Entertainment NOW

Entertainment Now | October 19 - 25, 2019 By Sachi Kameishi TV Media I n a scene from the first trailer released for HBO's upcoming miniseries "Catherine the Great," Dame Helen Mirren ("Collateral Beauty," 2016) stands as the eponymous Russian em- press, her fist raised firmly. "Do you know what I hold in my hand?" she asks decidedly. She lets her words hang for a beat be - fore pointedly answering her own question: "Absolute power." Premiering Monday, Oct. 21, on HBO, the four-part "Catherine the Great" period drama co-produced by Sky Atlantic explores the public and private lives of Catherine the Great in her later years. Russia's last and longest-ruling female leader, Catherine revitalized the country during her strict reign. Russia grew larger and more uni - fied than ever, cementing the na- tion as one of Europe's greatest powers during the 18th century. The new HBO series tells her glori- ous, politically victorious story as such, while also outlining the con- troversy and eroticism that chal- lenged her luxurious, golden court. As per Sky Atlantic's news re- lease, the series shines a spotlight on Catherine's place historically and in today's context as a woman who was "strong-minded, inde- pendent, brilliantly intelligent and sexually liberated ... the definition of the modern woman." Many of the production's interi- or scenes were filmed in Catherine the Great's actual palace, a detail that will be a treat for audiences as much as it was for the cast. Speaking to the Evening Standard about shooting in the decadent Moscow residence, Mirren said, "I was looking out of the same win- dows onto the exact same grounds [as she was]. It was an extraordinary feeling being that close to her." The depiction of a woman in power who isn't defined by the men around her hasn't been the norm in modern media. Anticipa- tion for this kind of female-fo- cused storytelling is only height- ened when you add the abilities of an actress of Mirren's caliber. Not only the lead of the series, Mirren also serves as executive producer for the project. In fact, she report- edly took the idea to fellow pro- ducer David M. Thompson, who claimed, "It's a part she's always wanted to play." A lesson in inspired casting, Mirren's turn as Catherine the Great marks her return to the royal tale. Mirren has explored the sig- nificance of womanhood in mon- archy her entire career. Her roles as Elizabeth I in the mini-series "Elizabeth I" (2005) and Queen Charlotte in "The Madness of King George" (1994) debuted to great acclaim, and her portrayal of Eliza- beth II in "The Queen" (2006) earned her an Academy Award. Empress Catherine already feels like an excellent addition to Mir- ren's collection of regal roles, be- cause it's the kind of royal story Mirren has not told before: the story of an openly erotic and deep- ly romantic monarch. HBO has clearly stated that Catherine's sex- uality and passionate demeanor are to be spotlighted as one of the most fulfilling aspects of her life, supposedly in an attempt to des- tigmatize her as the lust-obsessed vixen many historians remember and shame her for, and instead consider her sexuality as part of her legacy as a complex woman. Given the romantic heart of HBO's "Catherine the Great," it's crucial to mention Mirren's right- hand man in the series: Jason Clarke ("Zero Dark Thirty," 2012). Clarke stars as the most passion- ate of all of Catherine's lovers, Russian statesman Grigory Po- temkin. Rounding out the cast for the Catherinian court are Richard Roxburgh ("Angel of Mine," 2019) as Grigory Orlov, another noble fa- vorite of Catherine the Great, who is rumored to have fathered her son and essentially co-ruled with her until his death. Rory Kinnear ("Spectre," 2015) portrays Cathe- rine's mentor, Nikita Ivanovich Panin, Gina McKee ("The Bor- gias") plays the empress's lady-in- waiting and confidant, Praskovya Bruce, and Andrew Rothney ("Mary Queen of Scots," 2018) appears as Alexander Mamonov, one of the empress's youngest lovers in her court. A cast like this, with Mirren leading the charge, can be expect- ed to deliver a great final product, but the behind-the-camera team and production crew involved with the project only add to the show's already sky-high pedigree. The series was written by novelist Nigel Williams, who won an Emmy for his work on the series "Eliza- beth I," which established his rela- tionship with Mirren and his ex- pertise with the period drama genre. The director helming all four episodes is Philip Martin, whose credits include several episodes of "The Crown" and "Prime Sus- pect," the latter of which also starred Mirren, giving them a de- cades-long connection. As for the program's setting and set pieces, HBO and Sky Atlan- tic spared no expense filming the series on location in Russia, Latvia and Lithuania. The HBO series fea- tures a lavish rendition of The Transvestite Ball, one of Cathe- rine's favorite events of the year, where men dressed as women and women dressed as men. It was filmed in the real palace's ballroom. Catherine the Great's last years in power were riddled with im- mense conflict and violent adver- saries, all situations she had to control while her private life in- spired scandals and constant shaming. Yet somehow, despite this, her gender and her affairs, she made her mark. To quote Mir- ren: "Catherine is a survivor in this dangerous role, and succeeds in becoming the most powerful woman in Russia ... she outma- neuvered them all." Witness Mir- ren bring Catherine's royal resil- ience to life in "Catherine the Great," premiering Monday, Oct. 21, on HBO. Helen Mirren stars in "Catherine the Great" Helen Mirren reigns again: 'Catherine the Great' on HBO 2 | Cover story A/Grindstone Charlie's B/Norris Insurance 1 x 4" Moore's Home Health 5 x 2"

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