Beau Willimon on Hollywood and “House of Cards”

D.C. is all about politics and power, and in the new Netflix drama “House of Cards” there’s plenty of both.
“House of Cards” is produced by the video streaming service Netflix, and the company used market research to build a show based on the actors, director, and style of drama its viewers found most appealing. They released all thirteen episodes together last month, to great acclaim.
The political drama centers on the House Majority Whip Francis Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, and the revenge he tries to exact against others on Capitol Hill after he’s passed up for the Secretary of State position he was promised.
Does the series take inspiration from real life? And how fine is the line between entertainment and government? “House of Cards” creator, writer, and producer Beau Willimon shares his thoughts.