THE PANDEMIC ALLOWED US ALL TO RECONNECT
Sky Atlantic’s glamorous drama Riviera, about the super-rich, is returning to our screens. talks to two of its stars
IT’S 4am in Venice, and Rupert Graves is in a water taxi on his way back to the hotel after a night shoot and there are no other boats – and certainly no tourists – around.
That’s the memory the Sherlock star, 57, recalls vividly as his favourite moment from shooting Sky Atlantic series Riviera.
“It was jaw-droppingly beautiful,” says the actor. “Sitting on set in Venice – which was lit beautifully
– in the best clothes I’ve ever worn in my life, was a real personal highlight.”
Rupert joins the cast of the thrilling drama for its third series, playing the charismatic and charming Gabriel Hirsch, who starts working with the lead character, Georgina, played by Julia Stiles.
A year has passed since the explosive finale of the second series and Georgina has abandoned the cursed Riviera and started her life over again.
“Gabriel offers her a job that proves an adventure and she can’t resist, so they go to Venice to recover a stolen Picasso and that’s quickly wrapped up into an international conspiracy that takes them to Argentina,” teases New Yorker Julia, 39.
But what made Rupert – known for films such as A Room With A View, and V For Vendetta – take the TV role?
“I’d never seen a show about the super-wealthy, that was done in this way, which I found interesting because I found it dreamy and quite hallucinogenic and... not aspirational, but if you aspire to be like these people, good luck to you!” he says.
Julia notes there are certainly more shows on our screens now that are “female-driven, or with female main characters”, compared to when she started acting, aged 12.
The actress, best known for the Jason Bourne films and teen favourite, 10 Things I Hate About You, says: “I’m pleasantly surprised I’ve had the opportunity to work on a show where I play a character that is surprising and reckless and doesn’t make the right decisions all the time. It’s been very rewarding.”
Julia also worked as executive producer on this latest series, and says it’s been liberating to have more input: “It’s very
creatively satisfying to be able to be involved earlier in the process,” she says.
There are few shows more glamorous than Riviera, which revolves around the lifestyles of the super-rich.
With such beautiful locations, fashion and people, Riviera is the ultimate escapism telly.
Of course Covid-19 has
made 2020 a difficult year for everyone and I ask the pair how they have been trying to escape the real world.
“It’s an interesting learning experience,” says Julia.
“My normal method of escape would be travel, and obviously that’s been taken away.
“It’s certainly forced me to appreciate my immediate surroundings.”
“I’ve got five kids,” adds Rupert, who’s married to Australian Susie Graves.
“I spent a big chunk of last year away from my kids and my family, and so to go back to the heart of the family, and not get out of the house, was actually really important for me and my family. It allowed us all to reconnect.”
He continues: “The thing is, when you’re away from a child for nearly a year, each child changes so much. No matter how much you write to them, no matter how much you Skype them, it’s not the same.
“And to spend seven months actually back home was a brilliant and muchneeded opportunity.
“So, I didn’t want or need an escape. I took full advantage of the closeness.”
Riviera returns to Sky Atlantic on Thursday, October 15.