Alexander Vlahos talks playing gay royalty in controversial BBC Two drama 'Versailles'

Welsh actor Alexander Vlahos has spilled the beans to Attitude about the upcoming BBC Two drama Versailles, which has been touted one of the raunchiest drama to ever hit the airwaves.

Vlahos plays French king Louis XIV’s effeminate brother Phillipe in the period drama, whose relationship with nobleman Chervalier de Lorraine (Degrassi: The Next Generation’s Evan Williams) features heavily throughout the first series, which first aired in France last year.

“The way their relationship is dealt with is one of the things I’m most proud of,” he tells us in Attitude’s Summer Issue, which is in shops and available to download now.

He continues: “We show the rise and fall of that relationship, the heartbreak, then them getting back together. The reason I’m so proud of it is that not once do other characters mention that the two of them are gay. It’s dealt with in such a beautiful, raw way.”

Created by British duo Simon Mirren and David Wolstencroft, Versailles cost a reported of £2.1m to make per episode, more than twice the average cost of an episode of Downton Abbey.

The BBC’s decision to broadcast the sex and violence-filled series has already courted controversy, with Tory MP Andrew Bridgen calling accusing the corporation of “dumbing down” and “seeking more sensationalised programming”.

Despite the criticism, Vlahos insists that the Versailles simply depicts the scandalous antics of the era as they would have occurred.

“We treat every scene – every bit of violence, every sex scene – as if we’re trying to find the truth in it,” he says.

“These were kids in power, who were sexy and cool and yes, that means the show is raunchy. But it’s how they would have acted at the time.”

You can read Alexander’s full interview in the new issue of Attitude, available to download digitally from pocketmags.com/attitude, and available in print both in stores and from newsstand.co.uk.

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Also in Attitude’s Summer Issue, alongside all your usual news, reviews, fitness & travel:

Former Eastenders star Ben Hardy is on the cover discussing his upcoming role in X Men: Apocalypse
In a special feature we examine the issue of race, the LGBT community and the media, to see what’s working and what’s not.
Nathan Sykes talks life after The Wanted, touring with the Little Mix ladies and his ever-growing gay fanbase.
We catch up with star of The Voice and Kinky Boots Matt Henry, fresh off his ‘Best Actor’ victory at last month’s Olivier Awards.
As Meryl Streep returns to the screen as Florence Foster Jenkins, we look back at the career of this modern Hollywood icon.
We put drag in focus with an exclusive look as the stunning images of Magnus Hastings’ new photo book Why Drag?
Bryan Sipe, wirter of Jake Gyllenhaal’s new film Demolition, tells Attitude about overcoming loss, personal identity, and why a gay teen was central to the film’s plot.
Former Dragon’s Den star and interior designer Kelly Hoppen sees whether she can pass for a homo in How Gay Are You?

Alexander Vlahos talks playing gay royalty in controversial BBC Two drama ‘Versailles’

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