Sebastian Roché Reflects on Emotional Role in 1923 and Seeking Forgiveness from Indigenous Women Before Filming Brutal Scene

Preparing for a Challenging Scene: Asking for Forgiveness

Sebastian Roché is known for portraying complex characters, particularly villains, in various projects. However, his role in the brutal scene from 1923 required him to take a unique approach to ensure the sensitivity of the subject matter was respected. The 60-year-old actor, best known for his roles in The Vampire Diaries and General Hospital, shared his emotional preparation for filming the harrowing moment when his character, Father Renaud, kills Baapuxti, a student at a North Dakota boarding school for Native Americans, in season 1.

Roché opened up about the emotional preparation for that difficult scene. “There was a whole room full of Indigenous and Native American young women,” he recalled. “Before the scene, I wanted to clear the air and talk about what we were about to do because we’re recreating history that truly happened.” Roché felt it was important to approach the scene with respect and care, so he asked for forgiveness from those present. “I wanted to clear the air by kind of asking forgiveness before we did the scene,” he explained.

This moment of vulnerability helped ease the tension not only for the women in the room but also for Roché himself, who found the scene emotionally taxing. “That really helped not only everyone else to ease the tension, but myself, because I suddenly felt unbelievably emotional in those scenes,” he shared. Roché admitted that the brutality of the moment and the gravity of portraying real historical events made him incredibly nervous, leaving him physically exhausted after filming.

The Complexity of Father Renaud

In 1923, Roché plays Father Renaud, the headmaster at the boarding school where Baapuxti and her cousin, Teonna Rainwater (played by Aminah Nieves), are students. In season 1, Teonna takes drastic action by killing two abusive nuns before fleeing, and Father Renaud, after discovering their bodies, interrogates Baapuxti. When she refuses to reveal Teonna’s whereabouts, Father Renaud kills her. The season 2 storyline picks up after this tragic event, with Father Renaud and U.S. Marshals continuing their search for Teonna.

Filming season 2 was just as emotionally and physically demanding for Roché. “It was physically taxing as well as emotionally taxing,” he said. He teased that viewers would witness a shift in Father Renaud’s character, who begins to question his own actions when paired with a ruthless marshal who mirrors his own behavior. Roché noted, “He sees an alter ego, a sort of carbon copy of himself, which makes him start to question certain things about himself.”

Understanding the Villain

Despite his character’s villainous actions, Roché explained that he never views his roles as purely evil. Instead, he takes a psychological approach to understanding his characters’ motivations. “I always read the script many times. The script will tell you its secrets,” Roché explained, citing advice from actor Anthony Hopkins. “I could find Father Renaud terrifying, but where does that ruthlessness come from?”

This level of psychological exploration made playing Father Renaud both challenging and rewarding. “He necessitates so much energy and focus, and it’s quite an exhausting character to play in the best possible way because he’s so rich,” Roché reflected.

Anticipating Father Renaud’s Evolution

Looking ahead to 1923 season 2, Roché is eager for audiences to see the new facets of Father Renaud’s journey. “You’re going to see many different aspects of Father Renaud, which I found really, really exciting and interesting,” he said.

1923 season 2 premieres on Sunday, February 23, 2025, on Paramount+.