Entertainment
The star ofIndustryandJoker: Folie a Deuxtakes love stories seriously even the f*cked up ones.
Ultimately he is a good person whos doing his best and making ill-judged choices.
Ive grown up with continuity, which is a real blessing because I dont think everyone has that.
He tells her: Whatever vulnerability youre feeling now, sit in it.
Because were beyond the game.
Its funny, I definitely thought about that line a lot in the year since we filmed the scene.
If I find myself in a slightly uncomfortable position, its a really useful self-mantra: You know what?
This is the way youre feeling.
Youve got to experience it and have a go at engage with it like a healthy human being.
Part of growing up is realizing you cant necessarily control the things you feel.
Who is it for?
Theres no one else here but me.
I know you, and I know what this is.
So can we just stop pretending?
So it felt very cathartic to watch him ask her to put her guard down.
I think youre right that Robert doesnt really have any walls.
I think hedliketo have walls.
He knows theres no future for them unless they can break each other down.
I read that initially Robert was the more dominant one and Yasmins kink was validation, not control.
Do you remember when the dynamic shifted, and why?
Oh, I didnt know that.
I suppose in the original script, the sub-dom dynamic of their chemistry was probably more equitable.
Basically what youre saying is you dont bring the dom energy?
The more melancholy Robert gets, the more Twitter seems to thirst for him.
Why do you think the internet is so turned on by Sad Boy Energy?
I have no idea.
I try not to really engage.
I dont know what it is.
Maybe its that Roberts the least robotic of the characters.
Its all kind of embarrassing, to be honest.
Lets talk about the finale.
The scenes at Henrys estate felt more dreamlike and romantic than anything weve seen on the show before.
It felt like making a whole separate movie.
The moment at the dinner table, where everyone disappears, is one Im particularly proud of.
I knew that when they cut the scene together, they were going to use tight close-ups of us.
So it could feel like me and Marisa have this stillness that we can make the most of?
Which is not veryIndustry.
There are a few throw-some-dice moments in right now that were stylistic departures from what weve done before.
Do you think Yasmin is really in love with Robert?
And do you think Robert thinks so?
All I can speak for is Robert, and in that moment, he thinks: This is it.
I dont think he wouldve [had sex with her] if he didnt believe that.
I think she is in love with him but chooses money and practicality over that.
I think I agree with that, if I had to pin my colors to the mast.
You seem to have an affinity for love stories.
Ive read that Alain de BottonsThe Course of Loveis one of your favorite books.
I wouldnt say its my favorite book, but its certainly a book I feel passionate about.
I read it in the wake of a breakup that was difficult.
I wouldnt say its a self-help book, but there are nonfiction portions to it.
What are some of your favorite books?
I readCleopatra and Frankenstein[by Coco Mellors]while we were doing Season 3.
I thought that book was so delicate, intelligent, and nuanced.
Everyone felt incredibly three-dimensional, and it didnt go anywhere I expected it to go.
Its a shame youre too young to play Frank.
I feel embarrassed to be so self-interested but that was one of the first things I thought about.
How does your parents long relationship inform the relationships you have?
I dont know if Id ever thought about whether thats had much impact on me.
They know each other really, really well.
Ive grown up looking at my mom and dad as a really functional, successful team.
They equalize their differences.
Theyre very different people in lots of ways, but they work really well together.
Then I would listen to it when I woke up.
I look back on it as a really precious part of the job.
What were some of the other most memorable parts of filmingJoker?
It was a treasure trove.
Seeing Lady Gaga sing thats pretty iconic.
And the first time I ever saw Joaquin was in a scene where he was walking into the room.
The [footage] we were going for was essentially my reaction to him walking in.
It was utterly surreal.
There have been many iterations of Joker, and as such, many of Harvey Dent.
Were there any past takes on the role you drew from?
Theres a lovely heritage to these characters that is almost Shakespearean.
But in actual fact, the source material is almost anti-possessive.
Theres a myriad of different backstories for Harvey Dent, for example.
Its very unique to this world.
What excites you most about havingJokerout in the world?
Theyre going to come to the premiere in London, and Im just so glad that theyll see it.
So much of my aspiration now is about them seeing stuff.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
