Exploring the hidden lives of a couple who on the surface appear to have it all, Satisfaction is a topical and provocative new drama which follows the aftermath of a husband's discovery of his wife's affair.

Stephanie Szostak plays that wife, Grace, and we got the chance to chat to her about the new series, what to expect and much more.

What can you tell us about Satisfaction, coming to the UK this month?

I'm very excited it's coming to the UK since I grew up right across the (channel) pond in France (hopefully the UK audience won't hold that against me!). Satisfaction is a love story. It's the story about a very nice couple (Neil and Grace) who has (on the surface) the American Dream - the big house, expensive cars, a charming daughter who attends a private school... you know? A perfect sort of life.

Yet, underneath this surface even though they have a loving family, somewhere along the way they lost their connection and their intimacy (physically and emotionally). They forgot how to listen and be present with each other and also stopped doing things for themselves.

Neil works 70+ hours a week so Grace feels alone and as the series starts we catch them at a point where 'nice' isn't enough anymore. Grace ends up looking for that intimacy elsewhere and Neil catches her in the act of infidelity and instead of confronting her, he tries to understand why...

What should we expect from your character Grace going through the show?

A woman who is trying to rediscover her sense of self. She is searching for who she is and who she wants to be aside from just being a mother and a wife. In other words, a total nightmare for any husband!

What was it about this role that really drew you to it?

The script and the dialogue and the above themes in the pilot but I also understood her and I felt like all women and mothers have been her even if only for a minute. As mothers and wives how do we juggle life, work, the kids, groceries, cooking, putting the toilet seat down and through all that, how do we keep desire alive? It's so easy to go on auto-pilot and lose yourself.

I loved that Grace still loved her husband, loved the life they built together, lived many years very happy until one day at a job interview, someone told her she wasn't really qualified because she had had a 'normal' life. That statement awakened something that was dormant inside of her and caused her to start questioning everything. She became aware of all that was amiss... her almost non-existent sex life, the career she gave up, spin class and her boring book club. She felt a spark inside and woke up!

So, even though I didn't know what would happen to her after this first episode I was drawn to find out what was missing for her apart from intimacy with her husband. I knew there had to be something deeper. Ultimately, no other person, amount of money, big house, affair with a fantastic lover can make you happy. YOU have to find that place inside of you and I was curious to see how and if she would ever be able to find it.

This is obviously a show where everybody has to be really comfortable with one another for it to work, so how was the chemistry on set?

The chemistry on set was fantastic, we all get along on and off set and enjoy working with each other and getting to know one another in our down time. It's been such a great experience, I feel very lucky to be in such good company with a group of humble, professional and fun actors.

All actors have very different outlooks on filming sex scenes, how did you find filming them on this show?

Everyone is very professional and it is easy for me as a French person because we love being naked (kidding). Seriously though, all the actors, the producers and Sean Jablonski, our creator, made the naughty scenes very comfortable to shoot. We would discuss the scenes in advance and if needs be, make adjustments so that no one felt awkward.

What was it like working with the likes of Matt Passmore, Blair Redford and Katherine LeNasa?

Matt is so fantastic. It was tricky at first understanding the relationship of Neil and Grace and to have such a pro like Matt by my side was very fortunate because he likes to talk about the story and share before and after we shoot. And I do too... I LOVE working with him and I feel we are always together in a scene and we work off each other. And when the cameras stop rolling, we have had a good time goofing around being silly on set keeping it light.

Blair and Katherine are wonderful as well and we have now shot two seasons all together and all enjoy working together! We have a few great BBQs at Katherine's house in Atlanta and so often I would look around and feel so lucky to have been matched up with this cast!

I will also add that Michelle DeShon who plays my daughter has become one of my closest friends. She brings sunshine and incredible energy to the set and is such a natural and wonderful talent!

Do you think the series offers up an honest look at what it's like to be married in the 21st century?

For sure. It is an honest view and perhaps a lesson of what can happen in this very distracting world we live in of what can go wrong if couples don't truly listen to each other. I feel any couple tuning into Satisfaction could relate. Our lives get dominated by kids, routine, work... and it's easy to think everything is just 'nice'. We're 'nice' to each other, we have a 'nice' home, 'nice' friends, etc... But guess what? Nice doesn't always cut it! Nice isn't always enough.

This is a story of a couple who loves each other and have a very nice life but somewhere along the way they forgot how to be together. Everything we do has consequences... Being absent, being afraid to be yourself and slowly vacating your life and your relationship will have an impact and most likely a negative one.

With the show already confirming a second season, how did you feel when the show was renewed?

I felt great and lucky to be on a show that has a second season! It was great news for all of us and I was very curious to find out where they were going to take the story. I could tell you now but then you wouldn't be able to print this article!

What do you hope to see in future episodes for your character Grace?

I hope to see her grow and somehow be able to turn this enlightenment into harmony with her husband, her daughter and her career. Yet, she sure has dug a wee bit of a hole and who knows if she can make this happen! We have shot season two now and a lot more has happened. Grace has learned a lot about herself by exploring and acknowledging her dark or dormant side.

The world of television has recently stalled when it comes to seeing women on the small screen according to a new study, have you ever faced discrimination because of your gender in the industry?

No and if I have, I probably didn't notice it. It is a very tough and challenging business to break into. As actors, we get rejected all the time so I just move on to the next opportunity in lieu of stewing over why I wasn't picked for the last one. The only discrimination I have faced is that men don't want to play golf with me because I will kick their ass and they can't handle that!

Finally, what's next for you?

Time with my family, my husband, my two boys, being a wife and a mom (who is fulfilled!) and looking for the next project!

Satisfaction premieres tonight (September 23) in the UK on Sony Entertainment Television (Sky 157/Virgin 193/TalkTalk 331) at 9pm.


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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