Marriage witches, uprisings, effigy dolls, an American visitor oh my!
Smash a glass and cheer huzzah, becauseThe Greatis back for season 3.
Here, Fanning breaks it all down for us.
Elle Fanning as Catherine in ‘The Great’.Christopher Raphael/Hulu
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let’s start with what’s new for Catherine this season.
What new sides to her did you get to explore this year?
I think from the first season, she was so idealistic and romantic and almost naive.
And that naivete is not gone.
It’s not completely gone this season, but it is definitely dwindling.
I also think she’s kind of growing downwards.
We are seeing Catherine falter a bit this season in the leadership role.
Her country isn’t ready in some ways to implement the ideals that she wants to implement.
And they are amazing ideas.
And can you walk the walk and talk the talk?
I think she’s learning that she needs to compromise on the leadership front.
Is she doubting herself?
And Tony [McNamara; series creator, writer, and executive producer] writes that so wonderfully.
She’s very layered this year.
So I’m leaving that behind as well.
I’m glad you mentioned Aunt Elizabeth.
Do we get a lot more time exploring her character this season?
And so we get to see more of the female characters I think come upfront this year.
There’s so much craziness.
It’s more twisted than ever.
The promos so far have teased an uprising that Catherine must deal with.
What can you tell me about that and the politics of the season?
The politics of the court and how Tony plays that is always so exciting.
And they’re kind of both competing for her affection in some ways.
But she’s at least trying, at best.
That’s a little bit of the politics this year.
And I love that concept.
I’m an amazing person, how could anyone hate me?"
And I think, weirdly, that’s what stings her the most.
How does the death of Catherine’s mother and all of that play into the new episodes?
It definitely is carrying over in a big way.
Like the ending ofThe Graduate.
So that’s how we left off and we pick up literally the day after the stabbing.
So nothing is missed in terms of watching how the story unfolds.
And I think it weirdly all balances out.
I think the problem is Peter’s ego, and can he keep that in check?
Because he in many ways is the stay-at-home dad.
And that’s kind of the crux of the season, in many ways.
Are there any new faces we should keep an eye on?
They’re just so funny and such a crazy married couple.
But I think you should keep your eye on them, for sure.
Because they have ulterior motives themselves and Sweden has a very big part to play.
But now he has a much more prominent role this year and is a complete scene stealer.
I mean, he’s so funny.
He’d be like, “Oh, I know what’s going on.”
[We’re like], “Oh, of course you do.”
But he’s really great.
He kept wanting to get into the blooper reel because that’s the only thing his friends can see.
So he would like mess up takes just for the bloopers.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
