Cover story
Sky Atlantic’s epic historical saga charts the ruthless battle to rule ancient Rome
Kasia Smutniak and Matthew Mcnulty take the lead roles in the Roman epic Domina
NEW DRAMA Domina Friday, Sky Atlantic HD, 9pm & 10.10pm
THE POLITICS AND power struggles of ancient Rome are brought to life this week in a sweeping Sky Atlantic drama series that follows the rise of noblewoman Livia Drusilla to become the first empress of Rome.
Eight-part series Domina begins with a young and naive Livia watching her world fall apart with the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC and the end of the Roman Republic, followed by the death of her father, Livius, a few years later.
Livia is forced to flee Rome with her first husband, Tiberius Claudius Nero, but a decade later she returns to the city, determined to regain her inheritance and honour the pledge she made to her father before he died to restore the republican state in Rome.
The first two episodes feature Nadia Parkes as a young Livia, with Kasia Smutniak taking over the role from the third episode.
‘Domina tells the story of the beginning of the Roman empire from the female point of view,’ says Smutniak. ‘It was an extremely cruel and tough era in which women’s lives were worth less than men’s. But Livia acts with real cunning. She grew up in a noble family and her father taught her the importance of the republic, so she never forgets the promise she made him.’
Upon her return to Rome, Livia realises her best chance of wielding power is to leave her husband and marry the late Julius Caesar’s son, Gaius, who shares her ambition for power, though he has no interest in making Rome a republic again.
Livia is driven by a desire to avenge her father and protect her sons from her first marriage, including future Roman emperor Tiberius. After leaving her husband for Gaius, the aspiring power couple resort to conspiracy, seduction and murder in their quest to gain influence in a brutal society.
‘Gaius is power hungry and he wants to become more than an emperor – he wants to become a god,’ says Matthew Mcnulty, who also joins the series as Gaius from the third episode. ‘He’s intelligent and ruthless, and he realises that family is the best route to power, and marriage to Livia strengthens him. They test each other, but they also need each other and they end up being the most powerful couple in the world.’
With freed slave and lifelong friend Antigone by her side,
Livia must fend off hostilities from rival fellow matriarchs Octavia and Scribonia as the noblewomen jostle for position on behalf of their sons.
‘Livia is a woman trying to find her way in the world,’ explains Smutniak, 41. ‘The show explores how women were living at the time – it looks at how their children lived, childbirth and how strong they had to be to survive.’
HIDDEN HISTORY
The world of ancient Rome has been depicted on screen many times, from iconic movies such as 1960’s Spartacus to Emmywinning series Rome in 2005 – but this is the first time the classical period has been viewed through the eyes of women.
‘Great women of history have been overlooked on screen for decades,’ explains Mcnulty, 38. ‘It’s only right that Livia is the lead of this series. Gaius went on to become Rome’s first emperor – Augustus Caesar – and was probably the most successful in creating stability and growth – but it’s no coincidence that Livia was by his side for many years while he did that.’
The drama, which also features Hollywood star Isabella Rossellini and Game of Thrones’ Liam Cunningham in its cast, was filmed in Rome’s famous Cinecittà Studios, which has previously produced Oscar-winning epics such as Cleopatra and Ben-hur, and despite a break in filming due to the pandemic, Mcnulty says that making the historical saga was a real pleasure.
‘Being in Italy before the first lockdown was quite scary,’ he says. ‘But we were one of the first productions to get going again last year and working at Cinecittà was one of the most amazing experiences of my career.
‘The place has so much history and it feels like you’ve been taken back in time, so it really enhances your performance. The senate building is amazing and to deliver a speech to a hall full of senators was an amazing experience.’
‘It was an extremely cruel and tough era. Livia acts with real cunning’
KASIA SMUTNIAK