HE'S IN CHARGE
Morrisey rules ‘Britannia’ as Roman general
BRITTANIA Season finale Sunday at 9 p.m. on Epix
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NGLISH actor David Morrisey has been a staple in period dramas over the course of his prolific career. He currently stars on the epic series “Brittania” (set in the year 43 AD) as Aulus, the general leading Roman forces in the invasion of Britain. It returns for its second season Oct. 4.
Morrisey, who played the villainous Governor on “The Walking Dead” (2012-2015), also starred as UK prime minister Gordon Brown in “The Deal” (2003), as the Duke of Norfolk in “The Other Boleyn Girl” (2008) and as Colonel Brandon in the miniseries “Sense & Sensibility.”
Morrisey, 56, spoke to The Post about researching his roles, filming Season 3 of “Brittania” during the pandemic, and more.
What attracted you to “Brittania?”
It was Jez Butterworth, who writes the series. He’s one of our great theater writers. Once I knew he was involved, I spoke to him quite considerably before taking the role. And the great thing about Jez is [that] he has a respect for that time and he does his work and he also has a healthy irreverence. There’s something very modern about what we do in the show and in the language we use.
I feel very connected with Aulus, even though he’s quite outthere and possibly not the nicest man in the world. I love playing him. I tend to get roles of people in authority quite often, and that’s nice.
What’s it like filming Season 3 in England?
It’s very strict. I get tested [for COVID] three times a week, as do our makeup, hair and costume staff. Anybody who comes into close contact with the actors is tested three times a week. Our temperature is taken twice a day, and all our crew have to wear masks and keep a distance from each other while they’re working. We also have a COVID marshall on set to remind us of what our actions have to be for the new restrictions and regulations.
How do you research your roles?
I read the script maybe two or three times, take notes [about] the dates, [the characters’] profession and things like that. Then, with those questions, I will go and do my research — that might be Googling it or I’ll go to the library or bookshop. I recently did a show about Singapore in the 1940s and I was able to see some footage from that time, which really helped.
Tell me about your podcast, “Who Am I This Time?”
I interview actors about one role that they’ve played ... people like Derek Jacobi about “I, Claudius,” David Harewood for “Homeland,” Eddie Marsan for “Ray Donovan.” When I was growing up, I wanted to be an actor but nobody in my life was in the theater or the arts. So there was no one I could ask about how I could go about becoming an actor or how to audition. I wanted to do a podcast where people could find out about what the job of being an actor is, because sometimes it’s cloaked in mystery. Of course we need to have talent, but we need to know how to have people see the talent we have. I wanted to slightly demystify the job and the craft of acting.