Nanny McPhee actress Rosie Taylor-Ritson: interview

We've got an exclusive interview with Rosie Taylor-Ritson who played the part of Celia, the posh cousin, in Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang.

In the film, Celia and her brother, Cyril are evacuated to their cousins' farm during the war.

Great quote from Nanny Mc Phee & The Big Bang
Celia: Where are we?
Cyril: We are in the land of poo. Duck poo, cow poo, goat poo.

We met up with Rosie at Preston Manor in Brighton. Rosie loves going to museums.

Preston Manor is just one of the hundreds of museums round the UK taking part in
Museums at Night 2010. They've got a ghost walk…spooky!

All photos © Rachel Hayward/Culture24

Show Me interview with Rosie

Show Me: Hi Rosie! You got to work with some star actors … what was filming Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang like?

Rosie: It was amazing. We were like one big family. I was so lucky to be working with such great actors. Dame Maggie Smith (who played Mrs Docherty) used to say funny things in between takes and would make me giggle. I especially loved acting alongside the other children in the cast. We even had sleepovers!

Show Me: What was Emma Thompson like? (Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay for the film and played Nanny McPhee).

Rosie: Oh Emma was so lovely - she was just like a mum to us and whenever it was cold she'd tuck us up in our coats.

When we were filming, if you wanted to add in a line, she was really sweet and would tell us, "This is your film as well as mine." I got to say extra bits in the scene where we have a fight over the special jar of jam.

At the end of the film Emma gave us thank you presents including some recording time in a studio! I think this was partly because we used to make up songs for everyone in the cast.

Show Me: We thought you were great as the upper class Celia. How did you get into acting?

Rosie: Well this is my first major feature film. I was in a film called Trace before this. I've always wanted to act ever since I was little and when my friend joined a theatre group, I got involved too. I've done lots of shows with them. Going along to a drama club or theatre group is a great way to get into acting.

Show Me: How do you juggle filming and schoolwork?

Rosie: We had a private tutor on set which was good because we got lots more individual help with our work than you usually get in class at school.

Show Me: You've already worked with some very famous people. Are there any actors you would like to work with in the future?

Rosie: Definitely Meryl Streep because she's a very respected actress and has been in incredible films. And I have to say Robert Pattinson - I'm a huge fan - and I love the Twilight series.

Show Me: What have you got coming up?

Rosie: I'm in a play, The Secret Garden, in the 2010 Brighton Festival. I'm very excited about that.

Show Me: And as it's Museums at Night weekend soon - what's your favourite museum and why?

Rosie: I really enjoy going to Brighton Museum & Art Gallery - the Salvador Dali Lips sofa is my favourite object there. My granny and grandad also take me to Tate Modern in London. I take a notebook so I can draw stuff I like there - that's fun.

Many thanks to Rosie for talking to us. We wish her all the best for her future acting career. We think she'll go far.

Museums at Night is from May 14-16, 2010. It's when museums round the UK stay open late and have exciting stuff going on like bat walks and sleepovers. Click on the link to find out more.