Jeremy Irons gets religion in Showtime’s ‘The Borgias’

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Jeremy Irons has taken on a lot of chilly characters in a distinguished career that includes his Oscar-winning role in ‘Reversal of Fortune,’ ‘The Mission and ‘The Lion King.’ But he had to overcome some initial concerns when taking on his latest role, Rodrigo Borgia, also known as Pope Alexander VI, in Showtime’s historical drama ‘The Borgias.’

Irons was a bit troubled at first by his lack of physical resemblance to Borgia: The pope was portly and somewhat ungainly, contrasting sharply with the actor’s tall, ramrod stature.

But he eventually decided to immerse himself in Borgia’s complicated essence: ‘There’s the fascinating complexity of the character, and when you have that the physicality is only one element.’

Read more about Irons’ new role and the sex and violence that permeate the saga of ‘The Borgias,’ which premieres April 3: ‘The Borgias’ on Showtime examines a corrupt pope

-- Greg Braxton