By mixing Texas high society with a heavy dose of scandal, Netflix’s 'The Hunting Wives' is dominating the viewership chart, and apparently, First Lady Melania Trump was part of the mood board when it comes to one of the characters.
Malin Åkerman, who plays Margo Banks, is described as the polished, powerful, and deeply flawed socialite at the center of the drama. She recently revealed that the current First Lady of the United States directly inspired her character. "That was the only reference, really," Åkerman told Vulture in an interview last week.
Set in the fictional town of Maple Brook, Texas, the series follows the dark entanglements of a group of women. It’s based on May Cobb’s bestselling 2021 novel, and according to Åkerman, it wasn't just the plot that made things spicy. The creative direction pointed her toward one key figure for her performance, Melania Trump.
"During filming, [the creative team] described Margo as a bit like Melania Trump, someone who ‘came into a marriage to this rich man as one woman,’ then finds the expectations for her have shifted once he becomes politically ambitious," Åkerman said.
Margo’s carefully crafted facade as the picture-perfect wife of political hopeful Jed Banks (played by Dermot Mulroney) has a far more scandalous past that is explored in the series.
"Other than that, it’s just high society," Åkerman added. "I’ve mingled with aristocrats and high-society people and seen the games that go into it. For lack of a better word, I wouldn’t say ‘authenticity’ is how those people lead."
And viewers seem to love the mess. Since its debut on July 21, 'The Hunting Wives' has entered the top of Netflix’s English-language series rankings, with Luminate reporting it as the most-streamed show in the U.S. last week.
Critics have called it a fusion of 'Big Little Lies' and 'Desperate Housewives,' only much more explicit. Some have gone as far as to say it could dethrone 'Rivals 'as the “sexiest show on TV."
“This show moves pretty quick,” Åkerman noted. “It’s not a slow pace or, like, I hope they kiss by episode whatever. We’re diving right in there.” Åkerman, best known for roles in 'Watchmen' and 'The Final Girls,' says Margo is a survivor above all else.