Victoria Grayson
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (June 2012) |
| Victoria Grayson | |
|---|---|
| Revenge character | |
 Madeleine Stowe as Victoria Grayson | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" (episode 1.01) |
| Created by | Mike Kelley |
| Portrayed by | Madeleine Stowe |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Victoria Harper (maiden name)[1] |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Charity volunteer Housewife Socialite |
| Spouse | Conrad Grayson (ex-husband; 1 child) |
| Children | Daniel Grayson (son, with Conrad) Charlotte Grayson (daughter, with David) |
| Residence | Southampton, New York |
Victoria Grayson (née Harper) is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the ABC television series Revenge. She is portrayed by Madeleine Stowe.[2]
Stowe's portrayal of the character has received critical praise. She has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.[3]
Personality
She's sort of, I kind of think, like the evil queen.
Stowe said of her character[4]
Victoria Grayson, considered by many characters as "the Queen of the Hamptons", with a net worth of $4.7 billion, is the glamorous but powerful matriarch of the Grayson family who will stop at nothing to protect her social status and ensure that her children live up to their fullest potential. She is characterized as having a cold and closed behavior, prickly and domineering.
Overview
Victoria seems to have come from a working-class background as hinted by Conrad. She had faked a pregnancy to get Conrad to marry her. Several flashbacks and conversations reveal that she had an affair with David Clarke, the man that she and her husband framed for the plane crash. After David Clarke was convicted, Victoria went to prosecutor Kingsley to admit her role in his framing but was stopped by Conrad, who promised Kingsley unbridled political support. Another flashback reveals that she was responsible for having Amanda Clarke institutionalized by promising the court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr. Michelle Banks, her own private practice with a steady stream of wealthy clients.
In the episode "Pilot", Victoria learns of her husband Conrad's affair with her best friend Lydia Davis. Emily Thorne tampers with Conrad's room service meal at the South Fork Inn, where Conrad and Lydia have secretly chosen to meet. After having a sexual affair with Lydia and eating soup, Conrad has painful stomach pains and is in need of medical attention. As he is rushed to the hospital, Emily asks Lydia if Conrad is her husband and offers her a ride to the hospital. Lydia declines and flees the scene.
Victoria rushes to the hospital thinking that Conrad is in a serious condition. The hospital believes that Conrad's pains are caused by spicy food at the South Fork Inn. Victoria questions this; she thought that Conrad had gone golfing, but the South Fork Inn is located in the opposite direction of the golf course. Victoria then notices a South Fork Inn robe in the hospital bed and fiercely says "Don't do it again" to her husband.
Victoria realizes that Lydia is sleeping with Conrad by Emily. Victoria then makes a beautiful speech and lets the crowd know that Lydia has won the art auction. However, Victoria sends Lydia home with the Van Gogh "as a reminder of the friendship they shared."
In the episode "Trust", Victoria begins to suspect that Emily is not who she says she is. Victoria asks Frank Stevens to find information about Emily's past, in order to protect her son Daniel.
In the episode "Betrayal" Grayson's family comes to Senator Tom Kingsley. Victoria flashes back to when she was in love with David Clarke and saw that he would certainly be convicted. She had told Kingsley she had evidence exonerating him, which Kingsley ignored when Conrad offered to support his political ambitions. In the present, during dinner with Victoria and Conrad and his wife and a staffer, Kingsley receives two video e-mails showing him with his now-former mistress Erin, whom he had given money for an abortion. At a fundraiser thrown by Victoria for him, still-pregnant Erin appears, smiling happily; and the political speech on his computer tablet has become an announcement of his retirement from public life. During the investigation of the incident, suspicion who posted the video show Victoria.
In the episode "Duplicity" in retaliation Emily, her next victim is Dr. Michelle Banks, a psychologist, who also goes to Victoria. It publishes records of meetings with Banks patients, including Victoria, in which Victoria says that she wishes sometimes that her daughter Charlotte weren't born. Charlotte sees the video, and leaves the house. Victoria is furious threatening to Dr. Banks, and after she disappears.
In the episode "Guilt", she learned about Conrad helping Lydia which upsets her. Lydia came back hoping to expose Emily and get her life back. Later at the gala, Victoria was seated next to a woman who lost her family in the plane crash. She also learned that Lydia will be exposing all of the things she done to the plane crash when Lydia is introducing her. To prevent this to happened, Victoria came to Lydia and begin saying nice things so Lydia won't do it. Fortunately, Lydia didn't expose any of her crime (instead calling Victoria as her best friend). After the speech, Victoria comes to Lydia and fiercely says "I hope every single smile I gave to you across the room will always reminds you on how much I despise you". Victoria then forcing her to a hug and leaving Lydia in a very full shock.
In the episode "Intrigue", Victoria hosts her 4th of July party. Victoria learned about Lydia's coma and Daniel's new job that caused him to miss her party. Later before the party, she believed Tyler when he said Daniel hurt him.
In the episode "Charade", the Grayson's celebrate their wedding anniversary which ends in shambles because she kicked out Conrad. Hours later Frank called her when he was killed. In Treachery, Victoria brought Lydia to her house when Lydia came out of her coma with her memories missing. Victoria shows Lydia a copy of the scathing speech she intended to make the night she fell over her balcony. Victoria and Conrad get into a heated discussion about the investigation involving Frank. Victoria suspects that Lydia may have heard them.
In the episode "Suspicion", Victoria was alone in her home, having driven Daniel to move in with Emily and Charlotte was already mad at her. After finding out about Declan and Charlotte, Victoria confiscateds Charlotte’s phone and car keys before she headed to the Stowaway. She tried to pay off Declan, which she thought worked and then found out that Conrad took Lydia away.
In the episode "Charade", Loyalty, Victoria still believed Tyler so she wouldn't kick him out. The Graysons are going to divorce so Victoria was approached by Ryan Huntley.The top attorney turned down Conrad's offer. Victoria learned that he would much rather represent her instead. Huntley had some conditions for his new client such as financial transparency as well as Victoria’s full support to do whatever was necessary to take Conrad down.
In the episode "Duress", Victoria is upset that Daniel just wanted something small for his birthday. During the divorce settlement meeting, Victoria's lawyer pointed out that because she was pregnant when she signed the pre-nup, Victoria had the right to take 50 percent of Conrad's earnings. She later revealed to the lawyer that she lied at the time and then had to say that she miscarried after 10 weeks. Hours before Tyler points a gun at Emily, Victoria and Conrad meet Amanda for the supposed first time in years at Daniel's party. In the end, Ryan was able to find a doctor who would back her story. Emily sees an interview where her father stated that Victoria's then-newborn daughter Charlotte may be his as a result of their affair and thus her half-sister.
In the episode "Infamy", Conrad receives an interview tape with David anonymously from Emily that reveals Charlotte as David's daughter. Realizing she's cornered, Victoria invites Amanda over to confirm she was the one who sent the tape and get proof she is who she claims to be. She later sends somebody to get the rest of the tapes from Amanda's bedroom that Emily planted there. Victoria is shocked and upset when Daniel proposes to Emily, and she accepts, but decides to be supportive so Daniel will be able to gain access to his trust fund and control of Grayson Global. When Huntley makes it clear he doesn't know if he can trust her anymore, Victoria fires him. She also tells Daniel the truth about Charlotte.
In the last episode "Reckoning"" Victoria is set on delivering the evidence to the SEC about Conrad, after she finds out he is also going to get prosecuted (for the murder for hire that killed David Clarke). Shortly before leaving to go to Washington DC to testify against Grayson Conrad (relating to the murder of David Clarke and domestic terrorism) she finds out that Lydia Davis is no longer willing to help her testify in the case (she later convinces Lydia that this is her last chance for immunity in the trial) Victoria tries to console Daniel Grayson after finding out that Emily broke up the engagement between the two. This causes a heated argument about the evils of both her and her soon to be ex-husband Grayson (making the two more distant) In a last ditch effort by Conrad to convince her not to go to Washington DC and not to testify he tells her that this may be the last chance she has to save her family. Conrad also said if she steps on the plane everything is over for their children. Victoria goes against Conrad's wish, and leaves for the airport from Grayson Manor. You see Victoria Harper Grayson and Lydia Davis stepping onto the private jet to head to Washington. Then you see Charlotte Grayson in her bedroom at Grayson Manor watching the news, where she learns the plane Victoria was in had an engine failure and that may have killed Victoria and Lydia Davis (caused by the "white-haired-man", who killed David Clarke. Over All Victoria Grayson is a classy Hampton's socialite who might have more secrets than here billions. Catch Revenge Season 2 Sunday, September 20th at 10/9c
Reception
The character has received positive reviews by media outlets. Entertainment Weekly described Victoria as a "full-tilt silent-assassin mode".[5] She has also received a Golden Globe nomination for her work.
References
- ^ Revealed in 1.12 Infamy
- ^ Victoria Grayson Played by Madeleine Stowe
- ^ Golden Globes nominations: 'The Artist' leads pack of nominees
- ^ Madeleine Stowe is Queen of the Hamptons in ABC's 'Revenge'
- ^ Darren, Franich (September 22, 2011). "'Revenge' series premiere: Finally, the Confucius-quoting 'Real Housewives'/'Count of Monte Cristo' mash-up you've been waiting for". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2011.