Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany reveal the Amadeus scene they were “terrified” to film

by

*Warning – contains mild spoilers for Amadeus episode 5*

You can now watch Sky’s new version of the play Amadeus online. Will Sharpe stars as Mozart and Paul Bettany plays Salieri – roles that were famously brought to life by Tom Hulce and F Murray Abraham in the 1984 movie.

With the original play and movie being so well-received, there was a lot of expectation for this new version – and one particular scene proved especially challenging for stars Tom Sharpe and Jonathan Bettany.

Sharpe said he was very impressed with the quality and detail of the sets and is eager to see how they are received.

We were really worried about the scene in the last episode where Salieri and Amadeus finally show their softer sides. How that moment unfolded was something we discussed a lot during filming. It was one of the last things we shot, and the whole scene depends on whether the audience believes in their connection.

When Creevy asked him about a specific scene, Bettany explained it was the one where he visits the other character’s apartment while he’s sick. He struggled with how to portray the necessary emotions in that moment, feeling like he was hinting around the issue instead of addressing it directly. The scene required a delicate approach to help the audience understand a complex backstory, and Bettany worried about how to achieve that.

Want to see this content?

We can’t display this content because of a security check from Google reCAPTCHA. If you’re signed in to Contentpass, please sign out to see it.

Sharpe explained that, at its most intense, experiencing his music feels like hearing the thoughts inside his head, and that Mozart’s work can briefly offer a glimpse of something transcendent or divine.

Alice Seabright, the director of that episode, did a fantastic job. We tried exploring some interesting concepts, but ultimately the story came down to two men having a genuine and honest conversation. That human connection became the core of the episode, and everything else served to support it.

The series, set in 18th-century Vienna and focusing on the competitive relationship between composers Mozart and Salieri, features a cast including Tom Sharpe, Bettany, Creevy, Rory Kinnear, Lucy Cohu, and Jonathan Aris.

Amadeus is now available on Sky and NOW – sign up for Sky TV here.

Don’t miss out! Add Amadeus to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download it today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the international production company Fremantle. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2025-12-21 14:04