Opening this weekend, in limited release, is director Roger Michell’s Hyde Park on Hudson.  The film stars Bill Murray as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and centers on a weekend in 1939 which marked the first ever visit to America by a British monarchy when King George VI (Samuel West)  and Queen Elizabeth (Olivia Coleman) visited FDR’s upstate New York cottage.  The monarchs’ concerns over German aggression must compete with Roosevelt’s wife (Olivia Williams), mother and cousin Daisy (Laura Linney), who are all vying for attention

During the press day I got to speak with Linney.  We talked about how she got involved in the project, what it was like working with Bill Murray, whether playing a real person made her more nervous, how she prepared for the role, and more.  In addition, towards the end of the interview I brought up Love Actually (one of my favorite holiday movies).  Hit the jump to watch.

Laura Linney:

  • What does it mean to premiere at TIFF
  • How did she get involved in the project
  • What was it like working with Bill Murray
  • Was she more nervous to play a real person
  • How did she prepare for the role

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