It was branded “the raunchiest drama on TV’ when it first aired in June, and stylish drama Versailles was an immediate hit with viewers.
The show follows Louis XIV of France – dubbed ‘Louis the Phwoar-teenth’ by viewers after a sex-packed opening episode – in his plush court in Versailles, and is packed with murder, bed-hopping and power struggles as Louis reigns over France.
And Alexander Vlahos, who plays the King’s flamboyant, cross-dressing brother Philippe d’Orleans, tells Closer it was about time for a show about these influential siblings.
Alex says: “These two are having crazy house parties, it’s like Skins set in the 17th Century, but with opium and hookers. These are two of the wealthiest men in France and they know how to throw a house party. They just want to go hunting and drink wine and bed ladies – or in my characters case, bed men.
“Initially there was this big furore with people saying the show was this seedy, raunchy drama, but when it aired in France no one batted an eyelid about the sex scenes. It was only us Brits who kicked up such a fuss about it!”
The show has been a big break for Alex, whose biggest TV role previously had been in fantasy-drama Merlin. He and his co-star George Blagden – who plays Louis – have grown close since they temporarily relocated to Paris to film the show, although Alex laughs when he admits George has “the worst banter ever, I’ve had to train him to crack a joke.” The pair have just finished working on the second series, but Alex reveals there hasn’t been much time for croissants and sight-seeing.
Alex says: “I was getting picked up up 5am each morning to go on set, so I’d blast some Lady Gaga or David Bowie – people who really pushed boundaries in music – in the car to get me into character. Philippe was a man who led French armies into battle, was a cross-dresser, had a wife, and also a male lover.
“It’s long hours in these huge, flamboyant costumes, and King Louis does the classic older sibling thing where he’s constantly knocking Philippe – my character - back down. I’d be working until 8pm five days a week, filming scenes where I’m getting screamed and shouted at and constantly being second best, and I’d feel like crap by the time I finished work on a Friday night! I’d Facetime my girlfriend – who I live with in London and works as a model – and she’d tell me off for being so grumpy!”
“But I’ve loved waking up in Paris each morning, coming into work in my jeans and t-shirt, and within an hour I’m transformed into 17th Century France. There’s the costumes, the clothes, the wigs and the heels. I feel like I’ve learnt a new talent for my CV just having learnt to walk in heels! I get to dress up, get on a horse, and ride around these beautiful castles, woodlands and fields in France. And I get paid for it! It’s amazing.”
And Alex says life is slowly starting to change as he gets recognised more often whilst he’s out and about back home in London
“I’d get on a near-empty carriage on the tube and have my eyes closed listening to some music, and then when I open them again they’ll be someone sitting opposite me leaning forward, saying “I can’t wait to watch Merlin on Saturday night”. It feels weird, but if we’re getting recognized it means the show is doing well, so I’m happy!
VERSAILLES THE COMPLETE FIRST SERIES IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™, DVD AND DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FROM 8TH AUGUST
