Dysfunctional Genius
Bafta award-winning actress Emily Watson sheds light on how her character, Elsa Einstein, viewed her genius husband in National Geographic’s first scripted drama series, writes Debashine Thangevelo
MOVIEGOERS will remember Emily Watson as Rosa Hubermann, alongside Geoffrey Rush, as Hans Hubermann, in The Book Thief.
With their careers having crossed paths several times, they have established a professional cadence that serves them well as they reprise that husband and wife bond for the small screen in National Geographic Channel’s Genius.
Idolised as the most influential physicist of the 20th century, everyone knows of Albert Einstein. In fact, the image of an elderly man with hair that looks like he was just struck by lightning is the image that springs to mind at the mention of his name.
In this 10-part small screen series, his life is revisited pre-and post-fame.
Walter Isaacson’s Einstein: His Life and Universe is used as a storytelling template for Genius. Yes, there are a few creative liberties taken, but it doesn’t upset the historical accuracy of the narrative.
With Oscar-winning film-maker Ron Howard (also a director on the series) and Brian Grazer as executive producers on the project, TV buffs are in for a movie-like experience.
And the multi-star cast with Rush, Watson, Michael Mcelhatton (Game of Thrones), Samantha Colley (Victoria) and newcomer Johnny Flynn, cast as a young Einstein, is quite a coup.
Watson found Einstein to be a fascinating individual.
“The thing that interested me was what he was like as a child and young man – the fact that he rejected religion and authority that told him how to think. As you know, children need structure. And he rejected it all.”
Watson is cast as the older Einstein’s second wife, Elsa.
Reflecting on Flynn and Rush slipping into the skin of this historical figure and doing him justice, she said: “I think both Johnny and Geoffrey exude this real quality of childishness – a slightly otherworldly childishness. Einstein relied on other people for his adult functions in a way. There were certain things in his life that were just dysfunctional, like his relationship with his children and women,” she said.
“You kind of have to forgive him his dysfunction. I think he never really grew up in a way. And that is part of what made him so brilliant. His relationship with Elsa was wonderful… although he had a lot of other women. But they came to an agreement where she said, ‘That’s alright, as long as you obey these rules’.”
Although Elsa wasn’t very sexual, she loved being his wife.
“She thought of herself as his partner,” revealed Watson. “And she created a life in which Einstein could exist, which protected him and gave him the space he needed to work.
“She loved being the partner of the greatest mind of the 20th century. It was a great privilege. His mind was something special and it needed protecting. I don’t think he was a very good husband. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t get a lot from their relationship.
“Being Mrs Einstein was her great ambition. To be by his side when he was owning the world stage.”
Interestingly, they were also first cousins.
“They are molecularly similar,” she laughs. “They look the same. Being in a relationship felt very comforting to them. There is the running joke about about them being a theory of relatives.”
Einstein’s first wife Mileva Mari (Colley) was a thorn in his side. She also had a brilliant mind and their relationship was a tumultuous one.
“It was a very tricky situation because they had children. His relationship with his sons was pretty awful. He was never there when they needed him. He made promises and never followed through.
“And I think Mileva made it very difficult for him. She wouldn’t divorce him and that was a huge battle between the three of them. Eventually he promised her the prize money if he ever won the Nobel Prize for Physics. That was a lot of money. And that’s how he got her to divorce him.
“But she made it very difficult for him to get access to the children,” Watson added. “It was a very toxic relationship. She had mental health problems. She always needed money or there was bad news.”
As well as exploring Einstein’s personal life, the series celebrates his successes too. And it looks at America’s investigation into his political beliefs amid the rise of fascism in Germany.
Genius is compelling, entertaining and insightful, with the actors deserving praise for the gravitas they bring to their respective roles.
Genius airs on the National Geographic channel (Dstv Channel 181) tonight at 8.05pm