‘Prime Minister playing’ changes its perception of politics’

Actress Surne Jones has played many women who are under immense pressure. In the doctor foster she suspects her husband, in vigilance she investigates a death on a submarine, and in a gentleman Jack she develops a dangerous gay romance.

But no role is a lot of pressure as her latest – playing the role of a British Prime Minister whose husband has been kidnapped.

The hostage, the new political thriller of the Netflix, the character of Jones, sees Abigail Dalton, formed an uncomfortable coalition with French President Vivian Tusant – played by Julie Delpie – which is being blackmailed during the London Summit.

The two leaders work together to save the PM’s husband, ignore the kidnappers and blackmailer, and bring those responsible for justice.

Given their subjects of immigration, funding of NHS and Public Trust, the audience can be wooed to add hostage to today’s headlines.

However, both the stars insisted that the show is less about reflecting today’s politics and creating a thrilling story in the political world.

“We are entertaining and we are in the political world, but it is not a reflection of the world in any way we live,” Jones tells the BBC.

“It is political with a small p – there is enough that gives us root in the real world but the world is very complex to connect it directly and I think it will be inappropriate.”

Delpi agrees and says: “Things change every day. It is impossible to be in a political moment because tomorrow is something else.”

The author of the show, Matt Charman, states that there are some real -world connections because it is “impossible to write a show that is present in the climate in which we live that it does not feel that it is in dialogue with it”.

“If you have written a show that is not connected to our world then it will look strange,” they say, “but I hope the show has the ability to be present in its oxygen.”

It is rare to see two female world leaders sharing a spotlight in a political thriller, but, for Charmon, ensuring that there were Dalton and Tusant women, the way the series was imagined and it was a creative and political option.

“What was exciting was the idea of women in power and how we find out,” he says, stating that he tried to find out that each situation facing the characters would be different for a woman.

“There is a double standard for women, so it was very important to give completely dramatic freedom.”

Charman and Jones have shared an agent for the last 10 years and came about the hostage as Charman actually wanted to work with Jones and the pair settled to create a political thriller.

Jones says that she especially enjoys knowing that “how these two women have to dance around each other”.

“A female politician is used to work with men, so it is interesting to see how it plays when two women are.”

While the audience quickly learn about the character of Jones – a loving wife and mother who is idealistic about improving the country – Dealy’s character is more attracted and our opinion of her changes throughout the show.

“We ensured that women do not play in the conservatives of the politician,” says Delpy. “What I like is that some things are actually common in these women as they both want to change and expect in the office.”

The Guardian described the hostage as “quite unusual” that it does not remind you of any other political thriller.

“It’s a little biting, but this house of cards are not eccentric, it has a breakcation speed, but it is not 24, the dialogue is sharp, but is never played for laughter,” Zo Williams writes.

To play Dalton completely, Jones, who also worked as an executive producer on the show, says that he really immersed himself in the reality of political life. He visited the House of Commons, spoke to the house speaker and ate books, podcasts and documentaries.

“When I talk about research, I am a geek.” “I was fascinated by leaving no one, but I did not know anything by understanding a life. And it is the cost of being in a powerful position that really hit me.”

Charman also talks about the research of extraordinary quantities used to make shows.

I ask them if Dalton or Tusant were inspired by any real -life politicians and they admit they are, but he would not say who.

He said, “We interviewed many people and Surne had an incredible access to those who were Prime Minister, who talked about his time and pressure on his family in the office. But all this agreed that he would speak about it until it could remain confidential,” he says.

Jones would not say which politicians inspired his character, but says that all his previous characters are a part of him and they have “a boardroom of personality” that he plays.

She says that it is all research in “your perception to ensure” to be a politician and makes you realize “the cost of being in a powerful position”.

One question is whether the show raises whether it is possible for a politician to stick to his ideals today, once they come to the office and while Jones are uncertain, Charmon is an optimistic.

“I wanted to find out how civilized people in politics who are fundamentally good, but are pushed around,” they say.

He says that it is not “unavoidable” that people leave their ideals once in the office, but “this is definitely difficult to maintain your morality”.

Above the adventure and drama of the hostage, Charman says the show is investigated “What does it take to be a good person in a system that does not always reward good people.”

The dealy is a bit more pessimistic and states that “politicians will have to hear this, if you are very appropriate, you will not be heard because both extremes are so noise”.

“If you have a medium view then you get lost in noise because people are only listening loudly.”