It deals with the marriage policy of Maria Theresa, the financial problems of the monarchy, which František Štěpán tries to solve despite his wife’s misunderstanding, Josef, who sharply opposes his father, whom he perceives as a rascal, the death of František Štěpán and the subsequent conflict between Josef and Maria, and the final insight of Joseph, who will understand what role the father really played in the running of the empire.
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“František Štěpán was an interesting figure in our history and very little is known about him. Thanks to our film series, I would like to know how revolutionary his thinking was in his time and what he did, “says Vojtěch Kotek, the representative of Maria Theresa’s husband, František Štěpán Lotrinský.
Maria Theresa’s son Karel Josef: His mother chose an ugly one, he died before marriage
You spent several years with the role of František Štěpán. How did you actually get to her?
Well, it’s been a pretty long escapade. I know of several colleagues who also ran for the role. When it seemed that I should get it, I still had to go to Vienna. It was clear to me that a lot of people were talking about it, so I didn’t even hope to play František Štěpán. In the end, it turned out and I’m very happy about it. I had no idea how the character would grow to my heart.
Do you remember the first emotions when you saw yourself in František Štěpán’s costume?
The first attempts were rather funny. My wig didn’t fit at all, it didn’t fit my face shape. I looked like a cocker spaniel. Like we were filming a parody. But the moment we came to the right costume and wig, it physically straightened me completely. First, you have heels, so you have to walk straight. And with a costume, you get the feeling that it must be worn respectfully. Moreover, when you are in the beautiful hall of the Kroměříž chateau during the filming and all of you are dressed in a period costume, it somehow teleports you to that time.
How much have you studied historical sources?
Many books about František Štěpán have not been published. I searched for about three books, and the one with a very characteristic name, Men in the Shadow, helped me the most. I also read the answer to why František Štěpán is a bit excluded from history. It is “thanks” to Maria Theresa. She missed him somewhere in her memoirs and credited some of her credit. But I think that František Štěpán would understand it and lovingly sanctify it. After his death, he left the family with eighteen million gold… The average salary of a well-off official was about a thousand gold a year. The sum of eighteen million is breathtaking, and the Habsburg monarchy lived from it until its demise. How he got such a fortune is also the subject of the last episode of Maria Theresa.
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You played alongside several actresses portraying Maria Theresa at different ages. How did their approach differ?
This was very interesting for me, because all three had a different approach. Although I was sorry we couldn’t build on what we started, the acting transformation gave me new energy. It always kicked me to move František Štěpán somewhere further. I had the advantage of having something to build on, but I was always inspired by the new representative. While Marie-Luise Stockinger was very focused, devoted and always ready, Steffi Reinsperger and I talked a lot and discussed the scenes together before we went to the square. Finally, with Ursula Strauss, I enjoyed showing off the precise and unforced portrayal of the famous queen.
What did the mask have to add to be an authentic old man?
It was clear to me that I would have to adjust my posture, walking speed and so on. It can be trained in front of a mirror. But the hardest part was the inside. Imagine that I lived that life and what all the experiences I gained. How much this translates into emotions that are manifested in different situations or not. I have to admit, I meant Dad and Grandpa. I imagined myself in a version of their age.
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