One of history’s most infamous royal love affair is heating up screens in “Mary & George,” Starz’s new period drama series. The seven-episode show pulls back the curtain on the real-life relationship between King James I of England and his dashing companion George Villiers.
Starring Nicolas Galitzine as Villiers and Tony Curran as the monarch, “Mary & George” doesn’t shy away from the erotic intimacy shared between the two men in the early 17th century. From racy trysts to sweeping romantic gestures, the series brings the controversial royal romance vividly to life.
“You couldn’t believe the goings-on of this group of people. Life is truly stranger than fiction sometimes,” said Galitzine, best known for his role in last year’s hit “Red, White & Royal Blue.”
NBC News revealed that the two actors immersed themselves in research, including the 2017 book “The King’s Assassin” by Benjamin Woolley that inspired the show. What emerged was a fascinating portrait of a lonely king gravitating toward the cunning charms of an ambitious young man.
“Having his father assassinated, his mother executed — a lot of those traumatic elements of his past as a child definitely infiltrate him,” Curran explained about James I’s backstory.
Mary & George leans into the bawdy, licentious energy of the Jacobean era. Creator D.C. Moore embraced the risqué irreverence, punctuating royal intrigues with orgies and vulgar language.
“If we had a sort of repressed, ‘Brief Encounter’ style, or a softer period drama, I don’t think it would have been honest about who these characters are,” Moore said.
While a contemporary dramatization, “Mary & George” strives for historical authenticity regarding James and George’s liaison, which Moore insists “wasn’t a secret at the time” based on racy correspondence and ambassadorial accounts.
The tender, authentic dynamic between Curran and Galitzine’s characters provides an emotional anchor amidst the escalating scandals and betrayals. The young actor channeled something deeper than personal experience to sell their intense, physical passion.
“Tony and I are just very naturally aligned as people…we both loved portraying their relationship on screen in a really authentic, truthful way,” Galitzine said.
With its high-stakes drama, bawdy humor, and unabashed eroticism, “Mary & George” promises a wildly entertaining peek behind the velvet curtain of one of history’s most audacious power couples.
You can watch the series’ trailer below.
