Adrian Lester: What it is really like to play Robert Carved in Sky's Riviera

How would you describe Carver? 

Robert is a fixer. We dive into a world of super yachts and fast cars but money and power come at a price and people are not operating on the right side of the law. 

Robert is one of those people. He is good at forging paintings. 

Why did you want to be in the series? 

It’s a world that has not been seen in television for years. Thinking as a businessman, you know the series is going to sell. 

Then they asked if I would like to direct some of it. I jumped at it. 

Do you prefer acting or directing? 

Both! I really enjoyed the acting, as Riviera was shot in beautiful locations: Monaco, Nice and Cannes. 

As director I got great facilities: three cameramen, and they wanted the scenes to look stunning, so they were willing to give me the extra time to make that right. 

Was it intimidating directing A-lister Julia Stiles [as art expert Georgina Clios, widowed in episode one? 

You are always slightly intimidated by your cast. If you begin a scene giving your actors the wrong information you could lose it. 

You are also running by the clock so you have certain amount of time to achieve a certain amount every single day. 

Will there be a romance between Robert and Georgina? 

There is always a little flame burning. At the beginning more from Robert’s side and later Georgina finds she can trust him and it swings the other way. 

Have you become an art fanatic? 

There is so much to learn. You think it’s just art but it’s not. It’s Modern, Renaissance, Classics, so many areas! 

Are you similar to Robert? 

We are the same height, use the same haircare product and we like a good suit. He is willing to bend the rules of law. 

Adrian doesn’t do that. 

Theatre or TV? 

In terms of the adrenaline rush, theatre; as more can go wrong.

But as a director I had the same buzz. 

What can we expect to see in Riviera? 

Thrills, chases and spills. It’s high stakes. It’s life and death. 

Does it have scope for more seasons? 

The mystery that we start with comes to a satisfying conclusion, but there is room to take the characters on. 

What about you? 

I am happy to keep acting and directing but my next two projects are both as an actor. 

● All episodes of Riviera are available on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. Sky Q customers will be able to watch Riviera in Ultra HD