Barbara Barga

Can you please talk us through your character, Barbara?

I play Barbara Barga, an American journalist who works for the New York Times. It is 1941, and the British have lost the Battle of Britain. The Nazis have taken over most of England, and Barbara has been sent over by the paper to cover the story. It’s a little bit ambiguous as to what side of the line she stands. This project is mysterious in that we are left wondering what every character’s motivation is exactly. That mystery means she’s a little bit of a femme fatale from the 1940s. She’s been a really interesting, enjoyable character to play.

What attracted you to the character?

I’ve always wanted to play a character from the 1940s. The look was very appealing to me. The physicality, the wardrobe, the hair and the make-up – that’s always been very attractive to me.

Were you also intrigued by the “alternate history"?

Yes. I’m drawn to pieces that are rooted in history and those “what if?” scenarios. Those are interesting to people because it does feel like something one can imagine happening. We have this tragic history of the Second World War. So the idea of “what if the Nazis had won and infiltrated London? what would that have been like?” is fascinating. Whenever you have scenarios like this that are rooted in reality, it’s intriguing to people and terrifying as well. I liken it to a bullet whizzing by. You think, "how would that have played out?”

What is Barbara’s relationship with Archer?

Barbara finds Archer very interesting. Archer first meets her when he sits at her cafe table without her knowing. Barbara is intrigued by that. Who is this person who has joined her at her table? What is his role in her life? And what is his role in this whole circumstance? There is an attraction there, certainly, and also a question mark. He’s curious about her role as well.