The meeting point between Dixie Egerickx and Mary, between actress and character, is in that secret garden that has made entire generations of readers dream and that today can see the story comes to life in a new, exciting film adaptation.

“The Secret Garden,” based on the novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is the new adaptation now available on Amazon Prime Video. The cast includes powerhouse actors Colin Firth and Julie Walters but, above all, a young actress, just like one of those beautiful flowers described in the course of the narration, stands out. We are talking about Dixie Egerickx, who plays the lead character, Mary, with a delicacy, or rather, kindness, pure and full of life.

And it was precisely about the importance of kindness, as well as the experience and unforgettable moments lived on the set that Dixie spoke to us on a day in London. Without secrets, of course!

A first and obvious question: have you read the book “The Secret Garden” before filming the movie? 

Yes! It was one of the first books that I read independently when I was about 7.  It was my mother’s favorite book as a child, she encouraged me to read it and I really loved it too.

How did you prepare for your character, Mary? Do you believe she’s similar to you in some ways?

Well, I re-read the book and really just tried to think how I might feel if I were to find myself in Mary’s situation. The obvious similarity between Mary and myself is that we were around the same age but thankfully I had not suffered her losses or displacement. The way she is written in both the book and the script made it very easy to empathize with her so I think it’s likely that if I was to have found myself in her place I might well have reacted as she did. We went into rehearsals for a while before we started on set, which was really helpful for understanding all the characters and how they fitted together.

“The way she is written in both the book and the script made it very easy to empathize with her so I think it’s likely that if I was to have found myself in her place I might well have reacted as she did.”

What do you like the most about your character Mary Lennox?

Mary is a very determined character who isn’t easily put off – I think that is an admirable trait and one that is very useful in navigating life!

Your favorite line from the movie?

“I didn’t ask to be here!”

Kindness is what gives Mary the strength to face the events of the story: what does kindness mean for you?

I think that kindness is an incredibly important trait for people to have, and also something which can be spread easily. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind – everybody is capable of displaying some form of goodwill towards others, and sometimes one person’s small act of kindness can have a large and positive impact on someone else.

Mary grows a lot during the story: how were you able to combine the childish nature of this character, since she is 10 years old, and her incredible maturity?

Mary is forced to grow up fast by the circumstances of her life – it is clear in the film that her abrasiveness and precociousness with adults comes from a place of loss and insecurity and a need to defend her fragile emotions. Once I understood that, it wasn’t hard to portray that side of her in comparison to the child she allows herself to become – the person she grows into when her friendship blossoms with Colin, Dickon and Hector the dog, and when she discovers the secret garden.

“…sometimes one person’s small act of kindness can have a large and positive impact on someone else.”

“Mary is forced to grow up fast by the circumstances of her life, […] her abrasiveness and precociousness with adults comes from a place of loss and insecurity and a need to defend her fragile emotions.”

How was working alongside Colin Firth and Julie Walters? How much do you think you can take home learning from those actors, every time? 

Working with Colin and Julie was a really great experience. Obviously, they are both extraordinarily accomplished actors, but more importantly, they were so kind to everyone and good fun. They were both really lovely to me and just working with them was an incredible learning curve, not just in terms of acting but also in being able to observe their professionalism on set.

What was for you the funniest moment on set?

Making “The Secret Garden” was an incredibly joyous experience from start to finish. The weather was glorious throughout – we had only three hours of rain in five weeks of outdoor filming! The gardens we were shooting in were beautiful and the cast and crew all got on so well there always seemed to be something to laugh at –  so I think it’s impossible for me to pinpoint one moment.

The movie is done by the same producers of “Harry Potter” and “Paddington,” what was your favorite movies growing up? 

I certainly went through my Disney Princess phase and my favourite was the “Princess and the Frog” -but I also really loved the films “Bolt” and “Chicken Run”…

…so I think it’s fair to say my tastes were quite varied!

If you had your own secret garden, how would it look like?

I would probably want my secret garden to be very similar to the one in the film – boundless and ideally filled with all sorts of flowers, trees and shrubs, a few streams and maybe even a dog!

What’s your happy place?

Probably my home in Wales, it is where I have spent all my holidays since I was very little and it brings back lots of happy memories whenever I am there.

The superpower you wish you had.

To become invisible whenever I wished.

What’s your favorite book or the book you are reading right now?

I’ve just finished reading “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart and I absolutely loved it – although it’s nothing like “The Secret Garden,” I thought it was an incredible book with such an unexpected twist at the end!

You are very young, but you are doing so much: have you ever thought about what are the stories you would like to tell throughout acting?

It is great to be part of telling a story that touches people somehow. It doesn’t always have to be a new story and it doesn’t always have to be a sad story but as long as it has integrity on some level then it is interesting to me.

What’s your next project? 

Everything has been so uncertain for so long now but thankfully things are starting to pick up again and there are signs of activity even in this business! There are a few exciting things that might be on the horizon, but nothing I am able to reveal just yet!

“It is great to be part of telling a story that touches people somehow. […] as long as it has integrity on some level then it is interesting to me.”

Photos & Video by Johnny Carrano

Makeup by Louise Dartford at Stella Creative Artists using Weleda.

Hair by Ella Small at Stella Creative Artists using Bumble & Bumble. 

Styling by Ella Gaskell

Thanks to The Princess Victoria

Look 1
Black and white sequin blazer: L’AGENCE
Black turtle neck: L’AGENCE
Black satin trousers with pink stripe downsides: Varana
Silver glittery strappy heels: Louboutin
Earrings and cuff: Tada and Toy

Look 2
White mini dress with cuffed sleeves: Bella Freud
Silver glittery strappy heels: Louboutin
Earrings and cuff: Tada and Toy

Look 3
Blue woollen cardigan and skit: Pinko
Black satin cami vest top: Iris & Ink
Earrings and cuffs: Tada and Toy
Silver glittery strappy heels: Louboutin