Emily Watson on Gosford Park

Gosford Park is an English country house murder mystery. But it's not really a 'whodunnit', much more of a 'justice has been done'. It's also about the social issues of the time.

It's the early Thirties and there's a marvellous menagerie of 'up' people all backstabbing and backbiting. And then there are the servants ? the film is set in the pre-war days, but it is like today in the relation between 'them' and 'us'.

I play Elsie, the head housemaid (below), who's been having an affair with the master of the house, Sir William, who's quite obnoxious. But she sees another side to him. Lots of dark secrets trickle out. It was wonderful to be given an opportunity to play someone like Elsie. She was so removed from previous work I have done. She is tough, streetwise and has a mind of her own. She won't be treated badly, and she has feelings. She's feisty. I like that and can associate with it.

I'd never worked with Robert Altman as a director and I found him liberating. You kept developing what you were doing and hoped Robert was getting some of it. He had two cameras following us, devouring everything we were doing. It may sound like chaos, but he has this tremendous calmness. He had the whole film inside his head.

I would have crossed three continents on foot to work with him, let alone people like Derek Jacobi and Alan Bates. When you looked around the set and saw all these famous faces you thought, 'What am I doing here?' Then you get over that and think, 'Boy, I must have arrived!' But you're worrying, 'Am I about to be found out?' I was totally starstruck. Working with Maggie Smith was a revelation. She makes it appear so easy.

It's only five years since I made my first film, Breaking The Waves. Everything has happened so fast. I only now realise how daring that was. I don't think I would have had the courage today.

Gosford Park opens Fri 1 Feb.