Long Shadows stars Jacqueline Bisset and Dominic Monaghan discuss their characters, costumes, and the spirit of the Wild West in this interview.
The new western, Long Shadows, is drawing critical praise for its gritty realism and unexpected twists. For its stars, screen icon Jacqueline Bisset and fan favorite Dominic Monaghan, the film offered an opportunity to delve into new territory – both professionally and personally – and inject their own unique flavor into the Old West tale.
In these interviews with Mama’s Geeky, Bisset shared her surprisingly personal reason for a character accent, while Monaghan detailed his first experience saddling up for the Western genre.
Jacqueline Bisset Brought Her Own Twist to Long Shadows’ Vivian Villeré
Jacqueline Bisset’s role as Vivian Villeré, the lady of the house in the saloon, initially felt “disagreeable on the page” to the legendary actress. To add depth and complexity, Bisset suggested a key change: giving the character a Cockney accent.
“I read it, and I thought the woman, Vivian Villeré, was a little too… I didn’t like her particularly, and I felt there’s a reason for her to be this,” Bisset explained. “I suggested that she be a bit Cockney, because I wanted to do that.”
The choice was highly personal. The Cockney accent, which Bisset often performs with friends, brought a sense of lightness and fun. The inspiration, she said, came from “sitting on the bus, basically, and in England sitting on the double-decker bus behind people.” Most touchingly, Bisset used to perform the voice for her mother, who was incapacitated for many years. “She would laugh so much, and I just said, ‘Can I do this in this film?’ That’s all the story is,” Bisset recalled.
While her time on the Arizona set was brief, Bisset remembers being charmed by her driver’s knowledge of local wildlife, noting a fascination with a creature called a javelina.
Dominic Monaghan Saddles Up for His First Western
For Dominic Monaghan, best known for his work in fantasy and adventure, Long Shadows was an intriguing departure. “I’ve not done a Western before,” he explained, noting that the genre has “slightly lost its favor” despite its historical dominance in Hollywood.
Drawn in by the script and the chance to explore new ground, Monaghan found the role of Ned – a grifter, drifter, and alcoholic – too intriguing to resist. The decision to join the film, however, was simple: “It just seemed fun, you know, Arizona riding horses and working with Jacqueline Bisset. I was just like, yeah, I don’t need much more than that.”
Monaghan quickly found that the physical transformation was key to stepping into the Old West. “When you’re wearing a bowler hat and a cravat and a vest – or a waistcoat as we call it – it changes how you move, how you stand,” he said.
Working with an Icon and the Power of Costumes
Both stars were sure to mention the importance of costume during their interviews.
“The whole thing is terribly important. What you wear or don’t wear,” Bisset stated, noting that period attire naturally changes an actor’s gestures and mood.
Monaghan echoed this sentiment and found joy in working closely with his legendary co-star. “She was lovely,” he recalled of Bisset. “We built this little backstory between our characters that wasn’t necessarily in the script. It made those scenes richer.” For Monaghan, sharing the screen with an icon like Bisset was also a chance to trade insights about longevity and craft in Hollywood.
Filming in the Arizona heat presented a unique set of challenges, particularly for Monaghan, who admitted he’s not a big horse rider. Yet, his lifelong love of animals made the experience memorable. “Horses are sensitive – they pick up on your energy. You have to come into that situation correctly,” he advised, smiling as he reflected on the experience. “It’s bizarre using a living, breathing animal as a vehicle. But it’s such a special thing.”
Ultimately, Bisset hopes audiences take away the modern relevance of the story’s emotional core, particularly the reality of a young man’s struggle with trauma. “The reality of that situation is so awful. It twists his mind,” she said, acknowledging that the film addresses issues like mental health that still affect people today.
Whether it’s a Cockney twist, a new hat, or the unique energy of a horse, the stars of Long Shadows have reminded us that adventure – and a little bit of fun – is always worth the ride.
Be sure to watch the full interview with Dominic Monaghan to learn more about Long Shadows, Lost, and The Lord of the Rings. Long Shadows comes to theaters on November 7th.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.