The Scottish actor played the first ruler of the Stuart dynasty. The series “Mary & George” premiered on March 8 on SkyShowtime. On the day of its premiere, episodes 1-3 appeared on the website, and more are added every week. Fans of historical shows must take into account that although the creators focused on realism in many aspects, this is a highly fictionalized (and bold) story. It focuses on big politics and what they don’t teach about in school – well documented thanks to the surviving letters of King James’s relationship with George. The creators of the production also wanted to show how the growing importance of the young man at court complicates his relationship with his mother, when George wants to prove to himself at all costs that appearance is not everything he has to offer.
How did you prepare to enter the set of the series “Mary & George”?
Tony Curran: What I found most helpful was a conversation with Benjamin Woolley, who wrote The King’s Assassin. We delved into the book and Jacob’s life. I asked questions about history, Jacob, the specific culture and politics of the time, and he gave me a lot of information. One of the things he said about James that helped me a lot was that because he had been king in Scotland since he was 18 months old, there had been many attempts on his life. He was kidnapped when he was ten years old and spent 12 months in Rosslyn Castle. He said he was fed by fear, but his paranoia was justified.
What was it like to bring the character of King James to life on screen when we have so much historical knowledge about him?
I’ve played historical figures before, but King James is someone I haven’t seen much on stage, TV or film. The fact that we have the chance to show him is intimidating, but that’s part of the fun and part of the challenge. [Główny reżyser – red.] Oliver Hermanus and I talked a lot about what we wanted to achieve, where this character came from and where he was going. Jacob’s journey and the story itself is quite moving, as well as somewhat destructive, gritty and intense.
In your opinion, is this a love story or a story about power and climbing the social ladder? Or maybe a little of both?
I think Mary & George has a lot of love story elements in it. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that, not only with King James, but with many other characters as well. There is a lot of love here, a lot of passion, but also a lot of sensuality and sexuality. There’s an element of ladder climbing involved, a lot of quid pro quo situations, and of course, a lot of backstabbing.
Mary & George Rory Mulvey/SkyShowtime promotional materials
You modernized the language of this story.
The action, of course, takes place during the reign of Jacob, and we had to maintain realism, but also make the series accessible to viewers. Some of what DC Moore wrote is very contemporary, but that doesn’t take away from the historical feel because some of the language is very juicy and colorful. It seems to have worked out quite well.
The sex and sexuality shown in the series is very different from most historical dramas.
Yes, you could say that it is quite widely present. There are relationships of men with men, women with women, men with women. I don’t think we should be shy about expressing how people feel when they need to. If you were at court and you were king or queen or had some power and you wanted some time to rest, what would you do? I know what James wanted to do. He loved hunting. And he loved having a few friends in the chamber and having a good time.
Mary & George Mark Mainz/SkyShowtime promotional materials
Do you think it was true love between King James and George?
From what I’ve read and the way we tell the story, I gather that Jacob cared deeply about George. You could say that he was his partner, friend, lover, but also a political ally. Someone to help him, someone to do everything for him.
What about James’ relationship with his son Charles?
It is very interesting. Samuel Blenkin plays Charles the First, my second son. The first son Henry died – and he was actually the king and queen’s favorite. He died unexpectedly and Charles had to take his place. I think James was devastated by this death and hoped that Henry would be an amazing heir to the throne. The relationship between Jakub and Charles is somewhat strained. She doesn’t have as much affection for him as she does for Henry, which causes a lot of friction between them.
Let’s get to work on set. What was it like working with Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine?
She was great fun. The themes of this story are very gritty, very real. It was emotional and intense, but when the cameras weren’t rolling, it was a lot of fun on set. I really enjoyed working with Julianne, she has incredible intensity as Mary. I found the dynamic between James and Mary interesting because there weren’t many women in his life. His mother left and his marriage to Queen Anne was arranged with Denmark. Then Mary shows up and has this beautiful boy to offer.
Nick and I laughed a lot. There was some room for improvisation and Nick and I certainly did that, we set off some fireworks. Sometimes the scene needs it, and he was a pleasure to work with.
Can you tell us about your costumes?
The costumes in “Mary & George” are truly unique. The responsibility of Annie Symons, our amazing costume designer, and her legions of staff. I have more changes of outfits than Lady Gaga. The historical accuracy achieved is amazing – the costumes are sensational and stunning. I feel very lucky to wear these lavish outfits and photograph in such amazing locations. It can only make you empathize with the character more.
What was it like filming in so many different locations?
Some of the locations we shot in were phenomenal: country houses, castles. We shot at Stirling Castle, which was amazing – King James lived there and studied there. There is a small piece of stone with his name carved on it, which surprised me. We visited Hatfield House and also the Charterhouse in Spitalfields, where Elizabeth I was preparing for her coronation in the 16th century. We shot a scene – a feast that could have taken place in that location – and that was the first time Jacob sees George. He comes in, someone bumps him and he drops the meat, and that’s when I notice him. The fact that you are filming a scene in a house, castle or manor where these events actually took place is amazing.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
