Rufus Sewell might appear to epitomize composed and self-assured roles in the realm of acting, but he confesses that he still grapples with the challenge of speaking in public.
“There’s nothing more frightening,” he shares with Sky News. “I recall having to give a reading at a church when I was very young and I was overwhelmed with anxiety. I was attending drama school, and everyone knew I aspired to be an actor. As I approached the lectern, I heard someone remark, ‘this will be a spectacle,’ and I completely froze.”
Following his portrayal of Prince Andrew in Scoop, which chronicled the royal’s notorious Newsnight interview in 2019, the British actor is currently featured on screen as political figure Hal Wyler in the second season of The Diplomat.
Sewell also recently portrayed Prince Andrew in Scoop. Pic: Netflix/PA
Despite his remarkable capacity to embody both real and fictional characters, the “concept of speaking as myself,” he states, has consistently been “a nightmare”.
Even when portraying self-assured roles, he explains, it induces an internal conflict between his true self and the character. “Naturally, when left to my own devices, I become exceedingly self-aware, so I must discover ways to trick myself out of it.”
In The Diplomat, Sewell’s role is that of the estranged ex-husband of Kate Wyler, the US ambassador to the UK, enacted by Keri Russell.
Pic: Netflix
She spends the initial season maneuvering through intricate political situations to avert a war after a British aircraft carrier is destroyed off the coast of Iran.
The season culminated in a cliffhanger that left Hal and other political officials embroiled in a car explosion in London, and the second season resumes following the trails of evidence left in the wake of the events.
Russell attributes the show’s thrilling nature to its creator, Deborah Cahn.
“That is the essence of our show, 100%,” she asserts. “She possesses a remarkable talent for illustrating political intrigue and the realm of diplomacy, yet also harbors a deep understanding of what it means to be human, including all the quirky idiosyncrasies that characterize normalcy.
“Even in their seemingly formidable positions, they still experience bad days, exhibit crankiness, become frustrated over unexpected meals, or feel discomfort in unsuitable attire, all while contending with the everyday embarrassments of life.”
Season two of The Diplomat is now available on Netflix.
