An ongoing saga: Masterpiece series brings John Galsworthy’s ‘The Forsytes’ to life

It’s not a typical Wednesday morning for Joshua Orpin.

The Australian actor is in a New York City hotel awaiting a full day of press interviews for the Masterpiece series “The Forsytes.”

“I flew in from Australia and I don’t know what time it is,” he says with a laugh. “I know where I am and what I have to do. It’s ‘game on’ all day.”

Orpin is looking forward to audiences in the United States seeing the first season of the period drama.

“The Forsytes” will premiere at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22, on New Mexico PBS, channel 5.1. A new episode will premiere each Sunday through April 26. Each episode will be available to stream on the PBS app.

While U.S. audiences are preparing to enter the 1880s world of “The Forsytes,” Orpin and the rest of the cast are preparing to begin filming the third season.

“It’s a bit of a blur,” he says about the timing of the series. “The U.K. has seen the series and have responded well. We’re hoping that American audiences will join us on the journey.”

According to Masterpiece, “The Forsytes” chronicles the trials and triumphs of a wealthy Victorian stockbroking family, whose generations find themselves torn between tradition and the personal pursuit of happiness.

The series is inspired by John Galsworthy’s celebrated “Forsyte Saga” novels.

The ensemble cast includes Orpin as Soames Forsyte, Francesca Annis as the Forsyte matriarch Ann, Stephen Moyer as Jolyon Forsyte Sr., Danny Griffin as Jo Forsyte Jr., Tuppence Middleton as Frances Forsyte. Eleanor Tomlinson as Louisa Byrne, Jack Davenport stars as James Forsyte, Millie Gibson as Irene Heron and Tom Durant-Pritchard as Monty Dartie.

Orpin says he has learned a lot playing Soames Forsyte.

“Soames is interesting,” he says. “He’s a charming guy, but there’s always something he’s up to. In Episode 4, there’s a turning point.”

Orpin has acted the majority of his life, yet one genre of film and TV that eluded him was a period piece.

When he originally auditioned for “The Forsytes,” he was brought in to read for the role of Jolyon Forsyte Jr., but was called back to read for Soames.

“I was playing a surf gang leader on ‘Home and Away’ in Australia,” he says. “I had a beard and a mullet. I got the audition for ‘The Forsytes’ and thought there was no way I was going to get it. I gave it a go and they must have liked what I did.”

Orpin admitted to knowing nothing of the book series or the 2002 TV adaptation, and went into the series ready to fully immerse himself in the 1880s world.

“Stepping into this world as an actor, it was transformative,” he says. “The entire cast had incredibly intricate hair and makeup. The backdrop of the shooting in Bristol was amazing. For months at a time, I was wearing these starched collars, which forced me to change my posture. It was a world of letters and telegrams. I tried my best to leave my phone off set to fully remain in my character and that world.”

Orpin says Soames is a very different character in this iteration of the series.

“He’s a lot more villainous, but that adds some dimension to him,” he says. “You almost like him. He uses his charm and charisma to his advantage. You can also see the influences of the men in his life. With each episode we’re able to peel back the layers to Soames. He’s complicated, yet so fun to play.”

Orpin says Season 1 sets the stage and establishes the characters.

“I hope people are willing to join us on this journey. It’s a world full of desire, ambition and betrayal,” he says.