Exclusive: Samara Weaving and Lucy Boynton on Exquisite Period Drama Chevalier

Samara Weaving and Lucy Boynton vie for the attention of a brilliant but controversial artist in the period leading up to the French Revolution. Chevalier tells the remarkable true story of Joseph Bologne, played superbly by Kelvin Harrison Jr., the biracial son of a wealthy plantation owner and slave. Titled the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Bologne excelled in the violin, piano, and fencing while facing vile racism. He took advantage of his opportunity and rose to great acclaim in French aristocratic society.

Weaving portrays his forbidden love interest Marie-Josephine de Montalembert, an opera singer and wife of a ruthless general. Boynton co-stars as the iconic Marie Antoinette, the French Queen who latched unto Bologne’s stardom but shunned him cruelly when her own position becomes threatened. Both woman were enamored by the virtuoso’s talent in a time of great upheaval. Bologne’s targeted by jealous rivals who threaten his ill-fated romance.

The actresses prepared extensively for an exhausting but fulfilling shoot. They credit the instructors, screenwriter (Stefani Robinson), and director (Stephen Williams), for keeping them focused on the specific story. This was especially important for Boynton, who didn’t want to be overwhelmed by the numerous interpretations of Marie Antoinette’s personality. Both women established a strong friendship and working dynamic with Harrison Jr. that’s clearly evident on screen.

Samara Weaving as Marie-Josephine

MW: We’re looking at a French period costume drama where everything is so elegant and beautiful. Talk about the preparation for such a detailed role.

Samara Weaving: Yeah, singing was the biggest one. I had a great teacher, Michael Roberts, who really helped me learn how to breathe and pretend to be a professional opera singer. Everyone was so talented. The costume designers, the makeup, and hair artists were made everything so easy, you know? I didn’t have to use my imagination.

MW: You and Kelvin had this really tender chemistry as two lovers trapped in this awful aristocracy. Did you have a lot of time to rehearse beforehand?

Samara Weaving: A little bit, I guess because of the pandemic, we all were kind of quarantining. We had some rehearsals, but we were just really lucky. We really got along with each other, and he’s so charming and sweet, a good friend, so that was lucky.

Related: Samara Weaving’s Best Performances, Ranked

MW: What’s the best day and worst day on the set of this movie?

Samara Weaving: There was this really fun scene with me and Sean Clifford, where we could sort of improvise a little bit, and it’s where I first see Chevalier. We’re all just awkward and funny. That was really cool. We were filming in this location that we were pretty sure was haunted. It was still in the early days of filming, so we weren’t exhausted yet. The worst day of filming, I think it was the last day. It was really sad, we’re all tired, and it was a night shoot. We were doing this really depressing scene, and then it all came to end. We’d had so much fun. Yeah, night shoots at the end of a job — everyone was way more emotional than usual.

MW: Going through your previous roles, you’re kicking butt in Ready or Not, a scene stealer in Scream VI, and now doing this really moving period film. What do you find interesting, or a role you look forward to playing?

Samara Weaving: I don’t know. I think I used to have these ideals of what I was looking for. But the more I work, the more I realize that you never know what’s going to come your way and be something that you want to do. I want to do things that are different, and I want to challenge myself. I really liked Scream, which is entirely different from Marie-Josephine and Chevalier. I want to try to keep making interesting choices and not get pigeonholed into one specific genre.

Lucy Boynton as Marie Antoinette

MW: Marie Antoinette has been such a divisive figure throughout history. In this film, she’s an ally, and then an enemy. What’s your interpretation of her?

Lucy Boynton: I was just really grateful for the guidance of this script. Stefani Robinson’s writing is so precise and specific in tone and intention for each character, because without that, there is so much information out there about Marie Antoinette. There is so much to read into. Even this relationship specifically, that you kind of need to be reined in to keep it concise to these scenes.

Lucy Boynton: I think it was a really interesting relationship to analyze. I think it’s undeniable that Joseph, she was so drawn to him, intrigued by him because of his magnetism, his incredible talent, skill in every facet and, every direction that he decided to pursue. She wanted to be seen next to that person, and that person be seen next to her. That is an element of Marie Antoinette at the beginning of their relationship, which is something Stephen Williams, the director, and I spoke a lot about. Therefore, when that is the part of the foundation of that relationship, it means that this kind of journey, the road that she decides to take it on, becomes much more kind of transactional, and has an unforgivably pragmatic and brutal element.

Related: Chevalier Review: A Brilliant Artist Faces Racial Animosity in 18th Century France

MW: The costumes, sets, and production design are impressive. Give us a reality check. What’s it like getting into costume and make-up for your character?

Lucy Boynton: Yeah, the corsetry I don’t miss, and I’m really grateful that we’ve moved away from that trend. You’re not able to breathe, in fact, and it restricts the way that you can even kind of throw your voice to project. It was a whole re-education when your torso is being scrunched. But I have to say, the scale of those costumes, the full scope of their design, and the spectacle were really a lot of fun to dress. It’s not quite your everyday, so it’s a thrill to get to dip your toe into.

Exquisite Settings

MW: What’s the best day and worst day filming this movie?

Lucy Boynton: Oh, man. Best day. There was one scene, it’s such a fleeting moment in the movie, but Kelvin and I are getting out of the carriage to go to the party. And it was so late in this night shoot, there were fireworks going off. It was the most exquisite setting. Kelvin and I just couldn’t stop laughing. He’s such a magnetic and joyous person to be around and share time and space with. It was so fun, moments like that, or when the cast got to all be together. And worst day of filming, I don’t know, it’s such a cheat, I don’t think I had one.

Chevalier will have a theatrical release on April 21st from Searchlight Pictures.