“I had never come across a character quite so enigmatic and so difficult to understand.” – Vanessa Kirby on playing Joséphine de Beauharnais in Napoleon

We laughed so much! Comedic relief was absolutely necessary as it was such a brutal time for Napoleon and Joséphine. Their love story was bizarre, and their relationship was difficult, as it was constantly evolving and unpredictable. From one day to the next, everything could change so much between them.

How did you prepare for the role of Joséphine de Beauharnais?

The last time I played a historical figure was in the series The Crown as Margaret Windsor. But, her story was a bit more recent so I could take inspiration from the footage we had of her and I was able to meet people that had spent time with her. Playing Joséphine de Beauharnais was very different. Of course, there are things written about her but these accounts are often in the context of the things that Napoleon did, and there are fewer writings on her than there are about him.

While researching about her life for inspiration, what did you learn about her?

It was quite confusing. In every book I read, every description of her was so different. It was like she changed into a very different person throughout her life. I had never come across a character quite so enigmatic and so difficult to understand. She had arrived from a Caribbean island, Martinique, and was suddenly a part of the cold and harsh French system, marrying an aristocrat, being sent to prison, and then nearly executed. Being of service to her husband was a major part of her life as well, and the more powerful he became, the more she had to compromise and repress certain parts of herself. She was a very complex character.