Jim Broadbent talks "refreshing" filming change for new movie
Game of Thrones and Harry Potter star Jim Broadbent has hailed the "refreshing" approach to making The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
In the adaptation of the Rachel Joyce novel, Broadbent's character embarks on a 500-mile trek – from Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed – to visit a dying friend in a hospice. Downton Abbey's Penelope Wilton plays Harold's wife Maureen.
In an exclusive interview with Digital Spy, Broadbent weighed in on shooting the scenes chronologically.
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"If it was raining, we filmed in the rain, which is refreshing. It's different," the actor said.
"Because normally if it rains, it is a great crisis and everyone has to stop. But if it was raining on this one, we carried on and filmed in the rain. It was a really nice film to make in that way, because the emotional journey was mirrored by the physical journey as well."
The nature of the story meant that the Oscar-winning star did walk "a lot" while shooting the film, but he added that the crew racked up more steps overall.
"My walking was limited to the bit on camera more or less, then I would go and sit in my trailer and wait, and meanwhile, the crew are running backwards and forwards and doing everything," he explained.
"So actually, I look as if I'm doing all the walking but I probably did less than many."
Related: Jim Broadbent drops a huge spoiler about his Game of Thrones character
Further along, Broadbent spoke on the difficulty of playing someone who'd lost their child.
"When I was a younger actor, and less experienced, it was always that each part was so important. And such a challenge, and I was nervous of it. I think I did carry it around for a while and didn't really shake it off," he admitted.
"Now I think as I've got older, I can much more easily dissociate myself from the day and the role I'm playing and keep it in different compartments."
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is released in UK cinemas on Friday, April 28.
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