‘Monarch’ star Anna Friel on country music drama: ‘So much emotion’

British actress Anna Friel is entering the quintessentially American world of country music in her new Fox show “Monarch.”

“I think having a background in Irish folk music helped a lot,” Friel, 46, told The Post. “I’m from quite a musical family. The bigger challenge was learning how to change the sounds that came out from Irish to country sounds. Learning the accent helped a lot with sounding authentic.”

Premiering Sunday, Sept 11 (8 p.m.), “Monarch” is a pulpy drama about a country music dynasty family. When the story begins, matriarch and reigning country music queen Dottie Roman (Susan Sarandon) is stepping back from the spotlight, as rumors fly that she’s ill. Her husband Albie (Trace Adkins) is also a beloved country musician, and so is their oldest daughter Nicolette “Nicky” Roman, who Dottie has groomed to step up and take her place. But, matters become complicated when the industry doesn’t seem to want to give Nicky the spotlight, and Nicky’s sister, Gigi (Beth Ditto), expresses interest and talent. Their brother, Luke (Joshua Sasse), runs the titular Monarch label on the corporate side of their family empire— and is also having an affair with Gigi’s wife, Kayla (Meagan Holder). 

Friel, who is also known for “Pushing Daisies” “Land of the Lost,” “Limitless” and “The Girlfriend Experience,” said there were several things about Nicky’s life that she found relatable. 

“I think as a woman in her 40s, juggling trying to be the best wife, a good mother, living up to her parents’ expectations, and trying to maintain her looks and keep her head above water when there’s so much competition. She’s a fighter. Every time she gets knocked down, she gets back up again.” 

She said the sibling rivalry part was more challenging to grasp, however. 

“I only have a brother in real life, I don’t have a sister. I like to think of women united and helping each other. Some storylines were quite tricky, I didn’t quite know what my take would be on some of those decisions. The big arguments with the sisters were fun, because it wasn’t what happens in real life. So, you’d find yourself going ‘I’m so sorry, I’ve got to be mean to you!’”

Even growing up in England, Friel said that country music has always been part of her life. 

“I think it’s getting more popular in England. My dad would always play Willie Nelson when we were growing up. I listened to lots of Dolly [Parton] and Reba. Country music is the kind of genre that can make you cry, make you dance, make you smile. It embodies so much emotion. I’m still rocking the country tunes in my home. It’s great driving music. Every time I drive, I put that on.”

The singing that Friel does on the show is really her voice, and she said she leaned on her TV dad for advice. 

“Susan [Sarandon] is just magnificent, it’s always been a dream of mine to work with her. And Trace [Adkins] is a wonderful actor. The best way to learn is to ask questions. We had so many people coming to the set, from Little Big Town to Martina McBride, and being with the wonderful Trace Adkins every day, I found myself asking questions like, ‘Do you always feel confident going onstage? Do you ever get nervous, does it depend on how big your audience is? If it’s a smaller audience, would that unsettle you?’”

It also helped to stay in her Southern accent, she said. 

“On set for the first three to four months, I stayed in the accent even in the makeup chair. The only time I’d use my British accent was when I went home,” she said. “I was honored to be given such an authentically American part, and I wanted to do that justice.”