Interview: director Anthony Fabian and actor Lucas Bravo on Mrs Harris Goes To Paris

It’s not the first time the eponymous cleaner has been to the French capital. Back in 1992, the TV movie had Angela Lansbury as Ada ‘Arris hopping across The Channel in search of a Dior gown. Fast forward 30 years, and the story arrives on the big screen, Lesley Manville’s in the title role – with a capital H this time – and all that haute couture is as elusive as ever.

In the director’s chair, as well as co-writing and producing, for this version is Anthony Fabian, who brings his own childhood experiences of Paris to the story, which is based on Paul Gallico’s novel. In Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, Ada finds herself a war widow and in line for some back-dated pension, and has plans for her sudden wealth. She wants to buy a Christine Dior gown from the world-famous salon in Paris. It all seems very fanciful and unlikely: the staff are unhelpful and snobbish and it’s only when she makes friends with one of the models and the company’s ant that she starts to make any headway. With her stay in the city lasting longer she expected – made to measure means lots of fittings – she becomes involved in the personal lives of her new-found friends and also manages to help the company survive a financial crisis.

In the interviews below, Fabian talks about his reasons for choosing Manville to play the title role and why escapist movies are bringing people back to the cinema.  He’s ed by Lucas Bravo, who plays Andre the ant and can also currently be see in Ticket To Paradise, who explains the appeal of the story and his character, as well as wishing that Dior had made menswear in the 50s (their first collection for men was launched in 1970) so that he could have worn it in the film.