Poldark Cast say Goodbye to Heida Reed

Poldark's cast and crew say farewell to Heida Reed who plays Elizabeth. Via Masterpiece PBS

Poldark series 4 Episode 8 Clip

"I would prefer the baby to be born in November" Using a false name, Elizabeth explains to the doctor how she would prefer the birth to be earlier than expected. The doctor agrees to mix a potion but warns of complications.

Poldark S4: Heida Reed is Elizabeth Warleggan

Heida Reed and Jack farthing as Elizabeth and George Warleggan  Photo: BBC

Heida Reed has enjoyed her character, Elizabeth Warleggan, raising her social game and embracing her new position in society this series.

‘This series is really exciting for Elizabeth as we finally see her come out of her shell and be a lady of society. Elizabeth was born to be admired, to charm people, wear nice clothes and have interesting conversations with the best of society and she is finally able to do that without having to worry too much about anything else.

'It has taken her a very long time to get there so she is really trying to enjoy and make the most of it, whether she is in London or Cornwall. She thoroughly enjoys being in London because it is presents the opportunity of raising her social game, incorporating new people into her circle and also seeing what is new fashion wise.’

The later time period of series four, as well as the new setting of London, brings a great shift in the fashions and thus, costumes of Poldark this year. Heida reveals that she wasn’t initially too excited about this…

‘One of my favourite periods of all time, visually, was the period we started in at the very beginning of the show when Ross (Aidan Turner) goes off to war. That style, with the tiny waists and the billowing skirts created such beautiful silhouettes. It is uncomfortable  to wear that sort of style for a long period of time but it looks amazing. So I wasn’t, at first, super enthusiastic about changing the style because it was such a drastic change but the costume designer, Howard Burden, has done such an incredible job at making us look gorgeous and the corsets are different and in a lot of ways more comfortable so that was a nice change. I actually ended up liking the cut and fabrics way more than I anticipated.’

Something else that was new for Heida this series was having a teenage son.

‘Geoffrey Charles is all grown up this series and it was definitely a shock showing up to rehearsals, before series four, and meeting Louis (Davison). Louis is older than he plays and is really tall which is funny because it suddenly made me feel very old. I have been so lucky with all of the brilliant actors who have played Geoffrey Charles. It’s great to get to move that relationship forward and it is fun to play a mother who is struggling with her teenage son who is getting up to all sorts of no good. It is a different beat to play and is something I haven’t done before.

‘Geoffrey Charles is Elizabeth’s pride and joy and Debbie (Horsfield) and I have always talked about the fact that he is the only thing Elizabeth hasn’t messed up and hasn’t got anything to hide about. She loves him like nothing else in her life. It is obviously sad for her that George (Jack Farthing) will never embrace him as much as she would like him to. So the fact that Ross is in London to help out and keep an eye on him means the world to Elizabeth. They handle it very well and very delicately in terms of making their friendship about being grownups who are now friends who also both care for Geoffrey Charles.’

Elizabeth’s husband, George Warleggan is in London pursuing a political career. Heida describes how Elizabeth has become his well-connected accomplice...

‘They’re definitely a bit of a power couple and there is a recognisable Macbeth element there, just not as morbid. Elizabeth is very good at turning a blind eye to the more severe things that George gets up to. She sees what she wants to see in him and that is why she loves him so much. People may think that she is trapped in a loveless marriage and they may not understand why she has married him. At first it had everything to do with security but now there is a real mutual love, respect and understanding. They really get off on aiding each other in their rise to the top, within their world. She is the perfect right hand woman, the perfect partner for him and he is brilliant for her as well.

‘This series George and Elizabeth are very happy. It has taken a lot to get there and for the storm to calm but they finally get to be what they want to be and there is a great respect and love between them now. That was so much fun for Jack and I, who have been partners for three years on Poldark.

'We finally got to play a happy couple and it is a different experience. It is a lot of fun, especially when you do it with your friend who you know and who you have worked alongside for a such long time. Being in a happy relationship with George made me really care for them as a couple this series. For a brief moment they have everything they have ever wanted.'

And Heida can finally see what it is Elizabeth sees in George...

‘I always understood how George was viewed and why people didn’t understand why Elizabeth would marry him but for the first time this series I loved George. I know he doesn’t always do the right thing and that he isn’t always a stand up man but there is something about him and about his progression as a character this series that is really great. He is definitely not one-dimensional, there are many layers to him and I hope that audiences see that. So much of what he does comes from a real love for Elizabeth and that is true and pure, he truly loves her and is terrified of losing her.’

Source: BBC Media Centre

Aidan Turner Talks Poldark S4

Eleanor Tomlinson Talks Poldark S4
Poldark S4: Max Bennett is Monk Adderley

Poldark S4: Rebecca Front is Lady Whitworth
Jack Farthing Talks George Warleggan
Poldark S4: Gabriella Wilde is Caroline Enys
Poldark S4: Luke Norris is Dwight Enys
Poldark S4: Christian Brassington Talks Reverend Osborne Whitworth
Poldark S4: Ellise Chappell is Morwenna Whitworth
Poldark S4: Harry Richardson is Drake Carne
Beatie Edney Talks Poldark S4
Poldark S4: Tom York is Sam Carne
Poldark S4: Ciara Charteris is Emma Tregirls

Dressing the Women from 'Poldark'

Have you ever wondered if Demelza's red ball gown in Poldark series two survived its dip in the sea? I know I have and now there's the chance to see just how good it looks at a fabulous exhibition at Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery.

Dressing the Women from Poldark  has dresses worn by Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson), Elizabeth (Heida Reed), Verity (Ruby Bentall) and Caroline (Gabriella Wilde) and includes Demelza's ball gown.  The costumes are on display this summer and entrance is free.

Dressing the Women from Poldark runs until 10 September at  Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery, Riverlsey Park, Coton Road, Nuneaton, CV11 5TU. The venue is about a ten minute walk from the train station.
The opening times are: Tuesday - Saturday: 10.30 am - 4.30 pm    Sunday 2.00 - 4.30 pm.  Closed Mondays except Bank Holiday Monday when it is open 10.30 am - 4.30 pm.

It's really too good to miss!

'Poldark' TV Tie-Ins Available for Pre-order

Poldark series three is about to hit our TV screens and publisher Pan Macmillan is marking the occasion with the release of these super TV tie-in editions of the books The Black Moon and The Four Swans on which Poldark S3 is based (series three covers all of The Black Moon and half of The Four Swans. The other half of The Four Swans will be covered in series four along with all of The Angry Tide).

The stunning covers feature Elizabeth (The Black Moon) and Caroline (The Four Swans).

The books are due for release on 1 June 2017 but you can pre-order them now from Amazon price £7.99 each.

Pre-order The Black Moon

Pre-order The Four Swans

Related links:

• 'Poldark' Series Four gets the Go-ahead
• 'Poldark' Series 3 UK and US Air Dates!

Getting to Know Poldark's Heida Reed

If you want to know more about Heida Reed, who plays Elizabeth in BBC's Poldark, you might want to start by getting her name right. Her real name is Heida (pronounced "Hay-da") Run Sigurdardottir. Sounds Icelandic, right? Well, it is!

Heida came to London at the age of 20 to study drama, but realized that her Icelandic accent and last name set her apart from the other girls in a way that she didn't see as advantageous. "It was a realisation in drama school that I didn't want to be in a bracket on my own," she told The Herald Scotland. "I wanted to go up against the best girls in my year, the talented girls who were getting all the good parts. I felt I could do that but I had to convince everyone that I can. I had a very good speech coach, and instead of changing my accent when performing, I just decided to do it overall. And then I was advised to change my name. Nobody can pronounce my last name anyway."

When asked if she still thinks in Icelandic, she responded, "It completely depends on what's going on in my head. I think I mostly think in English. There's a very strange thing that happens sometimes -- this might be a bit dramatic -- but if I really need to go deeper within myself it's sometimes nice for me to switch into an Icelandic train of thought. It brings out something different."

While working on Poldark, Heida found that she was still setting herself apart, or rather, her character's hair and costume were. "I had the most hair which means my pick-up call is the earliest. Five am." And though it may look lovely on screen, the best part about wearing a corset was getting to take it off. She said, "There's an almost euphoric experience when your ribs would expand and the air would come back in. The sense of freedom."

To learn more about Heida -- her upbringing, her stance on broken hearts, her early acting career, and how she would have felt to be in Elizabeth's shoes -- read the full interview at The Herald Scotland.

Trailer for 'Poldark' Episode 2

In this trailer for Episode 2 of  Poldark we see Captain Blamey (Richard Harrington) duelling with Francis (Kyle Soller) and Ross' (Aidan Turner) intimate dance with Elizabeth (Heida Reed).  Enjoy!

Poldark Hairstyles

Here's a little look at some of the hairstyles we'll see in Poldark.

Photo credit Laura Viana da Silva

Photo credit Laura Viana da Silva

Hair by Laura Viana da Silva, make-up artist and hair stylist for Elizabeth (Heida Reed) in Poldark.

Laura Viana da Silva: Elizabeth's Hair and Makeup Artist

International celebrity Hair and Make-up Artist Laura Viana da Silva is Elizabeth's (Heida Reid's) make-up and hair stylist on Poldark. Laura is an expert in period styling and her job is to realise the designs Hair and Make-up Designer Jacqueline Fowler has produced for Poldark. This she may have to do two or three times a day if several scenes are being shot.

Laura trained at the London College of Fashion and started her career working on Phantom of the Opera.
Her credits include The Crimson Petal and the White and Fleming and recently she has worked with Jacqueline Fowler on Da Vinci's Demons.

As well as hair and make-up for the main team Laura does special effects make-up like this cut

She also makes wigs

.

Here she is in the make-up trailer where she works

All photos are from Laura's facebook page. Why not give it a like?

Eleanor Tomlinson Might Have Played Elizabeth

Eleanor Tomlinson via Screen Daily

Eleanor Tomlinson plays Demelza in the new BBC adaptation of Poldark but things could well have turned out differently if Eleanor hadn't decided to make her own luck.

Eleanor was initially asked to read for the part of Elizabeth, Ross's love who marries his cousin Francis. But Eleanor asked if she could audition for Demelza.
In an interview with Screen Daily Eleanor says “This whole industry is about snapping up the opportunities as they come.
“Demelza was the part, so I asked could I try for her.” 

And the rest, as they say, is history. Eleanor got the role of Demelza and Heida Reed that of Elizabeth.

You can find out more about Eleanor here