Sudsy teen series ‘Reign’ more focused on fun than fact, says star

TORONTO – The sudsy teen series “Reign” is heavy on the intrigue, betrayals and romantic foibles of Mary Queen of Scots and her royal entourage, and admittedly light on actual history.

This is a reimagining of what life was like for the young monarch, not a recreation, says star Adelaide Kane, who makes no bones about injecting a healthy dose of hormone-fuelled turmoil into one of history’s most fascinating figures.

Still, the 23-year-old notes that judicious references to actual fact — along with the peppy pop soundtrack — will propel main plot points throughout the season.

“There’s obviously a lot of expectation, there’s been a little bit of criticism about our historical accuracy and I do feel a lot of responsibility to the show and to the character and to the historical figure, of course,” Kane says during a recent break in shooting from a Toronto set.

“At the end of the day, this is a project of historical fiction. You need to take it with a large grain of salt because it’s entertainment. We’re making a drama, we’re making a fun show and that’s what it is — it’s the suspension of belief, it’s a fantasy and I think it’s going to be really enjoyable and really fun and I’m trying very hard to create my own character.”

As such, the Australian actress imbues the strong-willed monarch with a mix of passion, uncertainty and a streak of independence.

It all begins in 1557 with a teenage Mary Stuart, who reigned as the Queen of Scotland from the time she was just days old, arriving in France to formalize a strategic alliance by marrying the French king’s son Prince Francis, played by Toby Regbo.

Complicating matters are the king’s illegitimate but charming son Bash, played by Vancouver native Torrance Coombs, and the meddling of Francis’s protective mother Catherine de Medici, played by former “Anne of Green Gables” star Megan Follows.

Admittedly, there isn’t much mystery to the love triangle that emerges since history has shown Mary wed Francis at age 15.

But Kane says that still leaves plenty of room for racy courtly drama along the way — stopping just shy of the bodice-ripping escapades of more adult-skewing fare, she adds.

“She’s lonely and (Bash) is there for her and understands her and is one of the few people who has nothing to gain by hurting her or selling her out,” Kane says of Mary, who was married and widowed three times by the time she was executed at age 44.

“I think that that’s a very dangerous thing for her when Francis thinks she’s pretty and cares for her as a person and as his childhood friend but sees her more as a political tool at first.”

Filmed on location in Toronto and Ireland, the teen series is destined for the CW in the United States and the newly branded M3 (formerly MuchMore) in Canada.

It features plenty of Canadian content, including Rossif Sutherland (Kiefer’s half-brother) as a younger, more swoon-worthy prophet Nostradamus, Alan Van Sprang as a randy King Henry and Follows, who trades in her wholesome Anne Shirley image for a decidedly more dastardly role.

“It’s kind of nice being the villain,” Fellows says of the darker TV part, noting she generally only gets to tackle more varied roles in the theatre.

“They let me have some fun, for sure.”

Although “Reign” is clearly crafted to complement a CW lineup of brooding vampires and hunky super heroes, Fellows says it offers a refreshing focus on intimate personal dynamics.

“What’s interesting is having it in a removed time from ours — there’s not the pyrotechnics of technology and computers and quick phone calls, you know,” she says.

“It’s actually all brought down to this deeply kind of human level of drama playing out — the love, the betrayal, the secrets, the lies, the intrigues — and it’s all happening under the roof of this castle.”

Kane says the key thing for her is to make sure her Mary remains relatable.

“I want people to understand why she does the things that she does and I want her to be flawed and to be human,” she says.

“And that’s more important to me than trying to satisfy people by being a stickler for a historical portrayal of her, because nobody really knows what she was like.”

“Reign” debuts Wednesday on M3. Encore episodes air Saturdays on M3.