwind. "I didn't get a chance to do much socialising," she admits, "I was working most of the time."
Nevertheless, Phyllis cherished the relationships she developed on set with Charlie – known offscreen as Charlotte – and Alistair Brammer, who brings young journalist Anton Grant to life. "Charlotte would go home when she wasn't working," Phyllis reveals.
The camaraderie on set was undeniable. "But we had such a nice time on set. When were waiting for scenes to change around, we'd set up in the green room, which was in somebody's house.
She'd be on the bed and I would be at the end of the bed, using it as my office. We were a right trio with Alistair!" They exchanged everything from tales to treats. "I'm the old granny of the team," Phyllis says in jest.
Originally presented with the option of a flat, Phyllis opted for hotel living and reflects on the choice fondly. "I'd open the curtains and the river would be just there. I found it so soothing and relaxing. I'd sit at the table, order a room service soup and a glass of wine."
Phyllis admitted she enjoys a good brain-teaser when the cameras stop rolling, sharing, "I like doing the cryptic crossword puzzles," and confessing, "It feels so good when it's actually done" – making her the perfect fit to portray the UK's most bizarre detective on screen.
Murder Most Puzzling serves up a delightful blend of mystery with its unique flair and puzzling plot twists that echo the essence of Miss Marple, channelled through Ludwig, all while encapsulated in the character of Cora. She's delightfully disordered, forthright and hell-bent on cracking cases – whether you're on board or not.
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