An interview with Frances O’Connor (Hecuba)
Interview with Frances O’Connor, who plays Hecuba in Troy: Fall Of A City
Published: 14 February 2018
There are scenes where whole armies are fighting to the death on an almighty scale, but also wonderful, intimate moments… it makes the series involving and human, whilst maintaining an epic quality
Tell us about your character. Who is Hecuba?
She is queen of Troy. Alongside her husband Priam, the pair have built this empire almost up from nothing. Troy was a humble Metropolis, which they slowly built up to become the centre of the great empire we see in this series.
What I found interesting is that she's got a public persona and a private persona, which are different to each other. When she’s in public, and especially when she’s in front of the Greeks, she's a lot tougher and much more steely. But then you see a softer side to her when she's behind closed doors, which was such fun to play.
She and Priam are very much on an equal footing, in terms of how they rule the kingdom together. As Troy’s King he's always the public spokesman, but behind closed doors she's very much his equal and they always talk things through to try and solve their many, many problems in a way. They can be pretty fierce with each other in terms of having differing opinions, but there’s always a mutual respect that was very attractive to play.
What attracted you to this project?
Hecuba is a very strong character, and overall the fall of Troy is such a great story which she's at the heart of. I've never done a project that had such epic proportions, as a lot of the stories I tell are more intimate in scale. So I was looking forward to that, plus the chance to shoot in South Africa. That was very attractive!
Did you do any research?
The scripts are so well written that you could just use that as your base and not do any research, but I found it really interesting to read further into the story. There are a lot of really great books written about it and the classic texts. There are so many differences - not just between them and what our story is, but between each other.
The story covers a war, which is obviously very male driven, but nevertheless the female characters remain central to the series...
The women of Troy are so strong - they had to be, in terms of what was going on around them. If you look at history I think it was only really when we reached the Victorian era that women became genteel and known as 'the softer sex', whereas the women in a lot of Greek plays are all very strong. I think all the women in this series have enjoyed playing their characters because they're such full-blooded and opinionated roles. They're all smart, complex, complicated and full of contradictions, so you can make interesting choices.
What kind of world do you think David Farr and the other writers have created?
It's very important in these big epic stories to create something that's also very personal, and I think they've trod that line brilliantly. There are big, epic battle scenes where whole armies are fighting to the death on an almighty scale, but at the same time the series has so many wonderful, intimate moments where you see the characters at home in the midst of it all, where their vulnerabilities and the massive dilemmas they face come to the fore. This makes the series so involving and human, whilst maintaining an epic quality.
What happens when Helen enters Hecuba's world?
All hell breaks loose! Initially we’re incredibly sceptical and we’re scared. Helen being there is so loaded because she's essentially ‘owned’ by one of the most powerful Kings in the world, and by escaping to Troy she and Paris have given him cause to attack. Hecuba and Priam are won over by her though. She's got a lot of guts to her, and she’s such a strong character, very charismatic and very principled as well. I think that appeals to us as King and Queen.
Why does Hecuba protect her?
It’s because ultimately they believe in Paris - or Alexander as they call him, as that’s his birth name - and now that he’s returned into their lives they want to stand by him. He and Helen also remind Hecuba and Priam of themselves when they were that age. They really do believe in the love they share - having seen it close at hand they believe the two should be together and that it’s right to defend them, right or wrong.
It’s not an easy decision though. The whole city and its citizens are put at such risk because of them, and Hecuba finds herself very conflicted. Across the series she really has to wrestle with what is the right thing to do.
What was the atmosphere like on set?
There were a lot of younger cast members, all these kids in their 20s, and this was the biggest job they'd been in, so there were particularly enthusiastic and charming and excited about it, and it was so infectious. It was lovely to be around that.
And the sets are incredible...
Yes! For the palace interiors we were in a studio in an industrial area on the edge of Cape Town which could not feel more different to ancient Troy. The moment you enter them though you are transported back - you are fully immersed into this world because the production design is just amazing. The sets are huge but the little details have not been neglected. You feel the reality of being in that world and you could see why people would want to take this city.
The exterior sets were shot out in the wine country of Cape Town against the backdrop of the mountains. Being there, it didn’t even look real - it's such a huge, sweeping landscape that instantly gives our series a mythical backdrop. In front of this they built so much of the city of Troy and filled it with supporting artists. It created a sense of reality that really helped us actors and I’m sure it will look spectacular. My costumes also made me feel so regal - Hecuba wears a lot of jewellery that had such a weight to it.
The Greeks
The Trojan Royal Family
Priam, King of Troy - played by David Threlfall
Priam has ruled Troy since he was a young man. He is married to Hecuba and father of Hector, Cassandra, Alexander, Deiphobus and Troilus. His father nearly ruined the city but Priam saved it from destruction and Troy now flourishes. Together, Priam and Hecuba have made it a powerful and wealthy city port.
Hecuba, Queen of Troy - played by Frances O’Connor
Hecuba is Priam's wife, mother to his children and rules Troy with him. Although she is not originally from Troy she has lived in the city for 30 years and is held in high regard by the Trojans.
Hector - played by Tom Weston-Jones
Hector is Priam’s eldest son and heir. He leads the Trojan army and is a celebrated warrior, brave and honourable. He is happily married to the Cilician princess Andromache.
Andromache - played by Chloe Pirrie
Andromache is from nearby Cilicia, an ally of Troy, and is married to Hector. Their marriage was arranged, but is a union of love. She desires children but conception has proved hard.
Paris (Alexander) - played by Louis Hunter
Alexander, also known as Paris, is the second son of Priam and Hecuba. He spent his youth as a herdsman in the mountains unaware of his true background. His meeting with the gods changes everything.
Cassandra - played by Aimee Ffion Edwards
Cassandra is Priam and Hecuba’s daughter. At Alexander’s birth she had visions of disaster and continues to have premonitions. She has been looked after ever since, and is considered mentally unstable.
Aeneas - played by Alfred Enoch
Aeneas is Hector and Alexander’s cousin, who comes from the Trojan ally region of Dardania. He is upright, young but fearless. He has a father back at home but has lost his wife to sickness.
The Greeks
Helen, Queen of Sparta - played by Bella Dayne
Helen was born in Sparta and has lived there all her life. She is married to Menelaus, whose brother Agamemnon won her hand in competition, but it is a loveless match. She has a daughter, Hermione, but their relationship is strained. As the story begins, her unhappiness is beginning to become undeniable.
Menelaus, King of Sparta - played by Jonas Armstrong
Menelaus was born in Mycenae, which he considers the true cradle of civilization. He has ruled in Sparta for many years but it has yet to become his home. He does love Helen but his love is possessive and controlling. He admires his daughter Hermione greatly.
Agamemnon, King of Mycenae - played by Johnny Harris
King Agamemnon is Menelaus brother and the most powerful ruler of the Greek city-states. He holds huge influence in the region and is aware of Troy s burgeoning power across the ocean. He is married to Clytemnestra and father of Iphigenia, Electra and Orestes.
Odysseus, King of Ithaca - played by Joseph Mawle
Odysseus is renowned for his strategic intelligence, wisdom and cunning. He loves his home and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus. He is a true islander, somewhat solitary, ruthless when needs must, but with a deep love of home and family. Odysseus is called upon to help the Greeks return Helen to Sparta.
Xanthius - played by David Avery
Xanthius is a servant of Odysseus and travels with him to Troy. A loner who prefers dogs to men, Xanthius is used by Odysseus to infiltrate the city. Quiet, invisible and deeply intelligent, Xanthius is Odysseus secret weapon.
Achilles, King of the Myrmidons - played by David Gyasi
Achilles is the most feared of all the Greek warriors travelling to Troy. He is by myth half human, half-god, created by the union of Peleus and Thetis, a sea-nymph. He is a great warrior, almost unbeatable, but his sense of honour tips into pride and stubbornness. His friend and lover is Patroclus, another great Myrmidon warrior. They are inseparable.
Picture: Menelaus (Jonas Armstrong), Achilles (David Gyasi), Agamemnon (Johnny Harris), Odysseus (Joseph Mawle)
The Gods
Zeus, King of the Gods - played by Hakeem Kae-Kazim
Zeus is the God of storms, tumult and justice, who holds ultimate power over both gods and mortals. He chooses not to take sides in the Trojan War, despite all attempts to engage his loyalty. He insists that even the Gods cannot change Fate, which will decide the outcome of the war. Zeus is married to Hera and father of many gods including Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis and Hermes.
Hera, Queen of the Gods - played by Inge Beckmann
Hera, is the goddess of marriage and wife of Zeus, but they have a turbulent relationship. She is furious at Paris for not choosing her in the judgment of the goddesses and fiercely loyal to the Greeks.
Athena - played by Shamilla Miller
Athena is goddess of wisdom and war. She sides with the Greeks, angry at her rejection by Paris. In particular, she favours Odysseus and Diomedes.
Aphrodite - played by Lex King
Aphrodite is the goddess of love. She is loyal to Paris, who chooses her as the finest of the three goddesses, so she supports the Trojans in the war.
Artemis - played by Thando Hopa
Artemis is the goddess of hunting and wildlife. She supports the Trojans in the war. Agamemnon offends her and she demands a terrible price from him.
Apollo - played by German de la Melena
Apollo is the god of prophecy, plague and healing. When Apollo’s priest asks for help on behalf of his daughter Chryseis, he is quick to answer. He favours the Trojans in the war.
Hermes - played by Frances Chouler
Hermes is the messenger of the gods and is present at the judgement of the goddesses, explaining to Paris the task the gods have set him.
