‘Anne of Green Gables’ Star Megan Follows to Play Its Author Lucy Maud Montgomery in Series ‘Lucy. Maud’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Megan Follows is returning to her roots: Known for portraying Anne Shirley in “Anne of Green Gables,” she will soon take on the role of its creator, Lucy Maud Montgomery, in the upcoming series titled “Lucy. Maud.

From a young age, I’ve felt deeply appreciative for being exposed to a character who played a pivotal role in her narrative. Much like the show’s creators, Anne has had a profound impact on my life. She molded us as artists, as writers, and even shaped me as an actor, as I shared this with EbMaster.

In 1985, a heartwarming tale titled “Anne of Green Gables” was first shown to the public. This story follows an orphan girl who, due to a misunderstanding, is adopted by two middle-aged siblings living in Prince Edward Island during the late 1800s, and in turn, profoundly impacts their lives.

During my journey to Berlin, no less than four flight attendants approached me, having spotted me from that popular series. Each one shared a unique, heartfelt account of how the character resonated with them personally. This speaks volumes about the impactful storytelling of that author.

The production “Lucy. Maud.”, a story by Susan Coyne (“Daisy Jones & the Six” and “Anne of Green Gables”) and Rosa Laborde, is being presented at Berlinale’s Co-Pro Series. In addition to writing, Susan Coyne will also direct and produce the series, alongside Edwina Follows and Mary Young Leckie.

The team has previously acquired “The Gift of Wings,” a biography penned by Mary Rubio about Montgomery, who jointly edited the author’s personal journals as well.

Follows mentioned that we have an unusually abundant collection of source materials and numerous novels now available to the public. He believes our project represents the first dramatic portrayal of Montgomery’s life story,” said Follows, who initially stumbled upon Montgomery’s journals while acting as Anne.

Initially, I would always have them on hand, as I found her writing to be richly layered, at times subtly rebellious, and insightfully critical of the world with a sharp sense of humor. She was incredibly intelligent, quick-witted, perceptive. She was involved in intense relationships and lived during a period of significant societal transformation. She’s a woman whose words resonate strongly with our contemporary era.

In the upcoming production, Montgomery will be portrayed by various actors, each assuming a distinct phase of her life.

In this production, I’ll portray the character named Maud, who was fondly known by that name, from her forties all the way to the end of her life. Yet, our tale will not only span her later years but also delve into Maud’s youthful days and her twenties. We are uncovering and traversing various timelines with her throughout this journey.

Her most iconic creation, Anne, will be also returning “as a force she interacts with.”  

Maud possessed a strong ability to visualize her dreams in great detail, known as hyperphantasia. She breathed life into her characters in an extraordinary manner. However, her publisher urged her to make these characters more conventional. Yet, Maud was truly ahead of her era. In those days, women needed to be cautious when expressing their ambitions; Anne, for instance, is a character who embodies great ambition.

In her opinion, the characters she developed later on, such as Emily of New Moon and Pat of Silver Bush, were notably more robust.

Although the world poses challenges for Emily, she manages to become a writer. As Maud grew older, her characters mirrored this aging process and also portrayed relationships from her life – notably Marilla in ‘Anne of Green Gables’, who was strongly influenced by Emily’s grandmother Lucy Macneill and exhibited strictness and control. Maude’s enthusiasm and creative spirit, her vitality and emotional fluctuations worried her.

She stated: “She held a strong bond with both the natural environment and humanity. Through her characters, she aimed to illustrate the potential within us all when our communities foster unity rather than rejection, and when we focus on shared similarities instead of differences.

Montgomery was not only the initial Canadian woman to be part of the prestigious British Royal Society of Arts, but she was also bestowed with the Order of the British Empire. Even if some may be unaware of her specific works, they can still appreciate the series, as it is compellingly assured by Follows.

I found solace in a series delving into creativity’s might, a tool for comprehending the universe and discovering one’s identity. It didn’t matter how insurmountable the challenges were; I persevered relentlessly to gain recognition, advocating not just for myself but for youth worldwide. I knew what it meant to stand on the fringes,” I expressed.

It’s truly inspiring to highlight and share the stories of remarkable, innovative, influential women with future generations.

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2025-02-18 13:48