Read the interview with Maxine Peake who plays Elizabeth Lilburne.
What attracted you to a drama set during the Civil War?
It was really the character of Elizabeth Lilburne that attracted me. To play the wife of the leader of the Levellers was such an exciting opportunity. England was such a hotbed of revolution at that time, among the working people.
Explain a bit about Elizabeth Lilburne.
She's married to John Lilburne, also known as Freeborn John, the leader of the Levellers. She's the daughter of a merchant, but she sacrifices everything for her beliefs, and her husband's beliefs. They're this amazing couple. She's a revolutionary. She'd be considered strong even today, but for a woman to be like that back then was extraordinary. She's centuries ahead of her time. And you don't get the chance to play that kind of role very often.
Did you know much about John Lilburne before all of this?
I knew a bit about the Levellers, partly through listening to the band The Levellers when I was a crusty teenager, and partly through my granddad, who was a member of the Communist Party for some time. That history was always floating about, so I knew what the Levellers stood for, and I knew John Lilburne was their leader.
In the past you've described your granddad as being your inspiration. He must've been thrilled with you playing this role.
Yeah, he was, absolutely. He knew a bit about John Lilburne, but I've now lent him John Lilburne's biography, and he's really got into it.
You sometimes prepare for roles by listening to the music of the time. Did you do that in this case?
I didn't actually listen to 17th-century music, but there's a fantastic rock opera called Freeborn John by Rev Hammer with The Levellers, Eddi Reader and New Model Army. It's all about John and Elizabeth's story. So although it's by no means the music of the period, it captures the atmosphere. There's a great song called Bessie's Gallop about the fact Elizabeth supposedly rode, whilst pregnant, from Oxford to London to save John's life.
It's ironic you didn't have to ride a horse throughout, but you're in fact a very accomplished rider, aren't you?
Yeah, I was very disappointed. There was lots of sulking going, because everyone else was having riding lessons, and I wasn't even allowed to ride because of insurance reasons. But yes, I've been riding since I was seven, and I used to compete - only at local level, but I know one end of a horse from the other.
History relates that John Lilburne died fairly young, when Elizabeth was pregnant with their tenth child. Do you know what happened to Elizabeth thereafter?
No, the history is so focused on him, which is a real shame. She outlived him, obviously, but I don't know by how long. I don't think she lived very much longer, and I think very few of the children lived into adulthood. It was very tragic. But that, I suppose, was a feature of the time.
