Actor Michael Sheen portrays a volatile and disbelieving Prince Andrew in the compelling Amazon film “A Very Royal Scandal,” which depicts the Duke of York’s fall from grace as his royal life collapses following his ill-fated interview with BBC Two’s Newsnight program. Sheen captures the prince’s vanity, vulnerability, and lack of self-awareness as he grapples with the aftermath of the interview and his association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. With a performance described as a mix between Richard III and Alan Partridge, Sheen’s Andrew is a sweary, pompous, and needy figure who is unaware of how much he’s being exposed by the media.
The recreated Newsnight interview is the centerpiece of the film, and Sheen’s portrayal of the prince is strikingly different from portrayals in more reserved dramas such as Netflix’s “The Crown.” Palace officials are depicted as lacking empathy, and the film is not at all flattering to the monarchy. Despite this, Prince Andrew’s family members are depicted as having real familial loyalty.
Virginai Giuffre is not depicted in the film, and the drama comes with the disclaimer that it is based on real events and individuals and that some scenes have been fictionalized and adapted for dramatic purposes. Nevertheless, it is a powerful drama that could redefine how Prince Andrew is remembered, and viewers may find it more textured and engaging than the recent Netflix film “Scoop.”
“A Very Royal Scandal” is broadcast in three parts on Amazon Prime Video from September 19th
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