Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity is known around the world, sparked vigorous scientific debate and transformed theoretical physics and astronomy.

How about Einstein’s theory of monogamy? That is not so public.

The new 10-part TV mini-series, starring Australian Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush as the great German-born, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, explores his early rebellious life, the rise of the Nazis, assassinations of his close friends and his work in unlocking mysteries of the universe.

It also depicts his sexual appetite.

The first time you see Rush as the married Einstein he is engaged in a vigorous sexual rendezvous with assistant Betty Neumann that involves a chalkboard covered with mathematical equations.

The real Albert Einstein ponders his calculations at the chalkboard.

“He loved women and he had many, many affairs,” the series’ co-executive producer and director of the final three episodes, Kenneth Biller, told AAP.

“He had a very unique way of thinking about a lot of things and thought monogamy was an artificial social construct.”

Based on Walter Isaacson’s acclaimed book, Einstein: His Life and Universe, Biller and his team also dug through the thousands of letters Einstein wrote and are archived at Hebrew University in Israel.

Rush, the 65-year-old Toowoomba-born, four-time Oscar nominee and Best Actor winner in 1997 for Shine, was on top of the casting list compiled by Biller and fellow Oscar-winning producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.

Biller said the response was positive when they initially inquired with Rush’s representatives about the actor playing Einstein. They excitedly then offered him the role, but it was rejected.

“We were surprised and disappointed,” Biller said.

Grazer, curious, eventually went back to Rush’s team for answers and was told Rush, the perfectionist, felt the series’ tight production schedule would not give him enough time to prepare to play such an iconic figure.

The tight production schedule had been designed to allow Howard to direct the first episode.”We looked at each other and said, ‘Well, we need to change our production schedule’ which was quite difficult and expensive,” Biller said.

Howard and his crew shot scenes without Rush and instead of the actor stepping on to the set in September, he arrived in November.

It allowed Rush to do the research he needed and work with Johnny Flynn, the South African-born English actor and singer who plays the younger Einstein.
“Talk about dream casting,” Biller said. “It was an extraordinary coup.”

Genius Premieres on National Geographic on Monday April 24 at 8.30pm with fresh episodes following at the same scheduled time for the next nine weeks.

– AAP