Interview with Rupert Everett

Tell us about your character, Feron
My character, Feron, is someone who is very embittered by the cards he’s been dealt in life. He was very nearly a Prince, and his mother is a lady in waiting. He’s been kept around by Louis and been given a lot of chances, which a lot of people don’t approve of. He just wants to play around and live by his wits, getting as much money as he can. He’s a villain, but he isn’t one in a violent or aggressive way. He doesn’t mind seeing people die but he doesn’t want to actually kill anyone himself. He really enjoys the game and seeing how far he can stretch himself. He has a degenerative spine disorder, and he’s a junkie. So he has a lot of things going for him! Or going against him if you will!

Tell us about Feron’s relationship with Grimaud
Feron and Grimaud have various different goals. They want to put someone else on the throne and put them in charge, make money by shipping various things, and they are using Feron’s role, his place in the court and relationship with the King, to make money.

Tell us about Feron as a villain
Really he’s just a klutz. Grimaud is the one who is really bad.

What is your interpretation of Feron?
I hope I’ve created this coiled, complicated, drugged cripple with a sense of humour! He’s a passive violent, and he loves it when someone else kills someone. He’s born just next door to actually being incredibly grand and affluent, so he’s angry.

What is his relationship with Treville?
Treville is probably the person he dislikes most. He is always on his back, and knows what he is up to. He knows he is running a crooked, corrupt shop. Rather than being evil, he’s just a modern corrupt oligarch figure who is using everything to further his own game.

What’s it been like working on the Musketeers?
There’s a great sense of camaraderie, which I really appreciated. All the Musketeers are very good at their jobs and Matthew, who plays my other villainous sidekick, is fantastic, so it always makes it easier. The actors on Musketeers really make this work - they bring it to life. Working in the Czech Republic has been amazing; filming in these tumbling down monasteries, castles and palaces, and it provides film-makers with such a scope. It’s a great part of the mix getting these locations and being able to build onto it.

Why do you think The Musketeers has had so much international success?
It’s a good brand, everyone knows the Musketeers. There’s humour, amazing fighting, all good actors and they are all quite sexy! Each Musketeer has been cast fantastically; Luke reminds me of David Cassidy and Howard reminds me of Orson Wells. They are all great. They have all invigorated my faith in being an actor when you are in such good company. They make visiting actors feel very welcome.