Interview: Jonathan Pryce on David Cartwright’s ‘Slow Horses’ Journey and ‘Evita’ Turning 30

Jonathan Pryce is no stranger to playing powerful figures of authority. Yet, as he speaks on his portrayal of David Cartwright in the fifth season of Apple TV’s hit series Slow Horses, Pryce points out a fundamental irony about authority. “[People] trust them,” Pryce notes when asked what audiences often misunderstand about people in power. “That’s the problem… The less they do, the more powerful they can be.”

That quiet, understated presence is central to his role as the former head of MI5, whose authority is increasingly overshadowed by a heartbreaking decline into dementia, a journey Pryce experienced alongside the audience by purposefully not reading Mick Herron’s Slow Horses novels. “I went from series to series fulfilling anything that was required of David Cartwright,” Pryce explains. “I discovered things about the character in real time, and I think for me it was valuable that the audience discovered at the same time.”

Together with Awards Radar, he also reflected on his incredible career of masterful performances that span genres and the world. “You think of The Two Popes, yes, people can’t believe that we didn’t actually film in the Sistine Chapel and that was a set. It was extraordinary.” 

A beloved and impactful project of his, Evita, is also going on its thirtieth anniversary this year. I think the main draw for me was… Alan Parker, an extraordinary filmmaker… It was great to watch afterwards to see what the images that Alan created… It’s a fantastic piece of work, and I think in some quarters it doesn’t get the recognition it really deserves,” said Pryce on working with the late Evita director, who also helmed films like Midnight Express and Mississippi Burning.

As he celebrates his Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Guest Actor in a Drama Series, Pryce looked back on the most fun parts of taking part in a long-form television narrative. “It’s just great being able to tell that story over a number of weeks and months and years,” Pryce reflects. “It’s a great privilege.”