Known for playing Robb Stark in Game of Thrones, a completely different type of period piece, Richard Madden proved that he was the perfect choice to play Prince Charming in Disney’s Cinderella.
As he walked into the room all eyes were definitely planted on the real life Prince Charming. Having just seen the film lest than 24 hours before, we were all still googly-eyed over the love story we had just seen come to life on-screen, then in walks Prince Charming……
Becoming the Prince
He was given the role of Prince Charming after only auditioning once. He actually received the text from Kenneth Branagh and then immediately worried that people would think he was miscast and he wouldn’t live up to the expectations of the playing the Prince. To help him figure out how to play this iconic character, her went back to the original animation to build on that but then gave the ultimate accolades to Kenneth by saying, “– a lot of my Prince is based on Kenneth Branagh “because he is like a true gentleman.”
Once he got the role, he explained “I wanted to make him different.” He wanted the character to be different from the animated Prince Charming and the outdated and old-fashioned view that a woman needs a man to come rescue her. “Not a message I think we should be telling young girls and in this version it’s not that which is great. You’ve got a young man with all of his own problems and a young woman with hers and actually they bring the best out of each other. I think she rescues him as much as he rescues her and that’s why I was really interested in this version.”
Favorite Scene(s)
Richard told us that the scene where the Prince first meets Cinderella in the woods when they are both on horseback is his favorite scene. It was his first day on set and his very first scene with Lily. They were both trying to control the horses and trying to control their undeniable feelings for one another as the Prince and Cinderella.
One of the most intense and pivotal moments in the entire film has to be the ballroom scene where they dance for the very first time. We wondered how hard it was to learn that dance routine because of the circumstances; the dress, the costume, etc.
“It was miserable. I’m not a naturally gifted dancer so I had to kind of train for like 2 or 3 months, 3 or 4 times a week to get myself up to scratch. I wanted to make it look as if he was enjoying it and also that I could just act with Lily and not be thinking about what I’m doing with my feet.”
I wondered, having cried during a few scenes in the movie, were there any scenes that made him get emotional and or cry? Of course, he went right to the scene in the movie that I am sure will make a lot of people cry, the scene with he and Derek (Jacobi), who played the King. “That was a very emotional day but a really good one. I love, I love working with Derek.”
There’s also a scene where Cinderella has an emotional moment with her Father, so Richard explained that Kenneth Branagh wanted the audience to see the characters in a certain light, Cinderella’s as a daughter and the Prince as a son and how they are influenced by their parents.
Game of Thrones to Prince Charming
We wondered if playing Rob Stark helped him in any way in playing Prince Charming. He went on to answer that, of course the horse riding and sword fighting helped him get into character. “….. there are parallels between them I think. Robb Stark and the Prince. They’re both young men that have responsibilities on them that they’ve not asked for and they’re both young men that follow their hearts instead of their heads. ….both of them are young men trying to kind of come into their own.
That’s what was so important about this was that young man questioning what’s going on around him and questioning his father and actually being influenced by this other woman that’s come in with different ideas and knowing in his heart that that’s right. They’re both kind of very different men. It’s nice to play a character — that someone’s trying to kill you or your whole family all the time.”
Lessons Learned
Playing Prince Charming, we wanted to know if he had learned something about himself in this role. He said, “I played characters like Robb Stark star and like the Prince. They have such strong moral compasses. You know they’re really good people and it’s refreshing and it kinda’ reminds me how to have a really good heart. So you know it’s like you know better now that you’ve played someone like that.
She (Lily) had the weight of the movie on her shoulders and she’s a young Actress and it’s a massive piece. And that genuineness…. she does it like kill everything with kindness and she’s genuine and loving and, and caring. And that’s kind of something that you try to take away from the film every day. You kind of go, “You know let’s find the best in this situation and let’s, let’s be as nice as we can.”
The Costumes
When you see the film you will see just why we asked about the costumes and what he thought of them upon seeing them for the first time. “I love Sandy Powell who designed these amazing costumes. And when I first met with her I was really keen to make sure that the Prince retained a masculinity with these costumes ‘cause a lot of times in these Disney films they, they would not be very masculine [AUDIENCE LAUGHS] and they’re really decadent and extravagant.
..that’s what she (Sandy Powell) wanted too and you know they are beautiful and detailed and gorgeous, but also they’re all rigid in practicality. All of them. I mean the boots I’m wearing are great for riding, the tight pants have a stretch in them, which is great for being on a horse. That first jacket I wear sets in a way that’s perfect for being on a horse and how it comes down. So they’re rooted in a practicality.
I mean when I first saw the ballroom outfit and I walk in and it’s like white with silver and sequins and glitter. And I’m like, “Sandy we talked about the masculinity.” [AUDIENCE LAUGHS] We agreed on something and that’s just not it. But actually once you put it on it does make me feel regal.”
When we spoke with Lily she told us about several costume mishaps she had with the dress so we wondered if he had any as well. “Just a lot of self-consciousness you know. [AUDIENCE LAUGHS] You’re in those trousers and you’re like kind of skirting the wall because if you really exposed you wanna’ to cover your butt up [AUDIENCE LAUGHS] and then– Oh I know! And turn the other way and cover that up and but you get used to it eventually.”
Working with Kenneth Branagh
“I loved it. Every day it’s like you’re on set with Kenneth Branagh, and Cate Blanchett, and Stellan Skarsgârd, and Helen Bonham Carter. It’s like kind of a master class and in acting and also just in like how to conduct yourself as an Actor.
Ken’s just amazing because the same amount of detail was put in something like this as it would be into something like MacBeth. He brings out the best in me and that’s why we’re working together again in 2016 because we enjoyed working together.”
Being a Role Model
When asked how it felt to be a role model, he was quick to point out that the “The Prince is the role model not me.” He went on to explain, “I grew up with these Disney films and I have 2 sisters. So they watch these films and say that and this is really where you first encounter death, and love, and good and bad, and that’s what I really wanted to do with this Prince, was make someone, as I said at the start, that’s not that old-fashioned view of a girl needing a guy. I think I wanted to try to make a Prince that young men would have to look up to. A Prince that has a built-in respect for women and a compassion to the people around him, an awareness of his privilege. So if there are little boys that grow up and are influenced by that then I’ll be really honored by it.”
Modern Day Prince Charming
Since Richard has played such an iconic figure, we wondered what he would tell women today what a Prince Charming is? “I think he’s got to have a sense of humor, he’s got to be a gentleman, and he’s got to have a compassion, an awareness of everyone around him and particularly her obviously.”
Cinderella is in theaters NOW!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20DF6U1HcGQ
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Disclosure: I was provided with an all-expense trip to LA by Walt Disney Studios to attend the Red Carpet Premiere of Cinderella. All opinions are 100% my own. This is accordance with Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of. Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
