The Power And The Gory

Donald Sutherland on his role as billionaire J Paul Getty in a family saga like no other…

- Judy Ewens

NEW DRAMA

Trust

WEDNESDAY / BBC2 / 9PM

The fascinating story of one of the wealthiest and most dysfunctional families in the world, the Gettys, is brought to life in tenpart US drama Trust, which makes its UK premiere on BBC2 this week, and stars Hollywood notables Donald Sutherland, Hilary Swank and Brendan Fraser.

In the 1970s, the clan’s patriarch, American oil magnate J Paul Getty, was worth $2 billion. He was also notoriously mean, even installing a pay phone at his Surrey manor, Sutton Place, for guests to use.

Getty, as played by Donald, is a cruel and arrogant man, who treats everyone with disdain. His five sons, or ‘simpering idle wasters’ as he calls them, are a profound disappointment, throwing their lives away on drugs and leisure.