Happy Sad Confused - Claire Foy, Vol. IV

Episode Date: January 5, 2023

Claire Foy is of course HAPPY SAD CONFUSED royalty by now so yes, it's very appropriate we kick off a new year with an old favorite. Claire drops back in to discuss her amazing new film, WOMEN TALKING, how her dog is doing, and why she would sign up for BRIDESMAIDS sequel but not TOP GUN. To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to Josh's youtube channel here! Check out the Happy Sad Confused patreon here! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes of GAME NIGHT, video versions of the podcast, and more! For all of your media headlines remember to subscribe to The Wakeup newsletter here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D.C. high volume, Batman. The Dark Nights 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. What do you mean blow up the building? From this moment on,

none of you are safe. New episodes every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now. Today on Happy, Sad, Confused, a new year of podcasts begins with an old favorite. Claire Foy on her new film, Women Talking. Hey, guys, I'm Josh Horowitz, and welcome to another edition, another year, in fact, of Happy, Sad, Confused.

What a great way to start 2023 with one of our first. favorites delivering a stellar performance in one of my favorite movies of the last year. It's Claire Foy. She is, of course, talking about her new movie, Women Talking. We reunited a while back. This is probably taped at least a good month ago in New York City. We got a chance to see each other in person, which was lovely, and had a lot of fun talking about a very serious movie. But that's the way we do things when Claire Foy and I get together. So more on Claire in a second. But first, other things to mention. I hope you guys had a great holiday. I hope you guys had a chance to take some well-deserved time off with your family and reflect and look ahead and recharge. I certainly

did. For those of you that got a chance to enjoy our New Year's Eve special, I hope you had as much fun watching and listening as we did taping it. We got a chance to collect some of our favorite folks just for the Patreon crowd. As you guys may or may not know, if you're a Patreon member you certainly know. But on Patreon, we try to give you guys some exclusives. We give you early access to all the episodes. We give you discount codes. And sometimes we were even able to offer these special live streams. So on New Year's Eve, I gathered with Rachel Zegler, Ben Schwartz, Colin O'Donohue, and who am I missing? Oh, of course, Glenn Powell, Glenn Hangman himself. How could I forget for a wild and fun conversation? And, and

And I know the audience seemed to enjoy it that was in the live stream, and I certainly did. So that was kind of a gift to the Patreon folks out there. If you guys have not signed up for the Patreon, now is the time. And I'll say that, I really mean that right now, because this month, in January, we're offering up some special offers on Patreon. If you sign up for a year, you're going to get some free cool stuff. So go over to patreon.com slash happy, sad, confused. All the information is over there. you'll see what we have to offer.

I think if you enjoy the podcast, you'll dig it. So that's my spiel for the Patreon. As always, remember to check our YouTube page out. Subscribe over there. You'll be able to watch this conversation with Claire Foy at YouTube.com slash Josh Horowitz. Okay, so let's talk about the main event, which, yes, is Claire Foy, who, I don't know, is this her fourth maybe visit to the podcast? I don't know.

It's a lot, and it's, I will never, I will never say it's enough. She is always welcome. I love talking about silly things, about smart things. She is, I always say I kind of try to be the intersection between smart and silly, and I feel like that is why I get along with Claire. Claire is a very smart, brilliant actor, one of the best we have working today, but she can also be just such a reverent, self-deprecating delight in talking to. Her new movie, which I'm sure I've talked about on the podcast recently, because I did get a chance to see this pretty early on when it debuted at the Tell Your Ride Film Festival is a really extraordinary piece of work. It is called Women Talking, and it features Francis McDormand,

Jesse Buckley, Rooney Mara, Claire, Judith Ivy, Ben Wishaw. The list goes on and on. It tells of a small community, a men and night. Well, I don't even know if it's ever mentioned, but it's intuitive, I think, that it's a men and night community, where the women are being horribly abused by the men in the community, sexually, violently, really horrific stuff. And they gather to decide what to do. They gather to figure out whether they should stay or they should leave, what their options are. And it sounds weighty, and it is certainly weighty. There is somehow levity in it as well. I've seen this movie twice, and it just plays, it just works, and the acting in it is phenomenal. I hope Claire gets acknowledged in terms of awards. I hope Jesse,

Buckley gets acknowledged. I know there's talk of Ben Wischaw getting acknowledged. And Sarah Polly for directing, for screenwriting. It's really one of the best films I've seen in sometimes. So I highly recommend it. It's in, I think, limited release right now. I think it's going to go into wide release on January 20th. So check it out. Put it on your list if it's not already women talking. I think that's really the main preamble. I hope you guys enjoy the next year ahead on Happy Say I Confused. We have a bunch of amazing. amazing guests coming up. I will be able to talk more about that more freely already soon. I'll be able to talk about the exciting events we've got coming up. We're going to hit our

500 episode this year, guys. 500 episodes of Happy Say I Confused. We'll try to make that one extra special. So a lot to be thankful for. I'm thankful for you guys, as always for listening. And without any further ado, here is me and Claire Foy gathered in good old New York City. about a month, six weeks ago. I hope you enjoy the familial vibe in the room and hope you feel like you're a part of the happy, sick, confused family by listening in on this chat between me and Claire Foy. You're in the four-timer club.

I've spoken to you more than I've spoken to members of my family this year. Yeah, unlike the regularity of a dentist visit or even more. You are. You are. It's very reassuring. Well, we haven't been part of the doctorate. important things to talk about. First, let's just catch up. I feel like I saw you literally about a month ago, so there's not that much to catch up on. But you just flew in today.

I did a couple of hours ago. Okay. What's feeding fresh? Good actor. What's the, what's the flight regimen for Claire Foy? Are you watching movies? Or do you have six different eye masks on? What's, what's going on if I found you? So immediately post-COVID, when I saw you at telly ride, that was like the first sort of trip I'd done for work on a long haul flight and I got a little bit over-excited and I forgot about what it's like so I had a couple of glasses of champagne I felt amazing you know then eight hours in didn't feel so amazing oh that was the flight they tried to ground because the crazy waiting in first class was saying let's not talk about the illegal activity that happened on the airplane and then got to telly ride and was like altitude sicknessy and jet lagged and also still probably a bit drunk and was like that's I can't do that I turns out I now remember I remember I remember why I didn't ever do that right I can't drink anything on a plane that's it's it's just no but also not maybe if I was like going on holiday sure

an innocent glass of champagne it would work to do you were you were about to launch your wonderful movie what was I thinking not but also just throw cautious the way it was fun that one time and then now I'm quite strict but also I am a firm believer in not eating aeroplane food. Oh, yeah. And I have, like, one of those big iPads, and I just download loads of stuff that I want to watch. I don't rely on the films on the airplane because the amount of flights you take, you end up using

them all up. It's true. Yeah, I just end up watching Top Gun Maverick on every flight now. It's all in every flight. I watched that on the plane. It was great. Did you just watch it today? When I went to L.A., yeah.

I really enjoyed it. I thought it was wonderful. What did you watch on this most recent flight? I watched Series 2 of Fleabag. which I've already seen several times but I find it very, it's like watching a film because they're all a little half hour so that made me feel nice.

I watched an episode of the Kardashians. What? Yeah, just the finale. Vanali of the series, so I'm all caught up. I watched that document the vow about nexium. Have we not talked about the vow you and I? No.

I'm obsessed with that. Oh my God, but it's finished now. I mean, it must have finished a long time ago and states. There's a new season of the vow. Yeah, I've watched. Oh, I haven't seen the new season. It's great. It goes up to his conviction.

It's amazing. Is he still playing volleyball? Is he still an exceptional volleyball player? The first series was disturbing, and then the second series is miraculously more disturbing because you actually find out what happened. Right. It's unbelievable, and he is unbelievable. They keep talking about how he's so charismatic, and I don't get it.

I don't see it. But you see the effect, you see the other people who are still under his spell. God love him. Do you have the kind of disposition that would fall under the spell of a charismatic leader? No. You're a questioner.

You asked too many questions. You're a disbeliever. What are you? All of those things. I'm quite gullible. So I take people, I'm like, they're lovely, and then I find out they're a monster. Right.

But I'm much more, I don't know. I think I'm just a bit cynical. So I just would be a bit like, I don't believe you. Especially if someone's telling me that right is wrong and wrong is right. So things that I fundamentally, I'm like, I'm pretty sure that I don't agree with that. Right.

This is good. These are good traits. Yeah, but I'm not like an, you know, an anarchist. No, they're extremes. You're thankfully un-nigh-the-red. How is the unnamed dog? The unnamed dog is called Bobby. Oh, we can say, Bobby?

Let's, you know, the cat's at the bag. The dog's out of the back. She's out of her bag. Look, we spoke about this. We spoke about the reasons why I didn't say, well, Bobby. Justifiable reasons. But now we can say Poppy is the dog and you love Poppy with all your heart.

She's not been very well. Seriously? I've left a very ill dog in England. She's not very ill. She's just had a bit of bowel trouble. Go on more. More detail. It's perfect podcast material.

No, but apparently this is regular for dogs. I didn't realize they found digesting things quite so tricky and that they ate so much crap off the floor which could give them all manner of terrible things. So I have been clearing up a lot of liquefied dog poo the past couple of days. So I'm very happy to be here. Really hoping this kind of conversation leads to the Oscar and all the trappings you deserve. Oh, my God.

I was going to suggest if we didn't, if we couldn't still name Poppy, Poppy, we just call her little Matt. No, no, we can't call her little Matt. She's much too pretty to be Little Matt. Who has better hair, Poppy or Matt Smith? Poppy's like a Rod Stewart. but she's got like a, like a perm, inexplicable perm on the top of her head that moves. She's an incredibly beautiful dog. I don't know how I lucked out with her, but she's very beautiful.

Happy Second Fu's got the video exclusive. We have the tape to prove it. I don't think it did her justice, though. I feel like I need to send you some videos of her like running in a field. Please. Just get the majestic beauty of the animal. Any bowel movements you want to send? No, I'm sorry about that.

Please, can you take that out? No, that's our big pull-out quote for the conversation. But do you have to do that with your dog? It's just, everyone has to do it who has a dog. Yeah, yeah. Our dog has different kind of problems. Our dog, Lucy, does not chew on, luckily, it's not, doesn't eat weird things, except streets of New York, replete with, waste of all kind.

Yeah, we've had a lot of visits to the vet. New topic. Okay, let's move on. They're here for the entertainment and the films. They're not here for dog, like diagnosis. They're here for the dog. They're here for the Matt Smith reference. We got that out of the way.

By the way, is the reason you're here because he recently did his third appearance on the podcast. This pulls you into the lead. God's sake, I just can't shake him off that man. No, you got the lead back. How many episodes of House of the Dragon have you watched? All of them. Seriously?

Yeah, why have you not? No, I haven't. I loved it. I'm just, I'm kind of surprised. Why? I didn't know you were, did you were Game of Thrones fan? Yes. Okay. It took a huge amount of commitment, which waned slightly towards the end.

But I was there for it. I love a TV event and House of the Dragon I was a very committed friend I disagreed with him in many scenes which I had to then tell him that I found quite disgusting to watch Not the best uncle

No Anyway questionable Yeah But yeah I thought it was great Yeah Love it and it's gone down really well What a triumph What you're up for all concerned

Speaking of triumphs Let's start the segue into the actual important topic And we can't joke too much because this is a really serious, wonderful movie that you were part of. Obviously, I can't look you in the eye when I say that because that's not the nature of our relationship. No. But women talking is a really special piece of work. And as I'm sure you can attest, and I can from the outside looking in, this rarely happens in this way, where it's like the material looks great on paper, the cast looks amazing, director awesome, and then it actually turns out to be as good as you expect it. What a shock.

No, but it is kind of, right? Yeah. But I do think that this was a particular film where I went into it going, if this isn't good, there's something wrong with the world. Because I thought the only reason why it wouldn't be good was because the way it was received as opposed to what the film was saying and what the film was. Right. I just didn't know whether it was ready to be made or people to watch it.

Because I do think some people come out of it going, that's not a film. Right. Like, it's not like a film that they have ever seen before, so therefore it's difficult for people to comprehend. what it actually is. So is this, okay, when the world started to see this, and I was lucky enough to be a tell you ride when I first screened, and it was a palpable, very, like,

visceral reaction from the audience. And just, like, it is a conversation starter in the best possible way. And I don't know, did that strike you immediately? Like, just, yes, you're watching the movie and you can see that it works, but then to see how it's been received by audiences, even though the world that has hasn't even seen it yet. that makes it all the more unique and special, doesn't it? Yeah, because also you make things

and I feel like this is one of the things that I've done where the experience of making it was its own unique kind of thing and existed in its kind of own little echo chamber and then the experience of other people watching it has been like nothing else I've ever done. I've never been part of something which, you know, the reason why it's been made

is so clear and that the conversations people want to have about it are interesting and varied and complicated and really like diverse and it can be applicable to so many different people in so many different situations and so many people have got so much to offer and a lot of people are saying I'm going to watch it again I need to watch it again because they don't pick up on things or they're interested in a certain concept that someone spoke about and they want to go back to it and I've never been part of anything that feels like it genuinely is starting a conversation with people ever when you well I mean except for Season of the Witch,

which has still people talk about for... It was number one in France, I'll have you know. Which is a conversation start in itself. What are the people of France thinking? Season of the Witch and Jerry Lewis, revered in France for decades. So this film, in brief, this is about a small community,

a community of women who have discovered collectively that they are being sexually abused in the most horrific ways imaginable. and come together to basically decide what to do, to stay, to leave, how to deal with this insane situation. It's directed by the great Sarah Polly. It is. Had you been in a admirer of her work both in front of him

behind the camera prior to this? Yes, I had. So I watched Take This Waltz really weirdly in lockdown. And then I watched stories we tell in preparation for meeting her. And I'd seen away from her like years before. You know, away from that one. That's a tough one. That's a brutal film, but beautiful, yeah.

And then for some reason, my, I only looked on IMDB at what she directed, which was an error, because then midway through production, Rooney was saying about Ramona Quimby, like about Ramona, the program that she did, which was basically my spiritual television program. Like I just, Ramona was my favorite thing in the whole world. So, wait, did you not realize your director was Ramona Quinby? No. And then when I realized, I thought, that is so embarrassing that I can't tell her that I've just realized who she is.

But also, I need to tell her how much I love her. But is that weird that half of the production I'm only telling her now? And also, what's wrong with me? That's the bigger question that raises, yeah. Yeah, but she wears glasses now. What was that about you not being gullible? I know. I know.

And she had a mask on a lot of the time. Right. In real life. Okay. But there were, I could. You know, Ramona Quinby, real life? No, no, no, in real life when we were shooting, should a mask on the entire time.

Gotcha, got you. So, but there's still no excusing that. So, yes, I was a huge fan without realizing it, which is so shameful. You're also surrounded by this amazing ensemble of actresses and Ben Wishaw. Let's give, Ben is fantastic in it. Amazing. But Jesse Buckley, Francis McDormon, Judith Ivy, Rooney. Is this one of the cases where, like, because from what I understand,

I think you met first over Zoom. Yes. So had you met many of them? these women prior to setting foot on set and is that is that always an anxious period where it's like you're about to go on this endeavor that's that's going to be an arduous one that's going to be an intense one and you're going to need to feel collectively taken care of yeah I think probably I would have felt that if it wouldn't hadn't been so instantaneous yeah I've met Jesse like a number of times

before and she's just the greatest person and I've met Ben before so I knew and also then I thought well that's interesting isn't it Ben and Jesse are like some of the finest actors around and also incredibly genuine lovely people you couldn't meet more genuine lovely people and Sarah from my impression of her was exactly the same so I was like so that bodes well and also I knew everybody's work

you know I'd admired everybody so I wasn't thinking I was going to someone was going to turn into like be a complete diva or like a shocker of a human being but I think that what was really interesting about it was just how on the same page we all were about how we were going to approach it what we wanted to know what the core like it was fascinating for me actually to just watch all these

different people work in completely different ways but all have a real sense that what they were doing wasn't as important as the story where they were telling and I feel that a lot on anyway on film sets I'm just like you know let's just do like pay like do the work and be nice to everyone and then go home um yeah and so it was lovely to be in that sort of relaxed kind of like oh I know we're all here for the same reason, which was nothing. When this part in particular was presented to you, did you feel like you, like, oh, wait, they made a mistake. They gave me the good, like, they gave me the really good one. They're all good. But, like, this one, so long is, like, she, I don't know, for, I think for any audience member,

they're going to feel like a catharsis through this character, because she, yeah, there's anger right from the start. And a lot of it And justified anger, of course But it's like, you know, you as an audience member I as an audience member, you feel that You're like, you want to rage against the situation And she is kind of that vessel in a way for an audience Yeah, there definitely was a feeling

I mean, I think she met everybody for every part basically In the way that she did it And the way they cast it They met a lot of people for a lot And it was basically a piecing together So I could very easily have not had that part because I wouldn't have worked with the strategic, like with the family members or whatever that she was planning.

Yeah. But there was definitely, because it sort of went away, I did a read through for it and then it went away. It just didn't, I didn't hear about it. So I was like, oh,

that's not happened. That's not happened. That's okay. And then it came back in. I was like, no, no, no, no, no. That can't be right.

Like literally everybody wants to want to play this part. Right. Why have you given it to me? You've made a terrible mistake. Which is, I think, the natural reaction. that people have when you're given such a like she's such like a gift of a part yeah and the thing is so incredible that i just was like what are the chances do you circle like a day like there's

again there are some they're replete with great moments in this film but there's there's a speech in this where you kind of speak to like what you would do for your child yes that stands out as as a really special moment that is again like just frankly juicy material i would think from an acting perspective is that something that from the get-go you see in the script and you're going and be like that's that's going to be a day that's going to be something to be fearful of yeah yeah you look at where it is in the shooting schedule and you go okay how long have I got to prepare for it okay good I've got a little bit longer for that one let's hope there's not it's not weather cover and it's thrust upon me but I think I said that to Sarah I was like just let me know if you're

going to get to that sooner than you think you're going to get to it yeah so you can sort ignore it for a bit and also what was really amazing about that because it obviously comes quite late on is that because of the way we shot we shot chronologically and so you have this sort of bank of experiences you've already had and we'd shot a lot yeah so i had a lot of muscle memory and like emotional stuff going on that i had seen happen and i had been part of and which really helped inform it but but like most things like that which is one of my favorite parts of the job is that you do all the work you're surprised on the day and you i don't want to do it a lot we only did that like my coverage on that twice oh wow um

And then I got to do it loads for everyone else, which was great. But at the same time, I'm just like, I've lived it. I've done it. That's brilliant. Move on. And I don't really, I can't remember what happens. Like I don't. It's just the dreamiest thing.

Because a lot of the time you're actually in a scene and you're like cranking the engine and you're going, good God, I've got to get to the end of the day. Yes. But when it's something like that, that you're just like so invested in and you've really, in your head kind of investigated all the different angles of it. It's amazing then just to get it out, get it out of your system. Yeah, it was great. I'm a little surprised.

So I know I've talked to many of these other cast members that we talked about. And one that I've always had trouble like breaking through with. And it's not for lack of like loving her work is Rooney. Rooney's like an enigma to me. Well, she is an enigma. And this was like the most shocking moment of my tellyright experience. It's like when somebody just on a panel mentioned that like she had a fart machine on set. Yeah.

And I was like, Runei Mara? Like what? Listen, she is a dark horse. She is one of the most surprising people I have ever met in my life. She is incredible, and she's incredible in this film. And, yeah, she is just an enigma. She is like one of those people that you're just like, how do I get what you've got and put it in my own body?

She draws you in. Like, she's like, yeah, she's magnetic. And she's also, she's very funny. She's very dry. But yeah, that day, she raised it very early. She was like, look, how are we going to love? laugh for three days straight to do that scene. And I was like, I don't know, it's going to be awful.

And we were like, we'll have to make each other laugh. So we did that for a bit. There was quite a lot of crude things going on. And we were laughing, ha, ha, ha, ha. And then suddenly, from, you hear someone breaking wind. And you're like, oh, that's funny. Am I allowed to laugh at that? And then you see it break out amongst everyone.

And you're all, and then it happens again in the next thing. And again, then you just look over and Runei Mara serenely is sat there, like, we're just pushing a button going, self-satisfied yeah and you never knew when she was going to do it she'd set up the like the speaker and everything like just genius dedication yeah and it worked every time

I mean I expect look we've talked about like your adolescent male co-stars in the past any of them we could substitute it and be like of course McAvoy has a heart machine of course like you know would they would they no well because it's no not that

yes they would I'm sure Maccabwe but it was just in incredibly like it was actually what was amazing about what really did was it was very giving and that sounds very giving with the farm machine but she wasn't just doing it for herself like she was doing it for all of us and also she was acting in the scene and instead she was thinking when shall i press it well i'll press it now like you know she had a true leader yeah exactly what a woman um i'm a huge fan of jessie buckley's and and and i got to like meet her a few times in telluride when i feel like i was inadvertently stalking you guys i apologize

Every day, all day. It wasn't all day. No, but I think you would, I would have, there were definitely people there as well. I was like, oh, saw you in the coffee line this morning. Yeah. It's a lovely festival for that. It was so great. I saved you from a bear.

Yes, you did. Yeah. But you saw a bear. I saw a bear. Yeah. And I warned you. About the bear. And then we went on a walk and were terrified of the bear the entire time.

That was the goal. Like, absolutely, like, every time, I was like, thinking it was hunting us. Yeah. It looked like a very good. lovely, lovely soft bear, though, so I don't think it would have done. It did feel like the environment in Telly Ride, which is unlike any other film festival, like, everybody, I don't know if you were noticing this.

Everybody was talking about, like, the women talking, like, girl crew basically, like, roaming together. Were they? Oh, God. No, in a wonderful way. It was like, oh, wait, there they are in another movie. They're, like, but it was very sweet because. It was like a bus tour, basically, and we were just like,

bo, whoa, whoa, whoa, like, like, garbling around Telly rides. But no, yeah, we went, because we, we, I don't know, it feels natural. for us to move as a unit. And I think the way that Fran and Didi and Sarah are is the more, the merrier, the more fun you can have, the better. And so we just, yeah, we went, we just organized it all together. Isn't everyone else not doing that?

It's that a bit weird. Well, the tar group is much smaller. It's Kate Blanchett and top field. Yeah. Yeah. But we would just like, be like, to the younger girls as well, we'd be like, we're going to see this, you want to come? And then they'd just be like, sure, okay. Is there a WhatsApp group? Is there a text chain? There is a WhatsApp group.

I shall not tell you what it's but it's a really great name. I wish I could tell me. No. It's just, I don't want to, no, it's very precious. Okay. Yeah, what happens on the WhatsApp group stays on WhatsApp group. Who's most active?

Well, that's very difficult. We all are very active. We're all very active. Is it about, like, what are the topics? What are the, what are the, what is France is saying? No, Fran's not on it. No. Because she's like the boss.

She's a boss. I feel like she has like a rotary phone. She carries around with her. She would have, like, I. I think this in the nicest possible way. She's just in a different plane of existence. Yeah. I think that Fram was like this extraordinary sort of in the first couple of weeks.

Because it was COVID as well. It was really difficult. I think in her head what she wanted was for all to live on the farm, everyone's children to be on the farm. And they'd have like this incredible, like beautiful experience where we lived on a farm and shot this film. And then realized that was never going to happen. And so she could only be there for the first kind of couple of weeks.

And then she left. But that's what's been amazing about doing all this degree. together is we all get to be back together again as a group. And also hearing her and Didy and Sarah's perspective outside. We became like the, Sarah's on the WhatsApp group, but like we, the, the group of us actors became like a company. Like I should imagine quite a terrifying company, which moved, we moved together all the time.

And when we weren't all in one scene, it felt very strange. And we, yeah, we're a bit of a beast. I also found it refreshing like, look, I've seen a lot lot of your work. I can't claim to be the Clairefoy completest. You've seen The Witch, so I think you probably have. Multiple times. You haven't seen it multiple times. I think I'd have. That's awful. Why do you think

I keep wanting to talk more? I need to crack the code of Season of the Witch. Is it because it's been on telly in hotel rooms. Is that why? No, I've told you this before. I was at the premiere in New York. I told me this. I did mention this. Thanks for not even caring. Sorry, I've blanked it out. No, and I've

seated in bits and pieces, and it's fun to revisit a movie once you get to know somebody that is now. I'm not at the premiere in New York. Yeah. We were just ships passing in the night. So, what was I going to say? Oh, I know. This character, unlike many characters, I don't want to

generalize, but like, look, you're British, so you have to play your fair share of repressed roles. Because I am very repressed as a person also. No, you're not. Yeah, no, I mean, I've got a, you know, that's my wheelhouse. Do you, well, do you enjoy, though? I mean, I guess I would, I mean, Elizabeth Salander's obviously, although she was very controlled and restrained. Controlled, but with explosions of...

Yeah, but she was, yeah, but she was contained. Like, she wasn't used, expressing emotion wasn't safe for Elizabeth. Right. So, yeah. Is there something, again, this is like, I'm asking one of those silly questions that always comes up in interviews, but I will anyway. Is there something cathartic about expressing rage and anger in this, like, insane situation? Yeah, I think it's difficult I wonder, I've thought about this

I wonder whether some actors are more comfortable with doing anger and sort of relish it and love it you see it a lot from men in movies they're angry a lot of the time and they're like throwing stuff around and everyone's sort of supposed to listen to them I'm not one of those people like in life I don't think getting angry at people

gets the best out of them in general and also I'm much more passive aggressive I feel like that's a really good approach just don't say what you mean just inadvertently drop it in in a sort of slightly snide way. Right. And sick, but true.

Yeah, but you know, I think that's just a better approach. Yeah. What sets you off? What gets under your skin, banal day-to-day pet peeves of Claire Foy? Things not running on time. I mean, I'm always late for everything. But, like, me and Emma were talking about this,

baggage reclaim. Baggage reclaim, everyone. And I only think of this recently because I've been on lots of planes, so I understand how privilege I am. But just, I get it, everything's understaffed. But I seem to have really bad karma with bags. Yeah. Like the last one to come out and you're tired and you're just like,

where's the flipping bag? It does feel like they should have cracked the code by now. We've been, air travel has been going for decades, many decades. Why can't we figure this out? Yeah. And, yeah, I mean, I do, I get more annoyed at myself than I do, I think, other people. and then I blame other people,

but really I'm just annoyed with myself. Right. I'm one of those people who leaves the room and goes, I'm carrying too many things. I'm going to drop something, and then I drop everything. Right. I've only got myself to blame.

What about on a set, what gets you going? Nothing really does, actually. I mean, I'm quite good at taking myself off with my own head and letting everything else carry on. I'm very, you know, I'll just say, could everyone get out of the eye line? I think that's fine. But on set, people, like, getting aggressive.

I think there's a way of communicating, which is just like very clear. And actually, when you just go, no, I'm not, I'm not going to shoot until this is all figured out. Yes. One thing that does really, really get on my nerves is things not being safe. Stunts. I can't tell you the amount of situations I've been like, no, it's all right. You're about to meet an elephant. It doesn't matter.

No, you don't need to meet the elephant. before just drive it at high speed and then get out the car and meet the elephant okay I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be okay with that and now I'm being made to feel like I'm really up to high and high maintenance because I'm like I'm quite scared of meeting a giant elephant right is this a metaphor you did this happen yeah yeah on breathe it was like a film I did with Andrew Garfield which was you know maybe I was a bit of a baby about it but I was a bit like I feel like this is a bit unsafe guys it's not a trained elephant it's just a random elephant that we're driving up to or like stunt I can't tell you the amount of time

I've been involved in stunts where I've just gone this isn't okay and then everyone goes no it's fine and you go okay I'm gonna trust that you know what's going on here and it turns out and no one does and yeah but then I haven't done anything like that for a few years so I think things are probably changed now okay um some random stuff for you okay what's that what's the happiest you've ever been getting a role just that the phone call the email what what what stands out when I say something like that oh I did a job in England called The Promise, which is directed by someone called Peter Kuzminski,

and I'd auditioned for it for what felt like a hundred times. And it's the only job I've ever done where I was like, I've always been very sanguine, and I've always been like, if I don't, I don't really, the not getting of a job, I think, makes more sense than getting a job to me.

So I'm like, sure, yeah, well done for realising. Whereas that job, I had reached into it so much. And when I finally got it, I was like, oh, hurrah, and we got to shoot in Israel. And it was, yeah, that was great. I think, and that's not to say, like, this woman talking, I was also thrilled, but the fear came immediately on the tails. Because it was COVID, it was going to Canada.

It was also this part, these women that was going to be working with. I was like, there's a lot to worry about here. So is there no, you were just heading off my next question. There's no low. There's no, like, when you didn't get a part where you always feel like, oh, it's, that's the fault. It wasn't mine. It wasn't yours.

And what can you do? This is way too rational. No, but what can you do? Things come to you when they come to you. And I get it. I was talking the other day we were doing, you know, that actresses round table. And everyone was talking about, you know, when they've gone after a part and things like that. And I don't mean to make out that I'm lazy.

But I also like things, I just believe that things like really weird things happen to me. Like, for example, watching Take This Waltz and then like two weeks later, Sarah, getting the email about Sarah. or I once did Macbeth and two weeks like a week before I was found even found out about it I had a dream where I was reading Shakespeare and then I thought maybe I should read some Shakespeare and then I got an audition for Shakespeare I hadn't touched Shakespeare since I'd have drama school like not saying that it's like celestial or something funny's going on but I just I don't believe I yeah I think that I the right part will find me and they will find me for the right part you're still on the crown you just they can't let you go I love that you're still you can't they can't let you go you can't let them go listen um what you had something to say do uh like you're gonna be on every season at this point they're they're just keep coming back for more no how does it work do they give you a heads up way in advance or are they just like two weeks oh we're going to need a little

flashback action peter morgan has my personal email so he will very casual send me a, if I write this scene, do you think about doing it? I'm like, sure. And then, you know, four months later, I get a phone call. I'm like, yes, I, yes, yes, I'm doing that. And, um, but this, I was really, um, I don't know, it just felt nice. I, I really admire Amelda Staunton. I think she's an extraordinary actress. And it's the last series. And I'm really proud of it having ever been in it. So, sure. it feel, I don't know, was it discombobulating one kind of retrospective question on the

crown? I'm curious. Like when that job happened, you'd been working for a while. You've been doing a lot of really exciting, interesting work, but like your profile, your fame changed pretty quickly. And I mean, that has to be discombobuling for an actor or just like in your head, like, wait, I'm still the same actor, but all of a sudden nobody knew who I was and now everybody in my country and indeed around the world seems to know who I am. Was that as odd as it seems like it would be or were you so in it that it just kind of It's difficult. I don't know whether across the board for people who've had that experience it is.

I think for me it was so out of the ordinary it was almost laughable. Like we were getting emails from like Elton John saying that he'd watched it and I was like I literally cannot understand. And I don't think, I think in England it's a different, like, it's a different kettle of fish. Like, you don't, it's, in London especially, you get on the tube, everyone sort of goes about their life. And if anything, people are a bit like, there's an actor. Like, they're not really, like, they don't really care. And also, I've been known in the UK for quite a long time.

And I never got recognised. So that wasn't a problem. It was when I came to the States that lots of people that I had, would never meet or have occasion to me, would know who I was. that I found very strange. Like it is a very, very odd thing to happen, but I think I had such a sense of my own reality and I was still shooting it when it all kicked off that I don't think it would have been possible

for me to buy into it or engage with it. And now I'm like, God, I wish I could go back to that party and not be thinking about having to get the plane home and go back to work. Enjoy the moment. And just enjoy the moment and go up to that person and go,

I really love you. which I didn't really it was too strange for me I was suddenly inside all the films I'd ever watch with all the people in them who didn't you go up to what's the regret everybody

every award show every I saw Tom Hanks carrying a tray at the Golden Globes carrying a tray like this with like martinis on walking through the crowd and everybody was looking at him going where did he get martinis wrong

but also going Tom Hanks has got martini of course he has but it was just such a like that's actual Tom Hanks Yeah. But I was so out of it that I couldn't engage with it. Yeah, it was just a very, very surreal.

And also now I have a perspective on it. I'm able to see what an amazing moment it was. Amazing moment. I'm so lucky to have had that in my career. Like, it's a really beautiful thing. And I'm glad it happened when I was old. Wow. Older.

Seasoned. Seasoned, yeah. Whizzened. No. Weathered. I was only 31. So actually. that wasn't that you know in actress speak you were basically it was done

old bread yeah um one question from uh our fans out there jen kaden wanted to know uh who is one actor actress you have always wanted to work with i know this unfair jesse buckley was one of them and ben wishaw so i've done them both which is great i'd love to work with olivia coleman i don't think that would be a good idea though because i just think i would laugh even if it wasn't funny everything she did i'd find her inherently funny human being Um, there are too many. God, that's really hard. Is it true you grew up a massive DiCaprio fan?

Yes. What was it? Was it Titanic? Was it his face? Let's start with his face. I mean, his face and his acting. No, yeah, Romeo and Juliet was a real moment in time. And also I feel like he was very unique in the sense that he was a sensitive leading man

of a certain age who you believed. had lots of stories behind his eyes. He was deep. Yeah. He was deep. Yeah. I was, yeah, I was deeply, deeply in love with him. What, um, I'm trying to do the math. How old would you have been when Titanic came around? 97? So I would have been 13. Yeah. I saw it seven times. Oh, come on. Yeah. I used to listen to the soundtrack on the bus on the way to school. Just escapeism. I'm not on a bus on my way to a school. I'm, you know, on a boat with Leonardo DiCaprio about to die. That's, you know, where I wanted to live. That's a beautiful thing.

Okay, let's run through some potential projects you actually shot, I think. Strangers, which has, I love Andrew Scott. Paul Mescal is killing it and everything he does right now. Dreamboats and Jamie Bell and me. It was a real, it was a wonderful moment to be me on set. What can I, can or should I know about this one? I have a perm in it. You have a perm.

A perm, yeah. So that's number one. Okay, that's the leading. I don't really know because I don't know how to explain it. Okay. That sounds enticing. That's good. It's really special.

Andrew Hague directed it. It's wonderful director. And, you know, it's Andrew Scott's story. I'm a very small part in it. But I just was really pleased to be asked to be a part of it. I've known Andrew forever. He is just the dreamiest person alive. I just watched Catherine called Birdie.

Oh, have you watched it? Is it great? Yeah, yeah. Oh, great. And you're producing more. It seems like you're starting to really rev up trying to. Not really? I'm involved with lots of things at the very beginning, which is really fascinating and great.

And also, for some reason, people are listening to things I'm saying, which I find remarkable. But yeah, that's amazing. It's amazing being at the beginning of things. But also, it's a very different set up for me to understand how long it takes. but also, you know, just how much lives and dies and how much, you know, I don't know, it's just extraordinary, really, to see that side of it. Let's run through finally a couple, some options for you

because I'm always trying to manifest new career options for you. Okay, great, thanks for that. We keep talking about the rom-com, and you keep always diminishing yourself saying, like, you are incapable of fun and joy and happiness, basically. Which, by the way, this points... I'm capable of fun and joy and happiness. What you just did points out that, see, this is what you're doing, points it out

because whenever I go through our interviews and I have to pull like a screenshot or something, I'm putting a stupid face. No one delivers more. Stupid faces. Variety of wonderful. I wasn't going to say stupid. That's very kind of you. My friends don't appreciate my faces that I pull.

Really? Well, no. I mean, they just get very angry when we try and take a nice picture. I can't take a normal. It's not like I'm like in the picture, but I just, I can't. Yeah. Yeah. See, no.

I find this very hard. No. And that doesn't feel real. No, it's not reading my eyes. You're like a mannequin right now. No, there we go. Okay, okay, I won't do that. Okay, so rom-com's not going to happen.

What if, like, you're, like, what if Tina Faye says, a bridesmaids to, are you in? Oh my God, absolutely, but I would bring that production down from the inside. There would be no laughs. No. I would love to, it would be amazing, but I would laugh at myself. I laugh at myself all the time. Your best audience. Not because I think I'm funny, but I think of something that would be funny to do.

And I'm like, hoo-hoo. whilst I'm being like really serious um top gun the next top gun movie could you buy yourself as a no no no because I hear he gets people in planes and makes them be physically sick yeah but you're not willing to suffer for your art no not like that that would be awful I also don't want to put any prosthetics on I mean some prosthetics doesn't use prosthetics maybe I would need them to be in it we need you to pay a 400 pound pilot what no no I'm just adding to things I don't want to do oh I see I'm not going to do what I want to do got it okay so you're not gonna you don't want

to do prosthetics what about no no no mocap the Andy Circus thing I'd love to do that I love Andy Circus yeah oh you were directed by Andy yeah of course I'm back to with him he's a wonderful man I would do motion capture and then where was I that I saw Benedict being being the dragon in Lord of the Rings I don't want that to be out there. Have you seen that out of Clisk? It's fantastic. And he's like that.

He's so committed. I'm like, I couldn't do that. I would love to be a voice. I'd love to do a voiceover of something. Yes. Musical. Baz Luhrman calls. Musical.

Oh, Bazlemer's the dream. But I can't sing, but Toffee. So that would be terrible. Auto tune. They'll fix it in post. No, because everyone would know. I could, I could sing like someone who can't sing. Okay.

Like, you know, I could sing talk. Right, talk sing. That's it. I could do that. I just reverse the words. It makes more sense. Star Wars. Could you buy yourself in a Star Wars movie?

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't think anyone else could, but sure, I'll do anything. I mean, I've heard you say you were mistaken for Felicity Jones, so you might as well. All the time. Not so much anymore. But in the good old days, it was me, Felicity, Andrea Reisbrough. Who else?

This is a good company. That we would just all be like, hello. Hi. Ever got the Star Wars audition meeting now? No. No, I don't think I don't, I don't think I'd be top of their list. You, why? You're clear frickin' foy.

Bless you. This is why you're great because you're manifesting things that could never happen. We got you a bunch. No, that's not true. I feel like I've been dreaming this entire interview. Well, you're still on the plane. I'm still on the plane. You're three champagne zin.

Very confused. So I apologize to everybody who's listening. listening to it it's okay um we're cutting out the really bad stuff okay great and there was some bad there's some bad skating no no no um it's always a pleasure and you shouldn't feel bad for being such a um frequent guest on the podcast this is no no why would i love it no no tom hanks was on recently you're in good company we're leveling up tom how many times has he been on what was that like meeting him did he have a tray of martini's he didn't one can dream it was weird because i had colin hanks on like two weeks after so I'm just going through all the hanks

any other foys I should have on the podcast you could get them on if you want they're great get my mom on finally I would learn what makes you tick all the secrets the mystery um Claire can get congratulations on women talking honestly I know you know it's hard for me to be earnest with you but truly this is a special piece of work it is she's extraordinary in it everybody should check it out

um and I'll see you and you Two to three months. Always welcome. 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 pleasure to do this by Josh. This is an ad by BetterHelp Online Therapy.

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