Happy Sad Confused - Benedict Cumberbatch & Olivia Colman

Episode Date: August 28, 2025

What's better than one brilliant charming British actor? Today on the podcast we bring you two! Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, longtime friends, are finally working together in the diabolical black comedy THE ROSES. Here they chat about being mean to children, pet peeves on set, and more. Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D.C. high volume, Batman. The Dark Knight's definitive DC comic stories adapted directly for audio for the very first time. Fear, I have to make them afraid. He's got a motorcycle. Get after him or have you shot. You mean blow up the building? From this moment on,

none of you are safe. New episodes every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts. I had from lovely Susanna Beer on the night manager, and I was massively pregnant. And she said, could you walk less pregnant? No. There's a head in my pelvis.

So no. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now. Hey guys, I'm Josh, and welcome to another edition of Happy, Say, Confused. Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman need I say more. they are the main event on the podcast today. Thanks, guys, as always, for checking out my podcast, whether you're listening or watching. I appreciate you.

A real treat to get these two dynamic, amazing, brilliant, very funny actors together, talking about their newly The Roses, their collaborations, their pet peeves, all sorts of fun stuff in this episode. Brief things to mention before we get into the main event today. By the time you're listening or watching this, I will hopefully be until you ride Colorado. for the Tell You Right Film Festival, which I've been going to for the last several years. It is such a privilege, so amazing to go if you ever have the opportunity. It is a hard place to get into for a variety of reasons. But, wow, what a treat to be there to see the best films emerge for the fall season.

So I'm saying that not to brag, but just to say this is something to look for you guys on the podcast because I'll be recording a couple episodes of the podcast on the ground in Telluride, if all goes according to plan. I will also then be talking from the Toronto Film Festival, almost immediately thereafter. Yes, the fall movie season really comes at you really fast once it launches. So all, which is to say, if you're into the quality movies coming out this fall, keep it right here on Happy Say I Confuse because I've got you covered with some really cool conversations slated from both Talley Ride and Toronto.

As always, all our goodies are over on our Patreon. Patreon.com slash happy, sad, confused. I shouted out because, honestly, if you support us there, it really does help me and us make more stuff for you here. Plus, we hopefully give you bank for your buck. Early access to every episode. You get discount codes for live events. You get upcoming guest announcements before anybody else.

Merch, autographed posters, all sorts of cool stuff. So check it out if you can. Okay. This conversation is a delight. How could it not be? Cumberbatch and Coleman. Come on, guys. They are starring in the new remake of War of the Roses. Remember, War of the Roses? I do. I grew up with that movie, Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas. This is a reimagining. This comes to us with quite the pedigree. Not only is it directed by Jay Roach, not only is it written by

Tony McNamara, amazing screenwriter. But front and center, you got Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch. I remember as soon as this movie was announced, I was like, yes, a thousand times. Yes, I am in. Very black comedy. They are both really fun together. They clearly, as you'll see in this conversation, go way back as friends, but had never worked together before. So this was a really rare and unique opportunity. I will say a couple just notes for this. We record this actually quite a ways back because they are both so busy and had trouble kind of like coordinating schedules. So I took the advantage of getting them when I could over Zoom a while back. Now, doing it over Zoom, I will say, was not my ideal. Obviously, the podcast, I do a lot of different

ways. Sometimes it's in person, sometimes at their live events, sometimes it is over Zoom. This one in particular was a little challenging the Zoom aspect. I will be honest, because sometimes it's hard when you're talking to two people, let alone two very fast talking people, talking to each other. Benedict is like such like a bundle of nervous, fun energy always that I think he's much easier to talk to, to be honest, when you're vibing in the room with him. We still had a great time. But there was like one, for instance, you'll hear or watch in this conversation, one total disconnect when I'm like quizzing them a little bit about Marvel and they totally didn't understand the question. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was the Zoom. Anyway, I'm in my own head about

this. So I'm just like, when do you guys know, there's sometimes in this conversation where it feels like, to me, I'm not like quite clear on what they're saying. They're not quite clear on what I'm saying, that being said, smiles all around, laughs all around. This is about 35 minutes of a lot of fun. So I know you'll dig it. I'm just saying it out loud because it was in my head and, you know, I want to be transparent with you guys. I think that's it. I hope you guys enjoy this. It's also a little bit of a shorter conversation than we usually do. But again, how can I say no to 35 minutes with Ben and a Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman? I mean, come on. Enjoy this chat. Check out the Roses. It's in theaters this Friday.

And I'll see on the next one from Telluride. Oh, Josh. It's so good to see you both. Your movie is delightful. A lot of people, look, their dream couple is like the Emma Stone, Ryan Gosseling, the Zendaya, the Tom Holland. This

is my couple. Yes, Josh. You're our guy. Thank you. Thank you very much. Who, though, who would win in a fight to the death? You guys versus Tom Holland and Zendaya. How does it go down? Oh, they would win, wouldn't they?

Sorry, no, that was awful, maybe you'd win. We've probably, you've only got one arm. You've probably got more resources. Oh, no, I'd be useless, yes, it's true. Currently, we wouldn't win. No, we wouldn't. Give us some warning and don't give them any warning and maybe we'll be all right.

Hang on a split second. Right, the order to surprise. They're a real couple. What do you mean, a warring couple? As in them fighting us, you mean? Yeah, fighting up. Yes. That's what I imagined, you know.

I'm sure, sorry, I just got a little lost into the sort of thing, but the way we're doing with it was a fighting couple of fictionally. maturity on our side are you talking about fisticuffs they're very mature as well though for their age are ridiculous experience experience is the word yeah you're right I would do something look over that and then run the other way pull my finger and fart in the whole room they just then they couldn't they wouldn't be able to fight after that they'd be giggling or coughing livia has the power of laughter and do they

as much I don't know I bet they do it's horrible no until the crossover movie happens spider man that's when I see them that's all they're gonna be able to talk to me But yeah, it's very... Guys, talk to me a little bit about... I mean, this is a dream scenario, I would imagine, as an actor. Not only do you get to work with somebody you love and respect, but you get paid to insult them for weeks at a time and be vile to each other.

With Tony McNamara's words, don't forget. Yeah, so the insults are better than we would do ourselves. Possibly. Yeah. He's a genius. And it was a joy. And we wanted to do this for a while, insult each other publicly in a film. And it's come about just...

just about time. No, but seriously, yeah, it's just, it's a heaven. It's heaven. You have to kind of pitch yourself and get well. And these are rare jobs, all of those ingredients to line up. Yeah. And she's phenomenal. And I've been, you know, friends, but also as a friend just going,

I'm so proud of this person who's just, you know, taking on the world and making the whole world fall in love with us the way we all do as her friends. And then to get the chance to enter that and experience it on a set and just to work with a friend is a joy, but especially this one. It really was a lot of fun. Ben has an amazing skill of saying beautiful things first. And then you go, well, I feel that.

Just caffeine. Same, ditto. Yeah, exactly. It's authentic. It's so lovely. You're incredibly. He's the nicest, kindest person ever. Says the nicest things too, don't you?

I wish that was always true. But in this instance, it's because it's very easy. It's authentic because she is authentic. So, yeah. Shut up. I'm asking you guys, have you ever? Whether in this film or any project said something so vile in a scene to a co-star, in the script, of course, that you found yourself having to apologize immediately after.

Like, oh, my God, I'm so sorry. I mean, well, with children, yes. I've had to lose my patience with children. I'm just, I'm acting. I really love you. I'm sorry I'm shouting in your faces. You know, it's a very, very bizarre thing to being a film set as a kid, let alone. I'm having an adult shouts.

In Les Miserables. Yes. And I was meant to hit this little girl. Oh, God. And she had padding all down her back, but I had a belt and I was meant to hit her. And then I hit her once, as a half-heartedly, and I burst into tears. And I can't do it, I can't hear her. And she was going, no, do it, look, do it.

And she was hitting herself. Oh, yeah, I struggled. And there was also one little girl who was the younger version who didn't speak English. And I said, oh, she started to look like she was crying. And I went, oh, shut up. Because I thought she was acting, but she actually started to cry. And then I went, oh my God, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry.

And then, oh, it was awful. Oh, no. That's a horrible day at work. Yeah, you're right. Shouting at children is horrendous. The child in me was a little bit perturbed when things go very awry in our film as characters. And I did have a moment going, I need to check in with my friends. This is feeling quite, I'm smarting from some of this.

Right, I'm too good at this. This is too real? No, she was. And I was like, is this coming from a place of our friendship? Oh, you're okay. It's stupid. But you get a bit wrapped up in yourself, don't you sometimes, for, full stuff. for full stop, especially when you're pretending to be people in that situation.

But yeah, I just had a moment of going, okay, we're good, we go. I just wanted. Actually, it was more like we'd had such fun. And then it does get very dark this film. There's a lot of nuance to it and some pathos because of the humor in a way. And when it got a little bit... I've worked out what we have to do. What do we have to do? So, you know when dogs are fighting?

You might talk what we had to do on the day. You're always there. This makes me go, oh, stop, and making me laugh. But you know when dogs are fighting? I do. Or play fighting. Yeah, yeah. But then they go, p...

Do you notice that? No. They do little false sneezes. It means I still live you, I'm not actually across. That's what they're doing. So we need to go, and then we'll be fine. Just a little white sneeze means you still love each other.

Blow snot on each other. Exactly. That's the true demonstration of love. They're back in lip sync territory. Where'd it come from? You know, Olivia, I just caught up with our mutual buddy, Dakota Johnson the other day. lovely as always. Did you actually like hang out, go out or were you doing press things? Just press, please. Just the real stuff. How is she?

She's amazing. She got really ugly. Yes. I knew it. I knew it. Don't have a time. Thank God. She has said you are the funniest person she's ever worked with. Who, respectively, take your co-star in the room out of the equation. Who is the person that has made you laugh the most in your career on set that's been tough to get through a scene with? Other than her, oh, Martin Freeman. Ben, Dan. Daniels as well. We both... Daniels as well, yeah.

Oh, I do remember what I do with Ben. With us, it was all about our wigs in Tudor, England. It was in the Roses and the Yellow Horse that was out of farting at all, as we were kind of trotting past heads we'd probably be ourselves as characters put on a spike. And he was my wingman as Richard III, which means he was Gloucester. It's a long time ago.

And, yeah, we couldn't. That's a really good one. That's a really good one. He perpetually... He's sad. He's the nicest man as well, but he's really naughty. He's lovely. Oh, fun.

But he's adorable, Ben Daniels. And Martin, I think, is quite literally the funniest person I've ever met. He's so whipsmart and, yeah. So I've just remembered Adil Akhtar as well, who in Miserables again. Really? There was a fight thing and he actually went, oh, really, really high pitched and really loudly. and he was meant to be a bit of a geyser. And I literally held my nose

and I had to sit on the floor, so I was trying to up to wet myself and hide from the camera. And we were giggling so much while this great big barbrawl was happening. Yeah. I love that. You know, like when you're in assembly at school

and someone goes, who put itching powder on my seat? I know. All control is lost. One of the sequences I enjoy running through this film is your character, Benedict. Has a bit of a viral video meltdown.

Yes. I'm not really responsible for how that was put together, so I can laugh at that without it seeming like self-indulgence. It's so funny that meme. Very funny, very funny. But either of you had an experience like talking to someone like me on a carpet at a point where you were like, oh my God, I just did something that is going to end me,

like that is really going to compromise my career? I think I probably do. Every single interview, I think I've said something that's going to compromise my life. in my career. If in doubt, we'll do something really childish or say a rude word. And so far no one seems to have minded.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, maybe one day. I don't look too closely, but yeah. I mean, I also, I got very excited at the Oscars the first time I went and photo bombed you too. And it was just because... Me? No, no, I did.

Did you photo bomb me as well? No, is that what you said? Oh, you too. As in the band. Not you. You too. I was going to say. There must be a lot of that with their band name.

I mean, they were all lined up. It was so easy. But I'd also been feds. It was the jump, right? It was the jump. But, you know, I'd also been given a loss of alcohol on a red carpet. I don't think things have probably changed now. Was that a bad thing?

Well, seemingly not. But I think people obviously knew they were going to get a really out of control version of me. Just got to give me little miniatures. I love it. It was the Ellen Show gang in particular. They gave me, they were like, here, have some smyrna farker. Not necessarily. Could be any brand of vodka.

I'm not being very specific. This isn't an endorsement. Drink responsibly. Yeah, or drinking in general. Or a particular brand because, you know, I want to keep my options open there. But also because I can't remember. I just do remember, and the world does because it's kind of there at me going over the top of there. Oh, I want to find that.

And I think the minute after I did that was like, it just made us love you more. That is possibly going to be the serious thing I've done that will be. I think I might have photo bombed behind. Was it your gosh? It's quite tall, yeah. Yeah. I did something similar, but not, but no one really noticed, but that sounds brilliant. I don't know if they're short, but everyone thought I'd been superimposed because I've got quite height.

But I think honestly, I was all over, but I might have just stepped on someone to get the height. I was not in my right mind. Right, there was a trampoline on the Oscar carpet. They don't talk about that. Yeah, calls the famous actor, but, you know, I just kind of went, boink on them. I don't know, you know, the memory's vague because I was just sort of acting on an impulse in front of the world. So, yeah, I do, we do, but I don't, trouble, trouble. It's amazing how much fun

you can have in an interview and I come away going that's going to be a new story that's going to be a clipback that's going to be a thing that's going to be extracted and turned into something out of context that makes this process dull

not with you my friend but you did ask the question how about this let's create a rift between the two of you who's a better detective Ellie Miller at Broadchurch or Sherlock I'm not sure that's fair well she didn't even know it was her husband

in that spot spoiler wow I'm sorry, but people actually don't deserve to anymore. Well, Sherlock Holmes is famously brilliant. I don't think he ever fails, does he? You can't really top Sherlock. And that's not me competing against her. That's just, you know, that's the writing. Yeah.

Doyle. Yeah, that's you. Arthur and Colonel Doyle. I remembered. You tried an Irish? Arthur Colonel in Doyle. Did you? Was an Irish?

I'm appearing. No, I'm going to say... Okay, stop. Just deep breath. Deep breath. Other people are shocked. I'll talk for a little while. So, how are you?

Who's a bigger Marvel fan? I think it's Olivia. I think Olivia knows Marvel better than you even you've been. Unreduitedly. Right? Yeah. Try it. Oh no, don't test me.

No, I'm not going to test you. How many Marvel films as a fantastic four have there been? Do you know that? Three? Three? Three? No, I meant MCU films total in the MCU. In the MCU?

With the four in? Yeah. I actually don't know. Well, with the new one coming up, I would say three. No. Oh, as in repeat. Oh, yeah, I'd say three. All right.

The entire MCU I'm saying. This is the American English problem. I don't understand. I don't understand. You mean standalone films? It's a Josh problem. You mean the characters appearing in how many films? What the fuck is going?

I was thinking how many MCU films have there been? Totally. How many MCU films have there been? Not with the Fantastic Four. Are they in all of them? I said as of the Fantastic Four, how many will have there been? MCU fans. Oh, I see.

Very badly. Parents appear in. Or how many versions of that franchise? So plus that one that's coming out? No idea. Yes. I have no idea. I mean, what?

18. Oh. We don't know. 37. 37. Yeah, you're missing a few. I win. 37.

That's a lot, isn't it? How many? Have you seen them? I have not seen 37. I have, okay. Well, that's the word to do. I haven't seen all of them. I don't think I've seen all of them.

I don't think I've seen 37, so I can't see one. Do you can't series as films? So I count which? Sirius is films. So yeah, 37 feature films. That's amazing. That's enormous, isn't it? It's extraordinary.

I think I have seen them. Have you? Okay, he's a bigger fan than me. Okay. Goodbye. Summer movies, Hello Fall. I'm Anthony Devaney. And I'm his twin brother, James. We host Raiders of the Lost Podcast, the Ultimate Movie Podcast,

and we are ecstatic to break down late summer and early fall releases. We have Leonardo DiCaprio leading a revolution in one battle after another, Timothy Salome playing power ping pong in Marty Supreme. Let's not forget Emma Stone and Jorgos Lanthamos' Bougonia. Dwayne Johnson, he's coming for that Oscar in The Smashing Machine Spike. and Denzel teaming up again, plus Daniel DeLewis's return from retirement. There will be plenty of blockbusters to chat about two. Tron Aries looks exceptional, plus Mortal Kombat 2.

And Edgar writes, The Running Man, starring Glenn Powell. Search for Raiders of the Lost podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. 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 come together to host Unspooled, a podcast where we talk about good movies, critical hits. Fan favorites, musts season, and in case you missed them. We're talking Parasite the Home Alone.

From Greece to the Dark Night. So if you love movies like we do, come along on our cinematic adventure. Listen to Unspooled wherever you get your podcast. And don't forget to hit the follow button. What have you learned about your friend? Look, you've known each other for a while. There's the work self and there's the out-of-work self. Did you learn something new about each other, seeing each other in this environment?

It's the first time being in the working environment, which I'd heard about with her, and it's obvious to the world from people who've already worked with her, but to see the alchemy she brings to set every day and to see what joy it is, and it's genuine. I'm like, God, that's got to cost you, but it doesn't because it's her. It's authentically who she is. And that, I guess I knew it in a way, but I really witnessed it for the first time. So that was my kind of novel experience and acting with her, obviously, which was a marvel,

but you know it was it was that it was that kind of alchemy with everyone around us oh ben it's true he did it again he did it again it does this um and that you could pull her finger and she often farts yeah well i did i used that especially when i knew that he needed a little yeah reassuring that i'm not actually hated by the person i'm acting with i mean pathetic isn't it you want to do in real time here we go uh for a bit of delay you can you can you can you can You can edit that. Go on. I was going to say, is it more enjoyable as an actor?

Can I just say, and this isn't playing smoke, but one more important thing. As an actor watching her, how intuitive she is given how great she, she gets her so quickly, so quickly. So do you, totally. I know. I try and a lot more trial and error with you. No, I don't think so. Those emotional scenes, it was so lovely to look into your eyes and you're absolutely there. That was, that I have to sort of put myself there for those.

those bits, but everything, especially with comedy, I feel like, oh, I've just got a, this isn't what I haven't done as nearly as much as Olivia. I've found funny bits in films and never quite this focused and, and it was all there at your finger tips, you were napped up to it. Well, no, I think I had to really, I think because it's scary if you haven't done much of it before. To trust it. Yeah, but you totally got it. But not as quick, not as she's been very kind, but I will say not as quickly as Olivia. It is, yeah. It is kind of, do you remember, Benwick, the, the, the, the sketch that we did that you did, that you did, had not even read the script for you walked into and you were unbelievable. There you are you see. What was it? This was a master class actor parody.

Oh, the abusive acting coach. You were unbelievable. It was great until I actually, I think I did punch someone in it. I mean, no. You didn't punch my friend Sammy. You fake punched her. But she loved it. It was a fake punch and we talked about it.

Oh, like that. It was in the stomach. It was right. It was scripted. I think that bit was on the script. It was. You're right. I didn't know what it was until I watched in the room.

But that was fun. You always give me, in those scenarios in the past, you've always given me something really fun to do. And so I knew when I was being, I knew that Josh was on the card, so I knew it was going to be a fun thing. Fun. But thank you.

Amazing. Amazing. Do you guys enjoy the, like I always think about these, the relationship comedies or dramas. The montage of falling in love must be so difficult. Like when you have to kind of laugh for hours at an end, you have to kind of gaze at each other longingly. Is that something that is as awkward as it seems to me with my second self thinking about?

I find some bits awkward. Anything with skin touching, I find cripplingly embarrassing. It's the least sexy or romantic thing you'll ever do as an accent. Well, I'll ever do. Especially with a friend. Yeah, it's super weird. Ben, all right, how's so? Yeah, how's it?

Yeah, fantastic. Great, let's get this over with. I don't know those signs, the English making love. But no, seriously, the, what was the thing? Oh, yeah, the cute, the meat cute in this is so well scripted. And it's so immediate and it's very fast. So it's kind of like, oh. So it's less embarrassing.

And we laughed a lot when we went into that ice cooler. We're like falling over with our legs and arms scratching the wall. And because it's left to your imagination, really. We could just do the hand thing and then giggle. It's a very generous bit of filmmaking. Yeah. I think because they could tell that I was. And the montage of love at no, not at all.

Because that's, it works. The montage of love in this, I think is quite nice because you jump around in time very fast, you know, you're in the problem. You're in, well, you're in the high peak of their familydom, and then you're pretty straight into the shift. Yeah. Where it all kind of gets tested. So what, yeah, when you think about, look, I love, I love the, the War of the Roses back in the 80s with Kathleen and Michael. And I learned so much about relationships and, like, I love. love through movies, through TV, especially film, though,

like the Nora Ephron movies, et cetera. Like, when you think back to your childhoods about coming of age as, you know, theater goers as filmgoers, what are the films that kind of, like, resonated with you that taught you something you think about what relationships were for good or for bad? Oh, my film references are, well, I suppose I watch lots of kids' things, obviously. So, Tich-T-D-D-Bang-Bang.

And then falling in love. Do you remember? Truly scrumptious. Yes. And the kids singing around. And there's always a dead mum in those, you know, all fairy tales. A lot of dead parents. Yeah.

And also, it's a wonderful life. Oh. Can't even think about it without sobbing. The love of a family. Yeah, the power of that. Yeah. And that good man. I think I fell in love with him and I just wanted a man like him in my life.

And truly scrumptious is a great sort of, yeah. And also sound of music. Yes. Okay, romantic and beautiful, again, about the power of family and unity and just, yeah, I'm trying to think of other ones to add to that. I mean, as a boy, I kind of, I completely fantasized about being Harrison Ford and pretty much everything he did that I was allowed to watch, you know, whether it was indie or Han Solo. And they're quite loner, difficult, grumpy, edgy characters, but there's something so charismatic about him in those films, sort of carrying the candle of Bogart from films before. And I thought, I mean, Harrison is incredibly handsome man, but Bogart is a strange-looking guy, I thought,

but it's not about that. It's actually about the charge of the romance. It's about, it doesn't matter what you look like, essentially. It's who you are and what you do with who you are. There's also something in these kind of films that, like, gets at, like, the uniqueness of that bond in a marriage or any kind of relationship where you say things to each other that you can't say to anybody else.

And there's those picayune, small things that just drive us insane, even though we love our partners. I mean, are there, if I ask your partners, your friends, your family, your children even, what's like the little thing that bothers me? I love my dad. I love my mom. But this thing just, if they could only just stop doing this, is there anything that comes up a lot about you guys, about you guys with friends and family?

I'm pretty guarded about exposing what I think of flaws in my family to a public for obvious reasons. But make something out. I'll make something up. Not being able to find the potato peel. Put it back in different drawers every single time. That does happen, actually, you know, when someone's been in the kitchen and I'm kind of looking around for the juicer, well, juicy, just a little glass thing, you squeeze lemons on.

Not some fancy bit of kit, but just it's like, oh, I'm spending half an hour looking for shit that used to be where I put it, and it's moved because someone's made a cake or something. Right. There's a pet peeve, which is kind of real, but not. Is that what they would be crossed with you about? Oh, is you me? Yeah. Interview them.

I mean, there's an endless list. It starts in the morning, you know, and ends late at night. When they go to bed, yeah. Yeah, pretty much. And then starts all over again the next day. I hate you. You're the worst that ever. I don't know.

I mean, yeah, you'd have to ask them. What about you? Being away from home, actually. Being away from home pisses them off. And I, it pisses me off too. Yeah. So we try and do as much to make that not the case, two-week rule, and try to work as hard as possible on making work happen here near a home

so I can get home. Or take them with me. What's a pet peeve and a co-star that you can't abide by? Obviously, you guys get along famously. I know, it's brilliant, let's move on. Pet peeve and a co-star? Being late. You've worked with all types of actors.

I've been late a lot today because I've been icing my shell. No, that doesn't count. I mean, that's... But that is annoying, though. There are people in this world. No, on set, on work, for work. late for work, I think that's unacceptable. Because the whole crew are there on time.

And everyone's got families and lives. Yeah, exactly. I agree, I agree. Unless there's a valid excuse, right? Oh, it has to be. Yeah. But I know people who are virtually late. And I sometimes am a little bit sloppy with my lines,

but on the whole always know them. When people come in and they really don't know them. I think you should fuck off and do a different job because there's a thousand people ready to step into your shoes who would appreciate it more. I've had moments where I've really dropped the ball on projects. like being exhausted and I think and I think you know I've managed to forgive myself

for those moments yeah because I'm aware of the other people involved also a big pet peeve sorry I jumped in no no no no but it's just it is it is something that you have it's a turn up on time and learn your eyes

you know and you know when you watch people shit down and if people who are bullies to people below them yes that is an unbearer and that's more than a pet peeve that's like a lifetime crusade to call out and it's yeah it is

And sometimes you see heads of department who sometimes aren't very nice to the bottom, like trainees or something. We're very lucky. On the whole, as I would say, my experience at least, and especially, there's one of the reason I wanted to be a producer was to make a working environment that people wanted to be part of. And by and large, I think as a company, I can hold my head up behind and say we have succeeded. There have definitely been moments. I think post-COVID, a lot of shifting in the industry and a lot of difficulties with certain productions. But it is, it's one of the reasons I wanted to be a producer. to control the means of production and make sure it's a nice time for all.

And whether that's catering or the hours or the commute or just treating each other as human beings and having some air to breathe and being nice and polite and grateful. And a five-day week, non-negotiable. Yeah, that's, yeah, bring it, bring it. So being a fan for life turns into the trip of a lifetime. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Presale tickets for future events subject to availability and varied by race. Turns and conditions apply.

Learn more at amex.ca.orgia. The twisted tale of Amanda Knox is an eight-episode Hulu original limited series that blends gripping pacing with emotional complexity, offering a dramatized look as it revisits the wrongful conviction of Amanda Knox for the tragic murder of Meredith Curtis. and the relentless media storm that followed. The twisted tale of Amanda Knox is now streaming only on Disney Plus.

Olivia, in recent years, we talked a little bit about this, your guest spot in The Bear, you're in Heart Stopper, you've been in some amazing TV shows. Is there anything you still want to get in on that you're just a fan of? Or, Ben, for you?

Are you a fan of anything on TV right now that we should manifest today? Sorry about that. No, no, no. Okay. Anything? TV-wise, is there a show that you guys have been really enjoying that you are either enjoying just as fans

or would want to even just pop into? Oh, God, what was I watching? Sirens I'm watching at the moment. Oh, yeah. I'm only up to... I've got one to go, so don't say anything. It's not something watching. Succession's been and gone.

Oh, yeah. Would have loved to do something that. I mean... Black doves. I loved that. Yeah, that was brilliant. I enjoyed that, too. That's so good. those two. So good, such good writing as well. Everyone was going to, but hearing

them particularly, no, I, well, look, uh, white lotus. I do look at that. It wouldn't be nice to go to a beautiful, but it's, it's hard. You're away from your family for a long time. Unless in a school holiday and you could all go together. Yes. That would be nice. You get your own little like villa in Italy or Thailand? Come on. Thing is, though, when I have, um, got the family with me somewhere, invariably they're bored. Well, but there, they're not doing the thing that you're doing, going, why am we here, We're not seeing mum or dad, and that is true. It's still, it doesn't necessarily fix it.

Yeah. It's almost better to be way when they're at school, at least they're busy all day. Yeah, exactly. I don't know. There's no right answer. We're going to end with this. Josh, it's a great question because the, well,

I was just going to say, the best stuff that you watch is always the stuff where you go, I want to be part of that. I mean, it's what theater, television, radio, anything and film. It's the ones that make you go, God, I want to be part of that creative energy and storytelling. Yeah. Yeah.

I was going to say you mentioned theater. I know you guys have busy family lives. We need to get you in New York doing theater just selfishly. I'm dying to see you. When my youngest has left home, then I'll come and do a play in New York. Virginia, who's a very to Virginia Woolf? We could carry on the marital theme there. Or, you know, Beatrice and Benedict, some much to do.

You just wait for a Godot together. You could just whatever you want. Yeah, anything. Or we could do. Is Kiss Me Kate the musical of Taming the Shrew, it is, isn't it? Yes. Do you like that they're doing a musical? Not really.

Yes. could sing for me. She'd be in the back, she'd be upstairs, go, oh, fuck up! Sorry, you couldn't edit that bit up. No, I'm keeping that, yeah. Okay, the happy second few is profoundly random questionnaire for you guys.

You both can answer these. Are you dog or cat people? Dog. Dog. I like cats, but dogs. I do like cats, but I've got three dogs. Yeah. Yeah.

And I'm on the walk right now. My cat, who was 21 when he died, never really liked us. Goodbye, cat. Yeah. I loved him. He didn't like us. Oh my.

Oh my God. What do you collect, if anything, either of you? What? What do you collect? Do you collect anything in your lives? A little bit of art. Not fancy, fancy, but just, yeah, I love art. That's my heroine, I think.

I keep buying pictures. Well, you know, you've got quite a few heroin. I wish I should go there. But you've got, you like your furnishings as well. I do. But not collection, maybe. That's just... Yeah, yeah.

I don't think I have a collection. collection. You're currently outdoor furniture. That's by accident. You just haven't returned them. No, I just, I keep finding things in, you know, junkyards and things. Oh, and now we've got too many chairs outside. You've got overpopulated your garden. Yeah. It looks a bit like a pub garden now. That's all right. Just invite all the pub around. Yeah. Perfect. Yeah. Pub at home. Sorry. You go. No, no. I don't think I have anything to go on. I think art is the only real thing. Books, books, books, books. A lot of books. And again, not valuable books. It's not like I'm going, oh, that's a day. I mean, if somebody, and I've had, someone give me one, but it's not, I'm not an obsessive.

I just, we buy too many books. I love, books always make a home look really cozy. They really do. I don't, I don't, I'd like to put a bet a myth that I don't have a stunning collection of supercars worth $700,000 of pounds, what's the difference? It's just ridiculous. I mean, no, but I mean, it was in the papers or, no, it was, it was online and some internet thing. We've set the record straight.

every car that I'd either driven in a show or a film or crashed as in Doctor Strange or being photographed near in my life or walked past in a pap shot. It was like, I don't own any of these cars when you're talking about. It's coming with me now. Exactly. Right in them. This is the Dakota Johnson Memorial question, Olivia. She asked me this once and I ask everybody this now.

Would you rather have a mouthful of bees or one bee in your butt? Dakota. I mean there's no question I want just one in my butt because bee stings are apparently quite therapeutic I don't imagine you'd live one in my butt yeah

because I reckon it wouldn't survive long yeah not a lot of air there isn't a bit of swelling down there for a bit is alright but in there you know you'd die yeah have you I mean I know people

keep talking about bee therapy has anyone actually done it anyone in this room no I've never heard of you literally you could take to a piece of I'm saying this because I'm looking to I'm having them off of my shoulder, but it's, you can, you actually sort of target the stings and the, the body's natural defense, the antihistamine it produces, is obviously, it reduces swelling, but the swelling brings healing. And I don't want that in my life.

I don't need that. I mean, that I'm picking yourself with nettles. It's a big thing at the moment in natural medicine. Is it? Okay. Is it that? Or is it just like me ending a loss of cars, I don't know. Two more quickly.

Last actor, either of you were mistaken for? Olivia Williams. Would it benefit us there? I said Olivia Coleman. David, well, not David Tennett, but Doctor Who, so that could be any one of them, I suppose. He's a big old changeable alien. But Matt Smith at the time, I guess,

love you in Doctor Who, was American, that's American Senate. They probably just met Doctor Strange to be fair, I mean a lot. Olivia Williams, you get. Well, yeah, sometimes. And also, Claire Foy, not because we could look,

anything like each other. But I get sent, I used to get sent, pictures of her to sign and I would send her a screengrab going, how would you like me to approach this? And last thing for you guys, what's the worst note a director has ever given you? I promise the director I would

never reveal that. I've had line readings. I'll tell you line readings are appalling. Never do that. And I've had some funny ones. Faster and funnier. I had from

Lovely Susanna Beer on the night manager. And I was massively pregnant. And she said, could you walk less pregnant? No. There's a head in my pelvis. So no. That was a good one. Ben, you haven't gone on that note at least.

I can't top that. No, no. I've never had the pregnant note. Oh, I was running blank on things like this. I've had some true shockers. But I've also been very lucky to work with directors who are great. A few over-caffeinated moments where people just sort of started, do you know what I mean? And after the sort of 50th day of shooting, I had to say, no, I'm sorry, I'm at a loss because all I've heard you do is stammer.

Do you know what I mean? That was a moment. But no, I don't know. Even the worst, you understand what they are good at, and it might not be directing actors, but it might be a visual sense or just an amazing technical master of their craft from behind the lens. or an idea of what they want the audience to think or feel, which is sometimes a little bit jumping the gun for me. It can be dead when you're worried about the audience. You should be focusing on that thing there

and then hoping that from that thing is good enough to reflect an audience in the way you want it to. But yeah, no, I've had lots of stuff through bullhorns and I've heard other people directly people who've gone, wow, I'm glad I'm not in that scene. Like, more crying. No, no, more. More crying. The funniest ones are, you know.

How does that work? It's just like using emotions on a mixing board. Do you go and do adverts and things back in the day and voiceovers where they go and through the box? Could you be happier, please? So they need it really happy. So you sounded a bit happy. Could you do it less happy? What?

And that's really annoying. The annoying thing. Do you ever get this thing as well where you go, can I try one when I just, I don't, I don't, I can't quite look at that person. That's great. Bennett, can you try doing one when you do? And they literally just say what you've said to them. And it's like, okay, you take ownership for it. It's fine.

I'm not precious. But it's like, it's really, yeah. Yeah. Well, for my, for my metaphorical bullhorn in New York, you guys did great today. It's good to see you, even from afar, hopefully in Perkson next time. Congratulations on the roses. Thank you for indulging my silliness as always. Oh, really fun.

We love it. Thank you very much. Give my love to Dakota, please. Yes, mine too, please. She's also a friend of mine and I love her. And ask her hands for feet or feet for hands? Right back out of her. Perfect.

She'll know what that means. Have a good one, guys. Bye. Bye. Bye, bye. Bye. 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 much to do this by Josh. American history is full of infamous tales that continue to captivate audiences, decades or even hundreds of years after they happened. On the infamous America podcast, you'll hear the true stories of the Salem Witch Trials and the escape attempts from Alcatraz, of bank robbers like John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd, of killers like Lizzie Borden and Charles Starkweather, of mysteries like the Black Dahlia and D.B. Cooper,

and of events that inspired movies like Goodfellas, killers of a flower moon, zodiac, eight men out, and many more. I'm Chris Wimmer. Join me as we crisscrossed the country from the Miami Drug Wars and Dixie Mafia in the South, to mobsters in Chicago and New York, to arsonists, kidnappers, and killers in California, to unsolved mysteries in the heartland and in remote corners of Alaska. Every episode features narrative writing and cinematic music, and there are hundreds of episodes available to binge. Find Infamous America, wherever you get your podcasts.