Keeley Hawes is seen smiling at her husband Matthew Macfayden in exclusive behind-the-scenes snaps of their new ITV drama Stonehouse.
The actress, 46, shared a moment with her real-life spouse, 48, before giggling with co-star Emer Heatley on the set of the three-part show, which hits screens on Monday.
It’s a pivotal scene in ITV’s new flagship drama, about a high-flying minister in Harold Wilson’s Labor government, who tried to fake his death after acting as a spy for the Czech Secret Service.
Husband in real life: Keeley Hawes is seen smiling at her husband Matthew Macfayden in exclusive behind-the-scenes snaps of their new ITV drama Stonehouse
Starring 48-year-old Succession star Matthew and his wife, Bodyguard actress Keeley, as John Stonehouse and his wife Barbara, it dramatizes the moment in 1974 when the Walsall North MP was arrested in Australia.
In exclusive photos, McFayden and Keeley, who also played husband and wife in the 2007 dark comedy Death at a Funeral, enjoy a picnic with Stonehouse’s mistress, Sheila Buckley, played by Emer.
Shot in Malaga, Spain, during the winter months, the trio bundle up against the cold when they’re not filming. The tension between wife and lover is palpable as they argue over sandwiches and sausage rolls.
Closing: The actress, 46, shared a moment with her real-life spouse, 48, before giggling with co-star Emer Heatley on the set of the three-part show, which hits screens Monday.
But despite the tense scenes, the trio seemed in high spirits as they chatted and smiled between takes.
The scene ends with Stonehouse storming the edge of a cliff saying, ‘Leave me alone, Barbara. Stay behind. I’m warning you, Barbara, if you don’t leave me alone, I…
‘Than?’ Barbara replied, laughing. ‘What are you going to do? Tell me… You love your melodramatic mannerisms, don’t you, John?
On screen: ITV is recreating the John Stonehouse affair with Matthew (centre) playing the disgraced Labor politician (Matthew’s real-life wife Keeley plays MP’s wife Barbara (right) while Emer Heatley plays his secretary Sheila (left))
Drama: It’s a pivotal scene in ITV’s new flagship drama, about a high-flying minister in Harold Wilson’s Labor government who tries to fake his death after acting as a spy for the Czech Secret Service.
The three-part series opens with McFayden leaving his Florida hotel in a pale blue suit before swimming out to sea. The image was also shot in Malaga.
In another behind-the-scenes shot, Wilson, played by Kevin McNally, asks Stonehouse if he would represent the government on election night, waving the Labor Party flag.
John Stonehouse had abandoned Barbara and their three young children, Jane, Julia, and Matthew, disappearing from Miami Beach, after swimming out to sea, leaving behind a neatly folded pile of clothes, and boarding a plane to Australia to start a new life. lifetime.
Scenes: In exclusive stills, McFayden and Keeley are having a picnic with Stonehouse’s lover, Sheila Buckley, played by Emer.
In character: Keeley looked great in her retro outfit while filming alongside her husband and co-star
Awkward: The tension between wife and lover is palpable as they argue over sandwiches and sausage rolls.
But he was arrested by police in Melbourne, after being mistaken for Lord Lucan, and deported to Britain to face trial on 15 counts of forgery, theft and fraud. He was convicted in 1976 and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Actor Matthew and his wife Keeley have been married for 18 years and Keeley said they had to put aside the familiarities of their real-life happy marriage to play the roles.
The actress insists that their union is the complete opposite of that of politician John and Barbara.
Between Takes: Shot in Malaga, Spain, during the winter months, the trio bundle up against the cold when they’re not filming.
Good Mood: But despite the tense scenes, the trio looked in high spirits as they chatted and smiled between takes.
Dramatization: The three-part series begins with McFayden leaving his Florida hotel in a pale blue suit before swimming out to sea. The image was also shot in Malaga
she told the Mirror: ‘We’ve worked together before, but not for several years. So when this came up, it seemed like the perfect project on so many levels, mainly because the Stonehouses are so different from Matthew and me and our relationship.
“So it’s nice to see us, I think, and interesting for people who may know we’re married to see us as the ‘other’ couple.”
She told Matthew: ‘It was really wonderful. It was a lot of fun, right?
He replied: ‘Yes, Keeley was very difficult to work with.
Telling the story: Stonehouse tells how the former cabinet minister in the Wilson government faked his death in 1974 and fled with his secretary Sheila Buckley (John Stonehouse pictured in 1981)
‘She’s… it was hard. It was hard. No, that’s a dumb answer. It was a pleasure working with Keeley. It was nice, wasn’t it?
Matthew and Keeley met on the set of the drama Spooks in 2001 and later starred in the 2007 comedy Death at a Funeral together.
They share children Maggie, 18, and Ralph, 16, together.
Stonehouse starts on ITV at 9pm on Monday 2nd January and will air over the next two nights.
Love: Matthew and Keeley met on the set of the drama Spooks in 2001 and married in 2004 (pictured October 2021)