A Hollywood star has praised Michael Sheen’s ’empathetic’ portrayal of Prince Andrew in A Very Royal Scandal. Rachel Weisz, 54, admitted she ‘felt terribly’ for the disgraced royal, 64, after watching the Amazon Prime Video series. A Very Royal Scandal is the second dramatision of Prince Andrew’s disastrous BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis , played by Ruth Wilson.
While in conversation with Emily, 54, at Cliveden Literary Festival, about the TV drama adaptation, Rachel shared her feelings on Michael’s ‘imaginative’ take on Pince Andrew. She said according to the Daily Mail : ‘What I love so much about the series is the empathy with which Prince Andrew is played, and the pathos and humanity in this character, which is something that the writer and Michael Sheen had to invent. ‘That was an imaginative act.
[I was] watching the drama and feeling just so terrible, I felt terribly for Prince Andrew.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser that supports HTML5video During the discussion, Emily, who acted as executive producer on A Very Royal Scandal, revealed that she approached Rachel for advice about the show. She said: ‘I was calling up Rachel and saying, “Help, this is your world, and I don’t know how to deal with this”.
’ ‘I went to Rachel, first of all, and said, “What should I be doing? How much of myself should I give? Should I open up my freezer and let them see the vodka?” Rachel, who described Emily as her ‘oldest friend’, revealed that she ‘felt incredible anxiety’ for her friend letting the production crew into her life. The actress said: ‘Em’s a deeply private person, and I suddenly got worried that your life was going to be invaded in this way, and I felt very protective. And tried to give you some advice.
’ A Very Royal Scandal also revealed a distressing question Prince Andrew asked Emily Maitlis ahead of their Newsnight interview. In the show, Prince Andrew leans towards Emily and says: ‘Have any of you ever been victims of abuse?’ Looking shellshocked, Emily replies: ‘Nothing that bares comparison.’ Later on in the episode, Emily is still troubled by Prince Andrew’s question, which has played on her mind.
Confiding in her husband Mark Gwynne, played by Nicholas Burns, she says: ‘You know at the end of my meeting with Prince Andrew he asked me if I had ever been the victim of abuse? It felt horrible.’ Before A Very Royal Scandal’s release, there were reportedly fears it would be eclipsed by the success of Scoop, Netflix’s drama about the Newsnight interview released earlier this year. More Trending Second Prince Andrew drama exposes shocking moment that left Emily Matlis shaking Prince Andrew's bizarre request to Emily Maitlis after Newsnight interview King is 'losing patience' with Prince Andrew over Royal Lodge row Daniel Craig 'exasperated' when asked if James Bond could be gay at Venice Film Festival A Very Royal Scandal recounts the events through Emily’s perspective, whereas Scoop is based on the book – Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews – written by Newsnight producer Sam McAlister played by Billie Piper.
Despite both offerings covering the same subject matter and the ‘rivalry,’ Billie previously told Metro.co.uk that Emily, who is played by Gillian Anderson, would enjoy Scoop.
‘I’m sure she would absolutely love it,’ she stated. Emily previously told Deadline she didn’t get involved with the Netflix film: ‘I’ve left them very much to do their own thing because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges offering my [views].’ I pay £1,250 for my London flat but a little-known scheme means I'll buy it in three years 80s legend’s house available to rent for a staggering £65,000 per month Man buys house on Amazon for £20,500 Stunning former glassworks on sale in Brighton for £2.
5million London’s ‘secret’ village with ‘stunning views’ named one of UK’s best to live in A Very Royal Scandal is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.
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MORE : King is ‘losing patience’ with Prince Andrew over Royal Lodge row MORE : Daniel Craig ‘exasperated’ when asked if James Bond could be gay at Venice press conference MORE : Good Morning Britain viewers call for Richard Madeley to be ‘immediately sacked’ after defending Prince Andrew.
