Versailles season 2 interview with Mark Rendall

Mark Rendall on playing Thomas Beaumont, a newcomer at court, a great conversationalist and a very skilled spy, whose biggest weakness is his arrogance

Foto: Mark Rendall, Versailles - Copyright: Thibault Grabherr, CANAL+
Mark Rendall, Versailles
© Thibault Grabherr, CANAL+

July 12, 2017 by Nicole Oebel @philomina_

Note: The interview contains spoilers on Versailles season 2.

First things first, you played Bastian Bux in "Tales from the Neverending Story" (2001) based on the amazing story by Michael Ende which is all about crossing the gap between reader and writer / viewer and creator. Looking back, it must have been a truly wonderful start into acting and storytelling?

Absolutely. When I was a kid, The Neverending Story was a favorite film of mine. Actually it still is. I'm a suck for fantasy and the hero's journey, and I love reading about magic, alternate universes and worlds in peril saved by courage and love. Plus, that whole film is steeped in eastern mysticism and philosophy, and probably a good dose of Jungian psychology, all of which fascinate me.

Looking at your more recent projects I see a large variety in genres from Hannibal to Transporter to The History of Love. What was it about Versailles and the role of the duplicitous Thomas Beaumont that appealed to you?

To be honest I knew very little about Versailles when the part was offered to me, so I requested a link to the full first season. My partner and I binge watched it and we instantly became super fans. I couldn't believe I was going to get to inhabit that world! As for Thomas Beaumont, he's an actor's dream. One minute he is sweet and seemingly harmless and the next he is an intimidating murderous monster. Very juicy dynamic stuff.

Foto: George Blagden, Alexander Vlahos, Mark Rendall, Versailles - Copyright: Canal+
George Blagden, Alexander Vlahos, Mark Rendall, Versailles
© Canal+

You had most of your scenes with the two leads, George and Alex, as well as with some of the main cast who'd been there from day 1. Isn't that rare when you play the new antagonist, and also great and a bit scary?

It was terrifying. I remember thinking Cassel's character was so intense and intimidating in the first season, and the next thing I know I'm having to stare him dead in the eyes and threaten him. It was a real thrill, and exercise in projecting fearlessness and power. It seemed appropriate to be a newcomer to the show, as Thomas was a newcomer to the court. Life mimicking art. It was actually a very useful tool in becoming the character. That and getting my makeup and hair done every morning. Honestly 90% of my job was done for me by the superb artists who make the costumes, sets, wigs and makeup. All I had to do was stand there and say the words.

From early on the viewer knew more about Thomas than the protagonists knew about him. Like in a thriller rather than in a Whodunit. What do you think, why did the show chose that way?

It was a very bold and interesting choice, and not one that I expected. I remember actually being a little disappointed when I read the script because I selfishly wanted his position to remain mysterious and ambiguous for just a little longer. To know that the audience would know my secret so soon almost felt like my cover was blown. But one thing I love about this show is that they keep things moving, and this definitely allowed the writers to quickly show how much mayhem this seemingly innocuous little writer could cause.

Killing Jacques the gardner is unforgivable! Oddly enough though hating Thomas seems as impossible as placing what there is to like about him. Bringing the character to life how did you feel about him, did you go for ambivalence?

Okay, for the record, as a fan of the show, I never wanted Jacques to die. It actually really pissed me off. Jacques was probably my favorite character from season one! When I read that I thought, "Oh god, I'm about to be the most hated character in Versailles." But again, the creators and writers don't hold back. They keep things moving and are constantly juggling various plot lines and characters, so I understand the choice. It very quickly established Thomas as a serious threat to Louis and anyone else who threatened his mission. The way I see it, Thomas enjoys the perks of his power position, but essentially he's there to do a job. He isn't evil. He just does what he has to do to get information and protect his interests.

Foto: Mark Rendall, Maddison Jaizani, Versailles - Copyright: Canal+
Mark Rendall, Maddison Jaizani, Versailles
© Canal+

Thomas is a very skilled spy, but ultimately he dashes against the conceit of a dying Cassel. In the triangle with Cassel and Sophie did Thomas underestimate both of them?

Thomas definitely underestimates Cassel. He sees him as old and feeble, yet another pawn he can control and manipulate to do his bidding. Obviously this is far from the truth, as Cassel is an extremely crafty foe with many more years of experience when it comes to screwing people over. It's Thomas' arrogance that is his ruin.

Thomas is also a great conversationalist, always hiding his agenda while being playful with Philippe, sharp with Montespan, superior with Cassel, charming with Sophie, flattering with the King. What were your favourite verbal duels to play?

I think the most rewarding duels were with Cassel. Pip is such a great actor and Cassel is pretty much the only person that Thomas allows himself to be honest with. Next would be Montespan. Her sway over Louis is so strong and potentially counter to Thomas' objectives, it makes for quite a challenge. The dynamics in the billiards scene were really fun to play with.

Alex told me in his season 2 interview that the two of you did your own stunts in your fight scene in the finale. There's a great dynamic from rolling on the bed kissing to rolling on the floor beating the hell out of each other. What do remember about working on this?

This was so much fun. We had a great stunt coordinator and stunt team. They created the main movements and then we all workshopped it over two or three rehearsals. I actually tend to get really carried away in fight scenes, and a couple of times, Alex had to caution me not to swing the metal vase so close to his face. The knife we were using was real. The blade was dull but the tip was sharp so there were definitely some risks involved in the making of this sequence. Alex ended up hitting his head pretty hard against the floor when I was over top of him pretending to punch him in the face. He's okay though.

What can the Versailles fans see you in next?

I am currently in a film on Netflix called "Shimmer Lake". It's a really fun dark-comedy-small-town-bank-heist film with a great cast. I play one of the robbers, an off kilter ex-meth cook named Chris Morrow. Oddly enough, about a month ago, I did another bank robbery movie called "Stockholm". That one stars Noomi Rapace and Ethan Hawke. I play a Swedish hostage in a full 1970's three-piece corduroy suit. So now all I need is to do another bank heist film where I'm a cop, and I'll have covered every angle in the genre.

You were part of Evan's song "Take me away" for the Nep-ALL-In project last summer. Such a beautiful terzet! Do you make music, too?

I do indeed. Music has always been, and always will be, a huge part of my life.

Thank you so much for making time for us, Mark, all the best for your future!

Related: More interviews with the "Versailles" stars

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