Cary Elwes Has A Shocking Connection To The Real Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Summary The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare tells the explosive true story of WWII special forces unit in a unique, stylized action movie approach.

The cast, including Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson, adds over-the-top action elements to a story of Allied victory in WWII.

Eiza González, Cary Elwes, and Babs Olusanmokun bring authenticity and unique insights to their roles in the period action film.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is based on Damien Lewis' book Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII told the shocking story of an actual secret unit that worked under Churchill's orders during WWII. Although their existence was a closely kept secret, this team of special operators has helped shape the course of history as integral parts of the Allies's victory during the war, although most were unaware of their sacrifice. The movie follows this team on an impossible mission across enemy lines to disrupt Nazi plans.

While this may be based on a real group of people and their missions, Guy Ritchie brings his unique style and storytelling to The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, giving it a more stylized action movie approach to the story. This is not the typical World War II movie about heroism and sacrifice; instead, Ritchie and the cast bring hilariously over-the-top action and impossible-to-believe elements to an already unbelievable story. Henry Cavill (Argylle, The Witcher) and Alan Ritchson (Reacher) have already proven their skills as action stars, but this brings them to a whole new level, with Ritchie showing off exactly why the actors should spearhead this kind of movie.

Screen Rant interviewed three of the stars of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Eiza González, Babs Olusanmokun, and Cary Elwes, about the new period action movie. González explained how she prepared for the role and the admiration she has for women of this era. Olusanmokun shared how his character fits into the heist, while Elwes revealed how his own family had been helping him prepare for this role his entire life.

Eiza González Shares How Women In The World War II Era Were "Radical, Bold, And Brave"

Eiza González explained why she was excited to play a badass woman in a period piece, especially one based on an actual person. She broke down how playing in the period piece genre includes unexpected details like how one holds oneself and speaks. González shone a light on her castmates while also sharing insight into her approach to the character Marjorie.

Eiza González: Yeah, great question. Well, first of all, I've always been so inspired about women in this era. I found it so complex, the life that they had to live because there was a very specific idea of what a woman should be in that time and place, but also they were so radical in certain ways, and so they were bold and brave. And it's something that I've always admired about women in World War I, World War II. And so I felt very compelled of learning and educating myself. And it was a broad place that you could pull from because there's so many women that made such a difference in that era. As Cary was saying, they were pivotal in that time. And then also that era specifically, there's so much research and I love period film, so I'd already watched them all and so getting the body, the movement, the way that they carried themselves was completely different, the cadence of the way they spoke. And so I worked with two incredible accent coaches, William Conacher and Hazel was with me on a daily basis on set. And it really made a difference and it shifted. What makes the total difference is having incredible castmates that feel compelled to let you shine and you help them to shine, and it's teamwork and an incredible director. So I was so blessed, so lucky, and I hope that women around the world see this character and feel inspired. And it's a great honor to play someone that changed the trajectory of our lives.

While The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is based on true events and an actual organization there is still creative license taken with the movie and how the story plays out. Olusanmokun seems to be playing a character more in line with those creative liberties than the reality of this world. That said he plays an integral role in the mission and likely did have a real-life counterpart that helped with the mission to some degree.

Babs Olusanmokun: Really, as far as I know, it's a fictional character. But of course, he's a guy that came, hired by this gentleman here, Gubbins. And so he welcomed Marjorie to Fernando Poe. He had already been setting up things undercover, covertly, and was just a businessman who wanted to make money and was willing to make money with Nazis, but really to get them comfortable until the time came right to make his move and have Marjorie make her move and do them in.

Cary Elwes Has A Deeper Connection To The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Cary Elwes has a special connection to The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. His grandfather was one of the members of the team specifically one of the characters included in the movie. This allowed him a different level of understanding and desire to bring this story to life deeper than others. Elwes knew about the character, Gubbins, that he plays through his grandfather. He, to some degree, had been preparing for this role his entire life through listening to his grandfather's stories.

Cary Elwes: Oh, it was unbelievable to find out when I was in Turkey shooting Operation Fortune with Guy, and I asked him what his next movie was, and he said, "Oh, it's a World War II action thriller. It's based on a true story about a special operations executive." And I said, "Guy, my grandfather was a special operations executive." And he goes, "What? No way." I basically harangued him until he hired me. And yeah, so my grandfather was my hero growing up. He was amazing. He was dropped into Albania in 1943 to set up a partisan brigade to fight the Italians and the Germans. And these guys were absolute, incredibly brave people. Incredibly brave. This story is so powerful. I didn't know much about Operation Postmaster until I got this script and started reading about it, but I knew about Gubbins because of my grandfather.

Every role an actor takes on stays with them to some degree whether they play the same character for years to come or they learn a new skill to bring the character to life on screen. In playing Marjorie González needed to lean into her bravery and brashness to tell this story authentically. It seems that confidence likely stayed with her, but also Marjorie's understanding that being able to step up and perform countless jobs opened more jobs for her.

Eiza González: I'm quite shy. It doesn't look like it. I'm like a shy, outgoing person, but she's so confident. There's a confidence about her that I was very impressed by, and you have to, right? When you're a woman that lives in that world, you have to hold your own and I felt so courageous living in her skin. That and the fact that she was so multifaceted, meaning she just knew everything. She knew how to adapt, and so she knew languages. She knew this. She knew how to sing. She was a jack of all trades and that I do think carries you far in life. So I just remind myself, Okay, there's always more opportunity to grow and learn more things.

About The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

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The top-secret combat unit, composed of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, goes on a daring mission against the Nazis using entirely unconventional and utterly “ungentlemanly” fighting techniques.

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The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare hit theaters on April 19.

Source: Screen Rant Plus