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Mamie Gummer: We are certainly in the golden age of TV

The evolution of fashion is in fact the evolution of society and culture. And what better way to learn about all three than in a new, well written period drama, filled with some serious acting talent.

The Collection, which starts airing on November 11 on the BBC First is a story of an illustrious Paris fashion house, rising from the dark days of World War 2, where a new golden age of design and business is set to emerge. The story centres around two very different brothers, Paula and Claude Sabine who start a fashion house and the drama that unfolds between them exposing the ugly truth, the beautiful moments and the true reality of the growing fashion empire and the people in it.

Mamie Gummer, who plays Helen Sabine, Paul's American wife, has one of the most interesting story lines on the show. Having pushed her husband to start his own label, they now find themselves at a point after the war where they must rebuild their relationship and get reacquainted with one another, despite the terrifying stakes surrounding them.

Gummer, an acclaimed film, television and stage actress known for a diverse range of roles, plays the role of Helen Sabine effortlessly. And we are certain it will bring her a lot of attention where performances on television shows have been incridebly impressive as of late.

"We are certainly in the golden age of TV right now, especially for women," Mamie told City Times, "there are so many great roles for women, it's a particularly exciting time. There is so much great material out there."

Mamie took the time to have a chat with City Times about her new show, researching for her role and why we love period dramas.

Reasons to Watch
Everything! It's got it all. It's got historical relevance, it's pertinent to our times, and there is also a wonderful fantasy element. What I do for a living is that I'm allowed to be fun and imaginative. This is harking back to playing dress-up. And what a way this is to dress up! It's like time travelling. It's so cool!

On Helen Sabine
She's really intrepid. Things did not work out for her in the US - she had to get far away from all that. So she made a great leap of faith and came to Paris, where she is very much an outsider. She has taken a great risk and left everything behind in America. The stakes are very high for her, as they are for everyone in The Collection.

Character Focus
I focused on Helen's attempts to revive her relationship with Paul after the war. Their situation is very similar to my grandparents. When my grandfather went to war, he and my grandmother saw each other very infrequently. It's the same for Paul and Helen. They're getting reacquainted with each other now and having to learn to trust each other again.

On Paris
Paris is a great backdrop for the drama. It's such a beautiful city. Sadly, I didn't get to Paris this time as all my scenes were filmed in Swansea. I'll have to go back and do the show again, just so I can go to Paris! We'll always have Paris - that sounds like a line from a movie!
On Period Dramas
It is true that period dramas are incredibly popular at the moment. People love them because they play to our sense of nostalgia, but at the same time we learn something from them. By looking back at the past, we can understand more about the present and the future. Period drama also portrays a sweeter, more innocent and naive world. It can be a relief and a comfort to audiences.

Character Research
I did a lot of research. I knew the facts of it from school, but I went back and watched a lot of films and read a lot of books. I read the biography of Coco Chanel, which was fascinating. She was a trip! The Collection is not her story, but it's about that era and the society and the attitude of the elite back then.

A Sense of Style
Am I a dedicated follower of fashion? Oh no. I'm not glamorous. I'm generally more casually attired. I don't have to wear the latest labels. Although if I'm invited by a designer to wear their clothes to an event, I'm very happy to get suited up! But I couldn't justify spending that kind of money in real life. The clothes (in the show) were amazing. Wearing those costumes absolutely helps you get into character. They do everything for you. They affect every molecule of your body, especially when you're wearing a corset.