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Home , Annabel Scholey, Neal Street Productions, Pippa Harris, Sky Atlantic, Springwatch

BRITANNIA A SKY ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on and TV streaming service TV 1 WANTS TO BE CIVILISED

43AD. At the far edges of the Roman Empire lies a land of powerful Druids and warrior queens. A country Julius Caesar had tried and failed to conquer a hundred years ago. A place which lies tantalisingly close to the Roman Empire’s grasp and has almost mythic status: Britannia.

The Romans’ arrival will forever change the lives of the Celts and Druids. Under General Aulus, 400 ships containing 20,000 men land on Britannia’s shores Introduction 1 in the name of the Roman Emperor Claudius. They will take the island and anything Character Guide 5 they want from it. Britannia will be conquered. Britannia will be civilised. Episode Guide 14 But since when did anyone want to be civilised? Interviews 19

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 2 INTRODUCTION Why invade a foreign land? Why fight for your and your gods? These are the two questions at the of ’s approach to the story of the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD. In Jez’s unique hands, this becomes a tale of faith systems clashing, of families torn apart, of mystic men and fearsome queens. A tale told with humour and heart. As well as epic drama and violence. Drama on Sky is about the unexpected, the visceral and the memorable, it’s about stories told in a way you won’t find anywhere else. As you would expect from the brilliant writer behind Spectre and multi- award-winning plays Jerusalem and The Ferryman, Britannia delivers. It’s a fun, thought-provoking, emotional ride into a very special world. Produced by in association with , Britannia was created by Jez Butterworth (Spectre), Tom Butterworth (Tin Star) and James Richardson (Monsters). Britannia will launch on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV, with all episodes available in Ultra HD from Thursday 18 January. We truly hope everyone enjoys kicking off the New Year by diving deep into our nation’s dark, unruly past, in a journey that will take you all the way to the underworld and back. Thank you for watching.

Anne Mensah Head of drama, Sky

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 3 CHARACTER GUIDE

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 4 “ AM ROME. AND WHERE I WALK IS ROME”

Aulus Plautius David Morrissey Fearless, ruthless, perceptive, and shrewd. Aulus is one of the greatest Generals to have commanded a Roman legion. He’s been charged by Emperor Claudius to conquer Britannia. However, instead of attempting to crush the island’s tribes by sheer force, his methods are more meticulous. He is particularly skilled at turning foes against each other, earning the trust of those who might otherwise be his enemy, and then disposing of them only if they have outlived their usefulness to him. With utter belief in his own strength, Aulus has kept one thing from even those closest to him. He believes the Druids hold the secrets to the universe, and may be the key to his own personal agenda, one that goes beyond Rome.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 5 kerra Kelly Reilly Daughter of King Pellenor, Kerra is as skilled a warrior as any other member of the Cantii tribe, but her headstrong nature has fed the bitter animosity between the Cantii and Regni, and, afraid of incurring even more of the gods’ anger, her father treats her like a prisoner in her own home. She loves her father dearly, but is trapped by his convictions and unswerving faith. “SOMETIMES, FATHERS She hates those that he reveres – the Druids – ever since they cast judgement upon her mother, sentencing her to be flayed DECIDE WHO THEIR alive as she and her father watched. More than anything she CHILDREN ARE. FOR dreams of a life free from the shackles of both her tribe and THEIR OWN REASONS. the gods. But destiny has more in mind for Kerra, and she will discover that the fate of her people will be placed squarely in IT DOESN’T MEAN her hands. IT’S TRUE.”

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 6 veran Mackenzie Crook Veran is an enigma. It is claimed he is 10,000 years old and was the second man placed on the planet. He is said to know the secrets of both this world and the next. But there is one thing the tribes believe that gives him and his Druids immense power: he speaks for the gods. This has made his word law, and given the Druids the status to command both the Cantii and “ARE YOU SURE Regni, even as they fight among themselves. We may never know if Veran truly communes with the divine, but his status YOU’RE READY, and uncanny powers of precognition have made him the most ROME? powerful man on the island – although there are those who would gladly see his demise. As Rome sets foot on Britannia, READY FOR WHAT Veran welcomes it in his own unique fashion. Could he sense YOU’LL FIND?” opportunity with this new arrival, or merely his own amusement?

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 7 “GET IN MY WAY AND WE’LL KILL ALL OF YOU.”

Queen Antedia Zoë Wanamaker It is said that hatred is more reliable than trust. And no one hates like Antedia, Queen of the Regni. She is as fierce and unforgiving as anyone you could ever meet, and she will never, ever forget a slight. The Regni and Cantii borders have been a scene of bloodshed for an age, but things intensified after a failed attempt to unite the warring factions. By edict of the Druids, Antedia was forced to see her son and only heir Gildas wed to the Cantii princess Kerra. Their union was extremely short-lived, and prematurely cut Antedia’s bloodline short. Humiliated and betrayed by both the Cantii and the gods, Antedia has been seeking her revenge ever since. And with the arrival of Rome, she may finally have the means to get it.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 8 “I'LL FIND THE F****** ROMANS “I’M NOT AN OUTCAST. MYSELF!” I’M THE OUTCAST.” cait divis Eleanor Worthington-Cox Nikolaj Lie Kaas A young Cantii, Cait is soon to be initiated into womanhood Once a Druid, Divis has fallen out of favour and is now a loner in her village’s Solstice Eve ceremony. However, before the living off the land. Callous, shambolic, self-serving, and with rite-of-passage can be completed, Roman soldiers attack the his sanity questionable, the neighbouring tribes keep him at settlement, setting her home ablaze, killing her sister, and arm’s length – exactly what he wants. But on the fateful Solstice leaving her “betwixt”, stuck in a limbo-like space where she Eve that brings Rome to Britannia, Divis has a vision. One that is neither a girl or woman. With everything she has come to makes clear the Roman army is not merely a construct of flesh know and love gone and not knowing if she will ever find safety and steel, but a living incarnation of the demon Lokka, again, she is forced to draw on reserves of mental and physical who has come to lay waste upon the land. Seeing himself as strength she never knew she had in order to survive. However, the only one who can stop this, Divis sets forth on his own there is far more to Cait than meets the eye. No one, least of personal mission, only to be reluctantly saddled with an often all herself, could have fully predicted the importance she will antagonistic companion, Cait. go on to have for her tribe, the Druids, Rome, and the future of Britannia itself.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 9 King Pellanor Phelan Ian McDiarmid Julian Rhind-Tutt King of the Cantii, Pellanor’s conviction in the ancient ways is Son to Pellanor, Phelan is the de facto heir to the Cantii throne total, which may be why he marks Rome’s arrival on Britannia and his right-hand man. More strategic and rational than his as an affront in and of itself. Believing, for all their words, they wrathful father, he attempts to add more diplomacy to his will go the same way as Julius Caesar, he is more preoccupied father’s leadership. However, in Cantii terms this has done by the ongoing war in the hated Regni tribe, and the troubles nothing for his own standing, and many in the tribe see him as within his own family – primarily surrounding his unruly a weak proposition for the Cantii throne. This outrages his wife, daughter Kerra. Perhaps his defining trait is his unswerving Amena, whose only attraction to Phelan is her own path to the faith in the Druids, believing them to be vessels of the divine. crown, and whose attempts to lead his ambition have thus far Whatever their demand, Pellanor will obey. No matter what the led to nothing. As a result their marriage is an unhappy affair, sacrifice may be. with Amena emasculating him at any opportunity – not that he’d give her the satisfaction of knowing she gets to him. The arrival of Ania, a Regni captive, finally injects a little adventure into his life.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 10 amena lindon Annabel Scholey Stanley Weber Amena is the wife of both Phelan and Lindon, and queen-in- Son of a Gallic chieftain, Lindon was married to Amena by waiting for the Cantii throne. The crown is all that matters to decree of the Druids to strengthen the bond between the her – everything else is a means to an end. While she seems two nations. Lindon has not been among the Cantii for long, supportive of those within the royal circle, many are wise to her but already has a reputation as one of the tribe’s greatest ambition, and are aware she will manipulate and exploit others assets on the battlefield. He is a fierce warrior, masculine and to meet her own goals. Even knowing this, one would be foolish powerful, putting him in direct contrast with Phelan – a fact to underestimate Amena. She is a born survivor, quick to adapt that Amena delights in rubbing in Phelan’s face. Lindon is not and very resourceful in adversity. Moreover, there is nothing she blind to Amena’s ambition, nor her cruelty, and dislikes her, only will not do to get what she wants. continuing to perform his role as her husband out of loyalty to the tribe. He forms a more spiritual bond with Kerra, and longs for a time when the two of them could be together away from the yoke of the tribe and the Druids.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 11 lucius sawyer Barry Ward Aulus’s prefectus, his second in command, he has been at Father to Cait, Sawyer’s life is turned upside down on the day the general’s side for a long time. He is a strict commander, the Romans ransack his village. He is taken as a slave by the bordering on cruel, and will not suffer any indignation against invaders, and his defiance does not go unpunished. As he him or his men. Upon landing in Britannia, his faith in Aulus suffers hardship upon hardship, it is Cait who takes it upon begins to be shaken by his long-time friend’s fixation with herself to care for her father and pull him through. It’s through the strange ways of the Druids and their beliefs that sit so this that Sawyer is able to recognise the strength that has uncomfortably with his own. As time draws on, and as he and grown within his daughter, and how through her, there may still his men grow increasingly fearful of the cursed land they have be hope. been sent to, Lucius senses his leader is drifting away, and slipping into secrecy. It is a conflict of loyalties that weighs heavy on Lucius’s mind.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 12 EPISODE GUIDE

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 13 Episode 1 On the eve of Solstice, Cait, a young woman belonging to Britannia’s Cantii tribe, awaits a rite of passage that separates girls from women. However, 400 ships, carrying 20,000 Roman soldiers, land on the shores close by, under the command of General Aulus Plautius, to take Britannia in the name of Emperor Claudius. Cait’s initiation into womanhood is interrupted by a Roman attack on her village, leaving her “betwixt” – neither girl nor woman – and everything she loves left in ashes. She is only left alive thanks to the actions of an outcast Druid, Divis, who has had unsettling visions of what is yet to come. Meanwhile, 40 miles inland, the border between the Cantii and Regni tribes is the site of constant bloodshed. A marriage, brokered by Cantii prince Phelan, takes place as an attempt at peace between the warring factions. But peace is a rare thing in Britannia, and this is no exception.

Episode 2 After the bloodshed comes the calm. Aware that the lack of organised resistance indicates an island already preoccupied by internal strife, Aulus intends to form an alliance to make

Rome’s victory in Britannia that much easier. He sends ambassadors to the ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 14 Cantii and Regni to parlay. King Pellenor, by Ania – the Regni princess who was King of the Cantii, vehemently rebuffs captured as a hostage during the ill- the Roman’s attempt at diplomacy. fated wedding ceremony. She announces His message received, Rome sends a to him that she is in fact an incarnation brutal message back. Kerra, daughter of the goddess of war, and has her of Pellenor and fearless warrior, own prophecy to fulfil. While sceptical, defies her father to speak with Aulus Phelan is very accommodating to his herself in an attempt to end further role in this prophecy. Cait, meanwhile, bloodshed. However, her actions do not having parted ways with Divid under go unnoticed. Phelan’s wife and Cantii acrimonious circumstances and only just queen-in-waiting, Amena, seeing Kerra as surviving an encounter with a pack of an obstacle to her ascent to the throne, wolves, is finally able to track down her uses this knowledge to sow seeds father, Sawyer. Now a prisoner of the of distrust between Pellenor and his Roman army, she arrives in time to see daughter. Roman negotiations with him brutally mutilated by Aulus’ right- the Regni’s queen, the fierce Antedia, hand man, Lucius, for attacking a Roman appear more fruitful. Although centurion. She plans a rescue, but she Antedia has some demands of her can’t do it alone. own. Meanwhile, Aulus learns more of the Druids – those who deal in Episode 4 and speak for the gods themselves. With knowledge of Kerra’s secret Undeterred by the fear of the myths of parley with the Romans, and Amena’s the island that has begun to infect his machinations coming to fruition, Pellenor, army’s ranks, he seeks out the Druids’ believing Kerra has betrayed her clan, leader – the mysterious Veran. disowns and imprisons her. The king staunchly believes the Druids are the her. She also receives a visit from Lindon. of judgement arrives, and Kerra is Episode 3 mouthpieces of the gods, so he throws A relative newcomer to the tribe, he is brought before Veran to meet her fate. Having journeyed to the very underworld Kerra to their judgement. Both know a Gallic warrior and another of Amena’s Elsewhere, Divis lays eyes on Aulus, and itself, Aulus returns to the Roman camp that when the Druids cast judgement husbands, married to her by order of sees something within him. Something – his purpose renewed. But while he may on Kerra’s mother, they demanded she the Druids. Along with Phelan he is one more than man. think his insight into the Druids’ world be flayed alive as a sacrifice to the gods, of the only people in the entire Cantii will seal his victory, the Druids view him and Kerra will likely meet the same fate. clan sympathetic to her plight, and it Episode 5 with strange amusement. At the Cantii Sensing the end, Kerra releases her becomes clear their relationship is The gods have spoken. As the dust

more than mere friendship. The day settles from the earth-shattering citadel, Phelan’s attendance is requested brother Phelan from his oath to protect ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 15 sacrifice, Veran names Kerra Queen of Kerra is crowned Queen of the Cantii. the Cantii. But she must first decide Amena outwardly pledges her loyalty to whether she will accept the gods’ the new queen, but behind closed doors judgement. While Lindon offers Kerra conducts a dark ritual to summon a the chance of escape, Amena, bitter demon that will bring her to the throne. and humiliated at being overlooked for After their long ordeal, Cait and her the throne, drunkenly rebukes Phelan father finally arrive at the safety of the for failing to be named king. Deciding citadel, where she and Kerra become neither husband is strong enough to acquainted with one another. Elsewhere, get her what she wants, she seeks out Aulus meets with Veran, where it is the Druids, intending to show there is revealed that Aulus may have had more nothing she will not do to get her crown. to do with Kerra’s coronation than one Phelan, on the other hand, chooses to might think. However, Aulus is soon put flee the citadel with Ania, leaving his right by Veran that the gods do not allegiance in question. Elsewhere, Queen bargain. At Crugdunon, Kerra makes a Antedia learns of the developments at deal with Aulus to protect her people but the citadel, and sends for Aulus. Antedia then a demon arrives. For reasons she bears a deep-seated hatred of Kerra, does not understand, Cait finds herself originating from an ill-advised attempted pursued on two fronts. Recognising her marriage between her and the queen’s from the Druids’ visions, Aulus orders her only son that ended abruptly with his capture, while Divis, fully possessed by castration. With this humiliation still the demon Pwykka, also hunts her down. burning inside of her, she seals the Kerra assists Cait in fleeing the citadel Regni’s alliance with Rome. But in return with her father, but such an action will for their co-operation, Antedia asks for cost Kerra dear. something unusual: the head of Veran. Episode 7 Episode 6 Cait and Sawyer seek shelter in the Having travelled to the underworld for burned remains of their old village. As guidance in his quest, Divis realises it she wonders if they will ever find safety is none other than Cait who poses a again, Sawyer is able to see his daughter threat to Aulus and must be the one to with new eyes. She is not the meek girl

defeat Lokka. But Divis does not leave he once knew, she has changed, and the underworld intact. At the citadel, so must the dynamic between them. ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 16 Meanwhile, two other parties find Elsewhere, the siege of the Cantii citadel temporary sanctuary at the ruins. is in full swing. Reaching a stalemate, the Two Roman deserters, Bruno and Philo, war between the Regni and the Cantii are also hiding out there. However, Philo has become a battle of wills between is catatonic after a previous encounter sworn enemies Kerra and Antedia, with with Divis, and Brutus becomes too neither queen willing to budge. With the preoccupied with the village witch war looking to stretch into the cold, doctor’s stash for them to present any long winter, Antedia plays her trump danger. The bickering Phelan and Ania card: they have a man on the inside. also arrive, seeking their own place in Someone very close to Kerra. the prophecy, as well as somewhere for Phelan to take care of some toilet Episode 9 trouble. The peace cannot last, as during The end is near. Cait, defiant to the last, the night, Cait is visited by someone she has been captured by Hella. But despite never expected to see again and she Aulus offering a sizable bounty and a learns of the part she must play in pardon for her previous crimes against the prophecy. the Empire, she chooses not to turn Cait in to the Roman camp as agreed. Divis, Episode 8 left near death from his encounter with Divis, now freed from Pwykka, rejoins Cait Raven, receives a last-gasp reprieve in an unlikely partnership and Sawyer, from the land, and sets off in search of now understanding the journey Cait Cait. Elsewhere, Phelan and Ania find must make, believes he will only slow her themselves in uncomfortable lodgings down, so goes his own way after a tearful at the Druids’ camp as they seek an farewell. Four moons pass, and despite audience with Phelan. Certain their part his best efforts to bestow his knowledge in the prophecy is important, Veran and skills on Cait, their partnership is seems content to keep them waiting. floundering, and her guilt over leaving At the citadel, with their food gone, the her blind father on his own has driven situation seems hopeless for Kerra and her to despair. As she falls into an the Cantii – a fate further cemented by inescapable depression, Aulus recruits the arrival of a second Roman legion. As bounty hunters from overseas to find Rome truly shows the island of Britannia Cait, with one particular hunter, Hella, how it conducts its business, there is one proving to be exceptionally dangerous. more sacrifice that must be made.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 17 INTERVIEWS

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 18 David Morrissey AULUS PLAUTIUS

How would you describe a character like Aulus? He’s a Roman general, a ruthless guy, but he’s also searching for something else. This is a land in which the Romans have been defeated before under What do you think it some other meaning of life. Something Aulus himself rarely utilises Caesar – where they’ve turned tail and is that drives Aulus? beyond the earthbound life. Or certainly physical violence throughout the gone back to Rome. So he’s out to prove I think it’s a personal quest of a search to make sense of what’s going series. It’s as if his weapon isn’t himself in that respect. But also he’s enlightenment. I feel that he’s a man on. Like he’s saying to himself, “This can’t the sword, more like a scalpel… there on a personal, spiritual journey, who would have seen great trauma, just be it”. One of the things about him, and I think to find out what he can about the he’s seen the worst of human nature this is true of the Romans in general, is

Druid philosophy and belief system. and humankind. There’s something It’s refreshing that, while being that he gets to Britannia as they would He’s a man on a mission. inside there that’s driven him to find in command of a Roman legion, with any foreign place, and he does his ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 19 research, and he finds out what the old What kind of research did you head of the conquering force. But I he’s doing. He’s not an outlaw, whereas scores are in this land – which tribes hate have to do for the role? think how he uses pre-emptive strikes, I think The Governor was. That brings each other – and he just manipulates the I read a lot of Mary Beard, who I just manipulation of the civil strife between something different with it. hatreds that are already there, and uses adore. She wrote a book called SPQR, the tribes, there’s something very them to his own advantage. which I think is really brilliant. There’s a recognisable there. There is an element Did you have any favourite guy called Tom Holland who’s a great of him in that he is the modern world scenes in Britannia? How did it feel to don the armour writer as well. It was important for me coming to an ancient one. He brings Zoë Wanamaker and I shared a few of a Roman general? to have a feeling for it but there’s also a progress but also the idea of healthcare, scenes together. She’s an actress I’ve It was dependent on the weather. We real contemporary feel to it, particularly sanitation, things like that. But there’s admired for many years. We did good started off filming in the Czech Republic in the language Jez uses in the show. going to be a fight – people don’t like stuff together on set. There was a lot in the summer, and it was pretty tough. It The bricks and mortar are there from a change. He’s a modern force. of banter. Our characters might not be was quite heavy and hot. That added to historical standpoint in the script, but on equal footing, because I have this the discomfort, which was good, as the certainly in terms of the language we use Many will remember your massive army behind me, but we’re characters felt that so it was a natural it’s very contemporary. show-stealing role as The certainly intellectual equals, and there’s fit. But then as we went into the winter Governor in The Walking Dead. something about that that meant I really months and it became bitterly cold Did you feel like there’d be a clash Do you think there are any loved playing those scenes with her. things improved dramatically. I wear a in the language used in the script parallels you can draw between lot of fur stuff so that was welcome. It’s and its historical setting? the two characters? hard to ride a horse with that amount of No, not really. There was a sense that the Certainly The Governor had an idea of stuff on, though. Romans, particularly, came from all over, nation building, and that’s the same recruiting people – they’d already been thing Aulus has. There’s a sense they Was the horse riding something to , the Middle East, France or Gaul are bringing their doctrine and imposing you had to learn for the part? as it was back then – they had a massive it on to a world around them, although No, I’ve done a lot of horse riding in the empire before they got to Britain, and they go about it in different ways. And past. There are many jobs I’ve had to ride they brought that empire with them in also the might of the Roman Empire a horse for so it was a joy to do this. We their legions. You really get a sense of Aulus has gives him a lot more licence had a great guy who ran the stables and not just the Romans arriving, but also so to do that. He’s much more experienced great stunt guys as well, so it was good many other cultures under their banner. in the role of ruthless leader, while The to get involved in that. The horses were Governor, by necessity, was just making wonderful and I always enjoy that. Good Is it oversimplifying to call it up as he went along. This is someone to get back in the saddle and go for it. Aulus the villain? bringing 100 years of Roman ethos with I wouldn’t call him that. I think he’s him. He’s very much in the tradition of a necessity of the piece. He’s a the conquering hero, and he sees himself recognisable character in that he’s the in that way. There’s a legitimacy to what

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 20 she believes. She is fiercely opposed to her father, so therefore when we meet her, she is not in his favour. She is not really the light of his life.

Where do you think she gets this inner strength from? I mean, we live in much softer times. These people, I just think of them as Kelly Reilly these indigenous tribes. So there’s not any pre-Freud analysis – people were KERRA just surviving. They lived short lives and were ruled by the gods. Their lives were part of a bigger picture. But Kerra’s mother was part Roman from the first invasion, and so the gods decreed, when Kerra was a young girl, that she was going to be killed as a sacrifice to the gods. And her father, King Pellenor, What can you share with us agreed to it. So she’s never forgiven him. about Kerra? She’s fiercely angry with him that he She is the daughter of Pellenor, King of killed her mother. I think she draws from the Cantii. They’re at war with the Regni, that an attitude to do the right thing. while Kerra’s at war with her father. She thinks her father sold his soul to the We realise early on that Kerra is a woman Druids, who she also hates. of her own mind. She doesn’t like to be used as some kind of pawn in a scenario What is Kerra’s relationship she says, “You’re human”. You’re not the The time of Britannia is famous in she doesn’t agree with. There was a to the gods? wind, you’re not the earthquakes, folklore for having strong, warrior wedding before the series starts that She definitely believes in the gods, I you’re not the trees, you’re a f****** women, of which Kerra might be was supposed to unite the two clans, don’t think anybody in this world doesn’t human. And I’m a human. She doesn’t an example. Is that what first but it doesn’t end well. She’s quite a believe in them. It’s really the fabric of buy the hypocrisy and their need for interested you about the project? bold figure to play. But it taught me their lives. What she doesn’t believe in power. She’s very sceptical of them, as Yeah, I always have this thing where

something about who she is, somebody is the Druids. She thinks that they think one would be if they took the one thing people talk about strong female who does not steer too far from what they are gods themselves, but in fact in your life that mattered. characters. I’m not necessarily ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 21 interested in strong female characters. I am interested in. So to be involved in that part of her, which is sort of “don’t theatre. And then when I get into that I’m not interested necessarily in a drama that lives in that world is really f*** with me”. All of the characters have head space it’s like we’re actually there. I weak characters. But I’m more often exciting for me. that, there isn’t anyone weak. They’re all hope that actually comes through when interested in fully rounded characters. survivors. people watch it. I hope they get that So often women can be just one thing Given her heritage, what does experience. in dramas. What I like is a character who Kerra go through when the It’s a show of many conflicts… can be vulnerable and can be strong, Romans return? Yes, emotional conflict. Who am I? What What else do you think people will but is complicated and complex and What we realise about Kerra is her am I going to do now? There are times enjoy about the show? is a real human being, regardless of fundamental reason for being is the that we’re doing this and it feels so One of the things I’m taken with is that her feminine self. The fact that this survival of her people. So in one way she big, it’s quite biblical in a way. We were it feels very exciting, it feels very alive, was a world that respected women is her father’s daughter. She will sacrifice shooting the Amber Palace scene, which and it feels very relevant, weirdly, to the and respected women’s intuition and anything for that, including herself. And looks like Stonehenge, and we had 300 time in which we live. There’s not really could be considered as powerful, that the love of her father, she thinks her extras dancing and playing drums and a anything safe about this place, these it wasn’t a misogynistic world. There father is blind and ruling just to be in the smoke machine going under a full moon… people. We don’t know what’s going to was a sacredness to the Earth, which favour of the Druids. Whereas she wants I mean it’s… I was just thinking, “This happen, anything can happen. There’s a was feminine. So I have a passion for to do the right thing for her people, the thing is touched with some magic”. real modern-feeling attitude. All of the this time in history. I find it fascinating, I land and her tribe. So, when the Romans characters are very well-rounded, not find her fascinating. That she’s trying to come, she feels there’s no way they can What was the Amber Palace one is good or bad. Everyone has lots survive and do the right thing. In a way, conquer this power. They know what scene like? of different colours and there’s a real she comes from quite a male place. It’s Rome is and they come with their armies. Working with Mackenzie, I mean he was earthiness to it, which I really like. This is all about getting things done and to get So while King Pellenor’s attitude is ”f*** channelling something playing Veran. really of the earth and these people are things done she takes things into her off back to Rome”, Kerra’s is, “well, we He’s extremely powerful for such a of the earth. And I love that about it. And own hands. need to talk to them, we need to have a slim guy, and he inhabits Veran with it’s a huge cast, lots of storylines, and conversation”. this madness and brilliance. He’s so lots of conflict, which makes great drama. Were you familiar with the inventive. And he’s really exciting to act history of Britannia before What was it like to be with. But we all got tribed up with the joining the cast? involved in the stunts? tribe makeup and that was really fun. It’s As far as mythology, I wouldn’t say I was Kerra’s tough. She builds this sort proper dress-up. I love acting because an expert. I’m somebody who would of fortress around her. And she’s you can feel like you can sort of time drive down to the West Country and see also physically able, she’s a great travel. Not that I’m actually there, but in Stonehenge, go and be in that space horsewoman, and has had to protect my imagination, I can just drop in. And and wonder about those people and herself. So I had to do a couple of scenes there’s something about this where those times. They seem to have been where she’s killing off her enemies. And I we felt like there was something really tuned into something else. The Druids, had never done anything like that before powerful going on. We did the whole the pagans, it’s certainly something that in a job, and it was a lot of fun to play sequence in one, so it’s almost like

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 22 strange tribe. He’ll come across as cruel, and the way he looks, he looks like a baddie. But he’s not necessarily the bad guy. He’s more complicated than that. He’s doing these things that appear cruel because the gods have told him to do this. Because the gods speak through the Druids he’s pretty much all powerful. He can lord it over all the Celtic tribes. Mackenzie Crook The Romans, when they invade, they see this, and they know he’s to be treated VERAN carefully.

In terms of Veran’s appearance, it’s quite a transformation. How did you find the makeup process? I found it brilliant. I loved every minute of it. From the design to going and having a What was your main cast made, and the daily ritual of putting attraction to Britannia? it on – we started off at five hours and Jez Butterworth. That’s all it came then they got it down to three and a down to really. As soon as I saw his half – it was a brilliant process. Watching name attached to it my ears pricked the skill of the makeup team and seeing up. I worked with him before on the play myself slowly transformed in front of the Jerusalem, possibly the work I’m most mirror helped me get into and form the proud of, and the most profound time I’ve character. had in this business since I first started. It was almost a no-brainer. Obviously I On that point, how else did you read the script but as soon as I saw his get into the mind of someone name I knew it was going to be awesome. as enigmatic and mysterious as Veran? What can you tell us about Veran? It’s difficult because there’s next to

He’s an enigmatic, charismatic leader of nothing known about the Druids. We’re what could be seen as a cult, this really picking from five or six facts that were ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 23 written by Julius Caesar and otherwise slaughtered. And then it went back to and so forth. One thing that may sitting on top of this cliff, and there was it’s all just open for interpretation. This he said, “Oh well, the Jays surprise them when they watch no way I was ever going to fall off, I’ve is going to sound weird but I sort of drew have had a good year then”. Britannia is the sex. Were you probably never been safer in my life, I’m on Springwatch. surprised to find that? harnessed up and have a team of safety Harsh. It goes back to the nature thing – people, but it’s still there. Springwatch? Exactly. That’s the cruelty of nature. nature is a cycle of birth, life, sex, death. It has this air of being for old people but The base things. The Druids in this Fear of heights notwithstanding, it’s actually the most brutal and violent Did you take on any other interpretation celebrate sex as much as the scenery in Britannia is show on television – the violence of research for the role? Where do they do birth and death and everything stunning. nature. That sentimental sympathy and you start when there’s so little in between. It’s part of life. Good old Absolutely. And on a different scale empathy that humans have, it doesn’t documentation? Druid orgies. completely there’s a scene Susan Tully exist out there. And Veran is all about Well that’s it, it’s mentioned that they directed where I was sitting on a clifftop the natural world. He’s like the seasons. were a tribe of wise people, but they Did you have a particular with a butterfly on my finger, just There’s no room for sentiment, sympathy were also lawyers and doctors, but highlight from the filming? contemplating it. It was brilliant – this or empathy. there’s not much to go on. So Jez has There were lots, it was an incredible guy had a fridge full of butterflies so that taken this idea and applied artistic job to do. But seeing that Stonehenge they’d be kept sedate. He put one on my So you weren’t channelling licence to it. All I can really do is read the they built for us for the first time was finger and then the heat from my finger Chris Packham? history of the time and books on Celts incredible. And to find myself on top of would slowly warm it up. So it would stay No, not drawing on Chris Packham. In and Celtic folklore and try to draw from that with my fear of heights to perform there for 10, 20 seconds and then open fact there’s a particular segment of that. this massive ritual. They actually built it its wings and fly away. It was a really Springwatch from a couple of years so that it aligned with the setting sun, so lovely moment. back that stuck in my head. There was Why do you think people are so as came down it really did cast this nest of blue tits in a nest box with fascinated by this era? this shadow. Those sorts of experience, I a camera in it. They were raising about It does have that feel of a fantasy story. just stepped away from myself and said, 10 chicks and the whole nation was Two thousand years ago, nothing is the “This is quite possibly how it actually was willing along these parents who were same as it is now. It may as well be a back then”. feeding them and getting them bigger different world. Although it is set in a real and bigger. It came to the point where time in our history, it does still have that You have a fear of heights? the birds were about to fledge, and the fantasy feel to it, and people are really Yeah I do have a fear of heights in first one jumped up to the hole, and into that at the moment. everyday life. Especially with my children. there was a Jay waiting for it, and the Jay I keep feeling like they’re going to throw just took it. And then he came back and When people think of the Druids, themselves off or through some railings. he got the next one, and the next one, they may think of the herbs, the When I’m acting the adrenaline kicks in and the next one. So all these chicks got sacrifices, giant stone monoliths – you act like you’re not scared. But I’m

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 24 Solstice marks when a girl becomes a couple of days. And we were doing night After the Solstice festival is woman. So to symbolise their virginity shoots, so it was really atmospheric – interrupted, Cait finds herself in they have their faces painted white, everybody was dancing around fire. It an uncomfortable companionship and they’re told they can’t speak for a was an amazing, amazing scene to do, with the outcast Divis. What can month otherwise they’ll disappear and especially for your first day. Like, a real you tell us about him? bad luck will fall on to their tribe. But the baptism of fire. I didn’t realise it was He’s very self-centered. So he doesn’t Solstice itself is a very happy festival. It’s going to be so full-on, and everyone was really care what’s going on with Cait. a celebration – there are no weapons in these cool costumes. And I’d never had If she’s tired? Doesn’t care. Hungry? allowed. It’s their daughters, their to act as if I was high before, so that was Doesn’t care. But at the same time,

Eleanor Worthington relatives coming together to celebrate new and interesting. he does care. Deep down, he’s got to ➞ becoming a woman. It’s something very Cox – CAIT special for that tribe. It’s like Cait will be gone and she’s becoming a new person. So it’s a really, really special moment for their family.

But things don’t go to plan… So Cait’s stomach gets scarred, as per How would you describe Cait? the ritual, but it’s not quite complete So Cait’s a Celt, she’s part of the Cantii because the Romans invade. And they tribe. She’s poor and lives a simple life. storm the camp, they come in and Her dad has always favoured her older they stop the festival and they start sister, but she idolises her older sister. So slaughtering people, and her dad has sometimes that can make her feel quite to fight, and they have to run. So it’s neglected and like she’s second best. obviously very scary for Cait and for her But it is a very loving relationship. She’s sister Islene to leave their father behind brave, but she doesn’t really know that. and try and get away as quickly as they She’s stronger than she thinks she is. can.

When we first meet Cait she’s What was it like to shoot that about to undertake a rite of scene? passage – the Solstice ceremony. It was amazing. It was the first day of the What significance does that come shoot, we were doing all of the Solstice to play? and then we carried on for the next

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 25 somehow. But she does hate him. It’s a Do you think Cait has a kindred think she feels she’s braver than she was, done so much location stuff. So it’s love-hate relationship, but there’s more spirit in the series? she’s more courageous, she’s smarter, been great to explore and see all of love than they realise. And a little less Sure, Cait meets Kerra very briefly, but she’s more quick-witted. There’s more to these amazing places. I’ve enjoyed hate. when she does, she really understands her than being the second best, the least every moment and I’ve worked with Cait’s situation. She realises just how favourite child. some amazing people that I never How does Cait change over the much she’s been through. And she can thought I would have. course of the story? see by her clothes, “Wow she’s been What’s your favourite thing It’s probably most evident later on. through a lot”. She understands what about playing Cait? How did you get in to character? Certain characters come to realise she’s it’s like to feel a little neglected by your That I’ve never played anybody like this Because obviously Britannia is set a not second best, she’s not weaker. She father, and they have this really good talk before. She’s got much more action than very long time ago, the costume, hair, needs to be respected more as a woman and Cait learns a lot about herself. anybody I’ve ever played. She’s got so makeup and all the sets really get you now. There’s a different dynamic in their many trials and tests to go through and in to character. Because you’re being relationships. She’s trusted more with What kinds of things so many pressures put on her character. transported back in time basically. So it things, and trusted to lead the way. does she learn? But she stays on it, she sticks with it, and really helps me as an understand People know she’s become braver as I think she thinks she has more strength she stays brave, which I really respect. the character more because of how they she’s taken a lot of risks to get to that than she realised she had. She really would have lived. point. finds this inner strength. And I think Cait does see her fair share of when you’re put through what she’s action throughout the series. Where did you pull been put through, you have to find that, How did you find the stunts? your inspiration from? otherwise you’re not going to survive. I I’ve never been able to do so many As soon as I started reading the script I stunts before, so as soon as they was like, “Oh OK, it would be amazing if said, “right you’re going to have to I did this or this would be cool”. And I’ve be doing all this cool stuff”, I knew had inspiring directors. They’ve really automatically that I had to do it. I was helped me make Cait who she is. so excited. So, I won’t spoil anything, but I’ve been doing so many stunts If audiences take one thing and I’ve been loving every second of it. from Britannia, what do you hope We’ve got a really great team, so they’re it would be? making sure I’m safe. To stick with it and be brave. Even if times are tough, just to carry on and get What’s been your experience through it. Because you can. Even if you in filming this show? don’t think you can. There’s something It’s been incredible. I’ve never done in there and you can just bring it up anything like this before. I’ve never anytime you need it.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 26 which there were a few in that era. She’s the beginning of Boudicca. There was another warrior queen in a tribe up by or Suffolk, so I based the performance on a lot of that information, as little as there is. But it’s very difficult to know what went on, so the imagination plays a big role.

How much research Zoë Wanamaker did you have to do? QUEEN ANTEDIA I had lots of books. All about the invasion, as much information as I could. I used Antonia Fraser’s book The Warrior Queen as a starting point, but it was an amalgamation of ideas. But also, just from reading the scripts, what Jez has written is earthy, violent, and Did you ever expect to be quite shocking. He’s built this world playing a role like this? of brutality, which is probably what No! But that’s the joy of our business. happened. It was a tribal world at that It was a complete surprise and really point. wonderful. I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that Jez was telling me Did you feel like you were I’m playing an “angry queen”. That’s all it channelling anyone in your took. performance? Not exactly, but meeting with the So having Jez involved was makeup designer, the costume designer, all it took? creating her hair and the tribal tattoos, Yes it was a given. Without question. just seeing them create the look of Antedia… all that just came together. Can you tell us a little about It was very exciting for me, as getting Queen Antedia? the script slightly late meant it was a

She is a lioness. She’s a tiger. She is collaborative effort. I’ve never done that powerful. She’s a warrior queen, of before. ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 27 You have to tell us a little The series is full of amazing Were there any challenges? about the outfits, because characters, perhaps none more The most stressful part was trying to they are magnificent. so than the women. How does it have a pee. You have to get a Land We were all given concept drawings of feel to be part of something with Rover up to the proper toilet area and our characters, and I got to visit the so many examples of brilliant and then I had to have help to get me out designers in Prague, and there were memorable female roles? of the costume. It was actually very people making leathers and dying I had no idea it was going to happen, and well organised. It’s a very experimental everything. Anne (the costume designer) then each script that I received got more piece of work, but that’s what makes has got a lot of information from the and more intriguing, so it was a lot like it different. Jez and Tom’s voices are for the style, and so I was watching it unfold myself. I hadn’t very strong in the way it’s done. It’s this was all put together and then we met many of the , I’d worked with imaginative, it’s gritty, and it’s not pretty. started work. Towards the end I just Annabel Scholey in Passion Play, but it It’s raw. It gives a really good idea of what got such strength from her designs. felt so great. the world must have been like before the And also the makeup, which I really Romans came and brought us central wasn’t expecting. It’s a flight of David Morrissey has said one of heating. imagination based on reality. I was his highlights of the series was originally from America, and when we working with you. Can I put you in Antedia has some incredible lines first came to this country my mother a difficult position by asking you in the series. To quote from the would tell me, “The British are barbarians, the same question? first episode “I’ll s*** on the souls they painted themselves blue”. So I I thought he was s***. Never wanted to of your dead! I’ll drink your blood ended up proving her right. work with him. No, I loved working with before I let it pollute mine!” Where him. It’s a part of the business where was all this during My Family? One feeling you get from watching you know each other but don’t know [Laughs] Well that’s the man, that’s Jez. the series is that you are having each other very well, but we had such an absolute ball playing the fun. We laughed a lot. It’s good to have Did you have any character. Was it as much fun as it a soulmate. You hope to find that in other favourite lines? seems? everything you do, to find someone you I did come up with one. I was bored of Yes, Antedia just got better and better. connect with. So it was just wonderful. calling Kelly Reilly’s character Kerra “a And more interesting. She’s a three- bitch” so I asked if I could start calling dimensional character. She’s not just a There’s real chemistry in the her “Copperknob”. Jez loved that. So I got ballsy lady, she’s got a mystical side to scenes with you and Aulus… that in. There was another one I got to her. She’s got a history with both the sometimes verging on the coy. shout at David at the end of the series: Druids and the Cantii. She’s someone Oh yes, we got naughty. That’s invented “I’d call you a **** but you don’t have the with deep hatred. It was just so full. by us. depth or the warmth.”

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 28 Nikolaj Lie Kaas DIVIS

What drew you to the project initially? For me it started with a dinner in Prague when Britannia was in its very early stages. I think something was taken from the dinner and so the character of Divis was created, as all of the humour and sarcasm, stuff like that, wasn’t really there before.

What can you tell us about Divis? He’s definitely an outcast. That drives him in so many ways. He doesn’t belong anywhere, I don’t think he’s capable of belonging. He’s just a survivor. He’s

completely absorbed with himself. That’s his life, to survive. He’s very aware of the ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 29 capabilities he’s learned from the Druids, significant part of the series. How There’s a lot of waiting so people read, Did you have any but he uses these great skills to do just did you find working with Eleanor? people play games, but the four of us favourite scenes? simple stuff. He’s born to do more than I think Eleanor is just the brightest and had a really good time just hanging out. There are a lot of idiotic discussions with just live day to day. And that’s what’s funniest… she’s such fun to work with. Cait that were just fun to do. There’s a interesting when he clashes with Cait. She’s someone that just took everything You’re the Danish representative scene where Divis has encountered some I came up with and made it work. From of what is a predominantly British Romans and he’s trying to put them into What kind of preparation do you any situation it was just fun to put cast. How did you find working a trance, then all of a sudden Cait shows have to go through to turn into a everything on the line. She just accepted with the Brits? up when he thought he was rid of her. character like Divis? everything I did. Sometimes we had a The biggest challenge was the language He’s trying to convince them to stay in a You have to prepare for anything. I hard time just keeping a straight face. as I’ve never done the British accent trance at the same time as trying to get like playing Divis because he has this The harder I pushed her, the harder she before, so I had to work on that rid of her. That’s a funny scene. multiple personality disorder, in a way. He pushed back. She’s the most intelligent, constantly from beginning to end. I changes from moment to moment. He’s the most fun, just a really fantastic had a coach and going through every Divis does some crazy things pleasant and generous one moment and actress. line. It was so interesting, and just to during the course of the series. a complete idiot the next. Sometimes see the work of my fellow actors was Did you actually have to leap off a I had to really be my worst self, like A lot of Britannia takes place fascinating. There are so many brilliant cliff? when I’m really into myself and so self- outside – how did you find that? performances. I didn’t. I was close though. We were absorbed. The fun thing about playing Yeah, we were shooting in the forest shooting me running up to the cliff edge him was that no two days were the same. every day. It’s interesting but it’s rainy, This may be your most prominent – at some point the director had to put It was a surprise every time. and you end up accepting that as part of role for British audiences to date. an end to it. I was insisting I had a few the job. To work in Prague and the Czech Are you excited by that prospect? metres to go before the actual drop but Did you have to do any research Republic, all these beautiful locations, Definitely. I’m really pleased as in terms she was just getting too scared. into the history of the Druids? is just amazing. So inspiring. You think of acting I’ve really got to work for it, Oh yeah, of course. It’s so inspiring if you’d get bored by being in the same because Divis is so different and there you have a character in a period setting place all the time but there are so many are so many layers to him. It’s something like this, you really have to have a good aspects to these locations, you just end I would look forward to doing every day. understanding of what this is all about. up looking around you in awe. It surprises me because I can get very The myth of the Druids, and the way they easily bored doing a TV show and playing respect and live alongside nature, that What would you do to amuse the same character over and over. But was something that was really inspiring yourself between takes while you it’s so great to be able to show what and still is. were in the great outdoors? you can and make that effort. I’m just We’d talk a lot and make fun. I was mainly pleased British audiences will be able to Divis is partnered (or saddled, hanging out with Barry Ward (Sawyer), see what I’m capable of in a part that I as he sees it) with Cait for a Eleanor and her mum, so that was fun. love to play.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 30 Jez Butterworth WRITER & CO-CREATOR

How did Britannia with so that’s what we went for. As far as of it at all. I think that is so , when was the blast-off point, and excitingly it’s first come about? the writing goes, I started with one idea, you can tell that a writer is displaying in the first episode and the first scene. It wasn’t my idea to do a series which was what it must feel like when their homework. There is a trepidation set in ancient Britain, it was James you have a whole pantheon of gods of there because you kind of feel like people While the series has this Richardson’s [executive producer and your own and someone shows up with know the subject better than me, but ancient setting, the dialogue co-creator]. I’ve known him forever, but a whole new set. That really just struck that’s never really stopped me. of the characters remains very this seemed like such a tempting arena. me as dramatic, funny, tragic… just contemporary. Why did you It was kind of an offer that I couldn’t that complete clash of faiths, of creeds, What about the historical setting decide on this contrast? refuse. I’d been looking around for ages struck me as being really fruitful. do you think will hook viewers in? Well, the first reason for doing that for the right kind of TV series. I’ve only The first thing that lit me up was the idea is that I get very tired of counterfeit done a 30-minute programme and it What sort of research went into that the Romans had been here before, versions of arcane diction. It’s just was decades ago, so this was going to writing Britannia? that they’d come, taken a look and gone that idea that because we’re set in the be my first real foray into TV, so I chose it My process beginning any project, home. That struck me as a massive past we’ll all just address each other carefully. It seemed like the right kind of particularly one that has a historical question mark. That wasn’t usually their in a slightly odd register with slightly area, and the right team. I really loved my context, is to do as much research as MO, so that was something that you venerable syntax and that will somehow

dealings with everyone at Sky to begin possible and then try not to include any could really build around. I would say that impart some kind of authenticity. Well ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 31 that’s nonsense, because it wouldn’t Dawkins supporter, you can’t deny the It’s the smallest scale building block that like her and she doesn’t like him. Just have sounded like that to each other. I fact that 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 brains in the course of that episode means that throwing those two together and didn’t want to make it so contemporary have formed your own brain. You know their entire faith, temporarily, crumbles. watching them happen. I love films that it was jarring but I had absolutely no it’s been 400 years since there’s been like Paper Moon, where you’ve got interest in creating something hokey. a scientific revolution that tells us that How did it feel to have a project an unsuitable adult and an innocent thunder is something other than the where you could really build such who are kind of thrown together. I’m From the series’ opening sequence wrath of the gods. I think it creates the rounded female roles? particularly proud of the fact that they to your interpretation of the actual architecture of the brain, I think Just from a selfish point of view I was don’t have any kind of breakthrough Druids, there is an undercurrent those needs for rituals, those needs for really excited about the idea of writing over the course of the season. There’s of psychedelia and counterculture ceremony, those needs for entrance and these four central female characters who no softening of the relationship. It gets influences. Did they mould your exits that are noted have formed us. dominate the action. And to put them progressively worse and worse as it goes interpretation of the period? right through the heart of the story, along. You would expect they would That drew me back to finding out what The conflict between the Romans have everything pass through them, have some kind of understanding of it was that the Druids were about in the and the Druids is particularly to have their stories and their myths. one another, but it’s resisted that for 10 first place – my love of music and that interesting, partly due to the That was just an exciting challenge, hours and long may that continue. kind of scene. Fascination with that is differences of their respective certainly in something of this scale. Not a very kind of English, British thing. And beliefs. What made you focus on least because we found four really rare Do you think there are any it is informed by our deepest roots. I this particular aspect? actors to play those roles. Just incredibly parallels that can be drawn with think most drug experiences take you Because we’re talking about a time strong performances throughout. The the modern day? back to the land. It just feels like it where absolutely everything passed thing that I’m proudest of is writing I think that the drama is set at the grounds you. Certainly hallucinogenic through the religious. As a Roman those roles in a way that really spoke point where Britain is being recreated drug experiences, most sort of natural soldier, from the moment you got up in to those actors. Each one of those before your eyes. It’s invaded – it’s plant drug experiences. I remember the morning there was a god for every women managed to get 100% of what it what was going to happen in 1940 but the first few times I took mushrooms, single process. There was a god for the was I intended and more. For me that’s didn’t. It happened and it changed the I saw a lot of images that I recognised soap, there was a god for the towel… it the fundamental achievement, but it’s entire history of the nation. If anything, from cultures from a long time ago. was the most incredible OCD way to get basically their achievement. it’s a reminder of the fact that there’s It’s like this connection to the past, a through the day, where you had to be no such thing as just being English or way of envisioning that struck me as constantly giving thanks to absolutely Did you have any being British. There’s just this constant fundamental to the series. everything. Everything was prescribed its favourite scenes? palimpsestic rewriting of what that own deity. Again that struck me as very The bit I liked writing the most was with means, and what you are trying to Why do you think there is still this funny. At one point we start to deal with Divis and Cait. There’s something about defend at any point is probably not the fascination with the Druids? the complications when other religions that kind of odd couple relationship, thing that you think it is. Their way of thinking has formed our don’t have that. Whether the god of the a teenage girl and a solipsistic, self- way of thinking. I think whether or not sandal that protects our sandals means obsessed ex-Druid. That they’re at the you want to be a fully paid-up Richard that other countries’ sandals are in peril. heart of this thing where he doesn’t

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 32 As well as all the violence and politics that come with a Roman invasion, the series explores the spiritual world as well. What inspired this? If you read accounts of some Second World War generals, the ones who had a very pure idea of themselves as warriors, like Patton or Montgomery, they were Tom Butterworth really close to being sorcerers, in that they were invoking ideas of battle and WRITER & CO-CREATOR conquest and military power that were quite voodoo. The Nazis certainly had that too. They had the idea that there was a spiritual aspect to do with primal forces and they made no bones about having séances to conjure and get the voodoo on their side. But I’ve never seen As one of the minds behind archaeology from that time but there’s We talked a lot about how historical it portrayed in quite the way that we Britannia, how would you describe not much historical detail about it, so it dramas often feel slightly dead in the ended up doing it the series? gave us licence to make things up and water because you can’t do justice to I guess at heart it’s about catastrophic, follow our instincts about what we found something that happened back then What was your main goal in violent change and what that does compelling about it. For us it’s not about in terms of faithfulness. So we were terms of how ancient Britain is to the people who are going through a pastoral idyll being invaded by the interested in the things that would portrayed? it. And perhaps to those who are the nasty Romans, it’s more like them arriving resonate today, and that’s why we chose We wanted to show that the Romans instruments of it. in a very sectarian and violent place a bunch of characters for whom the already in a state of civil war. It’s the weren’t invading a Britain that we are invasion was going to be particularly used to seeing as the one that was So where do you start when you’re clash of those two things that sparked significant. As the series progresses invaded. It’s a very divided place. It’s writing something set in 43AD? everything else in the story. it gets less tied to any sense of being much more multicultural than you might Other than there being a consensus that faithful to any historical truth. There was be expecting as well. There were people the Romans definitely invaded that year, Was there any awkwardness no point in trying to do a faux period, from all over living in at it was a relief to discover what actually about writing contemporary so we just went for something that’s that time and especially with the Druids, happened during the invasion was really dialogue for a series set in this anachronistic, but hopefully captures who would travel all over the continent. sparsely documented. There’s a lot of period?

people’s imaginations. The people who were doing the invading ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 33 don’t operate in a way that you’ve seen before either. They’re mutinous, scared and they have this general - you’re trying to work out what his genuine intentions are in being there. Whether it’s martial, strategic, or whether he has reasons of his own.

Do you feel the period gave you some freedom in the directions you could send your characters? Absolutely. For example, just from our research alone, we felt very free to make the female characters proper players in the political world. It does seem that it was a much more egalitarian society, it wasn’t courtly, it was much more like a tribe. I mean women were allowed to have many husbands, kids were brought up communally, and if you could fight you could be a warrior. A female in their world could be just about anything.

Does the series draw any parallels with today’s events? It’s funny because when we started English fight back against a sort of So Britannia’s rebellious streak is truth and exploring religion versus writing this, Brexit was about to happen, invader. We weren’t looking for parallels something that’s still present in humanism; that was all historically in play or we didn’t know it was about to that we could then play out in the story modern-day Britain? at that time but it’s not gone away as happen but things were bubbling away – like have a Boris Johnson Celt or that It’s one of the powerful things about something that defines our world now. in the background. When we started we sort of thing. That’s not what we wanted stories. If you can get the right elements had a chat about whether it was going to do but I think it’s inevitably there working then they do speak beyond the to be a good or bad thing for the show if in the bones of the piece because the context. The story does become about Brexit happened and I think awfully and story of what happens when one people things that are as relevant today. The ironically it does give different meaning occupy another has always existed. idea of communing with an ultimate that you’re watching a very dysfunctional

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 34 James Richardson EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CO-CREATOR

You came up with the idea for Eventually I sat down with Jez and Tom This will be your first foray in to become so exciting. Creatively, the three- Britannia. What made you want to Butterworth and talked it through – all making a TV series – how did you act structure of film can be so restrictive. set a series in ancient Britain? of us felt the same thing – there is an find the experience? Whereas in TV you have no idea where I was working on a possible film about extraordinary world here. We all got This is Vertigo’s first TV series and I loved it’s going to go. And I love that. At Vertigo Boudicca and found myself being less excited by only three historical facts the experience of making drama for the we feel TV offers the most exciting and less drawn into that particular story – why did Julius Caesar, the greatest small screen. I’d been making films all my opportunities to make the disruptive and more and more into the world in Roman general ever, try and fail to life, like Monsters, Bronson, The Football and challenging projects we are creating. which it was set. Who were the Druids? conquer Britannia? Why did the Roman Factory and StreetDance, and now I had What were they doing? Why haven’t army rebel on the coast of Gaul before to deal with making nine of these at the Looking at the protagonists of we looked more into ancient British the 43AD invasion (our story)? And why same time. It was a massive challenge Britannia, it could be argued the myths? I had just seen Jerusalem, Jez’s did the Romans a few years later decide but ultimately, working with the team we audience’s hopes ride with the extraordinary play, where he delves to send a legion to to murder had, it was a lot of crazy fun. female characters. Was this your deep into a part of this idea and he had all the Druids? What connects these intention? given me this book called Myth by Karen stories? Jez and Tom then took it on in Why do you feel now is the right Yes. Britannia was a much more Armstrong. I read it, and felt there was a their amazing way, and pushed a simple time to work on a TV series? egalitarian world before the Romans and bigger story to tell – Roman, Celts, Druids idea into – I hope – an extraordinary The film industry has changed massively Christians arrived. Women were far more

– this was Star Wars in ancient Britain. experience. over the past few years and TV has equal than they are today. I wanted to ➞

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 35 reflect that and partly make the point Tom was brilliant and critical in this since that we should remember our ancient he had way more experience of TV than history and what it was like back then. either Jez or me. We often sat up late at It wasn’t always a world which men night coming up with crazy ideas and Jez dominated. and Tom turned them into crazy – and beautiful – stories. While you and Jez have known each other a long time, Britannia Now that work on the series will be your first official has been completed and we’re collaboration together. How did so close to it airing, what would you find working alongside one you say was your proudest another? achievement during the entire We’ve known each other for nearly 30 process? years, and then Jez married and had I think working with Jez and Tom was one two daughters with my sister, so we of the most exhilarating and creative are very close. So much so that we experiences of my life. Coming up with had sworn never to work together. storylines with them was amazing – However, just before talking about ultimately however, I’m just proud of Britannia, we started talking about the show and of all the cast and crew another couple of projects and Jez and who made it – I really hope that it has I found ourselves getting on really well captured the spirit of rebellious ancient creatively. It was very unexpected but Britain that runs through generations there was something about surfing his to the music and art of the past 100 extraordinary creative mind that I loved, years. There is an irreverent spirit to and he seemed to enjoy and respect this country which runs deep – and I me doing so. Hence when I went to ask do think capturing that is my proudest him and Tom, he knew that we were on achievement. I hope we can connect the same creative wavelength. I loved people with that time before the world the experience and we never fell out we know now – that they can connect because we know each other too well. with that spirit of fun and irreverence.

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 36 CONTACTS

Sarah El-Hadidy [email protected]

Isabel Moore [email protected]

Ben Bratchell [email protected]

Britannia is a Sky Original Production, produced by Vertigo Films in association with Neal Street Productions. The show was commissioned by Sky’s head of drama, Anne Mensah, commissioning editor Cameron Roach. It was created by Jez Butterworth, Tom Butterworth and James Richardson. Executive Producers are Vertigo Films’ James Richardson (Monsters), , and Nicolas Brown from Neal Street Productions (Penny Dreadful), and Jez Butterworth and Anne Thomopoulos (Rome). The show is produced by Rick McCallum (Star Wars), while Jez and Tom Butterworth are lead writers with Richard McBrien (Spooks).

All episodes of Britannia will be available Thursday 18 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV 37