Devon's Star Appeal

Carey Mulligan has always had a tricky relationship with the glitz and glam of Hollywood, so when it came to settling down with folk star husband Marcus Mumford, the Devonshire countryside was the obvious choice, as she tells KAREN ANNE OVERTON

- Karen Anne Overton

WHEN a critically acclaimed music superstar gets hitched to a BAFTAwinning actress, it’s not uncommon for them to settle somewhere away from prying eyes. A sprawling plot of land on which to raise their brood and create their art, somewhere hidden in the rolling hills where paparazzi are not welcome, leaving them free to flourish and reflect in harmonious surroundings.

For Marcus Mumford and Carey Mulligan the decision to surround themselves in nature was an easy one, but rather than buy a ranch or mansion in the shadow of the Hollywood sign, the hugely successful, media shy couple purchased a 16th-century farmhouse in Devon to while away the days. That is of course, when their jam-packed schedules don’t get in the way.

“It’s very relaxing to live in the countryside but we don’t spend as much time there as we’d like,” begins Mulligan. “My work means I’m always shooting all over the place but that’s the name of the game.

“I think a big part of what appeals for me is a real fondness for nature. Half my family is Welsh, and I spent a lot of time in the countryside as a young girl,” adding with a giggle, “I even milked a cow once when I was seven on my great aunt’s farm!”

There does seem to be a perfectly placed fit for the couple, who have quickly assembled a family to call their own. Nestled in the Devonshire hills, the stunning property is covered in roses and has all the components of a working farm, though Mulligan, in her clipped Home Counties accent, is quick to clarify one point. “We have a farm, but we are not farmers!” she laughs. “It’s just that we enjoy the peace and beauty of living in the countryside.”