Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ellie Bamber and Mehdi Dehbi talk to HeyUGuys’ Linda Marric about Prisoners of Paradise, the sweeping period romance filmed on location in Mauritius and set against the island’s complex colonial history.
The pair reveal what it was like filming in Mauritius during the Covid lockdown, learning about the events that shaped Lucy and Krishna’s forbidden relationship and bringing the film’s political themes to the screen. Mehdi explains why he considers the story Shakespearean and reveals that Tamil was the most challenging language he has ever learned for a film, while Ellie discusses experiencing Mauritius through Lucy’s eyes.
They also recall meeting before filming, building their on-screen chemistry, shooting the emotional climax connected to Le Morne and working closely with the producers to honour the deeply personal story of the late Alan Govinden. Finally, Ellie and Mehdi reveal what they have coming next.
Prisoners of Paradise is available now on digital platforms.
Interview conducted by Linda Marric for HeyUGuys.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
00:23 Ellie Bamber on discovering Mauritius’ history
01:09 Filming on the island during the Covid lockdown
01:59 Mehdi Dehbi on learning about the events of 1924
02:45 The politics beneath the film’s sweeping romance
03:18 The producers’ personal connection to Mauritius
04:33 Why the love story is “Shakespearean”
05:26 Mehdi reveals his most challenging screen language
06:24 Ellie experiences Mauritius through Lucy’s eyes
06:59 Meeting each other and building their chemistry
08:20 Filming the climax connected to Le Morne
10:07 Honouring late producer Alan Govinden
11:34 Mehdi Dehbi reveals his forthcoming projects
12:08 Ellie Bamber discusses her upcoming films
13:35 Final thoughts and HeyUGuys outro
HASHTAGS
#PrisonersOfParadise #EllieBamber #MehdiDehbi #LindaMarric #HeyUGuys #Mauritius #PeriodDrama #MovieInterview #ForbiddenLove #BritishFilm
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For syndication or usage opportunities please contact syndication@heyuguys.co.uk.
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More from HeyUGuys:
Website ► HeyUGuys.com
Follow us on Twitter ► twitter.com/HeyUGuys
Subscribe here! ► bit.ly/HeyUGuysYTSub
Facebook ► facebook.com/HeyUGuys
Instagram ► instagram.com/HeyUGuysOfficial
TikTok ► tiktok.com/@heyuguysofficial
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Ellie Bamber and Mehdi Dehbi talk to HeyUGuys’ Linda Marric about Prisoners of Paradise, the sweeping period romance filmed on location in Mauritius and set against the island’s complex colonial history.
The pair reveal what it was like filming in Mauritius during the Covid lockdown, learning about the events that shaped Lucy and Krishna’s forbidden relationship and bringing the film’s political themes to the screen. Mehdi explains why he considers the story Shakespearean and reveals that Tamil was the most challenging language he has ever learned for a film, while Ellie discusses experiencing Mauritius through Lucy’s eyes.
They also recall meeting before filming, building their on-screen chemistry, shooting the emotional climax connected to Le Morne and working closely with the producers to honour the deeply personal story of the late Alan Govinden. Finally, Ellie and Mehdi reveal what they have coming next.
Prisoners of Paradise is available now on digital platforms.
Interview conducted by Linda Marric for HeyUGuys.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
00:23 Ellie Bamber on discovering Mauritius’ history
01:09 Filming on the island during the Covid lockdown
01:59 Mehdi Dehbi on learning about the events of 1924
02:45 The politics beneath the film’s sweeping romance
03:18 The producers’ personal connection to Mauritius
04:33 Why the love story is “Shakespearean”
05:26 Mehdi reveals his most challenging screen language
06:24 Ellie experiences Mauritius through Lucy’s eyes
06:59 Meeting each other and building their chemistry
08:20 Filming the climax connected to Le Morne
10:07 Honouring late producer Alan Govinden
11:34 Mehdi Dehbi reveals his forthcoming projects
12:08 Ellie Bamber discusses her upcoming films
13:35 Final thoughts and HeyUGuys outro
HASHTAGS
#PrisonersOfParadise #EllieBamber #MehdiDehbi #LindaMarric #HeyUGuys #Mauritius #PeriodDrama #MovieInterview #ForbiddenLove #BritishFilm
---------------------
For syndication or usage opportunities please contact syndication@heyuguys.co.uk.
---------------------
More from HeyUGuys:
Website ► HeyUGuys.com
Follow us on Twitter ► twitter.com/HeyUGuys
Subscribe here! ► bit.ly/HeyUGuysYTSub
Facebook ► facebook.com/HeyUGuys
Instagram ► instagram.com/HeyUGuysOfficial
TikTok ► tiktok.com/@heyuguysofficial
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