*Sanditon season 3 spoilers below*
Sanditon actress Eloise Webb has opened up on her character’s romantic storyline for season 3, which sees her embroiled in a scandalous affair with the town’s rake, Sir Edward Denham, played by Jack Fox.
In season two, Augusta Markham was introduced as the ward and niece of brooding Alexander Colbourne (Ben Lloyd-Hughes), who hires the show’s heroine Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) to act as governess for both her and his young tomboy daughter, Leonora (Flora Mitchell).
As Colbourne and Charlotte grow attracted to one another, Charlotte strikes up a close relationship with the girls – and especially orphan Augusta, who has lacked a strong female influence in her life growing up.
So, it seems particularly fitting for the young star that when season three rolled around, bringing with it Augusta’s society debut and ill-advised relationship with Denham – as well as Webb’s first adult storyline – she relied especially on the guidance of co-star Williams.
Webb, who celebrated her 18th birthday and studied for exams on set while filming the Jane Austen period drama’s final two seasons back-to-back (with just a week between), shared that she felt a combination of excitement and nerves to tackle her romantic scenes.
‘It was 100% a mixture. I mean, you had the physical aspect, which was hair up, corsets on, and that physically made me feel like I looked older – but mentally, there’s a lot more that needs to take place when you’re preparing for the age gap with Edward but also the jump of going from being a minor to someone who’s now basically a woman in society,’ Webb told Metro.co.uk.
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‘The first thing I did was speak to Rose, because not only is her character great in guiding Augusta, but Rose gave me so much help throughout all of filming, she was a proper shoulder to lean on – and I learned so much from her.’
‘She was one of the first people I went to to ask, how do I physically show this, and should I be nervous about this, and she helped me through all of it. She really held my hand,’ she added.
Webb was also grateful for the help of Sanditon directors Ethosheia Hylton and Steve Brett for their advice and for ‘putting me at ease when we were doing like a scene that I was nervous about’.
The 19-year-old – who also appeared as the young Ella in the Disney live-action remake of Cinderella starring Lily James – was equally pleased with her scene-partner Fox, 37.
‘It was nice because we created a relationship outside of just the ones that our characters had. He was incredibly helpful, with not only my A-levels but he really nourished my brain [too]. He is not a boring person to sit in a room with I can tell you that much! We had lots of fun.’
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She also revealed that the script and plot for Sanditon’s last run of episodes, which includes plenty of other intrigue, romances (including one for Sophie Winkleman’s Lady Susan and newcomer Liam Garrigan as Colbourne’s brother Samuel, which Webb confessed was her favourite, even above her own) and endings for the sprawling cast of characters, wasn’t actually confirmed until they were already midway through filming.
‘It wasn’t until halfway through season three that we knew what was going to happen at the end of our characters’ storylines, so I was just as much in the dark about Augusta’s future as she was, which I think was actually a good thing because we just we were rolling with the punches!’
However, she was satisfied that everyone was comfortable being in the ‘safe hands’ of head writer and producer Justin Young, who inherited the responsibility from the period drama’s creator Andrew Davies after he crafted the first season’s episodes, based on Jane Austen’s unfinished novel of the same name from 1817.
‘I don’t know if Jane Austen would be rolling in her grave, or if she would be incredibly happy, but either way, it felt like what we were doing was important and the storylines needed to be finished,’ shared Webb.
However, that’s not to say that Augusta’s relationship with Sir Edward didn’t cause rather a stir when it was first hinted at in the trailer for season three as the actress recalled her Instagram being ‘flooded with people going, “It can’t be, no!”’.
‘People really were mourning the loss of innocence from before that first episode even came out – and I was mourning with them – every day we were on set, I was like, “Oh dear god Augusta, what are you doing?”’
Webb can absolutely see how the pair benefit each other though, as ‘two quite brittle characters who are very sharp but soften each other’s edges’, even if Augusta is not quite a ‘conniving, wannabe murderer’ (see: his poisoning of step-sister Esther last season).
The actress admitted she had briefly forgotten the depths of Denham’s depravity and was ‘actually backing the storyline for a while’ – revealing a ‘soft spot’ for the couple – before fans reminded her.
‘I was like, “Yeah, she can really help him, and he can help her be more confident and [to] feel more loved,” which is something I think maybe she lacked growing up – but no, he isn’t the best person! But they benefit each other in other ways, I think.’
The show ends with Denham dramatically dumping Augusta when Colbourne and Charlotte catch up with them in an inn after they run away to elope – although before he has seduced her.
‘Even though things don’t end in the way that she would have wanted them to, she will obviously learn more life lessons in that short relationship than I think most people do in a lifetime,’ Webb reflected – and as she puts it: ‘Ribbons have been tied, doors have been closed and windows have been opened.’
After Sir Edward has spent the season in service to his aunt Lady Denham (Anne Reid) and the church to atone for his plentiful past sins, there’s a sense that he might be letting Augusta go for her own good, and that’s certainly how Webb interprets it.
‘I personally think that walking away and letting someone go is without ruining too much is the bravest and most selfless thing someone can do – and if that isn’t a true sign of redemption, and finally being selfless, I don’t know what it is,’ she insisted.
‘He did it in a horrible way, but he had to do it in a horrible way, because I think hearts need to be broken so that we can move on and progress and finally really let go.’
Webb was delighted by how the series was wrapped up with such a wholesome end. Even though this time it really is the conclusion (although fans have heard this before with season one’s initial cancellation), she let her imagination take flight for a moment on a potential spin-off for Augusta.
‘Maybe she’d find herself in Paris studying literature and wearing the most amazing clothes and Leonora would be with her?’
She also weighed up a possible different ending for Denham, who we quite remarkably see as a member of the clergy in the final scene after his aunt pushes his rehabilitation one step further, following his, um, slip-up with Augusta (not that appears to have affected his roving eye).
‘I would have liked to see Sir Edward Denham pack his bags and go because I think he needs a fresh start after learning so much – but obviously there isn’t time for everything… Also, he’s like a stain, he just never seems to really be
Sanditon season 3 is available to stream now in full on ITVX.
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