Sienna Miller has admitted that playing the role of a cheated wife in her new series Anatomy of A Scandal has ‘clear parallels’ of her own experience of infidelity.
The actress, 40, admitted playing the role of Sophie Whitehouse in the Netflix show was like ‘free therapy’ as she reflected on when her then-boyfriend Jude Law confessed to cheating on her with a nanny in 2005.
Speaking to Willie Geist on NBC News’ Sunday TODAY, Sienna admitted that she found certain aspects of the storyline, which sees Sophie’s politician husband James is accused of sexually assaulting a young political aide, ‘familiar’.
Difficult: Sienna Miller has admitted that playing the role of a cheated wife in her new series Anatomy of A Scandal has ‘clear parallels’ of her own experience of infidelity
She revealed that she felt ‘drawn’ to the drama series because of the parallels to her own life, saying she found it ‘interesting’ to put herself back into the situation of being embroiled in a cheating scandal.
She said: ‘I thought it was weird, as well, that I was kind of drawn to it. I think in a sort of psychological tourism way, it was an interesting thing to put myself back into a situation.
‘It’s very different, and it’s a long time ago, but that did feel somewhat familiar, and to respond in a very different way to that.
‘Maybe reclaiming something, or just reexploring something that was intense, and I was extremely young and Sophie’s response to it is quite measured and contained.
‘It’s like free therapy’: The actress, 40, reflected on when her then-boyfriend Jude Law (both pictured in May 2010) confessed to cheating on her with a nanny in 2005
‘It’s very strange our job, I often ask myself why I want to do these things but there is a sense of catharsis in doing that somehow.’
The 21 Bridges star went on to admit that she feels ‘bad’ bringing up Jude’s cheating on her, but said it was ‘inevitable’ due to the similarities between herself and Sophie.
‘I feel bad bringing it up but there are so many, so many clear parallels between what I’ve experienced and what she goes through so I guess it’s inevitable that we talk about it,’ she added.
Sienna said at first, she felt she shouldn’t portray a role so close to home, but eventually decided it would be ‘interesting’, saying she finds herself drawn to roles where she can explore her own psychology.
Based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughan, the series follows Sophie (Sienna) and her husband James (Rupert Friend), a minister accused of sexually assaulting a young political aide named Olivia (Naomi Scott).
Cheating: Based on the novel by Sarah Vaughan, the series follows Sophie (Sienna) and her husband James (Rupert Friend), a minister accused of sexually assaulting a political aide
The series focuses on the trial and his attempts to prove his innocence, as Sophie struggles to consider her husband might not be the man she thought he was.
And in her own life, Sienna famously faced public humiliation in 2005 when her then-boyfriend Jude Law confessed to cheating on her with his children’s nanny Daisy Wright.
Jude issued a public apology when it was revealed he’d cheated on her, and the pair eventually separated in 2006, before rekindling their romance between 2009 and 2011.
Previously speaking about the breakdown of her relationship to Jude, Sienna revealed she can’t remember the six weeks following their split.
Scandal: Sienna, who is now dating Oli Green (pictured) faced public humiliation in 2005 when her then-boyfriend Jude confessed to cheating on her with his children’s nanny Daisy Wright
She told The Daily Beast: ‘There’s a whole six weeks of that experience that I don’t remember. I have no recollection of it.’
Sienna said she blocked out a significant proportion of the period from her memory, and can’t even recall meeting friends who said they saw her during that time.
Looking back on how she was performing on stage in As You Like It, Sienna explained: ‘That was one of the most challenging moments I hope I’ll ever have to experience.
‘Because with that level of public heartbreak, to have to get out of a bed let alone stand in front of 800 people every night, it’s just the last thing you want to do. I was in so much shock over it all.’
The full interview will air on NBC News’ Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist Sunday, April 24.
Exes: Jude issued a public apology when it was revealed he’d cheated on her, and the pair eventually separated in 2006, before rekindling their romance between 2009 and 2011
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