Callum Scott Howells and Ruby Stokes Lead Cast of Period Film 'Madfabulous'

The history of the British aristocracy is rife with people who could politely be called "eccentrics". Whether it's the access to copious sums of cash that helps them lose touch with reality or the centuries of intermarriage between a handful of wealthy and titled families, the percentage of straight-up weirdos amongst this group is...let's just say strangely high. From Francis Egerton (Duke of Bridgewater), who regularly threw lavish dinner parties for his dogs to William John Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (Duke of Portland) who forced his staff to only communicate with him via notes and built fifteen miles of tunnels under his house to avoid going outside, decidedly strange behavior among the upper classes is not as uncommon as they'd like you to think.

Now, the upcoming period film Madfabulous aims to reimagine one of the aristocracy's most infamous (and intriguing) figures. Described as a “fantastical reimagining set in the late 19th Century,” it follows the story of Henry Cyril Paget, the 5th Marquess of Anglesey, who was once one of the richest men in Britain before he squandered a multi-million-pound fortune and died penniless and alone in France at the young age of 29.

Known as "the Dancing Marquess," Paget was infamous for eschewing established societal protocols of class and gender with his frequent cross-dressing, fluent sexuality, theatrical demeanor, and lavish social life. His many eccentricities included everything from walking around London with pink poodles to adapting his (five) luxury cards so that their exhaust pipes would spray perfume. In short, he was A Lot, even for a rich aristocrat.