Photographer: Jemima Marriott
Stylist: Gregory Russill @ Gary Represents
Grooming: Charlie Cullen @ Gary Represents Using Lore Originals and Bulldog Skincare
Spectacular Actor Gwilym Lee talks to us about his role as Grigor, right hand man of Emperor Peter in the hilarious series ‘The Great’ and shares a sneak peak into the second series. He also delves into his brilliantly convincing role as Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Knit: Helen Anthony, Rings: Rat Betty
Hi Gwilym, Whereabouts in the world are you today?
It’s cold and murky outside in the lead up to Christmas and I’m bunkered up in my home in North London with the fire on and a cup of tea in hand.
We’ve just recently seen you in ‘The Great’ season 2. Can you tell our readers a bit about what you get up to this season?
Catherine takes to the throne in season two. So, all of a sudden, my character, Grigor, who has, until this point, enjoyed a life of privilege and ease as Emperor Peter’s best mate, is left in a precarious situation. So a large part of my journey this season is trying to inspire Peter to take back power from Catherine. My job is not made particularly easy by the fact that Peter is hopelessly in love with Catherine. Combined with the small issue that Grigor isn’t the greatest Machiavellian political thinker and counter-coup leader.
On a personal level as well, having been very publicly humiliated and cuckolded by his best friend and wife having a very open relationship in the first season, Grigor manages to find some romance of his own.
Suit: Helen Anthony
Where did you film this time around?
Looking at the detail and opulence of the scenery, you’d think it was all shot on location in Russian palaces. But the interiors are all just beautifully made sets in a very ordinary East London studio. Hats off to our incredibly skilled and talented production designer Francesca di Mottola and her team of set builders.
In the first season we travelled to Italy to shoot the exteriors in Caserta Palace (a former royal palace near Naples which makes Versailles look like a country cottage) but Covid put a stop to that this season and we had to ‘make do’ with locations in England like Hever Castle and Hampton Court.
“Kindness is key. The small acts of kindness, generosity and manners are so important”
How do you get into the Role of Grigor? Do you share any similarities with him?
He’s not the most sympathetic of characters, so thankfully not a great deal. He is however incredibly loyal – he stands by his best friend despite him sleeping with his wife. I’m not sure my loyalty would stretch that far, but it’s a similarity at least.
I’d say I share his sense of optimism as well. Life in this Court of Catherine and Peter can be quite precarious, so Grigor tries not to get lost in the bigger picture but stays in the present. He tends to be grateful for what he has rather than plotting and scheming for what he hasn’t got.
Shirt: H&M Man, Pants-Ben Sherman
Between the gorgeous sets and the amazing cast ‘The Great’ seems like a fun job to work on. Do you have a favourite moment from filming you can share with us?
Honestly, it’s so hard to pick out specific moments. The whole shoot was an absolute blast. It was great coming back to shoot a second season as it meant we all knew each other that bit more and we’re all good friends now. And the material is a joy to work with – it’s tough to keep a straight face with some of the absurd and hilarious things we have to say or respond to. So really and truly every day is so much fun. I hope it comes across in the episodes as well. It certainly felt like a really creative and playful atmosphere on set this year, where we all encouraged each other to take things further and take more risks.
We absolutely loved you in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ can you tell us what it was like to channel Brian May?
That was such an amazing film to be a part of. Queen’s music and legacy is monumental, so to be a small part of that story was a privilege. And to play one of the greatest guitarists of all time was the stuff of childhood dreams. Making the movie would have been enough, but the way the public and fans took it to their hearts really made it special. One of the things I’m most proud of with that film is the wide appeal it had and the fact that it brought Queen’s music to a whole new generation.
Shirt: H&M Man, Pants-Ben Sherman
What was it like to re-enact these monumental moments in Queens history? Did you sometimes get lost in the role?
I tried to get lost in the character as much as possible! It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-enact some of those concerts and have just a taste of what it might be like to be a rock star playing in front of thousands, so I tried to enjoy every minute of it. What it must actually have been like to play in front of packed stadia channelling that energy is mind blowing and something I quizzed Brian about constantly.
Can you tell us what made you want to become an actor?
It’s always given me a great sense of belonging. I feel at home and I feel most myself when I’m with other actors and creatives collaborating to tell a story. I felt that when I was doing school plays as a kid – it gave me such a sense of playful freedom and fun. And I still feel it today, whether I’m working on stage or screen. Quite simply, I just love it and I feel very lucky and privileged to be able to make a living out of my passion.
What’s Next for Gwilym Lee? Do you have any new and exciting projects in the pipeline?
There’s nothing concrete that I can talk about at the moment. I’m exploring the idea of developing my own projects. And I’d love to get back to the theatre at some point. And we’re all really hopeful we might be back for another season of The Great at some point next year.
Shirt: Ralph Lauren, Pants: Ralph Lauren, Trench Coat: Ralph Lauren
At Cool America we believe in positive changes no matter how small or big -what do you do every day to make the world a better place?
Kindness is key. The small acts of kindness, generosity and manners are so important, and it can be interpreted in all sorts of ways from the small day to day acts, to big acts of government. But we’re all in control of choosing to be kind – if we all spread our little bit of kindness around each day, surely the world would be a better place.
Which role have you found the most challenging?
I did a play at the Hampstead Theatre called ‘Diminished’. It was one hour straight through, and I played the husband of a woman who had murdered their new born baby in a fit of post-partem psychosis and was trying to deny the legal claim of diminished responsibility in the belief she knew what she was doing. It was a really well written new play with some lovely actors and a fascinating scenario, but there weren’t a huge amount of laughs – put it that way! I ultimately really enjoyed doing it, but it was foreboding walking to the theatre every evening knowing you’d have to dredge through that emotional quagmire again.
And the easiest and most natural role you’ve slipped into?
I played Edgar in Derek Jacobi’s ‘King Lear’ at the Donmar Warehouse and, while I certainly didn’t find it easy, the text and the journey of the character is so rich, complex, and detailed that I felt I just needed to commit to each word and each moment, and the work was done for me. It’s the most incredible character and I loved playing him.
Aside from acting, what makes Gwilym tick?
Family and friends, creativity and trying to have a good time as much as possible.
What do you get up to in your spare time?
That relates to the previous question I suppose – I like to spend time with family and friends. I like nights out. I like food. I like to make and create things, whether that be cooking and baking, or drawing, noodling around on my guitar, pottering in the garden or doing some woodwork. And whenever possible I like to be outdoors – walking or running, surfing, camping and I’m afraid to say I’m obsessed with golf. And cricket. Although I’m terrible at both!
Knit: Helen Anthony, Rings: Rat Betty
What’s your favourite film ever ?
That’s a tough one! It’s a bit like choosing your favourite music – it changes according to where I’m at, at any particular time. But one film which has always been a constant for me has got to be The Big Lebowski. I watched it for the first time as an impressionable teen and I’ve loved it ever since. I find it endlessly watchable (and quotable!). The performances are amazing and every time I watch it, I notice another little detail.
What’s your favourite outfit ?
Again – tough one! I really love my clothes. There’s something special about getting dressed up in a really well tailored suit and a beautiful, well-made pair of shoes. My current favourites are a pair I wore for this shoot actually – a chunky pair of black Grenson derbies. And I’ve got a favourite dark green, wool three-piece suit from Paul Smith. But as much as I love getting dressed up, you can’t beat dressing down in a nice comfortable outfit and autumn/winter has to be the best for that – plenty of layering. A nice comfy hoody under a big oversize overcoat, some baggy trousers with some big chunky trainers, beany hat, scarf, sunnies if it’s a crisp day – lovely.
What do you find cool about America?
The landscape. It’s an epic country and that sky and horizon is breath taking and inspiring. It’s what I love about a lot of 20th century American literature as well – it has that landscape at its core. I’ve been lucky to travel some of the country and see parts of it – but there’s so much more I want to see.
I also like the fact that it’s a country that has enterprise at its core – the UK can feel stifling sometimes in its obsession with class and knowing your place, but Americans have a can-do attitude, and you feel when someone proposes an idea or a collaboration it’s not a platitude – they really mean it.
And finally tell us what’s cool about you?
If you look at what I like to do in my spare time, I think it’s fair to say that not much is cool about me! I actually think that not many people are that cool when you scrape beneath the surface and often, the more you get to know people the less cool they are. I found it quite liberating when I realised that ‘coolness’ was more often than not a veneer and I gave up on trying to be cool myself. The coolest people I know are the ones that are truly authentic, whatever they’re into and don’t give a damn about being cool. I suppose authenticity would be something I’d like to strive for in my life. Then I might one day be truly cool. Authenticity and kindness.
The Great Season 2 is currently available on STARZPLAY via Amazon Prime Video.
Knit: Helen Anthony, Rings: Rat Betty