It’s been a closet obsession ever since, but it’s only in the past few months that my secret penchant for historical romance has had any impact on my professional life. Because it’s only recently that Richard came to me, triumphantly clutching a heavily embargoed script ofGrosvenor.
Grosvenoris the latest mega-project from streaming platform Azure in their battle to take Netflix’s crown. The storyline isn’t groundbreaking, at least not to anyone who’s well-versed in regency romance—like yours truly.
But the series of books by Nicola Marchant, on which the show is based, is one of my all-time favourites. The main storyline for the first season of the show involves a young lady of noble birth, Georgiana Kenworthy, who catches the eye of Dominic, Duke of Coventry.
The Duke is, of course, a thoroughly rakish rake, but he’s decided it’s time to find a wife and sire an heir to his considerable fortune. Georgiana’s family is only too thrilled to force her into this glittering match, even though she’s decidedly underwhelmed by the Duke’s rakish tendencies.
The script writers have honoured Georgiana’s roots from the novels. She’s fabulous. I know as soon as I get my greedy little mitts on the script, and proceed to spend the rest of the day reading it in Richard’s office while he plies me with almond-milk lattes, that I have to have this part. I’ve wanted to do a regency production for years. And I love Georgiana’s don’t-give-a-fuck attitude and her refusal to be impressed by a guy everyone else is in a total tizz over (I can relate).
But most of all, I adore their love story. I adore how, once they’re married, the Duke wins her over, slowly but surely, with a combination of patience, thoughtful gestures, fabulous banter and some seriously hot moves in the sack (and in the stables. And in the folly. And in the library). Because this show is going to besteamy. Whew! Georgiana is one lucky girl.
Sex scenes don’t scare me. Today’s intimacy coordinators are experts at making us actors feel comfortable, and I’m at a level in my career now where I can put iron-clad stipulations in my contracts. But I’m also happy to put out, professionally speaking, where the plot dictates it, and I get that the chemistry, which issmokingbetween these two, is integral to the plot (not to mention to Azure’s aspirations to hit a hundred million households with this series).
I just hope my co-star and I can work together to achieve the right level of chemistry, because with it, this show is going straight to the top of the charts. And my gamble to make the move from big to small screen will hopefully pay off in a big way.
Richardasksme to come see him today at eleven sharp, and I’m hoping he has news about myGrosvenorco-star. I skip along to his unnecessarily shambolic offices just off Brewer Street in Soho, clutching an almond-milk latte for myself and a full-fat one for him. It’s a gorgeous October day, still mild enough for a light trench coat. I’m in full baseball-cap-and-sunglasses disguise. It’s hard to get around London incognito these days. No more public transport for me.
Richard is dark and skinny and intense, with more than a hint of Stanley Tucci about him. I love him dearly. Especially since he procured the part of Georgiana for me.
‘Darling.’ He kisses me languidly on both cheeks. The ennui is an act. He adores me as much as I adore him. More, I should hope, since the mega pay cheques started rolling in.
But when I pull back, his expression stops me in my tracks. I narrow my eyes at him. ‘What?’
‘Have a perch.’
I sit on his ancient leather sofa and cross my legs.‘What?’
‘I have some news, darling. And you’re going to flip your pretty little lid. But I need you to know we’ll handle it.’
Fear hits me in the stomach. ‘Give it to me straight.’
He sits in his swivel chair, facing me. Leans forward and takes my hand. Jesus Christ. What the hell is going on?
‘Grosvenorhasn’t fallen through, has it?’
A ghost of a smile. ‘No. It’s most definitely on.’
‘Okay, then.’ I loosen up my shoulders. ‘Anything else I can handle.’
‘It’s the Duke. They’ve cast him. Alyssa called me first thing. They’ve got a press release ready to go—she wanted to extend us the courtesy of letting us know in advance.’
Damn right she did. My contract doesn’t stipulate mysign-off on the casting of any other characters, but for a show this reliant on the sparks between the two leads, I’d expect a chemistry read before casting anyone as the Duke.
I raise my eyebrows. ‘Well? Who is it?’
Richard looks as though he may barf. ‘Lander.’
Something seriously weird happens to my body, like a full-body shiver or convulsion. It’s a thrill, but not in a good way. I’m ashamed to say it happens every time I come across him in the press or in conversation (with people who should know better).
But hearing it from Richard’s mouth, in the context of a casting forGrosvenor, magnifies the effect a million-fold.
‘Sorry. I thought you said the L word.’
‘I did. Alyssa’s offered Josh Lander the role of Coventry.’
It’s such a ridiculous statement, on so many levels. I say the first thing that comes into my head.
‘But he’sAmerican! He can’t play a Duke.’
