‘I’d Be Stupid to Say No’

[This story contains spoilers from the fifth episode of Palm Royale, “Maxine Shakes the Tree.”]

Despite a rocky start to their relationship in Apple TV+’s 1969 comedy Palm Royale, as time goes on, series lead Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons (Kristen Wiig) and Robert (Ricky Martin), a closeted bartender at the exclusive Palm Royale beach club, form an unlikely bond that’s explored in greater depth than in the show’s original source material, Juliet McDaniel’s novel Mr. and Mrs. American Pie.

“She was our muse for the theme of found family, which is so at the core of this piece,” Laura Dern, executive producer and star of the series, tells The Hollywood Reporter of the world the author established in her book. “[McDaniel] created this central protagonist who’s desperately trying to create family in this marriage, in this world of wealth, and this club that she’s not a part of, while Robert is the one that really sees her and is truly like family and would never betray her.”

Writer and showrunner Abe Sylvia, who adapted McDaniel’s novel for the series, made the decision to expand the character of Robert through his relationships with Maxine and Norma (Carol Burnett), the wealthy socialite for whom he’d been a companion and caretaker prior to the former’s arrival.

“This was a time that it was illegal to be gay,” Sylvia told THR in a previous interview. “He’s got this wonderful relationship with Maxine, but also with Norma, and I’ve seen time and time again in my life, relationships where a gay man and an older woman see themselves in one another and they form unlikely bonds.”

The character of Robert marks Martin’s first role in a TV series since portraying fashion designer Antonio D’Amico in FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story in 2018. It was an opportunity the actor and singer says he would’ve been “stupid” to pass up.

“Let’s just be honest, to be in front of the camera with Kristen Wiig, Carol Burnett and Laura Dern? It doesn’t get better,” he tells THR in the conversation below, where he unpacks his character’s journey and relationships with his co-stars on an off-screen.

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So, what made you say yes to Palm Royale?

Because I’d be stupid to say no. It’s an amazing story, without a doubt. I wanted to be a part of a project that will make people think, and I think that’s what we have here. We make people think with a sense of humor and a lot of comedy. Then, let’s just be honest, to be in front of the camera with Kristen Wiig, Carol Burnett and Laura Dern? It doesn’t get better. If I’m going to sit here and take notes and get paid, this is the best scenario. I love acting. I’ve been working as an entertainer for many years in my life. The first time I was in front of the camera as an actor, I was 15 years old. In the last couple of years, I’ve been able to really confront my emotions with this task of telling important stories. So I feel very blessed that I’m doing it with who I’m doing it with, and how after every project I just feel that I’ve grown.

The costuming and set design are so critical to this show. What was the wardrobe process like for you?

I was wearing weird Speedos from the ‘60s most of the time so it was like, “Hello guys. Once again, I’m here naked. All right, let’s do this.” But it was really fascinating because everything was very specific. As they say, “God is in the details,” and I was wearing shirts that were made in the ‘60s. They weren’t remakes, they were originals. Even my sandals that I’m wearing for most of the show were real from the era. So that was very special. And, obviously, it helps you to have more fun with your character.

As you were reading this script, did you expect Robert to turn out to be this protector and the heart of the series?

Yes, because he’s a caretaker. But he also needs to be taken care of. He comes from a background of rejection, and he really needs to be accepted. That’s why he doesn’t like Kristen Wiig’s character in the beginning. He’s like, “She looks like me too much and I don’t like you. My way of joining into this club was very organic, because I was brought in from the matriarch of the club, but you’re too forceful and that’s not cool.” But it’s because I see myself in her that I want to protect her. That’s the beauty of the progression of this relationship, which, by the way, I think the love relationship in this show is between Kristen Wiig’s character and mine. It’s about shedding some light into a very beautiful and very intense reality that men and women go through, and discovering their identity with a little bit of a sense of humor. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, because there were so many options to play with.

Do you feel Norma’s love for Robert is genuine?

Yes. There’s a scene where she invites me to sit down with her at the club and she said, “I feel lonely.” It doesn’t matter how powerful you are, if you’re in a humongous mansion on your own, it’s extremely sad. And the same thing with me towards her. I also felt lonely. I also felt that I needed protection. I needed more of a psychological protection. She needed a physical protection and someone who would take care of her. So we both needed each other. Everybody thinks so many things about it, like, what kind of relationship is going on between them? And I’m like, you know what? Let them fantasize. Go for it. If that’s the route you want to take, bring it on. Shake these two martinis, Robert, and let’s play doctor. I love it.

We also see Linda and Robert connect in a very special way. Talk about working with Laura Dern and your characters’ relationship?

She’s just wonderful. There are no walls when you meet Laura. She’s open and transparent and incredibly generous as an actor. She helped me to just keep going. Like, ‘Wven if you hear ‘cut,’ just stay in the character. Let’s have fun with it.’ And then we smoked a joint together, not a real joint — don’t get scared. But it was like, “I feel stoned with you, Laura,” and she goes, “Yes, baby, me too. Roll camera, roll camera.” So it was funny like that, but when you look at Linda and Robert, once again, she was protecting me. She was the one who told me it’s okay to be who you are, find your community, find your protection, don’t be afraid. But Robert’s saying, “I just want to be normal. I just want a simple life.” So we’ll see what happens later on.

There’s so much about Robert’s backstory and life before Palm Royale that I’m curious about. As you were preparing to play him, were there details you came up with that helped shaped your interpretation?

Not only me, but also Abe Sylvia. Robert comes from a very, very wealthy family in Puerto Rico and I think that’s why I was rejecting Maxine from the beginning, because I know people who come with weird agendas, and I can spot them a mile away. And that’s why I wanted to protect Norma Dellacorte and that’s why the relationship between us was legit. It was one of: You take care of me, I’ll take care of you. And the need for him to join the armed forces and go to war, it’s to prove to his parents that he was a strong man and that he could survive even the worst of wars.

The cliffhanger at the end of season one is amazing in the show. So there’s so much to have fun with if there’s a second season.

Palm Royale releases new episodes Wednesdays at midnight PT on Apple TV+.