00:03Hi this is Mariah Gullow from The Hollywood Reporter and I'm in studio today with Poppy
00:08Delevingne. Hello. Hi Poppy. Thank you for coming to see us today. Thank you so much for having me.
00:13It's so nice to be here. We're here to talk about Nat Geo's amazing genius series Picasso. Yes. Did
00:22you know much about Picasso before you did this series? I actually didn't. I had you know studied
00:28him a little bit at school so I knew a little bit about his art but I didn't know anything
00:33about
00:33the person and the person that he was but funnily enough actually a little anecdote to that is
00:41when I did study him at school I fell in love with one of these paintings one of his most
00:46famous
00:46paintings called Le Rêve and when I got this audition for Marie-Thérèse Walter I actually
00:54knew who she was because Le Rêve is a painting of her and I had it on my computer screensaver
01:00at the time when I got set the audition. So when I got it I was like this has got
01:06to be this is meant
01:07to be I have to play this character. So yeah I knew a little bit about his art but I
01:13knew nothing about
01:14the character that he really was. And you know the interesting thing about this series is that
01:19uh Mary-Thérèse is one of many women in his life. Yes. And because this is a 10 part series
01:24you not only
01:25learn more about Picasso but you learn more about the women because you really have of the time that
01:32like say a movie biopic would not be able to talk about all the many women in his life. Absolutely
01:38and
01:38I think that was one of the things that National Geographic were really clever about you know that of course
01:43they wanted to talk about this genius Picasso and you know this is the second genius that they've done.
01:50They did Einstein before and there was a lot of talk about it being another man. But the thing is
01:55that they
01:55highlight all of these women that could have been forgotten. A lot of people don't know who Marie-Thérèse Walter
02:01or François Gillot or Dora Maar but now since this series people do know who these women are and these
02:08women were
02:09incredibly talented in their own rights. You know Dora Maar was an incredible photographer. François Gillot was an
02:14artist. And now people talk about these women and know who they are. And they have recognition and exposure.
02:20And I think that's really exciting. And National Geographic made sure that they touched on these lives and I mean
02:27let's be honest Picasso was a genius but without these women I don't think his genius would have been so
02:33great.
02:34Yes he definitely was influenced by muses in his life. Some men, some women. Many women. Many, many women.
02:42And many men too. And children. And children. Tons of children. What a robust European life he lived.
02:49Absolutely. And speaking of the robust lives of Europeans, your co-star is Antonio Banderas.
02:56Yes. Who also has a connection to Picasso because he grew up in the same town.
03:00Yes. He did. In Malaga. And I think that he's always had this extraordinary connection obviously with Picasso.
03:08And you know when we went to Malaga for the premiere I mean literally turning up with Antonio Banderas.
03:13He is royalty out there. And you know so I think for him to play that role was a big
03:20deal for him.
03:20And I believe that he'd been offered the role in the past and was never sure about accepting it.
03:26And then I think that this opportunity this series with National Geographic he thought you know what I'm going to
03:32do it.
03:32And it was really remarkable to get to see him play that role. And very emotional.
03:38I mean there's in the last episode there is a scene that you will see. And we were all crying
03:44in it.
03:45You know watching him. He had all his prosthetics. He was playing Picasso in his 90s.
03:50And it was amazing. You could see that connection between these men.
03:54And he really brings him to life. Really brings him to life.
03:58Is there any, I mean you have a very, you have a seduction scene with Antonio Banderas.
04:04Which kind of puts you in a certain category of lucky women.
04:10I love that.
04:10What was that like?
04:11Yes well to be honest when I first got the job and I found out that it was Antonio Banderas.
04:18You know the first thing that came to my mind was Zorro.
04:21Because I was like Zorro but I was like a teenager when that movie came out.
04:25And you know Antonio Banderas heartthrob. I was just so overexcited.
04:30And of course the first day of filming I get there.
04:31And there's Antonio in a sort of like comb over toupee.
04:36Huge prosthetic nose.
04:38And I'm like hold on a second.
04:40This is not what I signed up for.
04:43But no in all seriousness.
04:45He heartthrob, charming, wonderful to work with.
04:50Could not have been more generous.
04:52You know I'm still very new to this acting game.
04:54And he was always so dedicated and gave me so much time and was so helpful.
05:00And it was, I'm so grateful that I got to you know work with someone like him.
05:04Or I could really sponge off and learn so much from.
05:09But overall just a really charming kind man to work with.
05:13Lovely.
05:14Yeah.
05:14And a really good dancer.
05:16Oh really?
05:16Yeah.
05:17He's always on set.
05:18He's always got such a high energy.
05:20He'd always be on sets of like clicking his fingers.
05:23And stomping his heels.
05:24You know he's got that Spanish thing.
05:27Anyway.
05:28I'm gonna miss it.
05:29I already miss it.
05:30I also heard that he had to, that the women playing opposite him had to actually wear heels.
05:37And lift shoes because Picasso is 5 foot 4.
05:41And Antonio Banderas is not 5 foot 4.
05:43Yes.
05:44So was this like the first time you've ever been in a movie where you got to actually play your
05:50own, your real height?
05:51I mean Married to her as water, she was famously actually very, very tall.
05:55And yeah, you're right.
05:56It was, they had, there were moments when I remember coming out for one scene where Antonio was like, that's
06:01ridiculous.
06:02You can't put on heels that big.
06:03Because I was literally towering.
06:05I mean I'm already a giraffe as is.
06:08I don't need much help in the height department.
06:10But yeah, they needed that to always be that, you know, that difference in height.
06:14But yeah, I got to wear, you know, stocking great heels all the time.
06:18Fun for me.
06:20Yeah.
06:21Now, do you have a connection to your real life character?
06:24Were you able to do any research on her?
06:28Or you didn't meet her because she's passed away.
06:30No, I didn't get to meet her.
06:33I did a whole load of research.
06:35It's always such a huge responsibility when you play someone that really, you know, existed.
06:42And you want to do it justice and you want to do her justice.
06:45And Marita Oswalter was this extraordinary character.
06:50So, yes, tons of research.
06:51But also, very luckily I got to meet her grandson, my grandson, her grandson, which was totally bizarre but amazing
07:01at the premiere of Malaga.
07:03And his name is Olivier Picasso.
07:04And he came up to me and he said, hi, Granny.
07:07Which was so nuts.
07:08And I was like, what?
07:11And it was really fascinating.
07:12And actually Antonio built a great relationship with Olivier, which was terrific for me.
07:18So I got to find out all sorts of anecdotes about, you know, what really happened and about character traits
07:25and just little stories that just helped me build that character.
07:30But quite nuts to be able to do that, to be able to meet the character's grandson.
07:34But, yeah, he was absolutely charming and I think he's, you know, really been enjoying the series.
07:40And he would come on set and be very present.
07:43And that was very, very cool.
07:44Very cool.
07:47So, one of the things I wanted to ask you.
07:50Oh, Picasso's friend makes him promise in one of the scenes early on with Alex Rich, an actor that you
07:58did not get to play opposite of.
08:00Annoying because he's so good.
08:02He is.
08:02He's so good in this.
08:04Oh, my God.
08:05But his friend makes a promise never to be bourgeoisie.
08:10And I thought that that was kind of a wonderful quote and an example of kind of the lifestyle of
08:17an actor and an artist.
08:20Do you agree?
08:23I mean, yes, yes, of course.
08:26I think there's something about remaining very true to yourself and keeping your feet on the ground.
08:35And, yeah, no, I would agree with that.
08:38Yeah.
08:39Very much so.
08:41Do you have any ideas about what the next genius will be?
08:45I know who the next genius is.
08:47You do.
08:48I do.
08:48Oh, I do.
08:50So now you can't guess.
08:51No, but I can't guess.
08:53And by the way, I spent so much time playing the guessing game where I was like, is it this?
08:57I was saying to Ken Biller, who's the showrunner, I was like, is it her?
09:00Is it him?
09:01He was like, no, I'm not telling you.
09:02But it's Mary Shelley.
09:04Amazing.
09:05Yeah.
09:06Who was, I did actually have her in mind.
09:09And I did study her a little bit at school.
09:12And I think she will, I think it will make for a terrific season three.
09:18That is amazing.
09:19Because she was a fascinating lady.
09:21And, yeah, I can't wait.
09:22I love that we're going from scientist to artist to writer.
09:26And I think that's what, you know, is really clever about National Geographic.
09:29They never wanted to pigeonhole people and say, you know, just only scientists are geniuses.
09:34It can be philosophers, poets, artists.
09:37It can be, I mean, getting to do this TV show, the makeup artists and the costume designers,
09:43you know, they were geniuses in themselves.
09:45Geniuses, geniuses, whatever it's called.
09:47And, you know, getting to do a show like that that was so immersive
09:51and getting to appreciate the art that goes into that.
09:54But, yeah, it's, I think that they really celebrate genius in every way, shape or form.
10:01And I think that's what's really great about it.
10:04Yeah.
10:04And it's going to take a while before I get my Marie Curie genius.
10:09Yes.
10:09Matt Geo.
10:09Yes.
10:10Marie Curie.
10:11Yes.
10:12Good one.
10:12Another good one.
10:14Poppy, thank you so much for being here.
10:16Thank you so much.
10:17National Geographic Channel.
10:18Thank you for this interview.
10:19Please watch.
10:20Picasso.
10:20Picasso.
10:20.
10:21.
10:21.
10:21.
10:22.
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