Starring Ewan McGregor, 'A Gentleman in Moscow' is an adaptation of Amor Towles' international bestseller and follows Count Alexander Rostov, played by the Emmy-winning actor. The project features several names in the cast, including the Portuguese Inês Pires Tavares, who spoke to Fama ao Minuto. 

The synopsis provided by SkyShowtime tells us: "In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, Count Alexander Rostov finds that his gilded past puts him on the wrong side of history. Spared immediate execution, he is condemned by a Soviet tribunal to live in an attic room in the opulent Hotel Metropol, threatened with execution if he ever ventures outside. 

As the years pass and some of the most tumultuous decades of Russian history unfold outside the hotel's doors, Rostov's confinement prompts him to explore and deepen his own emotional life. As he builds a new life within the hotel's walls, he discovers the true value of friendship, family, and love". 

The series has eight episodes, with the first three already available and the remaining ones will now be released one per week. 

Inês Pires Tavares plays Mila Federova, a young actress who conquers Russia, and appears in the fifth episode. Despite being a fleeting experience, it has left its mark on the Portuguese actress, who is very grateful for the opportunity and wishes to take more steps abroad. 

It is also worth mentioning that the actress is part of the cast of SIC's soap opera 'Senhora do Mar'. She has also been part of 'Sangue Oculto', 'Amor Amor' or 'Amar Demais' (the latter from TVI). 

How did this role in 'A Gentleman in Moscow' come about and what can you tell us about your participation in the series?

This project came about because I participated in 'Passaporte' - an initiative by Patrícia Vasconcelos in which selected actors have the opportunity to meet and present their work to numerous casting directors. I was selected two years ago and I think that because of that I had contact with my international agent, and it was a bit like that. We started working on my international career and several 'self-tapes' started to appear. And there was a day when she told me that I had got this role. I had already done the 'self-tape' months ago, so I almost wasn't expecting it anymore. It was a gift that came into my hands, it was very good. 

What is your role in the series?

My role is Mila Federova, who is a young actress. It's a period series, it's set in Russia, and there's a character - who is one of the protagonists - who is the great actress at that time in Russia. It goes through several decades and my character comes a little later, and there is a certain tension there because, suddenly, there are two actresses, Mila is the younger actress and the new favorite of Russia and the directors. So, there is a small scene in which this tension and duality between them is shown. 

© SkyShowtime  

Did you have the opportunity to meet all the actors, including Ewan McGregor?

I did meet him. I was in the same scene as him, but we didn't act together. But most of the actors were there. So, yes, I had the opportunity to meet some of them. 

I think it was a great experience not only because of the project that it is, but also because of this side of suddenly getting there and feeling that difference. It's all very big

How long did this work last? 

It was very quick! I found out that I had got the role in March/April and it was all from one day to the next. The next day I was flying to Manchester to start doing the wardrobe and makeup tests. Then I went there for a week to shoot and it was two days of shooting. It was an intense and quite quick experience. 

What did you learn and absorb from this project - despite it being so fleeting? 

What marked me the most was, without a doubt, the difference. It's another reality, another industry, another way of working. It's all very fast, very effective. Then in practical terms of shooting, in my case it was in a studio, suddenly I walk in and I have a beautiful, giant set, a team of hundreds of people, everything super organized...

I think it was a great experience not only because of the project that it is - it was a very important project for me and for my career -, but also because of this side of suddenly getting there and feeling that difference. It's all very big, that's what I felt. Everything is very well organized, you don't even have to think about what could go wrong because you know from the start that you're in good hands. 

Portugal will always be my home, I have no doubt about that, but I have a great ambition to have my international career

And you met other names, actors from other countries... How was that experience for you?

It was very good! I didn't have much time to socialize because I was there for a very short time, but we were on some breaks and we talked a lot, also, about this difference, about how the film and television market works... It was very funny to talk to them about it and to understand the difference. There is also another Portuguese actor there and I had no idea... The breaks were also for that, to get to know each other better, to understand the main differences between filming in Portugal and, in this case, in the United Kingdom. 

Basically, it was already a goal to reach the international market, it wasn't something that happened by chance?

Yes! I have had this desire for a long time and I still do. I think Portugal will always be my home, I have no doubt about that, but I have a great ambition to have my international career.

Do you feel that this role can open doors for another 'bigger' role abroad?

I don't know, I hope so. I think it's already good to have had this opportunity, to have met different people and a different way of working as well. I am very grateful for that and, of course, I think that a series of this dimension and for a very large streaming platform always has the added value that the work will reach further. I expect it to bring good things, but we never know.

Music is not a priority, now, also it's good for me to settle down and establish a path as an actress

In the little time you had to talk to other actors, was there any curiosity about being such a young Portuguese actress there or was it all very natural? 

Strangely, it was all very natural in every way. I was expecting to get there and be very nervous, but curiously [it didn't happen]. Sarah - who directed the scenes I shot - was super approachable, everyone was super approachable. I don't think there was much surprise on their part - also more and more we have European actors coming to this type of project. I didn't feel anything that they were surprised by a Portuguese actress being in that project. It was all very natural, even for me, who suddenly ended the day and it was super normal. I was able to stay focused, not 'panic' at any time... It was very good, everyone welcomed me super well and there was no reason to be nervous.