Here's How the Cast of 'Scoop' Compares to Their Real-Life Counterparts
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Netflix's newest film, Scoop, chronicles the events surrounding Prince Andrew's bombshell 2019 interview, during which he spoke at length about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The backlash from the interview was so intense that Prince Andrew stepped down from his royal duties that week.
"I want to put the audience inside the breathtaking sequence of events that led to the interview with Prince Andrew—to tell a story about a search for answers, in a world of speculation and varying recollections," director Philip Martin told Netflix. "It’s a film about power, privilege, and differing perspectives and how—whether in glittering palaces or high-tech newsrooms—we judge what's true."
To tell that "breathtaking sequence of events" which led to jaw-dropping interview, Martin assembled a starry cast—including Gillian Anderson, Keeley Hawes, Billie Piper, and Rufus Sewell. They all play real people, so here's how the cast of Scoop compares to their real-life counterparts:
Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew
Sewell, who recently starred in The Diplomat, takes on the role of Prince Andrew. "I loved people objecting to my casting. That just really made me glow," Sewell tells T&C. "The one thing that gave me solace was people saying that I was badly suited for the role. I thought, well, I can't disappoint now. Just freedom."
Billie Piper as Sam McAlister
Piper, who has starred in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Doctor Who, and I Hate Suzie, takes on the role of Sam McAlister, the Newsnight producer who secures the Prince Andrew interview. The film is based on her book Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews. (Read an excerpt from Scoops here.) "She's a real force of nature, she's formidable and high energy, and I wanted to take a lot of that into my performance," Piper says of McAlister. "She is so persistent, but there is something gracious and warm and curious, and kind of child-like about her and her love of what she does."
Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis
Anderson, perhaps best known for her role in The X-Files, plays interviewer Emily Maitlis. "It was the first time that I’ve played a real-life character who is still alive, and I have to say, it’s more daunting playing an Emily Maitlis than a Margaret Thatcher even," Anderson said.
Keeley Hawes as Amanda Thirsk
Hawes takes on the complicated role of Amanda Thirsk, Prince Andrew's private secretary. The actress had less to go off of for her portrayal of Amanda than her costars, as Amanda is a very private person. "On the one hand that was a bit frustrating but, on the other it gave me a freer rein to conjure something, and that’s what I did. I worked with the team, hair and makeup, and our wonderful costume designer, and Philip, and just put something together," Hawes said.
Charity Wakefield as Princess Beatrice
Though Princess Beatrice doesn't play a large orle in Scoop, she does appear in one critical scene: when the Newsnight team convinces Prince Andrew to do the interview. She's played by Charity Wakefield, whom you may recognize from The Great.
Romola Garai as Esme Wren
Garai plays Newnsight editor Esme Wren. Director Philip Martin says of her performance, "She brought a gravitas to it — you know that she needs this interview really badly, you know that it’ll turn things around for Newsnight, but she’s able to bring that all off amazingly."
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