Sebastian De Souza – The Great

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you have been working on?

A) Most recently I’ve been lucky enough – and feel very blessed – to have played the part of Gareth in the TV adaptation on Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People, which has been such a phenomenal success that I feel greatly honoured to have been a little part of it! I play Sandro Botticelli in the last installment of Netflix’s “Medici,” which is available now to stream. It was such an extraordinary thing to be able to try and represent such a remarkable and important artist on screen and I just hope I did him justice! And, very lately, Hulu’s “The Great” has been released!

Q) Please tell us the premise for “The Great?”

A) “The Great” is about Catherine, a young German girl who comes to Russia by way of an arranged marriage to the mad megalomaniac that is Emperor Peter. It charts her course from idealistic young dreamer to warrior, willing to put everything on the line to make Russia a better place and change things for all its subjects. (And, hopefully, it’s very funny along the way!)

Q) What made you want to be a part of the series?

A) When I auditioned for Leo, all I was given was the pilot script to read (in which Leo doesn’t appear) and so I knew very little about the character. But Tony’s [McNamara] pilot was extraordinary and unlike anything I had ever read before. And so, had I been offered the part of “third tree from the left” I would have accepted immediately! I knew this would be a very special project to take part in.

Q) How was your character Leo originally described to you?

A) Thank you for asking! It’s very interesting. I just looked up the character description in the e-mail my agent sent me when I was asked to audition. It describes him as “CATHERINE’S template for what is her great love, he is hedonistic, divine, charming, not an intellectual, but he is valuable.” It’s amazing reading that now, knowing what became of Leo and how Tony so brilliantly molded such an interesting and original arc for the character. I don’t think even he knew then what or who Leo would become. I only hope I did him justice…not sure quite how “divine” he was under my watch! Eeek…

Q) What kind of research went into your portrayal?

A) Absolutely none! Leo Voronsky wasn’t a real historical figure and so there wasn’t an awful lot I could do. And as for learning about Russia at the time, its customs and its court, we were actively discouraged by Tony from researching anything. He was keen, I think, for his story to be about the characters and their relationships rather than precisely how they would have held themselves or spoken at the time…If you’ve watched the show you’ll appreciate how little Tony seems to care about the way people did or didn’t speak! Why would he, when you can write like him!

Q) Did it take slipping into the costume for you to truly feel comfortable as the character?

A) Not necessarily. Though I must say Emma Fryer’s costumes did make the swishy, swooning, nonchalant way in which he moved around that court a lot comfier and more enjoyable than it might have been had the costumes not been so utterly fabulous and easy to wear!

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before working with them?

A) No! I had never met any of them and when I arrived, they had already shot two episodes (my character doesn’t turn up until the third) and so it was very nerve-wracking indeed! A bit like going to a new school where everyone is already friends! But they are all terrific people and extremely kind and professional and made me feel beyond comfortable. We had a whale of a time!

Q) Were you looking forward to sharing scenes with someone in particular?

A) I was very interested to meet Nick [Hoult] and work with him as he was in “Skins” before me and so, in a funny way, I felt weirdly connected to him.

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film?

A) I particularly enjoyed the morning when Dougie (Douglas Hodge) and I got to clobber Gorky (James Smith) over the head with a rock (by mistake, I hasten to add) and run away like naughty schoolboys. But, in truth, every scene was a delight to film. They always are when the writing is as good as that and the people you’re acting opposite are as brilliant as they were.

Q) What did you personally take away from filming “The Great?”

A) Be more like Leo.

Q) You are a part of social media. What kind of fan feedback have you received to your time on the show?

A) Everyone has been so unbelievably kind and sweet about The Great, Normal People and Medici, all of which were such amazing experiences for me and will stay with me for the rest of my life, and so it is enormously gratifying to feel that those people who watched it, the people we made it for, are satisfied with the result.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the work you do?

A) Love the Souzles!