If you are a fan of gorgeous period pieces about the royal family (come ye, come ye, everyone who loved The Crown), epic romances that put The Notebook to shame, and prolonged sexual tension, then rejoice! Queen Victoria is here to rule your life.
PBS aired the first episode of its new Masterpiece series Victoria on Sunday night, and it's as beautiful as it is addictive. MarieClaire.com spoke to the show's star Jenna Coleman about the fiery passion between Victoria and Albert, how much of the series is fiction vs. reality, and what to expect this coming season and beyond.
There's a Reason the Chemistry Between Victoria and Albert Is So 🔥
"We're friends in real life and had been for years. We already had a good working relationship. We both really researched our characters, and both had similar ideas. It's just easy."
Victoria and Albert Really Were Bodice-Ripping Levels of In Love
"The love between them was so strong. Things like the scene in the ballroom when he rips his shirt so he can put the flower in. All of that's real, it actually happened. There are diaries–it's all there. It was very important to get their passion."
Yes, There's a Season Two, and Yes, It'll Be Even More Passionate
"Going into Season Two next year, they have huge arguments. They were an incredibly tumultuous couple, yet they loved each other fiercely. That's going to be incredibly fun to play in 2017. But Victoria was incredibly romantic—she loved romance."
Victoria and Albert's Wedding Night Is Passionate—and Based on #Facts
"There is an account of their wedding night where Victoria writes how Albert beheld her in kisses, and how it was the most heavenly night she's ever spent, and how she's the luckiest woman in the world—that this angel of a man could possibly adore her. She's really candid. They stay in the same bed together, and in the morning he puts her stockings on. It's first love and she's brimming with it."
All the Costumes Are Genius, but Jenna Coleman Has a Feminist Favorite
"The riding outfit—when she and Albert go running in the forest. It's navy with a red collar. There's something quite masculine about it: it's the same as the men's uniform, but she has a big skirt. There are so many military jackets out this season, so it's amazing to see fashion harkening back."
Behind-the-Scenes of the Show = Wayyyyyy Less Glamorous
"Maneuvering in and out of cars is hilarious, and I've often got a backpack on. It's really cold so you arrive in this beautiful gown, but you have a rucksack on, and a crown, and a coat, and you're trying to navigate your way. It's quite hilarious. Definitely less elegant off screen. Often, you've got wellies hidden underneath the costume!"
And Finally, Here Are Two Truths and a Lie About Next Season....
"There may be a return of a very popular character. There will be numerous births. And there may also be numerous deaths. Very opaque. Very opaque. Oh, and perhaps the invention of the Christmas tree...."
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