Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen for Death By Lightning | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations…

Historical drama lives and dies by performance. Costumes, production design, and writing can reconstruct the past — but it is the actors who ultimately breathe life into the people who shaped history.

In this SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations interview, actors Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen sit down with TVLine’s Kim Roots to discuss their work on the historical drama series Death by Lightning.

The series dramatizes the turbulent final chapter of the life of James A. Garfield, the twentieth president of the United States, whose presidency was tragically cut short by assassination in 1881. Adapted from the historical nonfiction book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, the series explores the strange convergence of politics, ambition, and obsession that led to Garfield’s death — and the unlikely figure who changed the course of American history.

In the conversation, Shannon and Macfadyen reflect on the craft of portraying real historical figures: the research required, the emotional complexity of stepping into the past, and the delicate balance between historical accuracy and dramatic storytelling. The discussion also offers insight into how actors approach characters whose legacies remain embedded in American political memory.

For viewers fascinated by the intersection of history and performance, the conversation provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at how a historical narrative moves from page to screen — and how actors translate real lives into compelling drama.

Watch the full conversation below.

Death by Lightning is available now with a subscription to Netflix…