‘House of Cards’ an escape for Neve Campbell

When Netflix’s presidential drama “House of Cards” premiered in 2013 it was so outrageous in its ruthless depiction of U.S. politics that it seemed like science fiction. With season 5 set to begin Tuesday, it seems more like a documentary.

President Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and first lady Claire (Robin Wright) are unconscionable in their lust for power. Their ambition is made even more naked through direct nods to the camera (with Claire joining in at the end of last season).

This will be the first season of the series, however, to air after the election of Donald Trump. Suddenly, presidential behaviour has been cast in a whole new light. Do the Underwoods now seem dull and conventional? We put the question to the Canadian in the cast, Neve Campbell. “I haven’t met a fan yet who has said, ‘Aww, I don’t think I’m going to bother to watch this year,’” she said while promoting the fifth season in New York with castmate Michael Kelly. “If anything, it’ll be a nice escape.”

In other words, viewers should enjoy these characters even more this season “because they’re not real,” said Campbell.

“You can love to hate these characters, but nothing bad is going to happen when you turn the TV off.”

“To your children, or to your wife,” added Kelly, “or women’s rights, or all the other appalling things that are happening with the current administration.”

Campbell joined the large ensemble cast last season as Texas-based political consultant Leann Harvey.

The 43-year-old actress rose to fame in the ‘90s on the series “Party of Five” and later starred in the four instalments of the “Scream” film franchise. She said the writers have not had to ramp up the horrors on season 5 of “House of Cards” to outpace the headlines coming out of the real White House.

“That already existed on this show, so it’s not like they’re changing anything,” she said. “I think it would have been dangerous to try and suddenly usurp what’s actually happening in the real political climate.”

Besides, she pointed out, production on season 5 wrapped in February, with Trump taking office in January. The “House of Cards” writers simply stuck to their scripts.

“We were shooting an election while an election was occurring.”

Kelly, who plays loyal White House chief of staff Doug Stamper, said he’s proud of the writers for sticking with their vision for the show.