Dominic Cooper and Romola Garai have opened up about ITV's new drama Adultery, exploring why audiences remain fascinated by stories of infidelity and the moral complexity of the show's central affair.
The series follows Beth, a fitness trainer played by Romola Garai, and Tom, a GP played by Dominic Cooper, who are both in separate marriages and from different social classes. They decide to risk upending their lives to pursue their desire for one another. Beth shares a teenage son, Ollie, with her husband Neil (Matthew McNulty), while Tom is married to Hannah (Shelley Conn) and has a teenage daughter, Jess, who is Ollie's girlfriend.
Why Affairs Captivate TV Audiences
Romola Garai, known for her role in Atonement, said there is a "profound voyeuristic interest in affairs because it's a taboo." She added: "There is a thing with TV shows sometimes where it's like, we're having the affair, so you don't have to."
Dominic Cooper, who rose to fame in The History Boys, highlighted how "complex" the theme is in real life, given that people are often told "you can have whatever you want" if they chase their dreams. He said: "Every person who's lucky enough to be in a relationship or have relationships or families has been through the process – whether it was when they were younger or teenagers – of temptation of something different that they don't have."
He praised the series' writer, Danny Brocklehurst, saying: "I think we're constantly questioning how we've ended up where we are, who we are, who we're with, and I think what Danny's done in this is beautifully made a piece of work that has no judgement."
A Morally Complex Story
What makes Adultery engaging is how it draws the audience in, as viewers feel for Beth and Tom in different ways. Beth does everything for her family and is suffering from horrific grief, while Tom's relationship with his wife Hannah isn't as strong as it used to be, but the cracks are hidden behind a carefully painted facade of perfection.
In Romola Garai's words, Beth and Tom are "essentially good people who do very bad things, so it feels very morally complex." She added: "Rather than the experience being a voyeuristic experience watching it, you're actually being asked to look at that in yourselves. What is it that makes people want something outside of what they have?"
The actress explained that the show demonstrates there are "massive consequences" to such actions. "When you do something like this, whether it's a one-night stand or a fully fledged affair, you are going to potentially hurt other people a great deal. What the show asks is how much do you deserve your own happiness versus the happiness of other people," she said.
Class and Communication
One element that sets Adultery apart from other infidelity dramas like The Affair is the class element, given that Tom's family live a more affluent life than Beth's. Dominic Cooper reflected: "Part of the affair is fueled by this temptation or this wonder and romance of a world you don't know in both directions. It's Danny's observation of it, and the way in which he writes it not from a judgmental point of view, it's just how it is in everyday life."
Romola Garai added: "The show is really about class. I think that that does actually make it quite unique and different as well, because it raises the idea of how the class system still exists in the UK and how it plays out in our lives."
Dominic Cooper also outlined how his character Tom's failure to communicate with his wife about his dissatisfaction causes more harm in the long run. "In not talking about it, the damage, the absolute damage, whether it's a long-term or tiny little thing, the consequences of it are massive," he said. "To think that anyone has none of these feelings is ridiculous. But we're desperate that that is the case. It doesn't mean anyone's necessarily going to do something."
The drama tells the story of Beth and Tom's romance with split perspectives, showing events from their points of view as well as other characters, including their children. The affair leads to huge repercussions that affect both families, with the show asking viewers to consider how they feel about the protagonists by the end.
Adultery premieres on Sunday October 25 at 9pm on ITV and will stream on ITVX.
