Tony nominee Carey Mulligan talks about the link between her 'Skylight,' 'Madding Crowd' roles

NEW YORK, May 8 (UPI) -- British actress Carey Mulligan says she sees a connection between the women she plays in the big-screen drama Far From the Madding Crowd and the Broadway play Skylight.

"There's definitely a similarity to both those characters," Mulligan told reporters in New York recently.

"The thing about Bathsheba is that she's so extraordinary in her time [the late 19th century,] but Kyra isn't that extraordinary in modern times," the 29-year-old Tony nominee observed. "So, I suppose it's just that Bathsheba seems so contemporary and they both have a real drive. Neither of them want to be defined by men, but both have the capacity to fall head-over-heels in love. So, yeah, there are definitely similarities. They're both really strong and real and flawed people, which is quite a rare offer as an actress to get to play."

Far From the Madding Crowd, an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic novel, co-starring Michael Sheen, Matthias Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge and Juno Temple, is in theaters now. Directed by Stephen Daldry, the revival of David Hare's play Skylight features Bill Nighy and is playing at The John Golden Theatre.