How does it feel to be out of your corset?
Oh, it feels wonderful. I've got lines embedded in my stomach, and the wig with hundreds of hairpins stuck in it caused some pressure by the end of the day. It's really a wonderful feeling of release when you can just let it all go and put on some jeans.
Does the costume help you get into the part?
First and foremost, it helps you to stand and to posture yourself how they did at the turn of the century. As with the character of Scully, I feel most like her when I'm actually in her FBI suits. Costumes are hugely important for me. I don't know how other actors feel about it, but costumes help me get into character.
Why did you choose to do this particular part during your break from "The X-Files"?
I've been a fan of Terence Davies' films for a long time, and also a fan of Edith Wharton's novels. When he decided to film one of her books, it sounded like the ideal thing for me to participate in. This is the kind of film that I love making, working with directors that I respect a great deal and with scripts based on novels that are so phenomenal and rich and lush. I feel very blessed right now.
