Summary
New episodes ofThe Serpent QueenSeason 2 drop on Fridays on the STARZ app, picking up years after the events of the season 1 finale. With her son, Charles IX, the official king of France, Catherine de Medici will do whatever it takes to maintain her influence over the country. The former queen seeks to form a political alliance withQueen Elizabeth I, which results in a power struggle between the two historical figures.
Minnie Driver (Speechless,Will & Grace), who plays the Queen of England, admits that the opportunity to portray such an iconic ruler was too good to turn down. She looked forward to acting opposite Samantha Morton, as the actor found it interesting to watch the dynamic between their characters play out. Driver also shares that Elizabeth and Catherine’s storyline will come to a head later in the season, teasing a “spectacular” conclusion for fans of the show.
The Serpent Queen: 10 Movies & TV Shows Where You’ve Seen The Cast
The new Starz series, The Serpent Queen, covers the life of Catherine de Medici and it has a perfect blend of experienced and young actors.
Screen Rantchats withMinnie Driverabout her decision to joinThe Serpent QueenSeason 2, the show’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth, and what to expect as the season continues.
The Serpent Queen Season 2 Portrays A Modernized Version Of Queen Elizabeth I
Screen Rant: What made you want to get involved withThe Serpent QueenSeason 2?
Minnie Driver: The opportunity to play, arguably, the most iconic queen of all time was too good to turn down. Plus, it is the most brilliantly written show I’ve ever come across. I’m a huge Justin Haythe fan, and I think Samantha Morton is a really excellent actor, and the thought of going head-to-head with her, Catherine de Medici, was really enticing.
What can you share about the show’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth? How doesThe Serpent Queenbuild off what people may already know about this historical figure?
Minnie Driver: I think it’s really the animated idea of power, and what that looks like, and what it meant to be a powerful woman, which obviously, today, has never been more pertinent. Certainly, women in any kind of office, have been scarce in our history, and getting to see this more slightly modern version of Elizabeth, even though this is a period show, there is modern storytelling in it. It’s the exploration of power and sex and politics.
Speaking of powerful women, how would you describe the dynamic between Elizabeth and Catherine this season?
Minnie Driver: They really square off. Catherine thinks that they want the same thing, but they actually don’t. Elizabeth is really on a kind of factfinding mission, but they are two very powerful women who come together and go head-to-head, and it ends pretty spectacularly. What’s interesting is watching two women try to manipulate each other, because we so often see women trying to manipulate men, or men trying to manipulate women. It was interesting for it to just be this power struggle between two women who are both very articulate, and are both complete survivors. It was really terrific, terrific fun.
The Serpent Queen Season 2, Episode 6 Will Feature An “Extraordinary” Scene Between Elizabeth And Catherine
As you were saying, this is obviously a period piece. It takes place in 16th-century France. Can you talk a bit about trying to encapsulate that moment of history?
Minnie Driver: Really it’s just about survival. Wearing those clothes is no joke. My costume and the wig together weighed about 70 pounds. We were filming in exceptionally hot temperatures in this heatwave, and you realize what people had to go through, why disease was so rampant during the Tudor period. However opulent and beautiful it looks, it was a very harsh environment to be in. It was tough, but it was also great. Visually, it’s stunning.
Your characters may have a bit of a rift, but how was working with Samantha Morton on this project?
Minnie Driver: Samantha is a really terrific British actress with an extraordinary career. I was very much looking forward to acting opposite somebody who is as focused and as powerful as she is, so it was really interesting. It was great. In my career, I’ve mostly been acting opposite men, so it was fantastic to be acting across from someone so powerful and focused.
Lastly, is there one episode in particular this season that you’re looking forward to fans seeing? One that’s really going to leave them on the edge of their seats?
Minnie Driver: For me, personally, Episode 6. It’s really the dénouement of Elizabeth and Catherine de Medici’s story. It’s really where they take the gloves off, and there is this extraordinary scene between the two of them. For me, personally, that is the greatest thing, but there are so many moments for so many of the characters all the way through. I think the retelling of the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre is going to be pretty spectacular as well.
About The Serpent Queen Season 2
Catherine de Medici is Queen Regent of France now that her son, Charles IX has come of age. Distracted by the personal conflicts of the Valois children, a new mysterious prophet named Edith gains a loyal following who vow to challenge the current religious establishment, sparking tension across the country. Feeling threatened by the rising strain, the divided court turn to their own schemes for selfish benefit.
The Guises commit unholy acts while the Bourbons turn to a familiar foreign sovereign, Queen Elizabeth I of England in hopes of personal gain. As France falls into political and religious turmoil, Catherine struggles to maintain her power, but The Serpent Queen will do whatever she needs to regain control.
Check out our other interviews withThe Serpent QueenSeason 2 cast:
New episodes ofThe Serpent QueenSeason 2 drop on Fridays at midnight on the STARZ app. On linear, they will debut on STARZ at 8:00 PM ET/PT in the U.S. and 9:00 PM ET/PT in Canada.
The Serpent Queen
Based on the life of Queen Catherine de' Medici of France, The Serpent Queen is a historical period drama created by Justin Haythe. The series follows Catherine’s rise into the monarchy, from her introduction into the French court as a young teenager to her eventual spot as the ruling Queen of France in the 16th century.
