“It’s a bigger story of entitlement”

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As a seasoned journalist with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew was indeed a spectacle to behold. The intensity, the tension, the sheer unpredictability – it was all there, making for an unforgettable viewing experience.

Add A Very Royal Scandal to your watchlist.

Michael Sheen subtly pauses before adding, “It was challenging for me to discern the difference between what we portrayed on screen and actual reality.” He further explains, “And also, how I personally felt about it.” During an interview, the actor is referring to a pivotal scene in A Very Royal Scandal, a three-part Amazon Prime series that dramatizes Emily Maitlis’ 2019 Newsnight encounter with Prince Andrew. In this production, Sheen plays the role of the prince and Ruth Wilson portrays Maitlis. “It was truly extraordinary,” says Sheen. “I believe that both of us have watched that interview more times than anyone else in the world.” Wilson concurs: “I rehearsed those lines at home countless times.

The interview with Prince Andrew, conducted on November 14th at Buckingham Palace and aired on BBC2 two days later, shocked the world and made Emily Maitlis famous internationally. This interview essentially marked the end of Andrew’s public career. During this interview, Maitlis repeated Virginia Giuffre’s allegation that she was coerced into having sex with the duke when she was 17, with the help of Jeffrey Epstein, an American pedophile, and Ghislaine Maxwell, a British heiress who was Andrew’s longtime friend. In response, Prince Andrew claimed it couldn’t have happened because he was attending a children’s party at a Pizza Express in Woking at that time. He also disputed Giuffre’s statement about his excessive sweating, explaining that due to his service in the Falklands War, he had difficulty sweating.

Wilson’s expression when Andrew (played by Sheen) speaks suggests a hidden disdain. Despite the fact that Sheen and Wilson look nothing alike, and she is not as slender as Maitlis, she seems to embody the journalist character perfectly. “I had numerous meetings with Emily,” says Wilson, who is most recognized for her role as Mrs. Coulter in His Dark Materials, about her preparations for this role.

“I stopped by her house for an evening meal, and I also dropped by her workplace, which is The News Agents’ office where Maitlis, Jon Sopel, and Lewis Goodall create their podcast. Emily is incredibly intelligent and endearing. She mostly survives on Percy Pigs and wine gums, and I noticed she was munching on them at work with her hair in curlers.

It might seem as if Ruth, in her lawyer-like cross-examination of Andrew, comes across as cold or aloof. However, Wilson, aged 42, describes her differently: “She’s not exactly graceful, she’d agree with that,” he says. “She’s got ink everywhere – on her clothes, on her mouth, because she chews her pens. She even gave me one of her handbags and it was smeared with pen ink. I wanted to write ‘Ruth was here’ on it, but used it for filming instead. She was giving me things to wear, like a school play. She handed me the military-style jacket she wore during the interview; I could still smell Emily on it.

Andrew (the actor) mentioned that there wasn’t any connection or recognition from others related to him due to his role. He stated, “God, no,” expressing surprise and disappointment since he often needs specific props or clothing for his characters, but it was challenging this time because of the association with his past roles.

The drama titled “A Royal Scandal” follows shortly after the Netflix movie “Scoop,” which features similar themes, with Gillian Anderson portraying Emily Maitlis and Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew. Wilson remarks, “I didn’t watch it, as I didn’t want to be overshadowed by Gillian’s exceptional performance.” As for Sheen, he admits, “I watched it straight away and was utterly intimidated by Rufus! However, I also felt relieved because it was quite distinct from what we are creating. The main character in their story is Sam McAlister [Newsnight’s producer, played by Billie Piper]. In our narrative, Andrew and Emily are the principal characters, and we delve deeper into the consequences of this interview on their lives and its subsequent outcomes.

Additionally, there are stunning disclosures. It’s astonishing to note that some of Andrew’s most incriminating statements were appended to the interview at his team’s behest towards the end. Sheen expresses his surprise by saying, “I find that remarkable.” He continues, “The Pizza Express and not sweating incidents, I would have thought those were the most damaging aspects – yet those were the parts he wanted included!

Titled “A Very Royal Scandal“, this production was penned by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock and masterfully directed by Julian Jarrold. It delves into the ripple effects of the scandal, encompassing Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, who are among its casualties. Unlike “Scoop“, it raises profound, philosophical questions about the monarchy as a whole. As Wilson explains, “It’s not just about one story; it’s about entitlement on a larger scale.” Notably, Wilson holds an MBE, and Sheen, who relinquished his OBE in 2017 for this very purpose, is now free to express his thoughts regarding the royal family. Despite acknowledging the value of the monarchy, he advocates for holding it accountable.

Both shows share a pivotal moment, namely that well-known interview, which served as the main focus for both productions. According to Wilson, the majority of filming was accomplished in a single, intense day. She describes it as an exhilarating experience, with everyone leaving feeling elated after completing it. For Sheen, it was similar to playing David Frost in Frost/Nixon, where you’re mimicking interviews and when it came time for the actual takes, there was a sense of awareness that everyone was watching, thinking “Does this work or not?

This production works impressively well. Renowned for breathing life into actual figures like Tony Blair and Brian Clough, Sheen delivers another successful performance. His portrayal of Andrew is an obnoxiously self-important and deaf-to-reason royal figure; he might be a monster, but also a man who finds his entire perceived birthright under threat, suddenly realizing it.

Sheen poses a question about characters who may engage in objectionable or morally questionable actions: “Is it feasible for an audience to empathize with such characters to the extent of seeing through their perspective?” He also notes that while some people show sympathy towards Prince Andrew, the majority do not.

When I inquire if he shows any compassion or even empathy towards Andrew, Sheen, who was previously relaxed, subtly tenses up. He explains, “Compassion involves a degree of pardon or excusing, of justifying actions.” He continues, “Empathy is about perceiving someone’s actions in context and thus comprehending how those actions might be plausible. This is distinct from being lenient towards those actions.

I had to know who this man was, what he’d done or not done

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been deeply moved by Sheen’s performance, leading me to ponder if my initial perception of Andrew might have more layers than I initially thought following the Newsnight interview. “There might be,” she admits. “Acting alongside Michael and observing the series made me realize, ‘Wow, they’ve really nailed the intricacy of this character and the world he comes from.’ Perhaps it does influence my perspective.

And Sheen? “There is a huge mystery at the heart of it, because we don’t know what did or didn’t happen. We may have very strong instincts about it, but we don’t know. There hasn’t been a court case. There hasn’t been a judgement in that sense.” But Sheen must have made a judgement, guilty or innocent? “I had to make a choice for myself because I couldn’t just leave it misty. I had to know who this man was, and what he’d done or not done. But I have no idea if the choice I made is right or not, which is why I won’t say.”

The interview turned out poorly for Andrew, resulting in public humiliation and a noticeable distance from the royal family. Despite this, Andrew appeared to believe the interview had gone smoothly. As Wilson points out, “We often expect those we cast as villains to behave in a particular manner.” It seems Emily herself was taken aback by the fact that he didn’t present himself as she anticipated. At the conclusion of the interview, Andrew appeared content with it.

In a settlement outside of court, Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against Prince Andrew concluded in February 2022. The exact amount of the settlement has not been officially confirmed, but it was rumored to be up to £12 million. Some reports suggested that part of this sum might have come from Queen Elizabeth, although this remains unverified. The settlement and subsequent speculation about its implications—whether it was an acknowledgment of guilt or an attempt to suppress the story prior to the Jubilee year—are topics raised by “A Very Royal Scandal.” Regardless, the significant harm had already been inflicted back in November 2019.

Wilson remarks that “The gravity of the predicament was striking, as it was critical for both parties,” he explains. “With merely an hour at her disposal, Emily had to secure him, and indeed, she did.

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2024-09-13 17:06