Harry Potter actor Jason Isaacs has opened up about filming a sex scene for his new TV show… However, the cause for the awkwardness may surprise you.
The Lucius Malfoy actor plays Cary Grant in ITV’s Archie, which takes its title from one of the iconic Hollywood star’s birth names, Archibald Leach.
The four-part play follows the late actor’s life from his upbringing in Bristol to his rise to celebrity, and he features with Harriet Walter, Kara Tointon, and Laura Aikman.
Laura, who plays Cary’s ex-wife Dyan Cannon in the drama, spoke with Jason on the newest episode of Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch.
Jason, 60, said to broadcasters Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy that the majority of Archie was shot ‘in a converted factory in Liverpool adjacent to an open sewer’, with some parts being shot in Spain.
Following Simon and Tim’s horror at the discovery of the UK setting, which shattered the illusion of an old-school Hollywood background, the Star Trek actor revealed another intriguing nugget.
‘I remember someone asking me – we’ve been doing a bit of publicity recently – is it awkward shooting sex scenes. There’s a little bit of that going on,’ he shared.
‘And I said what was awkward was the smell of the sewage from next door, trying not to gag on each other.’
Earlier this year, fans of Jason got a first peek at his transition into Cary Grant, as he channelled the icon’s debonair swagger in first look photographs.
Cary died in 1986, at the age of 82, after a stroke.
He was known for his dramatic and humorous parts in films such as An Affair to Remember, His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, and Bringing Up Baby.
Cary has five wives and one kid with his fourth wife, Dyan. Jennifer Grant, their daughter, was born in 1966. Dyan and Jennifer both serve as executive producers on Archie.
In an interview about the drama telling the story of her late father, Jennifer told The Times: ‘My gut feeling is he’s pleased about it. Sometimes things take generations to heal. I wanted to show dad’s humanity and that included his imperfections. You didn’t have to walk on water to be Cary Grant.’
Sunday Brunch airs on Sundays from 9.30am on Channel 4. Archie is available to watch on ITVX.
