Exclusive: Rosalind Eleazar On Her First Film Role In ‘The Personal History Of David Copperfield’

Coming out this week from Searchlight Pictures is The Personal History Of David Copperfield, starring Dev Patel as the title character.

Based on the 1850 Victorian era novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and helmed by Emmy Award-wining director Armando Iannucci, the film also stars Aneurin Barnard, Peter Capaldi, Morfydd Clark, Daisy May Cooper, Rosalind Eleazar, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw, Paul Whitehouse, Gwendoline Christie, Anthony Welsh and Benedict Wong.

The re-imagines Charles Dickens’ classic ode to grit and perseverance through the comedic lens of its award-winning filmmakers— giving the Dickensian tale new life for a cosmopolitan age with a diverse ensemble cast of stage and screen actors from across the world.

For Eleazar, who plays Mr. Wicklow’s daughter Agnes and a friend to David, this is her feature film debut. After graduating from LAMDA in 2015, Rosalind Eleazar won the Spotlight Prize for Best Drama School Graduate. She went on to make her stage debut in Plaques & Tangles at the Royal Court Theatre. Her television credits include Deep Water (Kudos), two series of Harlots (Hulu), Howards End (BBC), Rellik (BBC), NW (BBC), National Treasure (Channel 4), and Lore (Amazon).  

Exclusively speaking with BlackFilmandTV.com, Eleazar talked about doing her first film, the appeal of Copperfield and working with Dev Patel.

Having done a lot of TV shows and theater, this was your first big film. What went into saying yes to doing a film?

Rosalind Eleazar: I don't think I would have ever missed this opportunity. This is a classic film that everyone has have heard of, or maybe not actually. To play Agnes, that character, meant a lot to me because of historically how it's always been done, and we're doing something a bit different. And also the script was not such a stuffy take on Dickens. It was it's more fun. It's uplifting and also poignant as well. I hadn't done a movie and I wanted to work with all these great people. It was a no brainer.

How would you describe Agnes? Is she different from the book or the same character?

Rosalind Eleazar: I have to leave it to someone else whether we've created a different Agnes from the book. I definitely think that there are similarities. Maybe she's got a bit more punch, and maybe a bit more straightforward, but she's a very loyal and kind person and selfless and David Copperfield best friend. She waits patiently for him to fall in love with her because she’s pretty much in love with him from the first time she sees him. So she's very sweet.

Did it cross your mind that you and Dev are POC playing these roles?

Rosalind Eleazar: It definitely did but it was so a non-thing which is what I liked. We didn't have loads of chat about it on on set but I think we were both were aware beforehand that a lot of people are not going to like it and a lot of people will. This is the first time it's been done for a classic like this with me and Dev, people of color. Usually it's one Caucasian, if they're going to do something and one person of color but to have both, I don't know whether that has been done before. Especially for a famous classic such as this and it meant a lot. I'm happy that Armando chose us. What I understand, it wasn't a very conscious decision like this part is going to go to a black woman or this part is going to a biracial woman or whatever. He was like, "why limit myself to just the caucasian acting community? Why not have every actor at my disposal and after that I'll pick away the ones that is right for the roles? And also, if we keep on doing period dramas, let's make it relatable to the audience that are watching it now. It's just a very popular misconception that people have that look like us weren't around and we absolutely were.

What is the appeal of David Copperfield?

Rosalind Eleazar: I think the appeal is that we’re talking about the oppression of the rich over the poor, nothing's changed in our world. You're talking about a boy that is growing up and finding his place in the world. Pretty much everyone goes through that in their in their life. So these are still very, very relatable themes. I really don't think that much has changed since then. These classics keep on being remade because they still relate and the moment that they're not relatable people won't watch them. 

In working with Armando, what was your takeaway? Having completed your first film, what did you learn from him that you can take on to your next film?

Rosalind Eleazar: He was so collaborative, and he really allowed you to bring your ideas to the table. If anything, probably that. You're allowed to have more say. It obviously depends on the director but you're allowed to bring yourself to the project more than you may initially think. He just created the most incredible environment on set. Everyone was so free and, and calm that everyone was able to create in a really easy way. And same with the cast. They were all lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely people. When you have that sort of environment it produces good results.

How was working with Dev?

Rosalind Eleazar: It was a breeze. He's just such a humble and silly and goofy man. When we first met, it was like we had known each other for years, which obviously worked really well for our characters because they need to be really close friends. There aren't necessarily that many scenes to bring that to light. So they have to really hit it off early, and that's what we did. But he's so caring as well. He is amazing. 

Having done theater, TV and now film, which one do you feel more comfortable in?

Rosalind Eleazar: That's really tough. I've been doing theater for the last year and I was so happy to go back to doing that. My first job was in theater. Then I did mainly TV and then a film and then I did a year of theater. That completely warmed my soul because I love that every night. It's different. If you make a mistake you can't go back. The audience bring a whole another energy to the whole piece. But then actually, after having a year, I was like, “You know what I could do? I could do some screen now. I'm kind of longing for some screen." I think they all feed in to one another. I really don't know. I would love to do some more films because that's what I've done the least. Theater is less of a machine. Theater allows you to take your character from the beginning to the end without any interruptions and going back and forwards and you have to be so alive to the actors with you on set. That is a very unique and medium.