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<\/p>\nFans of Game Of Thrones and Succession are bound to love Sky original drama Domina , which returns for its second season this week. Set in Italy, the eight-part series continues the retelling of the power struggles for control of the Roman Empire from a female perspective. <\/p>\n
Polish-born actress Kasia Smutniak stars as leading lady Livia Drusilla who, after three years away, returns to Rome alongside her husband Augustus Caesar, known as Gaius (played by Matthew McNulty). What they find is a city in revolt, with Livia\u2019s children in open rebellion as the race for power in Ancient Rome turns deadly.<\/p>\n
The first series aired two years ago, so when the green light was given for a sequel, many of the cast had to travel overseas again to commence filming at the Cinecitt\u00e0 Studios in the Italian capital.<\/p>\n
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However, for Kasia, who was thrilled at the opportunity to uncover more about her real-life counterpart, it involved a very short commute! \u201cI\u2019ve lived in Rome for 20 years,\u201d says the 44-year-old.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there\u2019s a place not far from my house called \u2018Livia\u2019s Cave\u2019 which is quite amazing. I didn\u2019t know much about Livia at the start of the project and I thought that was because I\u2019m not from Rome. But none of my friends knew much about her either.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I did some research, the only things I found about Livia were in the pages of a book about Augustus (Gaius). This is the gap we\u2019re trying to fill in this show, by showing what an incredible character Livia was. She lived and she fought for so long and she had so much power, so much influence. She was the first feminist and yet we know so little about her.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Series one saw power-hungry Livia marry Gaius, providing her with a seat at the top of the fractious empire and dysfunctional dynasty. She had to fight to preserve her marriage and find a way to steer one of her sons into power \u2013 a plan of action that in series two hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n
Mancunian actor Matthew hints that Livia\u2019s hopes to get one of her children a seat at the \u201ctop table\u201d is easier said than done. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe family gets worse in series two,\u201d laughs Matthew. \u201cThere\u2019s more backstabbing, more fighting, more battles for power. The relationship between Gaius and Livia intensifies as their fierce passion and their hatred for each other peaks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want to hurt each other more than they\u2019ve ever done, but at the same time, they probably love each other more than they ever have as well. They know how much they need each other. Expect more political scheming, more death.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Something else that we can expect from the second series of Domina is a raunchy scene or two \u2013 and not just between Gaius and Livia. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first three episodes, Gaius is afraid of losing his prowess so he sets out to prove he\u2019s still got it,\u201d hints Matthew.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t say I love doing intimate scenes \u2013 it\u2019s always quite difficult and embarrassing,\u201d admits Kasia. \u201cBut I totally trust Matthew, we have a great connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so happy to get out for a few weeks and run in the forest,\u201d she adds. \u201cShoot me, put me on a horse, take me to the river, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019m just happy to be outside. I got a lot of bruises from the show, but no major mishaps. I know Matthew did, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cI fell off my horse once with all the military gear on,\u201d admits Matthew. \u201cAs I was coming off the horse I thought, \u2018What part of this costume is gonna stab me?\u2019 My life flashed before my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got away with a broken wrist, but it was frightening. And it wasn\u2019t ideal, it meant I had to shoot scenes sideways. Luckily, Gaius wears a lot of cloaks so I could hide the cast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew really went the extra mile to ensure he looked authentically of the time. \u201cI had a Roman haircut, which is quite difficult to make stylish in real life with the flat, weird fringe,\u201d he laughs. \u201cBut the costumes \u2013 they do make you feel important. They bolster your confidence and ego!\u201d<\/p>\n