The Borgias (2011)

About The Borgias

The Borgias is a historical-fiction drama television series, created by Neil Jordan. The show first premiered in 2011 and basically illustrates the infamous Borgia family's rise to power and subsequent domination of the Vatican during the Renaissance.

Making / Production

The show was filmed in Hungary and was primarily sponsored by Bravo cable network in Canada and Showtime in the United States. Neil Jordan, along with Jack Rapke, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, John Weber, Sheila Hockin and James Flynn, were primarily involved with the show's production efforts.

Actors

• Jeremy Irons (Rodrigo Borgia) - Irons excellently portrayed the role of the ambitious patriarch, conveying Rodrigo's hunger for power with an air of charm and subtlety.
• François Arnaud (Cesare Borgia) - Arnaud skillfully depicted Cesare as a ruthless and cunning strategist, forever living under the shadow of his family's reputation.
• Holliday Grainger (Lucrezia Borgia) - Grainger shined in her role as the innocent yet politically astute Lucrezia, presenting a layered and complex character with grace.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show was originally pitched to Steven Spielberg's company DreamWorks.
• Jeremy Irons was only willing to play the Pope if the rest of the cast was made up of young talents.
• The show marked the first time for Neil Jordan to work on a television series.

Awards

The Borgias received multiple awards including a nomination for the Golden Nymph for outstanding European producer - drama TV series, and a WIN Award for actress in a drama series for Holliday Grainger.

Quotes

• "Power is an illusion... Without wealth, it vanishes." - Rodrigo Borgia.
• "Any man who talks about his inhumanity with regret, could not be a beast." - Cesare Borgia.
• "How can one wage war on one's own family?" - Lucrezia Borgia.

Music, Soundtrack

• Main theme: "The Borgias Theme" by Trevor Morris
• Featured song: "Renaissance" by Mat Zo
• Additional music: 'Flamenco Sketches' by Miles Davis