Read the interview with Peter Capaldi, who plays King Charles I.
What was it attracted you to this role?
To be offered the chance to play King Charles I - you couldn't turn that down.
He's not a character history has judged well. How did you see him?
You do a lot of research and reading to try and come up with a picture of what Charles I was like. There are some theories that people don't want to explore this period of history because it was so destructive. Villages were tearing each other to pieces. It was extremely violent, yet so much of our modern political system comes from that period.
Charles' costumes are spectacular. Did you enjoy the dressing up aspect of your role?
I had thought, as most people do, that with all the lace and satin, it would be a slightly effeminate look, but in fact it was very masculine. Once you get into it, it's quite powerful. I found the costumes brilliant, just looking around at all these extraordinary-looking people.
You recreate one of the pivotal moments in British history, the execution of Charles. Did he die what's known as a 'good death'?
Yes, he achieved what he had to achieve. It was absolutely vital, if there was to be any chance of the monarchy being restored, that he died in a kingly fashion, with a certain amount of grace and forgiveness. He never accepted the charges laid against him. I think he knew that he had to die as a king would, because how he died would be repeated all over the country, as indeed it was.
Does filming a scene like that take a toll on you?
It is a spectacle, it's a big scene. It's accurate to the accounts of the time, and one is keenly aware of these numerous little humiliations that are placed in his path in order to make him look less kingly, to stop him from dying well. It was a strange day, to play that. I'd never had my head on a chopping block before. It starts to choke you, the weight of your head pressing against your throat even before the axe comes down. Somebody shot the scene on their phone, and there was this bizarre digital footage of a 17th century event, and it was really quite powerful, like some terrible thing posted on the internet.
Scenes like that must be incredibly exciting as well.
There were a couple of days where I just felt 'This is why I got into acting'. Days when you can feel really proud of what you're doing, and really privileged to be in that position. It's the same with his trial. I think the programme itself was so respectful to history, and everyone involved worked hard to give it their best work, that it made it a very special atmosphere.
From your understanding of what happened to Charles, if he'd had a spin doctor like Malcolm Tucker [Capaldi's Alastair Campbell-like character in The Thick of It] he might have survived?
I think Malcolm would have been of great assistance to him. But I don't think Malcolm would have liked the lace, or the big hats. He might have drawn the line at that.
