An Interview with Emilia Fox from ‘Signora Volpe’

Emilia Fox is an accomplished actor of the silver and small screen, and has appeared in some iconic stories, such as The Pianist, and currently Emilia stars as MI6 agent Sylvia Fox in the new Acorn TV series, Signora Volpe, and we here at NTG were able to sit down with Emilia to discuss her career and her new show.
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John Betancourt: Let’s talk a little bit about what got you into acting.

Emilia Fox: Well, the truth is that I was a very, very bad waitress. And I got the opportunity at university to play a part in Pride and Prejudice, which was a television series. I mean, 20 plus years ago. And so, I thought, “Oh, that's a great holiday job that will be more fun than waitressing.” Which was not going so well. And so, I did it. And then the series went on to be successful. I was a tiny, tiny part in it. But the series was successful. So, I got an agent. And then when I was doing the final, my final exam at university, my agent put me up for work. And I thought, “Oh, this is way better than doing exams. At least I can have another focus.” And then I got the job. So, the minute I finished my finals exam, I walked onto a set. And then that was that and I never looked back. And I've been lucky enough to be doing it for 20 something years. That's the history of that story.

John Betancourt: Well, that’s a great story. Now, what was it, that attracted you to the role of Sylvia Fox?

Emilia Fox: Well, there's so much isn't there? I mean, she's a great part, in that, you know, you're meeting a woman at a crossroads in her life with this job that you know, which is endlessly fascinating to research and explore as an MI6 agent that, you know, she's been passionate about, she's cared about the, you know, people that she's worked with in the field. But now the job has changed. And she's been slightly done over by her ex-husband, who still works for MI6 and who she's still sleeping with. And so, life is complicated at work, but also work has dominated her life to the detriment of her relationship with her family. Which is why it's so important for her to get to her niece's wedding in Italy. So, what I loved about it was… this is a woman at this time in her life in her 40s. And looking as so many of us do at, you know, how we might change our lives? What's the second half of our life? She's cared so much about the job in the first half, what's the second half going to be? Could she improve on it? And when she gets out to Italy, and feels the warmth of her family, should she stay there? Or should she go back to life in London? You can see why she's attracted to stay, so is this for me as an actress… to play the MI6 agent and the spy bit but also to then create this character life with family and the complications of family, the fun, and then also the, the elements of romance in it, but all sort of embedded around these mysteries. Because she can't give up on her natural inquisitiveness that she had as a spy for solving mysteries and I think then she gets asked to be involved in a very unconventional mystery once she's staying in Italy.

So, there was so much about it but also you know, being in Italy getting to work in Italy getting to live in Italy for three months was exceptional. We were in the most beautiful places; we were filming in the West. Just beautiful locations and there’s the amazing skills of the crew you know, I think actually Sylvia’s style is quite a noticeable thing. We had an amazing costume designer who designed the most beautiful clothes for her and for everyone, and the actors out there were utterly extraordinary they come with you know, they come wanting to play the characters and you know, bring them to life with histories and they're dedicated actors and that was really exciting for me, and we had an amazing crew. We were coming out of COVID times and all these crews, they're coming off of these big Italian films. They're coming to work on Signora Volpe. So, we had the best of the best we were very, very lucky. And so, I can't think of a single thing that there wasn't to love about being part of Signora Volpe. -laughs-

John Betancourt: To expand a little bit upon what you said though, because you bring up some great points there, such as Sylvia’s complexity and I was really curious as to how you as an actor, got into the mindset of playing someone with so many layers and so much on her mind.

Emilia Fox: Well, I was very lucky, they gave me someone to work with on the research for espionage skills. So, he taught me through that and showed me the back of his van, which had all sorts of equipment. And so that was really fascinating, and just, you know, the things that he would be aware of in day-to-day life and looked for. And then we had a movement coach who sort of talked me through like, where she might, you know, place herself in the room and things like that. And so, the physical side of it was something I really enjoyed, you know, it's great in your 40s being asked to do something, which is physically challenging, so I love that. And then, you know, in contrast to that, you've got the, you know, like the relationships with Tara Fitzgerald playing Sylvia’s sister. I'd always wanted to work with Tara, and I imagined her playing Isabel. And so, working on those, that side of things was the sort of, you know, the sort of opposite to the actual spy stuff. But creating those relationships as a family on screen is just as important because I think that's at the heart of Signora Volpe as well.

John Betancourt: I fully agree, that’s a huge deal. Now there is so much good messaging present within this show. What was the underlying message in this series that stuck out to you the most?

Emilia Fox: I think that it is that it's about the decisions we make in our life. And that, you know, many of them are dominated by our work and what we chose to do in our 20s. And is there a moment in life where we should reflect about what we would like the second half of our life to be and is that a choice very often, you don't make that choice, because it's too scary. And it’s too challenging to change what you know. But I really liked the fact that Sylvia makes that decision. And although she can't quite let go of her past, and you know what she's done as an MI6 agent, she does make the decision to put family first and to try and rebuild those relationships, and prioritize that over what has been, yes, a job that she's loved, but to the detriment of family and herself and her marriage. And she gives herself a second chance. And I think that's exciting. And that excites me, as you know, in real life as well.

John Betancourt: It really is funny how one day we just realize how much family matters to us. Now, I do want to circle back on something else you mentioned, specifically research. Was there anything else you did to learn more about your role from spy/espionage standpoint?

Emilia Fox: I talked to my dad who played in The Day of the Jackal and I asked him, he played the spy, the Jackal. And so, I talked to my dad about what it was like and about his firearms skills and movement actually and what it was like playing that character. He was a very good person to go to.

John Betancourt: And I was also curious… as to how much stunt work you did on the show?

Emilia Fox: I did whatever they asked me to do. And was very much involved in all of those scenes that you see. So, I did yeah, I did a lot of the physical stuff and then they've got… for anything which is obviously dangerous, or they're worried that you'll get hurt then they use incredible stunt men and women.

John Betancourt: Well now I have to go back and watch and see if I can spot the differences. It all looks so good! -laughs-

Emilia Fox: -laughs- Hopefully you can’t see the joy.

John Betancourt: Now, to dig back into Sylvia a little more, I was wondering if you could tell us ultimately what she is searching for in this series?

Emilia Fox: I think she's searching to know herself from what she wants. And I think that her job has covered a lot of that. I think being a spy, particularly being a spy… you're, you're someone else all the time. And I guess that's not dissimilar to acting, you're always playing someone else. -laughs- And I think she's searching to know what she wants in life.

John Betancourt: What does it mean to you, to be a part of a series that is so refreshing and original?

Emilia Fox: I just feel so incredibly lucky to and fortunate to have been asked to play such a great character that is so rich, and complex. And I think, you know, as you have rightly said, there are so many elements to her and she's complicated and playing complicated characters is always the most interesting as an actor. Because you're constantly looking at her from different angles and trying to you know, I love the fact that there is this, you know, there's a serious side to it. And, you know, I think the tone of it, that was talked a lot about at the beginning as to what tone to give it and I think that there is a darkness to it. As you feel in Italy, there, there can be a darkness, but it's flooded with this beautiful light. And I think that's the tone of the series. So. for me, I just, I really loved her complication, her light and her dark as well.

John Betancourt: What would you say you’re most proud of when it comes to this series?

Emilia Fox: I am proud of I think, like, the relationships that we built out there with cast and crew to sustain you know, a long shoot and being you know… it's a privilege when you're an actor to be part of the every day. So, you know, often actors, you know, they drift in do their scene, they drift off, you don't see them for another two or three days or a week or whatever. But I was there from beginning to end of every day. And I felt very, very part of the whole production and also doing a bit of exec work seeing it from the very, very beginning and how that project has grown. So, I just feel proud of being a part of it with everyone who was involved in it, really.

John Betancourt: Last question for you today, what are you hoping audiences take away from this series when season one has come to an end?

Emilia Fox: I hope that they enjoy the different elements of it, the mystery elements, the family elements, the romance elements a bit, the humor in it, as well as the darker more serious sides to it as well. And that it's about humanity. It's about family. It's about love and things that we can relate to. But with a background of mysteries to solve.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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