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That, and how pissedDowntons accountant was when he received the bill for all of those bespoke follicles.
What percentage ofDowntons women are wearing wigs?Pretty much all of them.
When we did the series, we tried to use everyones natural hair as much as possible.
So, using their own fronts and adding pieces in the back.
Im very much a designer who likes things to look natural and never forced.
But in the film, there were different reasons why we used more wigs than in the series.
We wanted everyone to look like they were looking comfortably within the period.
Wigs were really the only way to accomplish that.
In your experience, is wig creation most difficult for a period piece?Id say so.
It was also essential to capture what a generational family looks like.
With period pieces, if youre not careful, the hair can all start to look the same.
So were very conscious that everyone had their own look.
Which actresses didnt have to wear wigs?Sophie McShera, who plays Daisy, has easily style-able hair.
We were able to cut it into that bob for the film.
Raquel Cassidy, whos Baxter, had her own hair.
Gosh, whodidntwear a wig?
Oh, and Lesley Nicol, whos Mrs. Patmore.
Tuppence Middleton, who joined the cast as Bransons love interest, got to use her own hair.
I think everyone else had one!
How robust was the wig budget?I must admit, the money guy went,How much?!
You need everyone to look like their hair belongs to them, and you have to pay for it.
Theyre truly works of art.
But to answer your question, they varied on price depending on length.
On average cost was around $4,000 or $5,000.
And then we had a handful of toupees made for the guys.
Those cost about $2,000 or $3,000.
Theyre kind of like plants.
Which of the gents were free of toupee duty?
I know Jim Carter just had to grease downhis fantastic head of hair.His hair really is amazing.
I had to corrall that hair into shape.
It just goes on forever!
The king, for instance, was a toupee situation.
But the reason we toupeed him was because George V had averyodd hairstyle at the time.
When you look at his historical photos, its honestly like a toupee.
Im not sure if his wife likes it, but he still hasnt shaved it.
We didnt get the toupee and Harry in the same place until the day of filming.
You always avoid last-minute fittings if you’re able to, but amazingly it worked out.
I guess thats not misbehavior though.
I remember in the series a few years ago that there was a notable dining-room scene.
In all of those posh scenes, the ladies wear tiaras.
Tiaras and wigs are not friends.
During one of those scenes, Maggie Smith was sitting at the table and her tiara was really heavy.
I dont know what happened, but her tiara kept slowly slipping.
It was slightly cocked to one side.
It made it look like she had one too many sherries.
Tipsy Dowager Countess was born, and we got away with that.
