Happy Sad Confused - Annabelle Wallis

Episode Date: June 25, 2019

The self-professed "feral" actress known as Annabelle Wallis pays a visit to "Happy Sad Confused" to talk about her new Showtime mini-series "The Loudest Voice", landing a role on "Peaky Blinders" despite Cillian Murphy's protests, and whether Tom Cruise texts her emojis.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Yes, this week, a new guest, a new talent, someone who may or may not be on your radar. You've probably seen Annabel Wallace by now because she's been in a bunch of really cool things. Most notably, the Tudors, Peaky Blinders, which if you have not seen it, catch up to it. I was late to the party, but it is such a great show. And she was, of course, a key component of that show alongside Killian Murphy. And then in recent years, she had a huge role in The Mummy opposite Tom Cruise and is now starring in the loudest voice, which is premiering on Showtime, June 30th. We just had Sienna Miller in here the other week, so this is becoming the loudest voice podcast.

But it's such a great cast that I would welcome everybody from that cast on this program. In The Loudest Voice, Annabelle plays Lori Loon, who was a very key part of the Fox News story, part of Roger L's story. She was someone that worked with Roger and someone, sadly, that was manipulated very much by Roger. certainly abused in every conceivable fashion in terms of the way a human being can be abused in this day and age. And it's a sobering tale, but it's also a tale for our times

when we're talking about harassment in the workplace and certainly against the backdrop of the creation of Fox News and what that has come to mean in our media landscape. It's a fascinating, story. I've watched the first four episodes. It's a seven-episode miniseries on Showtime premieres on June 30th, and it stars Russell Crow and Sienna Miller, and it's just a, it's an all-star cast, and Annabelle does great in it. So I highly recommend you check that one out.

This was a fun chat. Annabelle is, to use her own words, feral. I don't really know what that means. I do know what that means. I mean that might send the wrong message, but she's, she's kind of wild in the best possible way. A lot of fun. She was in a great mood. I think, you know, when you do a ton of those like five-minute junket interviews, I think she was ready to let loose after a couple days of very serious press about a serious project. And she was a blast to chat with and to talk about the arc of her career, her beginnings growing up in Portugal.

I did not realize this until I did my research. She's actually the niece of one of the great actors of all time, Richard Harris, cousin of Jared Harris. So a lot to dig into and a lot to learn about Annabelle Wallace on this one. So I hope you guys enjoy it. This is a lot of fun. What else to mention? I think I mentioned this last week on the podcast,

but I want to mention it again because it's gotten a lot of attention and I'm really proud of it. Got a chance to catch up with Shia LeBuff just last week in Los Angeles where he's doing great things. He started his own kind of acting school in Compton, Los Angeles.

It's at Slosson Rec Theater Company. It's the name of the program. You should look it up. He's got a benefit. celebration coming up in just a few days. Hopefully there's still tickets available. You should look it up because all the acts are amazing from Jaden Smith on down the lineup. And the conversation with Shaya was really revealing and honest and open and very proud of it and very thrilled that we were able to bring that to you.

That's on MTV News's YouTube page. So check it out if you haven't already. A lot going on. We're in the middle of summer movie season. I myself just caught up with Toy Story 4. I don't know how Pixar does it every single time. Boy Story 4, you know, no fourth entry in a film series should be that good, but somehow Pixar does it. So highly recommend that one, and the summer of Keanu just keeps on going. That man is

ruling the known universe, and why not? He is our savior. He will change the world if he hasn't already. And by next year we get the third Bill and Ted movie. So long, may he rule Keanu Reeves. Anyway, enjoy this conversation with Annabelle Wallace. Remember to review, rate and subscribe to Happy Say I Confused. Spread the good word. Lots of cool conversations coming up. I'm not going to say who, but a returning guest, a very familiar voice to Happy Say I Confused is on the docket. It is on the list for, I think, next week's show. So I think if you're a, oh, I can't say anymore. I don't want to jinx it. It's a good one. Anyway, enjoy this chat for now. Annabel Wallace. Check out the loudest voice on Showtime, June 30th.

Brought the champagne. I'm so happy. Brought champagne. Look, there's anything. I know you're going to a red carpet. So if you need any tequila, bourbon, whatever you need. Great. Shall we have a chat, Annabelle? Yes, we shall. And we've got alcohol in the vicinity. We've got... It's very exciting. I mean, we'll see how this conversation goes. Chardonnay from Sonoma County, California, 2014. In the standard. Are you a wine connoisseur? I stole all of this. None of this is my own. I love it. I love it. You're nice type of guy. Thanks for coming over today. Thanks for having me.

Are you running around like crazy? A little bit, yeah. Yeah, but it's fun, you know. Congrats on the new series. I consumed four episodes in rapid succession. It's a deep, dark hole I went into. Yeah. But fascinating.

Yeah, good. I'm bad you think so. We'll get to that in a second. But first, is this your podcast debut, Annabelle Wallace? I think it is. Oh, my God. I might use this for my voice reel. Your podcast reel?

Everybody needs one. real to pitch for future podcasts in the world. This is, yeah, this is as momentous a day, I'm sure, in your career as getting peaky blinders, meeting Tom Cruise, talking to a dork in an office. Let me tell you something. It's up there. I am a podcast fanatic. What do you listen to?

Oh, I've been listening to live and die in L.A. Tell me about it. What is that? What? You haven't? I saw the William Friedkin movie from 30 years ago, but I'm not familiar with it. It's, um, what's a huge? he wrote that

what's the book the game what's his name Neil Strauss oh yeah yeah yeah Neil Strauss finds himself living in Malibu

yeah a local girl goes missing he hears about it he's like hey if I can help in any way private investigator calls him says sure they become close friends almost a year later

he gets a call from this private investigator saying that there's a girl who's gone missing in Hollywood and Neil Strz Rouse becomes, like, the lead detective. So this is, this actually happened. It actually happened. It actually happened. And it's a murder.

And it's amazing. Spoiler over. Thanks for ruining it. Well, it's pretty out there. But it's pretty phenomenal. Yeah. Is that your bad kind of like true crime? Is that the... I love a true crime. Yeah.

You know, I've got a bit of an attention span of a gnat. Well, that's kind of... I don't know. True crime, it scares you, so you're like, you're really listening. Yeah. Do you watch, like, do you watch the true crime on the Netflix, too? The Making a Murderer and all that stuff? Yeah.

Oh, yeah. What was that one about, I'm not making a murderer or something else? Oh, about the guy living in the house with the kids. Anyway, that's very good description. Wait, are you talking about Amityville horror? Are you talking about like every film on other than the family? The one where the guy dies? Yes.

Then the girl dies. The thing with people in it. What would your own podcast be about? What are you an expert in? What is your Jeopardy category that you could dominate in? Useless information. Well, that's a good catch-all. Like, what can I?

Did you know that puppy breath smells like the best thing in the world? If one wants joy, go open the mouth of a puppy and sniff it. You've lived quite a life. but only before they eat solids yeah after solids it changes it yeah you never go back you hang out with queen puppies that don't you know get in the dirt um you've shot in all manners all places throughout the planet this one you shot here in new y C which is your first time shooting here concrete jungle as they say I had to use that someone it was great I love New York it's such a thriving

God, fast-paced city and it really informed it was such a character in the show you know, the pace, the drive you know, the kind of American dream so kind of prevalent in this in just the streets

you know, you walk it down the street the way people move and stuff it was wonderful yeah. Did you were you ever shooting nearby the actual Fox News? Here's a sad factoid in my career I spent about like three months

working at Fox News early in my career. It was before we knew what it was, really. Are there things you need to talk about? Well, here's what I can say. Are your knees now? Just my confessional. No, I will say, I'll tell. Bruised still.

I did. And I worked near Alan Combs, who at the time was co-hosting, Hannity and Combs. But I worked for Pat Sejack. Pat Sejack had a talk show on Fox News, an entertainment talk show. So I justified it to myself at the time just like 15 years ago. At least I'm not working on a political show.

This is just a stupid celebrity talk show. Still, it's a dark period in my life. But I don't, you know, it's like you can't tar everyone with the same brush. You know, and it's important to, there are people that have great intentions there and want to just make good content. So I wouldn't be too hard on yourself, my friend. You've ended up in a good place. I hope so.

So how much, I mean, we're all aware, obviously, of the omnipresent. power of Fox News today. But this is an eye-opening story, obviously, about Roger Ailes, as portrayed by the great Russell Crow, and the many lives that he really, Ailes really screwed with, including Laurie Loon, who you play. Is this an eye-opening kind of journey to kind of, like, go to these scripts, go through the source material, and find out what really happened? It was incredibly eye-opening.

You know, we're so saturated in a world. world that is built by, you know, Roger Ayles, and he is the master puppeteer in a world that we all are part of and engage in and grew up in. I mean, our generation, you know, it's really so much of our social conditioning comes from a world that he very much created. So you're fascinated by him and then as you delve deeper you uncover a truth about his own demons and his own things that propelled him forward and the way he treated people and I guess yeah it was just harrowingly insightful and perhaps shone a light on the direction we're going and the mind-boggling place that we're in,

both in this country and in the UK and globally in many places, and where that comes from, and to really take it back and see how much he was part of influencing some of the things, not all of them, of course, is pretty powerful stuff. Well, and it is a story of, like, unchecked power. Like, it feels like there was a time, up until very recently, and it probably still exists to some degree,

where we excused, like, quote, geniuses and said, like, well, they're, they're brilliant. Yeah. Or in England, you say, oh, is it just eccentric? Yeah, yeah, a mad genius. Yeah. So we forgive them their foibles. Maybe we don't, we choose to look away from really how bad their foibles were. And also, if you create fear, no one will challenge you.

Yes. And he was so convicted in his belief system that, he just wouldn't allow for anyone to go up against him. So there was just no room for an argument, I think. And this particular woman that you portray in this, Laurie Loon, was it with him for decades? Like, it was like really...

20 years. It's a crazy story. She was in a 20 year. She was an executive at Fox that... They actually met on the Bush campaign. Right. And he convinced her to take a job on at Fox. She could stay in Washington, but as... As their affair grew more complex, she then was moved out to New York and remained in a very abusive relationship with him. But let's not forget as well, he opened to her so many doors, you know, and she must have been so indebted to him feeling like he'd given her everything and nothing at the same time. And I think when you're an intelligent person

and you've built a life for yourself and you cannot, you give excuses for a behavior you're part of because you cannot quite believe you're allowing it to happen to yourself. And also the psychological element of an abuser was for her so much more powerful than I think the physical aspect.

Right. And I think the show showcases that really well. It's not all physical. it's very psychological and that the psychological element really does break you first yeah and she was broken from everything I gather like she this

she's the real true victim of a narrative that has been allowed to go on for too long and I think it's important to show a character that really didn't have a happy ending to it

and there was It wasn't a, it's a hero journey in the sense that she survived. She's still here and she's, but it's a very important story in that it really paves the path to me and my friends and a community, you know, a conversation that I'm having in my daily life for women. And perhaps her sacrifice, perhaps her trauma. I don't know. Perhaps it helped tell the greatest story. And I hope that it's cathartic for her to feel when she watched the show, if she ever does, that she was part of a bigger conversation that's needed and that perhaps will inspire change.

I mean, do you, we talk about all these great kind of shifts and hopefully changes in the way these systems are maintained now. But like do you do you think that like even compared to five or ten years ago like we were just talking about people like ales that like the system kind of protected them? Do you think those those men are less protected today? Do you think that we have really made progress or is it is most of it lip service right now? I think the journey will now be making sure they are less protected. I wouldn't say I feel that there are. I wouldn't say I feel that there are. fully unprotected now. I think when you are manipulative person, be it man or woman, if you are a person who is able to psychologically damage another or you have the capability of manipulation, you will find other means in which to get around it.

And I do think the only way is to really start with a younger generation now empower them to think differently to us as adults lead by example so that the change really happens at the core of them young so that it doesn't the shift for us is harder you know there's still a conversation that is so embedded in us that we are shifting now but there's a totally new one coming right and that's where the investment for me lies and that's when you you do projects like this, or you play strong women, or you do the work that you do that informs people the right way, you pave the path

for them to shift their narrative and, you know, help pave it so that it's their own and it's different. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's, you know, a lot of shitty behaviors ingrained in us for decades. Like, we're just, the social norms, the work norms, are,

it's hard to break. Yeah, it's very hard to break. But it's lovely that we're talking about it, and it's lovely that we're trying to listen to each other, Like, you know, even in the smallest of ways and the biggest of ways, we're just having a conversation and that's cool. Totally.

This, by my count, is maybe your third film project with Mr. Russell Crow. If we count body of lies, there's a little moment there too, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, gosh. Early on. Glorified extra. We've come a long way, Annabel. Come a long way.

The struggle is real. Rob, I don't get intimidated easily by a lot of people. I talk to pretty much everybody. I get a little intimidated by Russell. He's a commanding force. Yeah. And, you know, he's smart, he's talented, he does his work, he comes prepared, he really knows his stuff.

And so when you're met with someone like that, it really makes you ask questions about whether or not you know your stuff. Right. And I do think that's wonderful because you always think you're going to sink in a moment like that, but you never do. Right. You always rise to the occasion, and it's nice to be around people that inspire that type of

fear that makes you you know well and it's even in a different way it's meant me not fear with Tom yeah yeah yeah yeah but it is like a level of excellence where like oh he's going to bring a hundred and ninety percent I better well it's sheer passion yeah it's sheer love for the job

it's sheer love of being alive and being present being able to do what we all do that's being paid for something that we really enjoy yeah and you feel that so much around and he's got so many years of wisdom he's been through it all and you cannot help but just feel like a sponge around him and want to absorb everything

and yeah excel in his presence there is no other alternative you just have to arrive did you do were there a moment did you see what might happen if you don't I made the grand mistake of competing with him

no this sounds like the only way to succeed which you know not to be dramatic almost lost my life But, you know, I learned very quickly You don't compete in running with Tom In, you know, stunts in general You do not try to do kung fu with him You just don't

As long as you can keep up, relatively speaking You know, yeah, I would say slow pace Let him do all the work You will never, never like outshine him and it's highly irritating. Do you have, like, the special bat phone number to reach Tom Cruise in a pinch? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I do.

So, okay, so here's my question. You're lying dead. Something horrible has just happened. You only have minutes to live. You call up, Tom. I need a helicopter to get to me stat. I'm telling you it would happen. I think so, right?

It would happen. But I did say to him, it's quite funny. I was like, look, Tom, I know it's going to happen. We're going to finish the film. I'm going to have your number. And I'm going to text you. And you'll never text me back. or you'll have like some special forces security guy

you know fly in and take me out for having his number I was like never I would never do that Annabelle and I'm like okay so months later I was like hey Tom how are you like because you were just testing the system every day for eight months together he was like my best friend and I was like I miss you and he's like who is this and I was like oh my god and he goes who is this never

ever call this number again and I was like oh my god I'm so sorry he goes ha ha ha only joking wow were there emojis involved were there smiley faces no he doesn't do an emoji he has like a blackberry

you know he's like so off the grid he's become a hipster without even knowing this is the genius of being a movie star like him he's always ahead of the game even without knowing so he's a hipster without even bloody trying he's so irritating

what a jerk yeah What a jerk. Carries around the rotary phone with him. What a joke. Let's go way back, Annabelle. Raised in Portugal. How does that happen? Yeah. How does that happen?

My mother woke up one day. We have a farm in England, and she looked out the window, and she said, if I don't change my life, it will be the same in 60 years from now. Look out this window, it'll be exactly the same. So I'm very grateful to her. We went to Portugal. Portugal is neutral throughout the World War, so there's always very international community. they have every school, every language in the world. And not in the whole world, but you get.

But I do hear you speak a few. You get what I mean. I got you. Yeah, I had 42 different nationalities in my year with 44 kids in my class. So you kind of spent your life having to adapt your voice. You had to speak in Portuguese or you learned French. And then we went to Spain a lot. So you just naturally.

Yeah, you're kind of You just You're a worldly person Whether you want to or not I'm a global citizen I didn't want to say it I can say it I don't want to single myself

She's a woman of the world But when you are a global citizen You're special Were you obsessed with the arts growing up Were you obsessed with film, TV, theater What was what were you like? I was and I But I never in my life

Thought that it was a thing You could do for a living you know there were actors in my family and but I again I lived in Portugal right I lived a totally different life I was very removed from it and it was only a dream that I had but I think being so removed and being so unaware of the competition or what was really happening out there I went into it with such a force and that force was something I was quite feral maybe I was just weird because I grew up in this other country I was like like, looked a certain way, but it didn't act that way.

It was a bizarre mix favorite at the time that kind of went well for me. I don't know. It's such a weird one to try to think about. You do say, you know, yes, I had actors of my family. You go by that pretty quickly. You had like one of the great actors of the last, of the history of film and theater, Mr. Richard Harris.

Oh, I thought you talked about me. I'm talking about the whole fan. I was like, we can't talk about myself. Global citizen, greatest actor of our generation. Did you have much of a relationship with Richard Hanks and your uncle? He, so he's on my Irish side. And I grew up, so I grew up in Portugal, but we'd go back every, you know, for so it's a two-hour flight, so you're back a lot. Yeah.

And I didn't really register that he was who he was for a very long time. And, you know, my mother grew up with him and going to like, you know, the Queen's variety performance with the Beatles. and, like, you know, going to clareges and having this, like, wonderful... He lived the life. Yeah, he really lived a life. He really lived a life. And I'm very lucky, you know,

I'm close with Jared Harris, who's in the wonderful Chernobyl. Amazing. Super funny. Just an exceptional man. Yeah. Amazing. Very comedic, but also incredible, serious actor.

Yeah, so it's funny. It's perhaps in the blood as well. I would say so. There's evidence here. Can't bloody avoid it. It's, you know... So did you ever go on? on film sets as a kid?

Were you ever, did you ever go to visit Uncle Richard anywhere? No, not really. No, because we were one of the odd ones that went to Portugal and came back a bit feral. Those feral Portuguese. There's feral children.

We don't talk about those kids in my family. Don't talk about those children. So you don't get a special Harry Potter audition as a young woman. No. There was none of that, unfortunately. I think I was too young. I don't know.

No, I bloody wasn't. Regrette. Anyway, anyway. They've got a whole new series now. Fantastic keys. Yes, exactly. I'll get in on it. Yeah.

I can finally plug the name. No shame. But I wouldn't mention it before, ever. Right. Especially in the UK, I felt like I didn't want anyone to think that I was riding on the coattails of anyone else. So it's funny how you do that. Well, yeah. Now I'm like, damn me, I should have done it.

I could have been Harry Potter. A different way to go? I could have been Harry Potter. Oh, that's a. Yeah, wow. You know. So you moved to England at 18. Yeah.

And the feral Portuguese young woman that you are is ready to rock and roll. Yes. What did you do? Like, what was the first, like... Well, funny enough, I went to... I enrolled at drama school and then I got scouted for a, like a children's TV show. And I went down there and I thought, okay, well, I'll go. And I'll talk to the BBC and I'll tell them that I am.

the right person for the job, but I shall not do it because I am an actor. And they thought that was quite hilarious, and they set me up with an agent. And I think the real kind of arrogance of youth or just the arrogance of the unknown meant that I walked in there, and I could really walk in, you know, protected by this real desire to do what I love. And when people feel that they just, it's infectious, I suppose, and they believe in you. And was there? I think you're slightly mad, so they just say yes. And the early work, I mean, you were working, I mean, I confess I had not seen Steele Trap.

Should I go back and see Steele Trap? You know what? You should. It might be a cult classic of our time. What do I need to know about Steele Trap? A forgotten time. One to stay forgotten, perhaps. Oh, did she say that?

Yes. No. I mean, it was so. it's like you just want to work. Yeah, yeah. You just want to work. It's all exciting, I'm sure, at that point. And you just, there is no, I really respect the actors who are able to make really creative

choices at the beginning of their careers. It's so hard. And yeah, for me, I just was like, I just, I just really want to work and I'm happy to do anything. I think now it's a good point to perhaps think a bit more about what you do. The luxury of choice now. This is exciting. Well, you know, little, little choice.

I wouldn't say I can compare myself to, oh, there's Clairfoy up there. But I'm very happy with the three scripts I have. I'm joking. I'm joking. I mean, even in the early going, you're starting to pop up then in, like, really cool films, even if there's small parts. You're in Madonna's directing effort, W.E. You're in X-Men first class. letting McAvoy flirt with you at a bar while Jay Warr is judging you from afar.

No. It isn't that odd. I never really thought about it. Like, it's interesting, I guess. I guess I remember Madonna being like, there's no place for you, but I'm just going to find a place for you. That's flattering. Yeah, because I was just, like, I went and to meet her and I was, like, wearing, like, a gal. It was so intense.

But, yeah, I think, I don't know. It's interesting. I think people when they feel that it's your truth that you love it so much they want to be supportive of you and there are like you know people will hear about

you doing something and they'll make a call and they'll say oh I met her so many years ago and I couldn't get her in because she wasn't bankable but I'm here for her now and so it's a cyclical thing and like Madonna's been a big fan of peeky blinders now which is really weird to think about when you know she's so cool and again so much influence in my life but um yeah it's

funny how things are cyclical you should you know you have to remember as well that everybody you meet you're gonna see them down the road and that has actually been for me one of the greatest calling cards that russell crow called and asked me to be part of this show they had a list of people and they were like conceive even doing an American actor like what's the deal and he was like no this is who I want. That's huge. So you know be nice to people. Yes

there's a lesson here. Pay them you know like five, ten dollars that's all it takes to make Russell you know yeah he's he's got lots of the big bucks so he feels for the young ones He needs the change she needs the I'm like look you buy some you know buy some sweets

kids Peaky blinders must have been a huge moment to get that that show Yeah, it was. I'm obsessed with that show. I was a little bit late to the party, but once I dove in, it's just, it's like nothing else on TV.

It's just the acting, the production design, everything about it, most hypnotic theme song on the planet. Yeah, it's just amazing. It comes off the page. That kind of writing, you don't come across. And I remember walking in the room to audition, and they were like, we want an Irish girl,

and I was like, no, you don't. You want me. I don't know what I was, I mean, it must have been. of my mind now I think about it and they you know and I went in and I looked at I remember the director look at me and he's like I'll see you very soon and I walked out and I was like I know I got the part and I was I had booked another film and was on option for another and if I got picking blinders I'd had to pull out and I called and I said pull out of both projects before you knew

And they were like, Annabel, you are, no, no, no, no, no, you'll lose everything. And I said, no, I won't. I'm going to get this part. It's like made for me. And they were like, you know, poor girl. So. This poor girl lost her mind. And there was, it just, it was just, there was so many elements about Grace that I was like, you know.

And there was, you know, the complexity of her was just. You just don't get to have, you know, women on the page as much as you think that are written like that and that are dark horses and that complex. And it's coming more and more, more. But that was the first time I was like, oh, I can actually showcase what I do. Right. And that's really cool. I don't have to just be me. May there be more.

May there be more, my friends. And you are. Sorry, I don't know why. You went into it. I feel like, it's so weird on being at a point. podcast. It's like you could just... Do all your voices for me. Go for it. He's like, all of a sudden I could just change the narrative because I'm in like an imaginary

world. I'm like, Lepricon Village. But I'm not. I'm looking at a poster of the color of money and I'm playing... I'm playing poo with Time Cruise. Yeah. Come on. Okay. Was it intimidating at all doing an Irish accent in front of one of the great

Irish actors of our time, Killian Murphy? Because he was like, I'm very upset. you guys haven't chosen an Irish actress. I was like, uh-oh. You said that in your presence? You knew that? No, he didn't say it to me. He's the loveliest guy on earth.

But the director's like, so Annabel, you're going to go meet Killian just to let you know. He's really pissed off. I was like, what? And he goes, and we're going to do a singing scene, but just let you know, he wasn't a band and he was the lead singer.

And I was like, what? Stop this. Psychological torture. And I went in and I had to walk up to Gillian and I had to tell him I was right. And he believed me. He was like, that's a really good Irish accent.

So I don't know. It was all worked out in the end. Does the temperature on set change when you know Tom Hardy is in the vicinity? Yeah. Right? It does. There's nobody like him.

I think all of those boys, all of those boys like bring in a heat they're all such characters but definitely he's a tour de force and he's just incredible actor and it's a testament to the show that it's attracting such talents

like his so yeah it's super cool talk to me about what it's was Grimsby your sense of humor is that the kind of thing when you like I mean that's pretty out there unfortunately I find myself

very in line with Sasha Barron Cohen and his humor unfortunate that's wonderful And I remain close to that camp, and I might be doing a project with them in the next few months. And, yeah, just, I just was like, I think Sasha is a comedic genius. I think he's so smart. You know, he went to Oxford. You sit in front of him, and he's such a commanding force.

And I grew up watching, you know, Ali G. And just being such a fan that I just wanted to be on set and watch and listen. and learn and, yeah, he was, it was so fun. The first few times I ever interviewed Sasha, it was always in character. Like, oh my God. Because those were the first, like in those early years, like when he, when he broke through in the films,

he was doing interviews as Borat, as Bruno, as the dictator. And I remember distinctly, he was so like, like he would, he would never break. And then I remember for the dictator, I interviewed him. And then after the shoot, he just went, he started talking like Sasha and was like, no, that was really good. And it was like, what the fuck is happening?

It's so wild. wild. I mean, I mean, he is a real, real talent. And so, yeah, it was a great experience. We talked a little bit about Tom already. But the, but the mummy, you know, it's weird to talk about like a $400 million grossing film as a disappointment. But it was, I mean, you got a lot out of that experience. So much. So much. And, you know, I think it's, it's an unfortunate time that we're in where we're, if it doesn't make billions and billions of dollars, it's deemed a flop. But it was Tom's biggest opening ever in Asia. You know, I think people loved it.

But also it was lovely to kind of sit and observe like the way that people want to see their movie stars too. And when they step out of their lane, how people are so ready to attack them. Right. Especially someone like him, like, because he's old school movies. There are very few. like him. It's like Harrison Ford. They're like, we, yes. It's almost like the industry going, you can't have it all. Right. And I think it was more of that than, than actual reasoning to it all. And I think it was, you know, yeah, I think it was more, it felt like more of an attack

on, on perhaps being too ambitious in trying new things. Right. Which, which, which, I don't No, maybe I'm wrong, but that's just my perspective. I think you're right, because I think it's in, especially in that context. Because I should have won an Oscar. This is what I was about to get to. He could have got supporting, but I should have won lead performance. Look, in an alternate universe, you are right now shooting the Mummy Part 3. Hello.

And reaping the rewards. I am. You're doing it on your own dime right now. You and Russell are making your own. Yeah, me and Russell and Tom's going to fly in, do a little cameo. But guess what? He's busy. on like the 8,000 Mission Impossible

that I haven't been invited on yet. Okay, here's where all the resentment comes out. This is where I'm going to text that number. Do it right now. I've got to know where to be. Yeah, exactly. I want to see the real-time conversation. Hey.

I want to see the emojis come out. Annabelle, Annabelle. Cast me, cast me, casting. Shameless, really? Oh, poor guy. I'm going to send him to the clip of this. So did you know, how much was charted out about where that franchise was going to go? Was it going to be you and Mr. Crow hunting monsters in the future?

Yeah, I think they were open to many different takes on it, but it was going to go into the, there was talk of it turning into the Jekyll's movie, and then, you know, I die and I come back. Spoiler for those that haven't seen it, thanks. And I'm not telling you anything else, not confirming a denying, because perhaps we shall. Who knows? The dark universe lives on, as far as I'm concerned.

The dark universe lives on, my friends. Whether you like it or not. No one might join me. I might be there myself. I'll be there with you. But it'll be great. What do you weren't out of... Is that Tom?

I can't know. That's Hiddleston. Oh, I thought that was another Tom homage. Tom Cruise. Here's Goldblum. Here's McAvoy. Your buddy. Oh, Mangavoie, he's so lovely.

He is lovely. There's a, there's a baby. Who's this? Can you tell what that is? Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Well done. Disgusting face mash. How would we mash their name together?

Look, if there's anything to take away from the photo. Rajan. They should never procreate. Let's be honest. Look at that photo. You know, actually, it's quite cute. Is it? Because, like, mainly her, isn't it, with just facial hair?

She's quite beautiful, so that's okay. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, have you done that? Isn't there, like, an app right now? Like, can you see yourself? Oh, it's like, yeah, in a different gender. No, I haven't done that. I haven't tried that yet.

I feel like I have too much testosterone already. Like, I'm quite tough. You are. Ferrell is the word of the podcast. Ferrell. I'm feral. I like it. I feel at any moment she might attack.

Never to be underestimated. Feral, girl. So we alluded to the fact that there is some more choice now. Maybe not as much as any actor wants. We always want more. So where are you at right now? Where do you, like, okay, we're singing the praises of Annabelle to the mayor of Hollywood. What are you not getting in the room for what kind of a project?

Are people not thinking of you for? How can I help your career, Annabel? Firstly, I'd say, I know they told her to leave, Mr. Mayor of Hollywood, but she has an argument. And it goes like this. She would very much like to remain because she loves her job. And I think, yeah, I think that's the real crux of it.

I really love my job. And I really hope to be able to do my job and do it to the capacity where I'm, you know, dealing with characters that inspire and just, yeah, to breathe life into performance is just what I live for. So I'm pretty happy. Yeah, I'm pretty happy. I'm really, I really trust life.

It's such a game of trust, my job as well, and faith. But I believe, as Kieran Murphy said to me once, He said, Annabel, the good work shines through. So if you remain on that path, you know, the power of no and not being seduced by the bright lights, as my mother calls them, and to remain a performer of integrity, now that you do have the choice and what it says about you in your choices moving forward.

So, yeah, really, really, I just want to do great things that I'm proud of work with great people and play great parts. And as many as possible, bring it on. What's next for you? What have you shot that I can look forward to? I did a film called The Silencing that I just finished with Nikolai Costa-Walladu. He's been here. Yeah, he's a lovely, lovely guy.

Amazing Belgian director called Robin Pront. And, yeah, that's a very complex female part. And then I've got a few very interesting things up my sleeve. More to come, I think. friends. Now she's Dracua. How many accents can you do? You know, I'm just, I'm showcasing. Guess what this is, again.

She wants cartoon voiceover. She's the next Pixar cartoon voice. Exactly. Toy Story 5. Not to, I don't want you to feel used. I do, comfy. But you're perhaps being used for my voice show reel. Voice real, podcast real.

I hope we've made progress. I hope I've furthered your career. You definitely have. Okay, good. Thank you. Congratulations on your performance. performance in the loudest voice. As I said before, I really dug the first four episodes.

I think it's, what, seven episodes all and all? Coming to Showtime, June 30th, if I think I have that right. Check it out. And Annabel, enjoy your big time Hollywood Goetzee premiere. Give my best to Russell. Yes, I will. Don't. He won't know who I am.

It'll go nowhere. But thanks for stopping me by. Oh, thank you. Thanks for your time. We did it. I hope I wasn't too mad. Just the right level of madness. Just the right level of madness.

She's eccentric. She's British. And so ends another edition of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't pressure to do this by Josh. I'm Amy Nicholson, the film critic for the LA Times.

And I'm Paul Shear, an actor, writer, and director. You might know me from The League, Veep, or my non-eligible for Academy Award role in Twisters. We love movies, and we come at them from different perspectives. Yeah, like Amy thinks that, you know, Joe Pesci was miscast in Goodfellas, and I don't. He's too old. Let's not forget that Paul thinks that Dude, too, is overrated. It is. Anyway, despite this, we come together to host Unspool, a podcast where we talk about good movies, critical hits.

Fan favorites, musts season, and case you miss them. We're talking Parasite the Home Alone. From Greece to the Dark Night. We've done deep dives on popcorn flicks. We've talked about why Independence Day deserves a second look. And we've talked about horror movies, some that you've never even heard of like Ganges and Hess. So if you love movies like we do, come along on our cinematic adventure. Listen to Unspool wherever you get your podcast.

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