Dominic West and Sienna Miller have reignited their collaboration after more than two decades to star in HBO’s latest legal drama, *War*. The pair, who previously worked together in a production of Shakespeare’s *As You Like It* in London’s West End, portray estranged spouses Carla and Morgan Henderson in the highly anticipated show, which delves into the complexities of their adversarial divorce.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/fun-tv-war-723931ea19864f33a1160d8bbdbaef0a.jpg)
At the recent premiere held at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City, both actors expressed enthusiasm about their roles and the unique dynamic of drawing upon their real-life friendship to portray on-screen tension. Miller, 44, stated that having a long-standing rapport with West made it “funnier to hate” him during their performances. “We had a lot of fun being this couple,” she commented, illustrating how their connection contributed to their on-screen chemistry.
West, 56, echoed Miller’s sentiments, noting how enjoyable it was to engage in conflict within their roles. “It was great fun hating each other and saying horrible things to each other,” he remarked, reflecting on their characters’ bitter courtroom battles. The intimacy of their friendship provided a solid foundation for conveying the complexities of a broken marriage as the couple faced off in court.
Their collaboration dates back more than twenty years, when both actors were part of the same theatre production. Miller described their experience in the West End as an “incredibly bonding experience.” During that time, the two developed a fondness for one another, which West believes significantly eased the task of portraying a loving couple, contrasting the tension required in their characters’ quarrels.
In *War*, the tension between Carla and Morgan serves to highlight the emotional fallouts that can occur in a contentious divorce. With fewer shared scenes due to the nature of their strained relationship, Miller mentioned one notable mediation scene where they feigned sweetness while simultaneously outsmarting one another. “That was great fun,” she reflected on the intricacies of navigating conflicting emotions on screen.
Miller’s portrayal of Carla gives her the chance to explore a character that diverges from her own personality. Carla is depicted as somewhat narcissistic, lacking concern for others’ feelings, a trait that contrasts sharply with Miller’s own nature of prioritising the comfort of those around her. “Playing somebody who doesn’t have that default state was uncomfortable and then liberating,” she shared, noting the character’s compelling complexities.
In addition to the character depth, Miller found the casting particularly appealing. Joining an impressive ensemble, she regarded the show’s creator, George Kay, as a major draw. She was already a fan of Kay’s previous work, which is renowned for its gripping narratives and enthralling storytelling.
West also found his character, Morgan, intriguing, particularly as he navigates a role as an unfaithful husband. When asked if portraying such a character posed any challenges given his own long-term marriage, he replied, “No, not really.” He relishes the chance to explore traits that are far removed from his real-life persona, likening acting to an opportunity to engage in behaviours one typically would not in their personal life.
As for potential courtroom allies, both actors playfully acknowledged their co-stars. Miller took a liking to Phoebe Fox and Celia Emery, deeming them formidable, while West jested about Pip Torrens, referring to him as a “ruthless evil man,” before acknowledging his genuine kindness in real life.
As the release date for *War* approaches, both West and Miller’s excitement for the project continues to grow. The series is set to premiere on Thursday, 1st October at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, with availability for streaming on Max. Fans of intense dramas and compelling character portrayals are in for a treat as these two seasoned actors bring their dynamic to the small screen.