STRUCK FROM HISTORY

Matthew Macfadyen talks exclusively to Newsweek about bringing a forgotten chapter of America's past to life in Netflix's Death by Lightning

- MANDY TAHERI

OVER TWO YEARS AFTER HIS FINAL TURN as Succession’s calculating yet quirky Tom Wambsgans, Matthew Macfadyen returned to the World Trade Center complex—the backdrop for Waystar Roy-co's headquarters on the show. This time, instead of heading to television network ATN, he joined Newsweek to discuss his latest role—playing Charles Guiteau, U.S. President James A. Garfield’s assassin, in Netflix’s limited series Death by Lightning.

With his long beard, erratic persona and chronic money troubles, Guiteau is much less polished than Succession’s Wambsgans, the buttoned-up business executive. But despite being separated by over a century-and-a half, the two characters share a similar through line—“weaselly” outsiders clawing for status and attention in an environment dominated by politics and money, a sharp contrast from the reserved British actor who plays them.

“It’s tremendously liberating to do those sorts of parts because it’s so far away from me,” Macfadyen, 51, told Newsweek. “In fact,” he continued, “it’s liberating to play an American, only because of the rhythms of speech. It gives you a sort of confidence.”

“It’s very attractive.”

He added: “As a Brit to play that, it’s great. Thrilling. Because I’m not like that in real life.”

Mike Makowsky’s historical drama Death by Lightning, which premiered on November 6 on Netflix, is a four-part limited series adapted from Candice Millard’s nonfiction bestseller Destiny of the Republic. Macfadyen stars alongside Michael Shannon, Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin and Shea Whigham.

Its release felt eerily timely. Filming began just days before then-Republican nominee Donald Trump was shot at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July—the bullet grazing his ear, inches from killing the soon-to-be president.