(dramatic orchestral music) - I am Sam Claflin and I play Edmond Dantes in "The Count of Monte Cristo".
- Never call me Edmond again.
From now on, I'm the Count of Monte Cristo.
Do you understand?
- It's a very wonderful journey and the gift of a part for any actor, I would say.
- How can someone with such a fortune be anonymous?
- I remember my agent actually mentioning that this project was happening and saying it's one of his favorite books.
When you start reading it, you can see why.
This particular series, it's a very classic telling of this story.
And speaking to Bille about his vision, I knew that I wanted to be involved.
- I have a reputation I'm not a man to be trifled with.
- I was very anxious coming into this project, partly because of the scale of production, but also because of the challenges that the role and the story give us.
- For the last 15 years I've been in prison for a crime I didn't commit.
I want revenge.
- Edmond is a very complicated character.
The one thing that I've been struggling with most about portraying him is feeling too much.
I think I live with my heart on my sleeve and trying to portray a character who has almost lost all emotion is very, very difficult to tap into.
I wanted the opportunity to challenge myself in that way and challenge myself in a way of portraying a character over 20 years who, who evolves so massively.
I've actually played a few different roles who we've sort of tracked over like long periods of time.
Most recently in "Daisy Jones and the Six", I played a man who's from like the age of 20 to 45, but it's very, very different to anything I've done before.
- You did nothing to stop an innocent man being arrested and now you're gonna pay for it.
- I don't think I've ever played someone as driven or as determined as Edmond.
It's been fun exploring him as a character.
- I want justice.
I don't care what it takes.
(birds chirping)
