Q&A with Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s Stuart Martin

Actor Stuart Martin portrays mercurial Detective Inspector William Wellington (a.k.a. The Duke) in this MASTERPIECE Mystery! Victorian crime drama. He reveals why he thinks William is “fantastic” and points out a subtle shift in The Duke’s and Eliza’s interplay. Martin also enthuses about ardent fans known as the Scarleteers and a Victorian costume accessory he yearns to pull off today.

Watch Seasons 1 and 2 of Miss Scarlet and The Duke on PBS Passport, and added member benefit.

Masterpiece:

Are you aware of the show’s dedicated fan base of Scarleteers?

Stuart Martin:

We love the Scarleteers! It was so lovely to have a core group of fans who … were so invested in the characters and the show. That was definitely in our minds as we were filming [Season 2]. You think about all the things that you know they’ll enjoy. … During lockdown we did a Q&A with them. … The questions were very different [from] what you might normally be asked about a show.

Masterpiece:

What sort of things did they want to know about?

Stuart Martin:

One of things they were interested in chatting about was the pockets in Kate’s dresses. I couldn’t imagine not having pockets!

Masterpiece:

How was it stepping back into The Duke’s shoes?

Stuart Martin:

It came back really naturally. Getting his hat on again and going for suit fittings was so nice. We moved filming from Ireland to Serbia and it was mad because the crew had built sets which were totally identical to what we had before. The same colours and marks on the walls, the same blinds, and kinds of windows. It was crazy! Stepping into Scotland Yard and seeing that world they’d recreated … took away any worries about settling in somewhere else.

Masterpiece:

Talk us through your character. Do you relate to him at all?

Stuart Martin:

William is fantastic. When I first read him, he had this bull in a china shop emotional quality. I loved that he would jump from 0 to 10 when having to deal with things at work. In [Season 1] we were allowed to explore his character, but in [Season 2] you get … a much deeper look at him emotionally, seeing what makes him tick and where he comes from.

I like the way he says it how it is. I probably wouldn’t have the confidence to do that. I like that he’ll go for what he thinks is right and if he realizes he’s wrong after it, he’ll always apologize. I’ve got a lot of respect for that, as he wears his heart on his sleeve.

Masterpiece:

What’s the relationship between Eliza and William in Season 2?

Stuart Martin:

In [Season 1], we leave them in a relatively good place. Their relationship and friendship have moved on and it’s a good jumping off point for [Season 2]. They’re deeper emotionally, but at the same time they have this very fractious sparring that’s a lot of fun to play. [Our characters] tend to jump to that much quicker this time around. … William sees [Eliza] challenging him and questioning his position. His position at work is also being tested because of her. So, it’s a big question as to whether they can work together moving forward.

Masterpiece:

What was it like working with Kate Phillips again?

Stuart Martin:

It was great. We’re such good pals and we’ve got such a brilliant working relationship. We were able to pick up where we left off two and a half years ago. We have a shorthand from when we previously worked together. It was lovely.

Masterpiece:

What makes Miss Scarlet and the Duke unique?

Stuart Martin:

I think it’s the relationships between the characters. For me, the sparring [William and Eliza] do in the show really helps drive the episodes. To have a procedural show and a period crime drama that has that focus on those relationships is great. It’s lovely as an audience to watch, but it’s also a lovely thing for an actor to play as you get to the center of who these people are. Even in interview scenes and in the crime stuff, there’s always something going on underneath. So, it’s not just about the interview but about where they’re at, what they’ve fallen out about, or the emotions and thoughts they’re harboring.

Masterpiece:

What have we lost from Victorian times that would help us today?

Stuart Martin:

Bowler hats. They wouldn’t help us, but I love them. I love wearing William’s and I wish I could rock it on the street, but they’re just not in fashion, are they?

 

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  • mp_interview_content_2_question: How was it stepping back into The Duke’s shoes?
  • mp_interview_content_2_answer: It came back really naturally. Getting his hat on again and going for suit fittings was so nice. We moved filming from Ireland to Serbia and it was mad because the crew had built sets which were totally identical to what we had before. The same colours and marks on the walls, the same blinds, and kinds of windows. It was crazy! Stepping into Scotland Yard and seeing that world they’d recreated … took away any worries about settling in somewhere else.
  • mp_interview_content_3_question: Talk us through your character. Do you relate to him at all?
  • mp_interview_content_3_answer: William is fantastic. When I first read him, he had this bull in a china shop emotional quality. I loved that he would jump from 0 to 10 when having to deal with things at work. In [Season 1] we were allowed to explore his character, but in [Season 2] you get … a much deeper look at him emotionally, seeing what makes him tick and where he comes from. I like the way he says it how it is. I probably wouldn’t have the confidence to do that. I like that he’ll go for what he thinks is right and if he realizes he’s wrong after it, he’ll always apologize. I’ve got a lot of respect for that, as he wears his heart on his sleeve.
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  • mp_interview_content_5_question: What was it like working with Kate Phillips again?
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  • mp_interview_content_6_question: What makes <em>Miss Scarlet and the Duke</em> unique?
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  • mp_interview_content_7_question: What have we lost from Victorian times that would help us today?
  • mp_interview_content_7_answer: Bowler hats. They wouldn’t help us, but I love them. I love wearing William’s and I wish I could rock it on the street, but they’re just not in fashion, are they?  
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