Fun facts about the cast of Fox’s Monarch

Fret Zealot is partnering up with Fox’s Monarch to bring songs from the show to you!

MONARCH is a new musical drama that follows country music’s biggest dynasty – and their quest to hold on to their throne. The show stars Susan Sarandon, Trace Adkins, and Anna Friel as members of the legendary country music family, the Romans. 

Here are some fun facts about members of the Monarch cast:

Trace Adkins – “Albie Roman” 

MONARCH: Trace Adkins in the series premiere of Monarch airing Sunday, Sept. 11, immediately following the FOX NFL doubleheader (8:00-9:00 PM ET, and simultaneously to all time zones). It then makes its time period premiere Tuesday, Sept. 20 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). CR: FOX © 2022 FOX Media LLC.

His left pinky was cut off while he was working on an oil rig.

Doctors were able to reattach it, but he had to have doctors fuse the bones in a position so that he could still play guitar.

He was on “King of The Hill”.

Adkins voiced Elvin Mackleston on the FOX sitcom. His character was a friend of Lucky, Tom Petty’s character on the show. 

He’s afraid of snakes.

Trace towers at 6’6”, but snakes give him the chills. He grew up in Louisiana, where snakes can be a real danger.

His favorite band is Lynyrd Skynyrd.

He also prefers The Rolling Stones over The Beatles.

He loves The Farmers’ Almanac. 

He said he has a nostalgic connection to the annual publication – his grandfather would read it religiously. 

Susan Sarandon – “Dottie Cantrell Roman” 

MONARCH: Susan Sarandon. CR: Drew Hermann /FOX © 2022 FOX Media LLC.

She participated in the Olympics – kind of.

Sarandon was one of eight women to carry the Olympic flag at the 2006 Turin, Italy Winter Games opening ceremony.

She landed her first film role without trying.

Sarandon attended a casting call for the 1970 movie “Joe” with then-husband Chris Sarandon to help read with him. Chris didn’t get the part, but Susan was cast in the movie.

She was very sick on the set of “Rocky Horror”.

Sarandon starred in the beloved cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” , and the set had no heat. Sarandon caught pneumonia after filming the pool scene, and although she was shaking with a fever, she refused to stop working.

She founded an international ping-pong club chain.

Sarandon is one of the founders of SPIN, a chain of franchised tennis table clubs that has locations in NYC, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and more major cities.

She’s a dedicated activist.
Sarandon is well-known for her activism, using her platform to advocate for civil rights, presidential candidates and anti-war causes. She was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador in 1999.

Anna Friel – “Nicolette Roman”

MONARCH: Anna Friel in the series premiere of Monarch airing Sunday, Sept. 11, immediately following the FOX NFL doubleheader (8:00-9:00 PM ET, and simultaneously to all time zones). It then makes its time period premiere Tuesday, Sept. 20 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). CR: FOX © 2022 FOX Media LLC.

She’s actually English. 

Despite her Texas inflection on Monarch, Friel is English and her father was born in Ireland. 

She started acting at age 13. 

Friel made her acting debut as a teen on the British miniseries G.B.H., and then took on other roles in series like Coronation Street and Brookside. 

She had a longtime relationship with a Harry Potter actor. 

Friel and David Thewlis, who played Professor Lupin in the Harry Potter series, dated for a decade and have a daughter together. 

She has a successful stage career. 

In addition to acting in many TV series and films, Friel has also had successful runs in the theater business, performing on Broadway and London’s West End, including Holly Golightly in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” and Yelena in “Uncle Vanya”. 

She’s an activist too. 

Friel works as an ambassador for the WWF wildlife charity. 

Beth Ditto – “Gigi Taylor-Roman”

MONARCH: Beth Ditto in the series premiere of Monarch airing Sunday, Sept. 11, immediately following the FOX NFL doubleheader (8:00-9:00 PM ET, and simultaneously to all time zones). It then makes its time period premiere Tuesday, Sept. 20 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). CR: FOX © 2022 FOX Media LLC.

She’s had an extensive music career.
Ditto fronted indie rock band Gossip. The band was active from 1999 to 2016 and reunited for a world tour in 2019.

She also is active in the fashion industry.
Ditto has put out several clothing collections with retailer Evans, and opened and closed the spring 2011 Jean Paul Gaultier fashion show. She also launched a collaboration with MAC Cosmetics in 2012.

As a kid, she used to eat squirrels.
Ditto was born in Arkansas, and she caused a little bit of a stir in 2006 after saying in an interview that she ate squirrels like fried chicken as a kid. The admission caused some controversy from animal rights groups.

She was the first woman to be voted “Coolest Person in Rock”.
Ditto was bestowed the title in 2006 by British music magazine NME.

She’s a longtime activist.
Ditto has been a longtime activist for LGBTQ rights, feminism, and body positivity. She used to have her own advice column called “What would Beth Ditto do?” in the UK newspaper The Guardian.

Monarch airs Tuesday nights on Fox. Original and familiar songs from the show will be released on the Fret Zealot app each week after episodes air, allowing users to learn the songs through Fret Zealot’s innovative hardware and software system.