The Great Interview: Nicholas Hoult and Elle Fanning

If you’re looking for something super sharp to watch that’s absolutely brimming with energy, look no further than The Great on Hulu. It’s a 10-episode satirical dramedy starring Elle Fanning as Catherine the Great. In the fictionalized account of her journey to becoming the empress of Russia, The Great begins with Catherine on the hunt for love. She’s hopeful she’ll find that with Nicholas Hoult’s Emperor Peter, but any faith she has for a “happily every after” with him is quickly extinguished thanks to his outrageous antics, cruel tendencies and his backwards way of running the country. So now what’s left for Catherine to do? Figure out a way to kill him, of course, so that she can take over herself.
With The Great now available to watch on Hulu, I got the chance to catch up with Fanning and Hoult for an extended interview. Not only did we talk about making The Great, including Fanning’s experience serving as a producer and what it was like for the two of them to nail the very specific cadence of Catherine and Peter’s back-and-forths, but they also detailed their journeys from child stars to major franchises, pinpointing career goals, and so much more.
#TheGreat #NicholasHoult #ElleFanning
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[@apal4u]

Elle surprised me in this role - she killed it!!

[@candacehall4776]

I'm ready for season 2 this show was so good!

[@StefannyAP]

Where?

[@candacehall4776]

@@StefannyAP where what?

[@Mailys-sh1nc]

Candace Hall where can I watch it please

[@billgates7524]

Miss world hulu

[@Mailys-sh1nc]

Bill Gates where is Hulu and what is it ?

[@animated_anna]

I see a lot of comments about Nicholas Hoult and he is attractive but also...Elle is simply RADIANT in this interview.

[@donella0x]

so weird hearing Elle Fanning talk in an American Accent after her posh accent in The Great.

[@kalebpetrosyan5774]

I KNOW I LITERALLY SWORE TO GOD SHE WAS BRITISH

[@brandym784]

Well..... She is American..... So 🤷‍♀️

[@macysmith4884]

@@brandym784 s a s s y

[@sirenpheonix626]

I was SO IMPRESSED with her British accent in this show! Us Americans butcher that accent all the time and she did an excellent job.

[@fionaho8580]

@@kalebpetrosyan5774 88p

[@wolfganglandau3978]

This show is amazing. Hoult is a great actor as even though his character is an ass, by the end I feel bad for him and am some what rooting for him in some ways. Not to mention he’s hilarious. Fanning is also a great talent with a great range of emotions shown in many scenes and her natural adaptation of her role. Can’t wait for season 2, hope these actors get their recognition as it is well deserved.

[@keishawilliams127]

perfectly said ...huzzah!🥂

[@TheAdnanmajor]

Huzzah!

[@davisoaresalves5179]

What does huzzah mean?

[@sanyurych]

@@davisoaresalves5179 hurray

[@aiestef]

*smashes glass 🍸*

[@kiikat]

HUZZAH!

[@joshsalamero]

Huzzah!!

[@lAsteriosl]

I love Nicholas character in this series, ofc it's kinda reminds me of Joffrey from GOT, but Joffrey was just disgusting. Nicholas character is ass and funny as hell at same time.

[@foxsparrow8973]

I like his portrayal of Peter the third actually better than the real one who was a squirmy inbred pathetic man child.

[@rustywine7839]

Dakota Fanning is doing zoom promos for The Alienist right now and she's in the very same spot where Elle was in this vid. It's cute that that part of their house is the spot, instead of being inside their own rooms.

[@naniii740]

Nicholas' character is actually so "weird" and "outgoing" but Nic hiself actually looks so kind and shy. He's cute

[@nowthenzen]

Nick makes his character Peter accessible and sympathetic. Nick portrays Peter as that neighbor on the other side of the fence as long as you don't cross that fence you will n ever have a problem with that neighbor.

[@Vi-wd1rw]

one of the best points of the Show is the chemistry between Nicholas and Elle, they are the best actors in the series but unfortunately we had few scenes between two, which again I recite as the highlight of any episode. Several minutes were wasted with Elle and the actor who played Leo (I love him, I met him in the Borgias)

[@TheFlowMind]

She's really good in the show. I haven't liked her much in her previous work but she really shines here.

[@chasehedges6775]

She was fantastic in the Maleficent movies.

[@TheFlowMind]

Chase Hedges67 Oh gosh. Awful movie. The one decent thing in that one was Angelina.

[@gars129]

I think The Great really makes her shine. She's lively and charismatic with a distinctive and recignizable voice (i could see her continuing the path of voice acting as well) but many roles dont seem to get what shes good at. The Maleficient films just make her a pretty face. I could see Elle venturing into less glamurous roles as well because of her down to earth demeanor.

[@3ki3ra3]

i personally really like her in 20th century women, but this role takes the cake for her roles in my opinion. definitely her best.

[@macysmith4884]

@@TheFlowMind lies it was an amazing movie

[@Tarantino1Dean]

The Great has been the light in these boring always-at-home times. I wish I could rewatch it for the first time again!

[@genevieverenaud2537]

That really is a GREAT interview ! The interviewer asks great questions and let them talk (no interruption) unlike certain tv night show hosts i won't name lol and the answers were great as well ;)

[@PerriNemiroff]

Yahhh! So happy you enjoyed the chat Genevieve! ❤️

[@larendijacosmica]

I'll do it for you! Fallon!

[@sasha.v_v]

This show is like a gloss of humor in history, but the range of emotion elle acts in this are amazing, from the first ep, she was like a wide eye young girl and heart on sleeve, and towards the end, i still say that she is naive, but she dont expect she will be in love with the king and hopefully w 2nd season, there will be more growth in character in both nick and elle characters, and nick character are a very complex, showing his weird n twisted mind n a moment of clarity in his eye sometimes when someone mention his dead mother, the late queen.

[@jogeaney9786]

Nicholas has big Hugh Grant energy in The Great so nice that he sees that too!

[@residentevil4life]

they both did such a great job with the show i completely forgot there is a near-decade gap between their age

[@teamoore6136]

wow, just realizing Elle Fanning is the female version of Timothée Chalamet, with the same, kind of shy giggle. would be fun to see them together in something some day.

[@tamiayo-famola2694]

Tea Moore Timothée and Elle are in A Rainy Day In New York together

[@teamoore6136]

@@tamiayo-famola2694 Thanks! It would be amazing if all my wishes could come true this easily :)

[@brettkimura]

@@tamiayo-famola2694 Is it a good movie?

[@tamiayo-famola2694]

Brett Kimura I haven’t seen it myself. The reviews aren’t great but it might still be enjoyable

[@janelanc4410]

lol They are friends too they actually been in movie together before A Rainy day in New York! but i want them in another one too

[@safetygirl53]

Great series and Nic and Elle are excellent in their roles. Highly recommend it!

[@sanitaaaaaa]

He’s so hot

[@misipiipisimipsi]

she's so hot

[@ahyaahya2447]

I am so hot

[@guywhorpk2017]

It's so fucking hot outside

[@miriamthg]

Great interview. Interesting questions asked. Nicholas and Elle both have great chemistry

[@anotheryoutubeuser]

It was such a joy watching these two along with the rest of the cast on The Great! It was the first time I saw Elle Fanning given an opportunity to really act and Nicholas Hoult just completely knocked it out of the park. He was so funny and even got me to care about Peter by the end which, considering all of the awful stuff he does throughout the show, is no easy feat.

[@ThomasLiljeruhm]

"The great" is great! They are both really good and funny in this show.

[@instrumentalista002]

Really happy when I saw who the interviewer was! She does great interviews with really insightful questions!

[@DaiizR]

Why do I have a crush on both of them lmao

[@petrichorweather350]

Its shocking how elle really doesnt seem like catherine irl at all💀 shes an amazing actress

[@prsguitars42]

Dark comedy at its best!!!......frigging hysterical!!!!.....awesome acting and well written!!!!

[@wendyruiz8199]

i feel like if i were in a room with these two actors, i wouldn’t be able to properly function. they are both so charming.

[@yt-ri5zm]

Loved Tony McNamara's The Favourite so i watched all of The Great immediately. Smart funny and silly like The Favourite but with much darker humour and drama. I knew Ella Fanning was a good actress but I had no idea, such effortless grace, brilliance, and depth. Great production design / sets. Can't believe that those elaborate castle interiors were all recreated at small 3 Mills Studios. Shot and look of a big-budget period-piece feature.

[@andreas_adventures]

Elle is literally perfect for her role.

[@joshrayfield4365]

They both seem very bright and very articulate.

[@gaby7989]

Enjoyed this show so much!! Funny, addictive, SO well made.

[@sia7051]

I’ve grown up watching Hoult and although I loved him as I loved the things he was in I always thought he was a bit stiff and played many characters the same. However, he was INCREDIBLE in this. It was amazing to see how much he has grown as an actor

[@MellyXNY]

NICHOLAS HOULT IS SO HANDSOME AHHHHHH!

[@florabellegrim6367]

This was such a great interview!! The interviewer was so smart!! She kept giving them intelligent and non boring questions.. One of the best interviewer I've heard so far!!

[@hjtres7261]

An AMAZING actor and actress. I fell in love with The Great! So excited about the 2nd season!!!

[@meganmatthews7611]

I have just fallen in love with them both. Beautiful, phenomenal actors.

[@cookiezxoxo]

what a perceptive journalist, loved her questions!!

[@cretan982]

The Great is great. Fanning sure is brave - she really puts herself out there.

[@fionadevon8067]

The Great, I immediately wanted to watch, especially because of the mystery the chemistry between Nick and Elle projected. Funny comes to mind even though main characters in the show are historically cruel and mean. The fact that a women was one of the producers,Elle Fanning- was both astonishing and cool!. The sets were so plush and the color scheme so credible ,and at the same time novel, A wonderful ride that lends itself to Binge watching.

[@melissalove2463]

Ok I’m just going to throw it out there................ I’m in LOVE with Nicholas Hoult ! 💕🥰💕

[@bunnycatcorleone69]

Great interview! Really interesting questions and you actually let them speak , thank you

[@pengu82]

What an amazing interviewer!!

[@salmaaani5150]

the two of them did really a great job in the great i didn't expect that the show would be that great

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Perri! Thanks, Nicholas! Thanks, Elle! 👑

[@yellowsun7241]

Such a brilliant show. The history is fascinating.

[@abadinrani3887]

Why are Elle and Nicholas only wearing one AirPod each? 😂😂😂 Good interview. Loved the show!!! I hope we'll get a second season of The Great. Huzzah! lol

[@fear_less_2020]

A masterpiece! Excellent show, wish their marriage worked out because the chemistry was sooo fantastic! ❤️

[@yeetusfeetus9053]

Tis’ a wonderful day to be a bisexual

[@aiestef]

Haha! Huzzah to you!

[@c0ronariu5]

Huzzah.

[@AndieKaran07]

😂😂😂

[@meganmatthews7611]

Yess!!

[@thesimpsarecomingthesimpsa9113]

HUZZAH!!!!!!

[@TepidShark]

Hatfield House was used for a lot of movies including Orlando (the movie with Tilda Swinton), the Michael Keaton Batman movies & My Week with Marilyn.

[@moonflymoonfly]

Great set of questions

[@delusionalphosphorus]

Good job interviewing

[@DawnMontefusco]

I love this!!!!! Love you both so much!!!

[@Venti470]

I enjoyed the show immensely! Nicholas and Elle are great. Nicholas should play Lestat.

[@enrique097]

1st Wave who is lestat? He would play a good valerian.

[@robertarobu3133]

I also think he could play Lestat. Maybe if they do a reboot

[@julsalmta96]

Such good questions!

[@danilopadilha5915]

These two were superb in it!

[@psammiad]

Elle's English accent (not "Briddish" accent - Britain has many accents including Welsh, Scots and Irish, hers is a standard English accent) is virtually flawless, I'm very impressive. American actors rarely any good - I'm looking at you, Johnny Depp.

[@Dani-rz8dj]

Best show on Hulu BY FAR. it’s so fantastic.

[@hollynberard5408]

Huzzah! This show blew me away!

[@mandyzhu4632]

I love Nicholas hoult as Petter he killed it

[@aseeyuuuh]

We need a second season it's soooo goood

[@escapism1477]

This interview is rich!

[@danilopadilha5915]

Elle Fanning's Cathetine was sexy, clumsy, naive, bold, purely amazing!

[@Lain.ex96]

so good questions!!!

[@scottbarkley496]

NICHOLAS HOULT IS IN MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 7 😍

[@skyefraser9494]

Nope I’m sorry to say he dropped out nearly a week ago due to scheduling conflicts

[@rebeccaelliott9770]

@@skyefraser9494 Yeah i was sad to hear this. I'd have loved to see him as the villain in MI. The other part better be bloody good to make up for it :)

[@mia3825]

he dropped it for s2 of the great apparently

[@rebeccaelliott9770]

@@mia3825 well that makes me feel slightly better cos i love the great! I'm just itching to see him in a blockbuster

[@Hootyhoo-jq9vq]

Really good show. Huzzah!

[@sebastian98981]

I know is not okay to ship real life people. But I'm shipping Elle with Nicholas hehe.

[@heylinaraa]

i thought i'm only one who doing that

[@larendijacosmica]

Yes!!! Same. They look just amazing together

[@857noel]

They are both great in this

[@marianlacanlale6762]

I really love "the great". Still waiting for the season 2....

[@mariacarissadcbaiddin7317]

Season 2 please!!! 🤗🤗🤗

[@cicadasmasher8082]

While the show is based loosely on history, it really could do so much as it has some great historical content to work with. For example, Nicholas's portrayel of Peter III is an awesome character, so while you want to see Catherine win and pull off her coup you don't necessarily want to see Nicholas go from the show. Well ironically enough, in real life after Catherine pulled off her coup and Peter was assassinated, a Cossack officer named Yemelyan Pugachov actually pretended to be Peter III and raised a rebellion while doing so to revolt against Catherine. So Nicholas could just jump straight into that role and play that character if they kill Peter III off. Whatever they do, I hope this show lasts a long time.

[@SpringVioletta]

Wow that’s exactly what they did!!! Devastated to hear it’s not being renewed for a 4th Season.

[@eleven4176]

Its a GREAT show

[@janelanc4410]

Can’t believe people still surprised by Elle acting skills in 2020 lol watch her other works ffs it’s ridiculous how most of yall only watched Maleficent when her role wasn’t even that big or complex. Go watch Neon Demon, Ginger&Rosa, 20th Century Women, Teen,Spirit, The Beguiled, Teen Spirit, Mary Shelley, All the Bright Places,Somewhere etc

[@i.n.g.]

Great Show super funny and both leads are incredible

[@strawberryjam9145]

Elle Fanning speaking without an accent is weird

[@dzieki_6569]

Still an accent

[@strawberryjam9145]

@@dzieki_6569 touché

[@daejahhill770]

How did they keep a straight face during this? I couldn’t stop laughing after 15 minutes of watching

[@sahayeda5220]

i need season twooooo

[@stephanieholden3496]

Elle is so amazing in the great

[@denisejurado8335]

Huzzah! So good.

[@deabayhaqi6210]

I'm begging for the season 2 !!!

[@jackperkins3460]

Season 2 🤞

[@sindelk19gaming11]

you're the best nicholas hoult i love you i'm your biggest fan 😍😍❤️

[@chasehedges6775]

He's Beast from Xmen. What's not to like.

[@shoogur3920]

Its hard not to see chemistry.

[@honeycoves7831]

Elle is so beautiful while Nicholas is smoking hot wtffffff

[@WahooNikki]

My first thought of Emperor Peter was that he was a lot like the character Hugh Grant plays in About a Boy... with a lot more blood.

[@Andyxylius]

When i look at Elle i just go "Huzzah" !

[@babushka2758]

I’m annoyed that the last questions ignored Nicholas Hoult.

[@ployjh]

They are so cute 😍

[@andigomez1993]

This show was great! It was nice to see Nick play a character that I couldn't stand. By the end of it I was so annoyed by him, but that's the point!! Make us hate you and you've succeeded.

[@geovane4309]

this actress is the love of my life😍😍

[@tonilama8425]

Omg isn’t Nicholas Hoult prettiest man ever??????

[@terezinhamariadeandradetei1898]

Eu amei o filme e os casal principal. Espero ver mais filme com o par que são lindos!

[@sindelk19gaming11]

please put subtitles in Spanish I am a fan of Nicholas Hoult and I cannot understand what they say I have to use a translator to send this message

[@professorm4171]

Try clicking 'CC' and translate to Spanish.

[@danielapenaherrera9294]

Elle is gorgeous

[@lizxoxox]

ik i knew elle from somewhere when i saw her in that episode of criminal minds

[@luismiguelvillenachoque2148]

❣️❣️Nicholas Hoult

[@TwinkleWinks2]

So sad I can’t watch it on hulu because i’m not in the US

[@Emma-gh6vr]

I'm in Canada and don't have Hulu but am able to watch it on Amazon prime. Maybe it's just in north America... it's pretty good so I hope your able to watch it

[@TwinkleWinks2]

Emma Kimoto-Nimchuk but i’m in Asia so... :( btw thanks

[@Emma-gh6vr]

@@TwinkleWinks2 there's also the option of trying VPN services...

[@moist7302]

maybe you have like local services, which have this show? i tell you cause i have this stuf in my area

[@epicsakura101]

Worst comes to worst, there’s always piracy. Last resort, but oh well

[@afaaf857]

i'm so use to hearing elle with a british accent its weird hearing her in an american one lol, its like johnny depp i mostly watch movies where he talks in an english accent

[@nonsequitur9332]

nicolas hoult is such a beautiful man....

[@timidsore7933]

I'm scared that Peter's gonna get killed next season. Sorry for the spoiler.

[@Mopsbpv]

Well look at history and youll know whats gonna happen lmao

[@c0ronariu5]

Wait, he doesn’t get killed at the end of the first? What kind of coup is this! An ineffectual one...

[@timidsore7933]

@@Mopsbpv I know but producers often change the script and history lol Peter isn't a good person but at I love the character makes the show interesting

[@timidsore7933]

@@c0ronariu5 this is show business, history is rewritten by the scriptwriters lol