If I had the choice between watching a spy series and a rom-com, most people who know me would easily (and correctly) assume that I’ll pick the latter. But the rise of female leads in spy TV shows recently has swayed me – namely the spectacle that is Citadel!
Released last year with Priyanka Chopra at the helm, the brown girl in me relished seeing not just a South Asian woman being front and centre, but being depicted as multi-layered with unapologetic fierceness, stunts and all. Less than a month after its premiere, it became Prime Video’s fourth most-watched new original series worldwide, and its popularity has sparked a spin-off, once again led by a powerful woman.
Citadel: Diana stars Matilda de Angelis in the lead role of Diana Cavalieri, an undercover Citadel agent trapped as a mole in enemy agency, Manticore. The Italian actress brings her own flair to a character who embodies self-determination and boldness, but also a sense of vulnerability as she processes trauma from her past. The show is based in the future, 2030 in Milan to be exact. Eight years earlier, the independent global spy agency Citadel was destroyed by the powerful enemy syndicate, Manticore. Diana has been undercover at Manticore ever since, and strikes an unexpected alliance with the heir of Manticore Italy.
Matilda, who has starred in Italian movies such as Italian Race and Rose Island, says one of the main reasons she accepted the role was because it’s one many wouldn’t expect her to do.
“Especially as an Italian actress, we don't get the chance to perform these kinds of roles in Italy that much, you know, with a lot of stunts, a lot of action, but also it has many, many layers,” Matilda tells Missing Perspectives.
“So I think what drew me the most to the project was the idea of challenging myself in a very different way, in a more physical way. And I fell in love with a character,” she smiles.
“I fell in love with Diana. I thought she was so interesting for me as a reader.”
Showrunner and executive producer Gina Gardini says it was important to create a central character that’s flawed and relatable.
“How fabulous to see such an ambiguous, multi-layered female character that isn't perfect,” says Gina. I think that's important. Diana is not someone who's resolved, right? She has a lot of things that she needs to work through – emotional trauma and the fact that she's been forced to repress her emotions for a long time.”
Gina explains that one of the show’s greatest strengths is providing an opportunity for viewers to see a female spy who flips stereotypes on their head. An opportunity to “explore a woman that is so layered, that is so imbalanced in a good way, and not just like the super kick-ass spy or the glamour queen,” says Gina. “Or the exact opposite, you know, because in many ways, Diana is a victim, but she's also a victim of herself.”
Matilda enjoys throwing herself into playing characters who are worlds apart from who she actually is. But, she’s also proud of the similarities she shares with Diana.
“She has a very strong will, and I do too. When I commit to something, I really commit to it 100%. I think we have that in common.”
Spy shows can quickly become quite serious, and of course there are darker, mysterious elements to this spin-off to keep it consistent with the genre. But Gina and Matilda also want audiences to have fun watching it.
“I think ultimately we want audiences to have fun and to really engage and feel invested in Diana’s journey,” says Gina. “It's a very fast-paced one, because our series takes place within a time lock. But don't we just want audiences to have a great time and be moved?”
Citadel: Diana will premiere on October 10 on Amazon Prime Video