It's a Sin star to play Welsh aristocrat in new film

It's a Sin actor Callum Scott Howells will portray an eccentric 19th Century Welsh aristocrat in a new film about his life.

Henry Cyril Paget, the fifth Marquess of Anglesey, died from complications of tuberculosis aged 29 in 1905.

Known as the Dancing Marquess, Paget was likened to Ziggy Stardust while his eccentricities included trying to turn exhaust fumes into perfume.

His story is being told in Madfabulous, with Howells, from Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the leading role.

The film's screenwriter and director are both from Anglesey, while actors Rupert Everett and Paul Rhys are also in the cast.

Paget invited the public to watch him perform shows at a theatre he built at his Plas Newydd estate in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll in 1901.

He dressed in elaborate jewelled costumes when on stage.

Howells said he believed Paget was a man ahead of his time, saying: “You can't believe that he was alive when he was.

"Telling the story every day I'm learning so much about him as a person via the script, the different scenes we're capturing and this lens we're telling it from.

"I feel so privileged to be telling Henry’s story as well as very, very lucky to be telling it in Wales.”

Madfabulous, directed by actor and writer Celyn Jones, is being filmed at Plas Newydd as well as locations in Pwllheli and Caernarfon, Gwynedd.

A mansion on the Glynllifon estate has been dressed to show Paget’s opulent style.

The fifth Marquess scandalised high society but delighted the local community with his eccentricities, which included using a car that converted exhaust fumes into perfume.

But he was most celebrated for his love of theatre.

Howells said he shared his passion for the stage, adding: “I think that's one of the reasons why Celyn came to me to play Henry.

"He knew that I'd done a lot of stage stuff and I was in Cabaret in the West End and I love the theatre.

"Coupled with my on-screen appearances it made for a nice sort of concoction.”

The film is based on a screenplay by Lisa Baker from Anglesey.

Director Celyn Jones also grew up on the island but said all he knew about the Marquess was his love for being photographed in outlandish outfits.

“He distributed the images all round the world and you look at them and you think ‘is this the 1890s or is it Ziggy Stardust? Is it some glam rock star? Is it Marc Bolan?’, so that was the entry point," he said.

The cast also includes Louise Brealey (Sherlock, Chuck Chuck Baby) and Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton, Rocks) as well as a host of Welsh actors such as Steve Speirs (The Tuckers), Ian Puleston-Davies (Pennyworth) and Tom Rhys-Harries (Doctor Who, White Lines).

Rhys-Harries, from Cardiff, said the cast and crew had bonded during the tight shooting schedule.

“With filming - especially independent feature films - you want to have a kind of familial vibe to get the best out of everybody, because you work long hours and it's quite taxing, and you want to be supportive of each other," he said.

"So to have that married with being from Wales and shooting in Wales is pretty special stuff.”

Madfabulous is being made by production company Mad As Birds and is supported by Ffilm Cymru Wales with National Lottery funding, and by the Welsh government via Creative Wales.

While the film is inspired by the Marquess’ life it is described as a “fantastical reimagining” of his exploits.

The producers hope to sell the film to a distributor once it has been completed when a 21st century audience will see what made Henry Paget so Madfabulous.