Joseph Fiennes on Camelot, Playing Merlin, and the Magic of Inhabiting a Legend
The acclaimed British actor spoke with Premier Guide Miami about his role as Merlin in Starz's Camelot, the mythology that drew him to the project, and what he discovered about the legendary sorcerer.
From the Vault · 2012
This is an archival piece from the Premier Guide Miami collection. The coverage, context, and details reflect the time it was originally published.
Joseph Fiennes said it plainly: "Merlin is not a wizard in a pointy hat. He's a deeply conflicted man who carries the weight of a kingdom on his shoulder…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.
Joseph Fiennes brought a brooding, morally complex Merlin to Starz's Camelot — a far cry from the benevolent wizard of popular imagination. His portrayal was dark, conflicted, and utterly compelling, anchoring the series with a gravitas that matched the show's ambitious tone.
Premier Guide Miami spoke with Fiennes about his approach to the role and what the Arthurian legend means to him.
PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Your Merlin is very different from the versions audiences are used to. Was that a deliberate choice?
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JOSEPH FIENNES: Merlin is not a wizard in a pointy hat. He's a deeply conflicted man who carries the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders and isn't always sure he's doing the right thing. That ambiguity is what makes him interesting to play.
PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What drew you to this particular version of the Camelot story?
JOSEPH FIENNES: The rawness of it. This isn't a fairy tale. It's a story about power and betrayal and desire and the terrible cost of ambition. Those are human themes that never go out of date, and this production wasn't afraid to go to those dark places.
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