Set in Virginia, Jamestown tells the story of women who were sent to the 17th settlement of Jamestown to marry frontiersmen who have not seen a female in 12 years.
Max Beesley stars as Henry Sharrow, a man who has truly been through the mill, eating mud to survive starvation after losing a brother to the illness.
As his paid-for wife Alice (played by Sophie Rundle) arrives, Henry has trouble adapting to the new situation featuring women which culminates in a brutal rape scene.
“He’s been through starvation and he’s lost a brother – he’s a survivor but there’s not really much soul left of him,” Max explained at a recent Q&A for the new series.
“I think he went down to the bank to talk to her in a private place but when she didn’t want to, he lost control and control is what has kept him alive, but unfortunately it manifests like that,” Max told press including Express.co.uk.
Max believes it’s tricky for Henry to be redeemed in the eyes of the audience, saying: “It’s a tough one when you show rape in episode one.
“Before that, I see Henry as a hero. I think he’s a great man. He’s driving for gold and he will do anything to get it and he does, only to find out it’s not gold, it’s tobacco.”
The eight-parter has been described by writer Bill Gallagher as “a cross between a Jacobean tragedy and a western”.
“It’s got richness and skullduggery from a Jacobean tragedy and the expanse seen in westerns,” he explained.
“Within a period of two weeks, [Jamestown] had the very first elective body and the first slaves arrived; this world is packed with major historical moments,” Bill added.
Jamestown starts tonight on Sky1 at 9pm.
Daily Express :: TV and Radio Feed
