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In the beginning, there was Queen Catherine and Maid Marial.
This interview contains spoilers for season two ofThe Great.
Because Elle and I talk about it all the time.
Like, fuck Peter, man; this is the real love story.
You know, the way that you do when you find a new friend.
And Marial and Catherine, that feels like a love story because of its complexity.
Its sort of a will they, wont they.
We are awful to each other, and we also deeply love each other.
Its a yin-and-yang energy.
She did, I cant remember what her name is, but she also did fall out of favor.
I was like,Ohhhhhkay.
The historical bits, you just arent even meant to think about it.
Everyone has an angle on this show.
What is Marials angle?
As a person, shes just flying by the seat of her pants.
The ultimate intention always is to survive.
Perhaps Marial is just too damaged with not enough therapy and will burn even her own house down.Totally.
Once youve been there, you dont want to go back there.
Marial is a real key player in this story line.
I was like, Oh, come on!
I do it again?
Learn your lesson, Marial.
In season two, I dont think Marial realizes how tenuous her position is.
She is proud and she is arrogant, and she doesnt quite comprehend that Catherine may change her mind.
Otherwise, why would you help to cover up Catherines mothers death?
And you have to be careful around Tony, because hes such a magpie.
Hell listen and watch what youre doing on set and then be inspired by it.
That definitely came out of us making jokes about eating cherries on set.
What is going on there?![Laughs.]
Well, the normal part of their relationship is that he basically raised her.
Her mom died young, her father was an abusive alcoholic, and Archie stepped in as her guardian.
Thats why shes so fiercely loyal to him.
And then theres this backstory with Georgina and Grigor.
Me and Gwilym [Lee] were like,What?
!We didnt even think we knew each other.
Marials line to Catherine Youre a singular individual and you helped me be one.
You have changed me and youll change millions.
thats such a poignant moment, because its Marial finally opening up and being a more positive person.
Theres a willingness to be vulnerable.
Marial doesnt have the style or grace of the other political movers like Aunt Elizabeth or even Archie.
Shes not savvy, but shes intelligent enough to know what the solution is.
Carrying it out, she goes for broad strokes, for killer blows, when actually it needed delicacy.
Thats really the only thing that she got wrong as far as Im concerned.
Marial is the most violently tempestuous person Ive played.
I just love how angry she is.
A lot of the time anger is misunderstood to be something else, whether its hysteria or depression.
The truth is, women get fucking angry.
And I love that Tony has written a character who gets really angry really easily.
As far as Im concerned, we dont see enough of that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
