Hulu has released first-look images of Gillian Anderson in The Great as Joanna, Catherine's mother. The historical drama follows the rise of the famous Russian empress as she faces the trials and tribulations of the treacherous Russian royal society. The Great season 2, which is set to debut this November, sees The X Files and Sex Education star Gillian Anderson join the star-studded cast as Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. Joanna was a real German Princess and mother of Catherine the Great, whose two children were both regents of Germany and Russia, respectively.
In the images, Anderson is revealed in full costume as the European Princess. In an extravagant dress and hat, Anderson seems to capture the stern, discerning mother role in a way only a seasoned actress could. Joanna can be seen arm in arm with her daughter, the titular Catherine (Elle Fanning), as she arrives on the scene by carriage. Check out the photos below.
Anderson joins a star-studded cast in The Great, including Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee, Charity Wakefield, Sacha Dhawan, and many more. The actress has a track record of shining in supporting roles, having recently won an Emmy for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown. She is also considered by many fans to be a show-stealer in the popular teen drama Sex Education on Netflix. Now, Anderson looks to shake things up as a new problem for Fanning's young Catherine the Great.
The Great season 2 sees Catherine finally take the Russian throne, and upcoming episodes will see her struggle to "liberate" and "enlighten" the country. What's more, her tumultuous relationship with her husband, Peter (Hoult) is set to go through a transformation. Needless to say, the young ruler has more than enough to learn as The Great continues to explore the life and times of this iconic historical figure.
Source: Hulu