Netflix’s mystery drama, The Perfect Couple, has captivated audiences with its blend of suspense and stunning seaside visuals. Based on Elin Hilderbrand’s novel, the series plunges viewers into the opulent world of the Winbury family, set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic coastal estate. As secrets unravel and a murder investigation begins, the picturesque setting becomes all the more intriguing. Fans are left wondering: where was The Perfect Couple actually filmed?
While Elin Hilderbrand’s book is famously set in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Netflix adaptation ventured beyond this iconic island for its filming locations. Although the series aimed for an “authentic Cape and island feel,” as the author mentioned to Boston.com, the production utilized diverse locations to bring the story to life. Let’s explore the real-life settings that served as the backdrop for The Perfect Couple.
Was The Perfect Couple Primarily Filmed on Nantucket?
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Eve Hewson as Amelia Sacks and Billy Howle as Benji Winbury in Netflix’s The Perfect Couple, captured in a scene that hints at the Nantucket setting, despite the show’s primary filming location being elsewhere. Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix
Despite the novel’s Nantucket setting, The Perfect Couple series wasn’t primarily filmed there. While the production did capture some footage on Nantucket in September 2023, it was for a limited time and specific purposes.
Location manager Liliana Kondracki and a crew of around 50 people spent a day filming on Nantucket, capturing what’s known as B-roll footage. This supplementary footage included shots of Mitchell’s Book Corner, the Brotherhood of Thieves restaurant, and the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument on Main Street. These locations were even specially decorated for a Fourth of July ambiance, as reported by Nantucket Current.
Cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, in an interview with The Credits, discussed the visual direction for The Perfect Couple. Working with director Susanne Bier and cinematographer Roberto De Angeles, they aimed to create a “sun-drenched July 4th at the Cape” aesthetic, emphasizing the wealthy and picturesque nature of the setting. Hurlbut mentioned Bier described the series as a “popcorn suspense thriller,” guiding their visual choices.
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Liev Schreiber as Tag Winbury in The Perfect Couple, pictured against a bright, outdoor backdrop that reflects the cinematographers’ choice to emphasize daytime scenes to heighten the drama through contrast. Seacia Pavao/Netflix
To enhance the show’s visual storytelling, the cinematographers deliberately focused on daytime shooting. Their intent was to use the location as a character itself, amplifying the underlying tensions and emotions of the plot. “We specifically made stuff not during the night because we felt it was going to be the script and the actors who brought the darkness, the drama, the suspense, and the skeletons in the closet,” Hurlbut explained. They aimed for “light, airy, and beautifully sun-drenched visuals” to present Nantucket in a novel way.
Aerial shots were crucial in establishing the island’s grandeur. Hurlbut added, “The aerial was everything to us. We flew a helicopter a mile and a half away from Nantucket and captured the whole island as an essence.” These sweeping views were intended to showcase the “glamor and the wealth that Nantucket and the Cape are all about.”
Chatham, Massachusetts: The Primary Filming Location for The Perfect Couple
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Nicole Kidman as Greer Winbury and Liev Schreiber as Tag Winbury in The Perfect Couple, in a scene likely filmed in Chatham, Massachusetts, the main location used to depict the series’ coastal setting. Seacia Pavao/Netflix
The majority of The Perfect Couple was filmed in Chatham, a coastal town situated on the southeast tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. While Nantucket provided some scenic and establishing shots, Chatham became the central hub for production.
Key moments in the series were filmed in Chatham, particularly in the Eastward Point neighborhood. This area, characterized by single-family homes and private beaches along Pleasant Bay, served as the primary backdrop for the Winbury family’s affluent world, according to the Cape Cod Times.
The historic Chatham Beach and Tennis Club, located at Lighthouse Beach, also featured prominently. Eagle-eyed viewers can spot this location in The Perfect Couple trailers, highlighting its real-world presence in the fictional narrative.
Beyond residential and recreational locations, Northport Plaza in Chatham was transformed into the Nantucket Police Department. Netflix built a temporary set within the plaza, including an interrogation room and jail cell in the basement of what is now Elwood’s Raw Bars. While Elwood’s co-owner David Eldredge hoped to retain these set pieces, as mentioned in the Cape Cod Chronicle, the production crew removed them after filming concluded.
Summerland Estate: Is it a Real Place in Chatham?
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The fictional Summerland estate in Netflix’s The Perfect Couple, although not a real place by name, is depicted by a waterfront property located in Chatham’s Eastward Point neighborhood, Massachusetts. Netflix
Summerland, the name of the Winbury family’s estate, is fictional. However, the stunning waterfront mansion featured in The Perfect Couple is indeed real.
This impressive house is located in Chatham’s Eastward Point neighborhood. Showrunner Jenna Lamia confirmed in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum that Chatham served as their “home base” and the location of the Winbury estate. She also revealed a charming detail about the set design: “That was our home base, and we did enhance it with blue hydrangeas,” adding to the quintessential Cape Cod aesthetic.
Elin Hilderbrand’s Affinity for Nantucket Settings
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Nicole Kidman as Greer Winbury in The Perfect Couple, embodying the sophisticated style often associated with the Nantucket and Cape Cod settings of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels. Seacia Pavao/Netflix
Elin Hilderbrand’s choice to set nearly 30 books off the Massachusetts coast, particularly in Nantucket, is deeply personal. In a 2020 interview, she shared cherished memories of summers spent in Brewster, Massachusetts, where her family vacationed each July. These times, filled with beach days, grilling, and miniature golf, were “some of the happiest times” of her life.
The tradition ended abruptly with her father’s passing when she was 16. Yet, Hilderbrand harbored a desire to return to the beach. After college and a stint teaching in New York, she began vacationing in Nantucket during summer breaks. In 1994, she made Nantucket her permanent home, and in 2000, her writing career took off with her first book, The Beach Club. Her personal connection to Nantucket clearly informs the rich sense of place in her novels, even as screen adaptations like The Perfect Couple expand their filming locations to capture the broader essence of Cape Cod.
In conclusion, while The Perfect Couple is rooted in Nantucket in its literary form, the Netflix series broadened its horizons, primarily filming in Chatham, Massachusetts. This allowed the production to capture the quintessential Cape Cod atmosphere, bringing Elin Hilderbrand’s world to life with stunning coastal backdrops and authentic New England charm.
