Photos: ‘House of Cards’ stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright

In “House of Cards,” Kevin Spacey, left, and Robin Wright play a husband-and-wife political team. Wright plays Claire, who runs a charity but also works behind the scenes helping Democratic Majority Whip Francis Underwood climb the greasy pole of Washington power. The on-screen couple’s agendas and emotional loyalty may at times go askew, Wright notes, “and yet they know they have each other’s back.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Spacey says he finds inspiration for his role from President Lyndon B. Johnson. “Yes, he was ruthless. Yes, he was diabolical. Yes, he was a son of a bitch,” Spacey says. “But he was remarkably effective in a very short presidency. He got three civil rights bills passed.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

In “House of Cards,” Spacey’s character addresses the audience directly. “I try to think of the direct address as my best friend,” says Spacey. “It’s the person you tell things to that you wouldn’t tell your wife.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Wright says working on “House of Cards” brings to mind “a beautiful Japanese proverb that there’s no need to think beyond the given -- your script is already written. Can we alter it, modify it? Yes. But our script is written. And I believe this was meant to happen right now, at this age. And it’s a gift; I’m starting a new life, in a sense.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

In her review of “House of Cards,” Los Angeles Times television critic Mary McNamara found that the scripts’ “long melodic runs of silky and sadistic political diplomacy” nicely set up Spacey and Wright’s “marriage of equals, based in love -- inexplicable and at times disturbing but undeniable and fascinating.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

“House of Cards” attacks politics “in a way that is closer to the truth than you could imagine,” Spacey says. “I think people inherently understand that. It’s one of its attractions that the show is not tame.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)