Rob Brydon on My Lady Jane: I’m often offered sweet, generous characters, so it was really nice to play that kind of role.

Famous for his roles in comedy classics like Marion and Geoff, Gavin and Stacey And The trip with Steve Coogan – not to mention a role in last year’s biggest blockbuster, Barbie – Rob Brydon’s latest appearance sees him playing the role of scheming courtier Lord Dudley in a comedy-fantasy series My Lady Jane.

Based on the series of novels by Gemma Burgess, the series reimagines the life of 16th-century aristocrat Lady Jane Grey as a wild adventure story, packed with sex, action and a thumping rock and roll soundtrack.

Although her life was short, Lady Jane’s career was particularly eventful. Nicknamed the “Nine Days Queen” because of the brevity of her reign, in the manner of Liz Truss, she was still a teenager when she was executed in 1554. For his part, Brydon found it amusing to play the role of the Machiavellian Lord Dudley.

“A big part of his appeal was that he was very different to Uncle Bryn,” says the Welsh star, referring to his Gavin and Stacey “I’m often offered sweet and generous characters, so it was really nice to play that kind of role. In fact, every time he appears on screen, he has the opportunity to make an impression, to touch the viewer and make them laugh. It was very interesting, as was the opportunity to work with Jamie Babbit, because I was a big fan of There are only murders in the buildingwhich she also achieved.

“It was really nice to play that kind of role over such a long period of time. Like I said, it was seven months and I really got to know him. You see him in a lot of different situations. As the season goes on, he’s in a very different situation than he started in. So you don’t always play the same note.”

Emily Bader as Lady Jane Grey, Robyn Betteridge as Margaret Grey, Isabella Brownson as Katherine Grey and Anna Chancellor as Frances Grey

Was there a lot of discussion with the director before taking on the role?

“It’s interesting because at first when I read it I thought he sounded a bit like a real, modern political figure,” Brydon notes.

“I don’t want to say who it is, because I don’t want to be associated with him, but I figured I’d play it that way. But what happens when you make that decision is you throw out everything you can bring to it. What I tend to do is say, ‘Here’s the role, and here’s me, and where do they overlap?’ So there’s going to be a lot of me in there, and that’s about where we come together.

“Lord Dudley can be charming and obsequious, but he has a hard side and he’s prepared to do difficult things. So even though I had this political character in mind, he’s not as flamboyant as this character. But this politician is someone who speaks in a very even tone when he says something awful, so I had a bit of that. Yet, as I always do, I looked to see where I could meet the character and how I could create a nice, comfortable marriage between the two of us.”

Are you very interested in royal historical stories?

“No, to be honest,” Rob admits. “I’ve done what I’ve done before. I’ve done a Napoleonic project before – I think I’ve got the book in the next room. But I bought it and never read it! I think I did the same thing with Lord Dudley. I just find it very difficult to read a book that I’m not really interested in. I started with a noble intention, the Daniel Day-Lewis approach, but it didn’t get me any further than growing a beard.”

“For that, I just have to not shave! This book uses history as a springboard, but it takes quite a few liberties.”

As previously mentioned, My Lady Jane has an inspired soundtrack, with reworked versions of rock classics from Bowie, The Kinks and more. Was that aspect always present in the mix?

“I think that was the plan,” Rob agrees. “I read in the shooting notes that they were going to play the music on set. I don’t remember, unless I’m forgetting. But yeah, the plan was always to have rock music, and I think the song choices are really smart.”

As we chat on Zoom, Rob actually has a Bruce Springsteen poster in the background, noting, “I’m a huge fan, I could take exams on him.”

It turns out he’s also a Bowie fan, though he regrets the missed opportunity to meet the late icon.

“Bowie was being interviewed by Mark Radcliffe on the radio and I was listening in my kitchen,” Rob recalls. “Bowie was talking about things he’d watched and he mentioned something I’d done called Cruise of the GodsHe was asked who was in it and he said (is bowie imitating), ‘Oh, it was that guy Marion and Geoff’. I was in my kitchen and I was like, “That’s me!”

“A few days later I got an invitation from his office to come and see him at Wembley and say hello. It was just before he retired from performing because he had a heart condition. The show was fantastic and then afterwards I walked all the way backstage to meet him and they said, ‘Wait here.’ I waited and waited but it got to the point where I thought, ‘This is ridiculous, I have some self-esteem!’

“So we left, and of course I always regretted it, because I never got to meet David Bowie.”

Returning to My Lady JaneDid the director have a lot of notes on the character of Lord Dudley?

“Not in this case,” Brydon says. “I didn’t audition or anything. I was offered it and I said, ‘Yes, I’ll do it.’ After that, I met with the creative team. At that point, I had an idea of ​​how I was going to play it. At that point, there’s always a slight feeling of, ‘What if they don’t like it?’ I’ve had a few assignments like that, like that. Barbie. I’ve never met them, and then I get on set and I just go for it. I’m like, “I hope they like what I’m going to do, or it’s going to be pretty awkward.” But they do.

“I think they had looked at my work and I guess they had an idea of ​​what I was going to do with it. They were always delighted and made me feel very relaxed and confident to improvise, which I did quite often – there are some of my creations in there. It was great because for me it makes the work even more collaborative and creative. In the same way, I propose things and if they don’t want to accept them, that’s fine too. But we seemed to be on the same wavelength.”

“I know actors always say this, but we got on really well, and it was a really happy boat.” So we’ll read the full story in a few years, then…

“Well, there’s always a certain amount of shenanigans on set, but I’d say there’s a lot less than usual!” laughs Brydon.

Kate O’Flynn as Princess Mary, Will Keen as Norfolk, Jason Forbes as Scrope, Brandon Grace as William, Henry Ashton as Stan Dudley and Isabella Brownson as Katherine Grey.

“Every time Jamie directs me, I think, ‘She directed Martin Short and Steve Martin. And Meryl Streep. I like that, it’s good!'”

Are there any Steve Martin films that Rob is a particularly big fan of?

“Oh, everything,” he enthuses, “and Martin Short as well. Of the two, Steve is the one everyone calls a genius because of his stand-up and his movies. Martin Short is just as talented, but in a different way. You watch Martin Short’s talk show appearances and he’s just glorious. Or you watch his Jiminy Glick character, or Franck in The Father of the Bridee; everything is fine.

“Of course, Steve Martin has had – and continues to have – the most incredible career, and this third act resurgence with Only murders It’s amazing. It’s interesting to watch this recent documentary and see that he wasn’t the happiest of men during his immense success. He was very preoccupied with his career, his career, his career. He didn’t really have any personal relationships, and he’s obviously mellowed out in recent years. He’s just enjoying life.

“I’m not going to compare myself to Martin Short, but he’s more of an entertainer, he likes to be on talk shows. I aspire to be as good as Martin Short on a talk show, but I see more parallels with him than, say, Steve Martin. Even mentioning either of them, I’m getting ready to get kicked! But you know what I mean.”

One of my childhood favorites was The three friendsin which both actors starred alongside Chevy Chase in the lead roles.

“Anyone in the comedy business has never heard of The three friends“, Rob said, “must ask some serious questions.”

Finally, I mention that the first time I saw Sharon Horgan was in Brydon’s sitcom in 2006. Annually residuala satirical look behind the scenes of a TV quiz show with echoes of The Larry Sanders ShowBrydon is delighted to see the huge success the Irish actress is enjoying.

“It’s amazing,” he said, “and I’m a huge fan of Mother land And Bad sisters. The only thing that bothers me about Sharon Horgan’s success is that when I read glowing articles in the newspapers, Annually residual is never mentioned! It’s like it never happened. And in the same way, when I read stuff about Julia Davis, it’s like Human remains it never happened! It’s like she started with Nighty Night, so I don’t know what’s going on there.

Well, I’m happy to correct that: I happen to think Human remains – a series of wonderfully dark character studies from 2000 – is a work of genius and perhaps Brydon’s crowning achievement.

“Well,” he said with a big smile, “my ego is settled!”

• My Lady Jane is currently streaming on Prime Video.