this character is so riddled with appetite for everything...

RICHARD E. GRANT AND CLAIRE FOY CHAT TO LYNN RUSK ABOUT THEIR NEW BLACK COMEDY SAVAGE HOUSE, WHICH SEES THEM PLAY A SOCIAL CLIMBING HEDONISTIC COUPLE

- LYNN RUSK

RICHARD E. Grant, known for his flamboyant style and character-driven performances, first came to prominence in the 1987 cult classic Withnail and I.

Over the following four decades, he has delivered some memorable supporting performances in Saltburn, Gosford Park, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Now 69, he takes centre stage again as Sir Chauncey Savage, an unscrupulous social climber, in Peter Glanz’s dark comedy Savage House. Set against the backdrop of 18th century England, a massive pox outbreak, and the Jacobite uprising, the film follows Sir Chauncey and his wife Lady Savage, played by Claire Foy, a couple in pursuit of a better life.

Living in a crumbling estate and on the brink of ruin, the couple run into unexpected good fortune when the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire seek lodgings in their home during their regional tour.

Determined to make their home worthy of their noble guests, the couple descend into a frenzy of preparation and borrowing, leading them into calamity.

Richard, who is full of fun and jokes when I meet him, says he relished playing Sir Chauncey’s hedonistic lifestyle. “It’s an amazing opportunity, this character is so riddled with appetite for everything: sex, lust, food, clothes, make-up, duelling, fornication,” he laughs.

Speaking about the film’s themes of social climbing, he says this is something that has driven people throughout history.

“It was delightful to explore,” he says. “Whether you're trying to get in with Tutankhamun or with whoever is current at the moment, that seems to be what drives many, many people.”