'The Diplomat' Interview: Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell

Moviefone speaks with Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell about 'The Diplomat.' "It's a crazy relationship full of pain," Russell said of her character's marriage.

Premiering on Netflix beginning April 20th is the new political drama ‘The Diplomat,’ which was created by Debora Cahn (‘The West Wing,’ ‘Homeland,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy’).

What is the plot of ‘The Diplomat?’

'The Diplomat' centers on Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), the new U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, as she has to defuse international crises, forge strategic alliances in London and adjust to her new place in the spotlight while also trying to survive her marriage to fellow career diplomat Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell).

Who is in the cast of ‘The Diplomat?’

‘The Diplomat’ stars Keri Russell (‘Cocaine Bear,’ ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’) as Kate Wyler, Rufus Sewell (‘Judy,’ ‘The Father’) as Hal Wyler, Ali Ahn (‘Liberal Arts’) as Eidra Graham, David Gyasi (‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’) as Austin Dennison, Ato Essandoh (‘Dark Phoenix’) as Stuart Hayford, Rory Kinnear (‘No Time to Die’) as Nicol Trowbridge, Miguel Sandoval (‘Clear and Present Danger’) as Miguel Ganon, and Michael McKean (‘This Is Spinal Tap’) as US President Rayburn.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell about their work on ‘The Diplomat,’ the complications of their characters’ marriage, why Kate does not want to be Ambassador, why Hal wants her to take the job, and how he’s adjusting to his new role in her administration.

(L to R) Rufus Sewell and Keri Russell star in Netflix's 'The Diplomat.'

You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Russell and Sewell, as well as Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh, David Gyasi, and series creator Debora Cahn.

Moviefone: To begin with, Keri, can you talk about why Kate was reluctant to accept the Ambassadorship and how she’s adjusting to her new job?

Kerri Russell: There are generally two types of ambassadors that we have. One, tends to be a gift in some way for a large presidential donation. You get posted in Paris, London or Rome, somewhere nice for the summer. Then there are the career diplomats who are posted in Beirut or starting up a place in Afghanistan, setting up shop there, and they speak multiple languages. Kate is one of the latter, and I think she sees these more glamorous posts like London as not the real work. She doesn't want to have tea parties with people. She wants to help people, girls go to school or girls to stay alive, you know what I mean? Or to set up voting registration places. I think Kate is struggling because she not passionate. She doesn't think it's the real work that she is passionate about.

Keri Russell as Kate Wyler, and Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler in 'The Diplomat.'

MF: Rufus, can you talk about why Hal encourages Kate to take the Ambassadorship and how is he adjusting to his new role behind the scenes?

Rufus Sewell: Well, he encourages her because he's a few steps ahead on this. I mean, he also is a similar kind of ambassador. This is a post which is usually awarded to someone who is a big donor politically. It's normally about parties, photo shoots and glamour, et cetera, et cetera. So posts like this are not really what we are in the game for. We are normally at the cold face of diplomacy, saving lives, stopping wars, or at least trying to. Spending time with warlords or whatever. But this is an opportunity for her to go on to something else. She's not fully apprised of what this really means, I have more of an idea. Actually, even though I have in the past been a bit of a big shot myself, I genuinely want her to do incredibly well. He's just not very good at not stepping into the light. He's a great believer in her. They are equals in mind. He is a big, big supporter of hers. He just can't help screwing up a bit.

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MF: Finally, Keri, how would you describe Kate and Hal’s marriage and the relationship between the two characters?

KR: I think it's a crazy, chaotic, amazing relationship full of friction and pain as well. It just started incredibly intimately and I think their love language, and their meeting is through what they do and what they both love to do. We keep saying, debating and fierce political debate is their pillow talk, sort of. That is what gets them both going. That's what they care about. I think what's fun to play with is that idea of one person in the relationship being very comfortable and used to being in the background while the other person is the star. It's really easy to judge the person when you're sitting back watching them kind of perform everything. Then when she has to be in the front, she thinks, “Oh, I'll do everything so perfectly,” and she's incredibly bad at all of those things. She's not charming, she's not small talkie with people. She doesn't know the name of everyone's cousin and dog, and can't tell jokes in the easy way that Hal can. I think the things that Kate lacks, Hal has, with ease, and I think Kate has a sense of integrity and organization that Hal sort of lacks. They round each other out pretty well in that way, and I think she really loves him and thinks that he is brilliant, but he's not always the best person for her to be around. Or maybe not even the best person to be with. But that's who she loves.