Jennifer Grant and Jeff Pope Talk “Emotional Truth” Behind ‘Archie’ and Cary Grant

The new BritBox series Archie takes an in-depth look at the life of Cary Grant (Jason Isaacs). Grant’s ex-wife Dyan Cannon and daughter Jennifer Grant executive produced the project, and the level of authenticity is evident in the seriees. Screenwriter and executive producer Jeff Pope and Jennifer Grant talk to Deepest Dream about Archie and finding the “emotional truth” behind the Hollywood icon.

Jason Isaacs and Laura Aikman in “Archie.” (CR: Matt Squire, ITV Studios)

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I am two episodes into Archie and am so far loving the program. Viewers get an insightful look on how Archie Leach transformed himself into Cary Grant. Leach put on a different persona as “Cary Grant,” and Archie delivers an even eyed look at what motivated Leach.

First off, Jennifer, just how proud are you of this entire project?  Personally, how much does this project mean to you? 

Jennifer Grant: It means the world. Not just to have it done, but to have it done well and having it in Jeff’s very capable hands. It’s somewhat miraculous that he had, you know, my part in things. My mother’s part in things. My stepmother’s part in things. Jason’s take on things. And he brought it all together really brilliantly. 

I was quite nervous about – my father was a very private man. So to disclose a lot about his personal life and his boyhood, I wanted to make sure that it was told in, in a truthful fashion. And it has been so I think it just really adds to one’s understanding of Cary Grant. 

Jeff on that level. How do you build a bridge with Dyan and Jennifer? As far as you know, friendships and bonds aren’t made within 10 or 15 minutes. How were you able to build that trust with both of them and then infuse that reality into your work as well? 

Jeff Pope: Well, it took a long time. I first started talking to Jennifer and Dyan around 2013. The great thing about it was that I would come to Los Angeles for other work and I would pay a call. 

I was privileged to not be putting any time pressure on either of them, because I think that wouldn’t have helped the situation at all. If I said, okay, I want to do this. I need to know in six months time or it’s not happening or something. 

So we were able to go at our own pace and we were able to build the story and the way through the story very carefully and slowly. We worked on strong foundations, which meant that when we when we got to really the fine detail . . . we probably all welcomed the creative tension between us. 

Not that I don’t mean we were fighting, but there was Jennifer’s experience of life with her dad was different from Dyan’s experience of life, with her ex-husband. Nothing from the man himself, because he was a very private man. And so I was very aware all through the whole process that it was a privilege to have this material and to be able to tell this story. 

But with that came pressure and responsibility. And the thing that I think we all plugged into was you can’t really argue with the truth. Not just the truth of what you see, but the emotional truth. Why things were happening. 

And that goes back to a young boy with a traumatic childhood who was told the worst thing. The worst lie that any child can be told, which was that his mother was dead. And underpinning everything, everything that happened in his life, you know, the issues he had.

He was married five times before he passed. And all the things that were particular to him. The point about this series is you can see what the roots of that were. And it was a little boy hungry, cold, and fighting for his life. In turn of the century. Bristol. 

After watching Archie, I’m going to recommend to my listeners to watch one of my favorite films of all time. People Will Talk. What Cary Grant film would each of you pick for them to watch after Archie? 

Jennifer Grant: An Affair to Remember and Bringing Up Baby. 

Jeff Pope: To Catch A Thief

Oh, all great movies. Thank you guys so much for your time. I really appreciate it. 

Jennifer Grant and Jeff Pope: Thank you!

Catch all four episode of Archie on BritBox!