The SAG-AFTRA Foundation recently had a panel with Elle moderated by Mara Webster. Watch it below:

An unassuming building in the heart of East London is transformed into an imaginative interpretation of 18th century Russia for this wildly satirical, history-bending new series. From the lavish ballrooms to the gold-leaf candelabras, creator and writer Tony McNamara and production designer Francesca Di Mottola describe the intricacies of creating the “unpolished, realistic, decadent” kingdom of Emperor Peter (Nicholas Hoult) that a young Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) walks into as she is married off to the tempestuous ruler. Costume designer Emma Fryer discusses charting Catherine’s arc through her clothing, and bringing a contemporary aesthetic to period costumery with modern fabrics. Explore the details that bring the colorful, seductive and dangerous world of Peter and Catherine’s story to life.

As her Hulu biopic about Catherine the Great drops, we speak to the 22-year-old star about the women who inspire her, and her life as both the series’ lead and producer.

Before the global pandemic, when human contact is still an everyday occurrence, we meet Elle Fanning in one of her favorite restaurants in the Valley, where she was born and raised, to talk about her latest role. With a script by Australian screenwriter Tony McNamara of The Favourite fame, she jumped at the chance to work on a TV series about the young Catherine the Great, who became the Russian empress after overthrowing her dastardly husband, Peter the Great, played by Nicholas Hoult. Following the coup d’etat, she went on to rule the nation for 34 years, embracing the European ideas of the Enlightenment, extending its borders and governing during a period that became known as The Golden Age. We ask the actor what it was like to embody one of the most powerful female figures in history in The Great, available to stream May 15.

What appealed to you about Catherine’s character?
She’s a beautiful character because she’s very curious, and she always has a second plan and a third and fourth and fifth plan. And she makes mistakes. And she doesn’t claim to know everything. She’s open to learning from other people and even Peter, though his style of ruling is horrible. And she’s a great manipulator.

Read More

The two actors talk about ‘The Great’ on Good Morning America.