curious coincidence, Queen Charlotte: The Bridgerton Story, the prequel to Shonda Rhimes’ successful inclusive series, comes out on May 4, two days before the coronation of Charles III, where the great absentee will be Meghan Markle, the African-American daughter-in-law who has accused the English royal house’s entourage of racism. Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the protagonist of the Netflix spin-off, was German with (probable) Berber ancestry; we saw her in adulthood Bridgerton; here she is sixteen and she is going to get married George IIIa king known for his “madness” (he had mental problems associated with porphyria).
Shonda talks about the early days of their marriage, taking a few liberties as usual, but there seems to be no doubt about one thing: it was true love. And this feeling in the series becomes a deep complicity and sharing even bad luck, the mental illness of the king and oxygen, in order to accept his fragility without shame. He may not have been a great statesman, but an enlightened king and lover of the arts, yes: for example, he signed for the abolition of slavery, which he described as absurd. Corey Milkchrist, the young London actor who plays him., he is very well prepared on this subject. He is 25 years old and was “kidnapped” Bridgerton family with a fresh diploma from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in their hands. And with his handsome, charming face as a prince who, along with Charlotte, abolished the rules in 1761, the British will wave their flags at King Charles III. Who won’t tear his stoat for Megan’s absence, but who most likely has African blood in his veins.
How did he ascend to the throne?
I auditioned, they didn’t find me terrible, they called me back. They again thought I wasn’t a complete mess and called me back. Then I met India (Ria Amarteifio, playing the queen) and Tom (Tom Verica, director), they asked us to do a scene from the first episode where George and Charlotte meet. Obviously, it wasn’t all that bad.
What did he know about King George III?
Small. However, I love history, I specialize in medieval history, which stops shortly before his reign. It was a blessing to be able to read about it and find out what an incredible person he was.
What helped you the most?
I did a lot of research, I wanted to bring back as much of the real Giorgio as possible in a fictional context and beautifully written by Shonda. The book helped me America’s Last King: The Misunderstood Reign of George III, Andrew Roberts. It was written after 2015, when the royal libraries first made available 20,000 pages of his diaries and personal letters, mostly addressed to his family, his doctor and Charlotte. King George was much smarter and more solid than pop culture imagined.
How can the boys of 2023 identify with the king and queen of the 18th century?
This is a good question that India and I should have asked ourselves. I surrounded myself with as much content and substance as possible so that my subconscious could vibrate with the king’s energy. The script has done the rest, and the concrete becomes universal. For example, he was very obsessed with his hobbies, when he felt that a “black cloud” was coming, he distracted himself, directing his attention to agriculture, astronomy … The same thing happens to me with history and sports. This is something that I can understand, regardless of my relationship and the work that I do. He felt overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility and duty, which is something we can feel too, but let’s imagine it to the nth degree. At the end, his thoughts were: “The person I love misunderstood me, I hurt him, we are crushed by external pressure, by what people think.”
It was an arranged but happy marriage, don’t you think?
That’s right, they had fifteen children. Do you think it was customary then for the royals to live in separate rooms, instead they slept in the same bed every night, affectionately called each other Mr. and Mrs. King, there was a real intimacy, and we tried to restore it.
They were a bit like Harry and Meghan at the time…
It may not be what we were looking for, but some themes are universal and viewers read what they want in them. After all, these are two ordinary people in a very strange situation.
Have you asked Réger-Jean Page (the sexy Duke of Hastings) for advice on how to deal with a riot of groupies?
I recently met himlaughs), but we don’t know what will happen, maybe they will find me insufferable. And then it’s not me…
There is a strong physical attraction between your Charlotte and George.
Yes, we filmed very beautifully choreographed love scenes and their presence was invaluable. privacy coordinators, Lucy Fennell and Lizzie Talbot. After all, you don’t improvise a fight scene or a dance scene: it’s physical storytelling, you bring in what you catch from the stage, they bring in technique and safety. By collaborating, you create a kind cocoons which gives peace of mind to all the people involved.
What would George III think of Charles III?
It’s really an impossible question, there are 300 years between them: George and I don’t know.” (He is laughing)
Have you always wanted to be an actor?
At the age of 4, I put up stickers around the house saying “I will be a director”, “I will be an actor”, so I said “yes”. Perhaps by writing this, it seemed to me that it could become real.
Next steps? What dreams?
It is important to work with nice people; environment and vision come first. However, I would like something fun. Or Christopher Nolan: There is so much truth in his fantasy worlds.
His main distraction?
Table tennis games with Freddie Dennis (his valet Reynolds in the series, ed.). My hand hurts from winning too much.
How did he end up as king?
In these costumes, I was sometimes uncomfortable, but I used this discomfort to act: George has a difficult relationship with his role.
Will we see you at the next fashion shows?
I love fashion, but most of the time I don’t even know what I’m wearing. During this period, I wear a shirt and a vest. 90s? No, I’m not a fashion icon.
Not yet…
In fact, for the first time in my life, I recently put on a pair of knee-high leather boots. Be careful.
Especially that smile.
Source: Elle