For his first major TV role in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the Netflix hit that serves as a prequel to Queen Charlotte’s childhood and romance, Corey Mylchreest says he “put a lot of pressure on himself” to play King George III. “The most challenging scenes were the emotional ones.”
Now, Mylchreest, 26, is adjusting to all the attention from his newfound fanbase: “It was a very surreal experience and really great, but I’m just British and shy!”
What was the best part about playing King George III?
There are so many things I’m grateful for but the best thing was being with that group, I even lived with Freddie who played my valet, we got along so well. It was our first big job and it was a six month shoot, spending 14 to 16 hours a day together. It was a great character to play. I’ve done so many things since then, I feel like I really have the world to thank for that show and that guy George.
Were you prepared for how the show would put you in the public eye?
No, nothing can really prepare you for that. Although I tried to prepare myself mentally it turned out to be anxiety! It was scary but exciting but I don’t think I had any specific idea of what it would be like in real life or in my career afterwards. … It was a huge leap. I was very green and didn’t really know what I was doing but I was confident enough not to be sick every day.
What was the most challenging part of the role?
I think the most challenging parts were the emotional scenes, the scenes where he goes into a psychotic state. I would have handled them with a much more relaxed mind but looking back, I was still very new. … I put a lot of pressure on myself. Any of those dramatic scenes, I found difficult, but looking back, I think we did pretty well.
I’ve done three scenes for Netflix since Queen Charlotte and in two of them I did scenes in a room with a big portrait of King George III because a lot of them have grand houses. It was strange to go into that scene, ready to be a new person and then see that! He’s on my shoulders now.”
If you were a member of the royal family, what perks do you think you would enjoy the most?
I would adopt a four-day work week. I would buy myself a season ticket to Anfield and watch Liverpool play every two weeks. I’m a huge Liverpool fan and no one can say no to the King, right? And maybe a meet and greet with the whole team or I could just be a Liverpool player. That’s actually what I would do, I would just play for Liverpool and no one could say no.
How have fans reacted to you both before and after the show?
There were no fans in front of Queen Charlotte and I have to say, for the most part it was really great. It’s still strange for me and I’m not sure I’ll ever get to the point where I’m completely confident and comfortable with people I don’t know but they know me, it’s a very surreal experience to meet fans of the show on the street. It’s really great and it’s just a way showing spontaneous appreciation for something I was a part of and was proud to be a part of.
Half of art is being good and deep and meaningful and true; half of it is being seen and understood. It’s not just for the artist. It’s the validation from the world that half of the work was done well and people responded.
Any memorable or funny encounters that stick with you?
In Paris, I met a fan and she made me laugh so hard. She said something like… she apologized and she said, “I’m sorry to tell you this” and I was nervous for a second and she said, “I just don’t see it, you’re not sexy,” and I said, “Oh okay, you don’t have to see me sexy, no one does.”
Then she said, “You should really change your hairstyle.” She really looked at me and basically her gist was, “It’s not working right now, maybe it will work but I don’t have much hope.” I really liked it because in this industry, a lot of people tend to blow smoke up your ass and it’s really an antidote to that. I really didn’t expect it.
Where were you?
I was at Paris Fashion Week and I was with Kit Connor [Heartstopper] at the time. I found it very funny and we were just looking at each other, both thinking we’ll laugh afterwards, we’ll laugh after. How ironic, doing this shoot today, this one is for [her]!
Shall we mail her a copy?
Yes, I think so. She might not like my hair though.
If you weren’t an actor, what would you be doing?
I would love to do something to do with history. If I didn’t go to drama school, I would have studied history. I’m thinking Indiana Jones, out in the field, bit of action, bit of gunfire and preserving the great chronicles of the world really, single-handedly with a cowboy hat and a whip.
There is still time, no?
I don’t see any barrier to it! I would have [also] loved to have been a football coach. Maybe when I have kids, I can coach them. Born at the same hospital as David Beckham, same part of London, that’s the closest I get.
