Michael Sheen talks “exhausting” scenes with Ruth Wilson for new drama

As a seasoned gamer of the royal family dramas, I must say that my anticipation for “A Very Royal Scandal” is at an all-time high. Having witnessed countless reenactments and interpretations of real-life events, I can confidently say that Michael Sheen’s portrayal of Prince Andrew in this Prime Video series promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.


Michael Sheen discussed staging a re-creation of the well-known Newsnight interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew, which is part of his upcoming Prime Video production alongside Ruth Wilson.

As an ardent admirer, I’d say that the captivating three installments of “A Very Royal Scandal” delve into the dramatic build-up to the groundbreaking 2019 interview and its repercussions. Particularly, the central episode number two zeroes in on the crucial hour-long chat itself.

In an exclusive conversation with Digital Spy, Sheen (who portrays Prince Andrew in the latest drama) discussed the challenging yet exhilarating experience of shooting the groundbreaking interview using extended takes.

Michael Sheen talks "exhausting" scenes with Ruth Wilson for new drama

On rare occasions during the filming of Good Omens, the star found themselves collaborating with Ruth Wilson, portraying Emily Maitlis, and they completed the scenes across a span of two days.

He said: “We had put so much work into it. The research and the studying of it and the talking about it, so that it felt like the stakes were very high. Knowing that the interview itself is the heart of the piece and so much comes out of that – it’s about building up to it and then about the aftermath.”

In the play, the interview scenes are woven together across the second act. Since it was fragmented, Sheen mentioned that he and Wilson thought it would be best to stretch out the interview recordings as much as possible.

Michael Sheen talks "exhausting" scenes with Ruth Wilson for new drama

Initially, when we filmed the interviews, each recording lasted approximately 19 to 20 minutes – which might surprise those unaware of the process, is unusually lengthy for a single take.

There was a palpable excitement in the atmosphere as we worked on it. It was exhilarating and draining. By the end of each recording, it felt as if we’d just performed a play. Yet, it was remarkable. I will always cherish the experience of those initial takes.

A Very Royal Scandal premieres on September 19 on Prime Video.

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2024-09-10 12:49

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