Happy Sad Confused - Joseph Quinn

Episode Date: July 1, 2024

2 years ago it's probably safe to say you didn't know who Joseph Quinn was. Now thanks to a scene stealing role as Eddie Munson in STRANGER THINGS, Joe is everywhere, starring in the new hit, A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE, and the upcoming films, GLADIATOR 2 and FANTASTIC FOUR. Here Joe and Josh talk about it all, plus why Joe gets so passionate talking about food.  ⁠Subscribe here⁠ to the new Happy Sad Confused clips channel so you don't miss any of the best bits of Josh's conversations! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! ZocDoc -- Go to ⁠Zocdoc.com/HappySad⁠ and download the Zocdoc app for FREE UPCOMING LIVE EVENTS Daisy Edgar-Jones & Glen Powell (TWISTERS) July 18th in NYC -- get your tickets here 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! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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that you're not gonna do what's the flame on we're not getting flame what is it all we're on fine flame flame I don't know we'll figure it out you'll figure it out you got a long way to go prepare your ears humans happy sad confused begins now I'm Josh Horowitz and today on happy say I confused Joseph Quinn is here it was just about two years ago that Joe broke out in a huge way in Stranger Things, RIP, Eddie Munson, but he's alive and well today. He's a very busy man, a quiet place day one, Gladiator Two is around the corner and just around the bend after that. Fantastic Four. He's making the time, though, today for the important things, the podcast. Welcome, Joe. It's good to see you, buddy.

Thank you for having me. It's lovely to be here. Lots on your plate. We're going to cover a lot. First of all, I have to say, like when, usually when I do my research, like for like a long-form podcast interview, I'm like, oh, my God, there's nothing left to talk about with somebody. They've been interviewed a million times. And certainly, you've done a lot of press. I could not find, like, long-form podcasting with Joe Quinn. Have you not done this kind of thing?

I don't think I've done this kind of thing. I did one podcast a couple of years ago, and that was a long-form thing. But, yeah, I don't think I've done many of these. Yeah, like, when I have to go to, like, the German Comic-Con bootleg video for research, you know like I'm in trouble. Yes. Yeah, they're out there, I guess. They're out there.

You can find them. You can find them. So talk to me a little bit about, first I want to start with like when I first encountered you and a lot of people did. I think I first met you, of course, as one meets somebody on a red carpet at the MTV Movie Awards. Naturally. Naturally, right?

What do you remember of that time? That was insanity from my perspective. I would imagine it must have felt very surreal for a number of reasons for you. It was pretty insane. I mean, it was very funny. I was there with my pals. So I bought two friends from South London and we went to the MTV Awards and Snoot Dog was there. And that was already a pretty surreal environment. But it was right during that kind of periods when season four had just come out. So it was certainly a kind of a shift in many ways and hilarious to kind of watch it and to be able to experience it with some friends. So that they could be like, just so you know, this is insane. In case you were not aware, this is insane. It makes it all much funnier. Yeah.

Is it humbling at all when, like, your co-stars are schooling you on what it's like to present at awards? And they're, like, teenagers when it's like... It's massively humbling, but it's also quite educational. They are stone-cold pros, those kids. And they've been doing it for years, and I definitely learned a lot from them. Yeah. But it is humbling, yeah. Was there anything of that time that you now look back on with shame?

or cringing. I'm like, oh my god, I didn't know. Most of it, yes. I mean, the stuff that comes out your mouth when you're not, when you're caught off guard is quite, yeah, a lot to cringe about, I think. Give me one nightmare. Give me one. Okay, I presented an award. I was on a carpet. I did the wrong thing. I posed wrong. Is there anything that haunted you a little bit? Oh, God. Is there anything that kind of, it's one kind of miscellany of cringe, I think. It's just the whole... That's the hot title of your autobiography you're working on, right? Maybe one chapter of it, God willing.

Hopefully we wrap that up soon. The cringe years. I think I met Taylor Swift once, and I said, You're Taylor Swift. And she was very funny. She said something nice about, like, the show. And I said, oh, thanks. Your Taylor Swift meant as a compliment.

I mean, it is a compliment. It is definitely a compliment. I remember thinking, like, that was stupid. But she was very good-humored about it. That's one thing. Yeah. That's good. But you guys are on good terms now.

She's forgiven and forgotten. Excellent. Yeah. You're on the next album. You're. Yeah. Exclusive. What happened to your eyes just know?

They just went. Well, we're just, we're trying to figure it out. Right. By that you mean she hasn't mentioned anything. She hasn't, yeah. Doesn't reach out at all. Okay. Again, since you're kind of a blank slate to me, I know the broad strokes, but we're going

to go back first before we get to the current projects. growing up, arts in the family. Give me a sense. Are you the anomaly? Are you the unicorn? Am I an anomaly or a unicorn? Well, both my parents worked in the business. My mom worked in television production.

Okay. My stepdad was, well, yeah, he was a cinematographer, a D.R.P. And then my dad was a director. We didn't all live in the same house. My dad lived somewhere else. And my stepdad and my mom lived together. So I spent half my time. all up together that'd be an awesome story great sitcom yeah situation so I spent my time

split between my mom and my stepdad and then my dad who lived in a in a flat somewhere else in South London so so exposed to the business a bit exposed to it exposed to the kind of the circus of it I guess people leaving for long periods of time and then coming back and having these wonderful experiences and the kind of that nomadic has perspective of it, they're also the kind of the, how much time it takes, I guess. From mum's perspective, it was very much watching her juggle all of these roles and getting something off the ground and just kind of watching her elation when a week went well. Yes.

You know, that kind of idea felt very exciting to me. And then my stepdad had an extraordinary life and was very, um, inspiring and showed me a lot of films growing up. And then my dad was the same. It was very inspiring. So I was lucky. None of them were actors, though, which is great. So what were the first obsessions, just as a fan,

before you got serious about it in terms of, like, actors, filmmakers, the stuff that you really kind of gravitated towards as a kid? Well, my stepdad had a, he had a, it's David Odd is his name. And he had an extensive laser disc collection. Do you remember them? No, of course. So it was in between VHS and DVDs. And so you'd have these massive rows of laser disks

and you'd have these wonderful kind of art, like graphics. So it was like a vinyl, but it was a DVD. And I remember him showing me, I watched Clockwork Orange, far too young with him. I watched the pianist with him, Nikita, the Fifth Element, quite a lot of Lubez and stuff. Yeah, and he loved that kind of stuff.

And that kind of, I remember watching the fifth element and thinking, like, this is so hilarious and transporting and brave. And it was one of those perfect collaborations from so many different HODs, like the John Paul Gautier. Yes. The costume design. The performances, like Chris Tucker just turns up like a freight train in that film. The pitch of that voice is like at it, it's a quirky character. It's insane. It's amazing.

But like for it to be so elevated and Ian Holm, who's like, what? of my favorite actors just watching all of this kind of come together and it not and it be entertaining but also uh terrifying and captivating was like whoa like that i remember that was a film and then you've just got luke like um bruce willis in his kind of best era where he's just a irrefutable movie star and hilarious and just i remember just kind of when films just kind of tap into something where it hits a ballseye in a way that's just so sweet. I was like, how, how did they do that? Right.

How do they make that? And so, yeah, from a pretty young age, I was never kind of hell-bent on wanting to be an actor, but I always found the, the lifestyle around it, like the idea of the variety that it can provide a life, really fascinating. So when do you get serious about it? Do you remember, like, first time on stage, the first validation, the first sense of, oh wait I have a I don't know if I've yet to get

serious about it you can't take it too seriously but I guess I started committing to the idea of it when I was about 17 I did a school play that went quite well but previously I was kind of dossing around and I did a play and it felt

okay I mean I really didn't have any other options really I mean I would have had something I guess I could have picked something else, but there was no other option that felt clear to me, that felt like something that was, yeah, it felt like the only thing in a way. I don't know. How about yourself?

This is barely an option at this point. This is all I got. Being semi-coherent with a microphone. I mean, talking about movies, talking about Luke Bissan movies and great movies, this is the dream. So it's working out. But you obviously get serious about it because you go to drama school. and not just any drama school. Lambda is a major one.

Talk to me about the environment there because that's, you know, a lot of great actors have come out of that. So by then, are you feeling like you're in your element? This is the path. I know what I'm doing. It's a little saccharine to say,

but I did really feel like I found my tribe there. It's okay to say it. And it was an extraordinary three years. I went, I was quite young. I was 18, so I just lapped it all up and really found a bunch of like-minded, did kind of act as a pretty weird, you know. And so there was a bunch of people there from all over the world,

from all different walks of life, in one place, making mistakes, having a great time, partying, reading plays. I guess you're just exposed to so many different roles and at such a accelerated rate. So you finish one thing and then you're on to something else, which is like very rarely like that in the business. So that was a really great opportunity to kind of make mistakes, cut my teeth. and figure out stuff there's amazing tools that you learn

like it's a lot of voice work lots of movement stuff and that kind of can make you feel a little bit foolish I guess that's what I learned most about drama school it's like it's okay to you're gonna feel like an idiot

in this thing a lot of the time right and I think the sooner you can kind of make peace with that and like you can't stunt your way through it you can't I can't anyway try and muscle my way through with bravado and act like this stuff doesn't matter. You're just going to feel uncomfortable.

Sure. And the sooner you get used to that. Get used to that. And so that was a really, really useful lesson. And I just had a great time there. Yeah. It was amazing. Did you have a peer group that has kind of emerged

in recent years? Because I've kind of spoken to like the previous generation of like, you know, the Cumberbatchers and the Hiddlestons and the McAvoy's and all that group that are obviously a bit older than you. But you're in a different age group. I'm curious, like, who broke first in that group for you? Was there somebody that was a peer that was like, oh, they've got it. And I'm going to hopefully get to that level soon enough.

A peer group, like, was there a peer at Lambda that I mean, there was so much talent there. It wasn't a case of there was someone that broke through, as it were. And I think that kind of if you get into the weeds of comparison in this thing, then you're going to like get stuck. So I think everyone's on their own trajectory. And I think that there was certainly some people in the year above me, a couple of years above me who are doing like amazing stuff. And I guess it's pretty ruthless, you know, the drama school system.

It's like there's agents come and watch you. And then if you're lucky enough to get an agent, then you're out in the business. And you're like, those first three years are pretty kind of, it's like competitive. It's horrible to look at it like that, but it is competitive. And are you working during that time, or is this one of the programs kind of where they discourage you from actually going out and doing work outside of theater? They don't allow you to work, yes. If you're going to work, you're going to leave kind of thing. So you've got to stay there.

It's a very, the ethos at Lambda was very focused on the ensemble. So you had to be there. And if you're off to do some audition, then how are you going to be there for the rest of your cast and your ensemble members? So it was that, that wasn't really an option. But then by the end of it, when you start getting an agent, or if you get an agent in your third year and you start auditioning, then you can get other work. It seems like you hit the ground running pretty much, like a bunch of theater, a bunch of TV in the years before Stranger Things, obviously. When you look back at that period of time, that I guess six, seven years, what are the pivot points for you? What are the one, the theater roles or films or TV that really changed?

Just your approach, your awareness of the business, your awareness of the craft. Well, it's a culmination of all the experiences that shape you, I suppose. I think I was so fortunate when I left at Lando, I got a BBC job. It was called Dickensian. And it was a six-month job, and there was some brilliant actors in there. Stephen Ray, Pauline Collins, like some just real top draw, that amazing. British actors in there and Irish actors and just I got to learn and be on a film set for six months and Tony Jordan who gave me the job I'm massively indebted to him it was a real

education because it's one thing doing it at drama school it's another thing doing it in a professional environment working with a camera marks that's a whole different skill set it's a completely different thing and I really looked at it as as an apprenticeship in a way and I think the culture of apprenticeship around this business now is really it's it's kind of gone before we could join in the UK Repertory Theatres or things like that and I think that there is such a rush now which is indicative of just like culture now where society is like we just have to have everything straight away where you've got to kind of earn your stripes I think in this thing and also you don't want to get breakthrough or whatever these words are too early because it's like it's a very it's confusing right it's very confusing and I think having something some experience before has not to say that I had any but it's been helpful

I think to kind of navigate whatever the fuck's going on. Of course. Again, to go back to like those kids on stranger things like it's so discombobulating it's amazing they're all as well adjusted seemingly as they are because it's discombobulating for an adult like a fully relatively fully formed adult to go through

what you've gone through let alone a 12 year old like insanity. It's what is to have gone through what I've gone through by no means do I want to put myself on any kind of cross here? No, no, no, it's great problems. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Like, it's extraordinary, and I feel incredibly blessed, but there is definitely kind of aspects of it

that are confusing. But what you said about, were there any pivotal jobs, I think if you're fortunate enough to have a kind of a range in your career, whether it's like theater, TV, film, video games, whatever, you pick up, it's like life. You learn from every experience. And I think what's wonderful about this job is like you're put in your you're taken out of your comfort zone

even though it might seem like it's a comfortable thing you're taken out of your comfort zone and you're collaborating with people that you don't really know. And as a result of that collaboration and as a result of kind of being out of your comfort zone, you create something and you'll surprise yourself sometimes and sometimes you won't and sometimes you'll disappoint yourself

but I think it's like just allowing yourself to be in that, to be familiar in like, okay, I don't know, you know, I don't know where I am. I don't know who these people are and we're going to make something. And that is, it's thrilling. Well, and it's something that honestly is a common denominator in actors that have been doing this 50 years, too. I talked to them and it's like day one is still day one. It's not like, you know, you have the secret code.

No. You have to start from scratch, just like any actor. Yes. And I suppose it's, again, this is by no means, anything kind of approaching a complaint. It's just, it is... With Amex Platinum, access to exclusive Amex pre-sale tickets can score you a spot trackside.

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I could look like a complete fool, I don't know, but you've just got to go, Hey, but it's a very useful remedy and a very kind of applicable lesson in life generally I find, I think. I think, yes, I think so. Theatars have a hodood. I'll call MyBox today and let it on your dog. Pizza or Melt, all by kifek. And the job of your general.

You're not to end up. You're not to end up. These are your rules of your, that's your love you. Minio Pizza Hut, MyBox, the new, and my books, the new, and your own.

Pizahat, I'll tell you. for you. It comes at a bizarre time. It's, you start shooting right as COVID hits, of course. Eddie is just like a character that just pops off the screen and, and has became immediately a fan favorite. Did you have a beat on that character from the get-go? I know this wasn't like a huge audition process, actually. It was just a couple of self-tapes. Did you know your way into that character, right from what you read? I suppose I must have done in a way. I think I had, like with anything you have your interpretation of the character and you send it off and it was one of those kind of situations where I've been sending tapes to you know this side of the world for years

and nada and that's just the was there a close call was there one before stranger things it was like this might be it this might be the one there's been a couple of like couple of bites but then it doesn't really yeah go anywhere but it's just the nature of it you know and then but this one was very disarming because it was I sent a tape and then they wanted to do another tape and then has called me like we want you to do it and I mean no one knew what I was doing over here at all and um nor should they and it was very much a kind of a are you sure like I'm very this is not how it works right yes a little bit like that yeah and um but it was a fascinating experience to be able to have access to and I was very uh I was very

excited to kind of I felt like there's nothing to lose really do you know I mean it was um I'm far away from home go for it and I had such a great gang on that and that's the thing it's like they are such wonderful consummate talented actors on that show and it's a testament to the brothers in there how they handle casting you know casting is like one of the most important parts of that show there's a lot of important parts but those actors are able to elevate these characters that into these people that people really, really love, really love, and that's no small thing.

So I think that I felt like there was a lot of trust, and I mean, the brothers have enough stuff to think about. So they were kind of just to do the thing. How much credit do you give the hair in the end for that performance? No. Yeah, kind of, yeah. Were there other options? Was it like, this is it, this is the one?

Like, did you go through a couple different wigs, or is it like that this is the way to do it? It was a bit of a process, to be honest. There was something that was a little more elevated. It was kind of like a David Bowie labyrinth situation that they wanted me to adopt. Right. At that point, I just couldn't do it.

And so we would hack away at the wig and we kind of found this kind of in-between state between this kind of labyrinthian monster and something that kind of felt it rooted somehow onto this planet. So I think we got there in the end. You did. But it was pretty, yeah, it was a journey.

It was a journey towards hair. It was enormous. It's like we're talking about a person. It's also curious, like we were talking about, like the kids in the cast, like the age range on that cast is fascinating, like, and where you fit into it. Because most of the actors are either quite a bit younger

than you or quite a bit older than you it's like kind of you and joe carey are kind of like the only guys that kind of like in the same age range so did you find like i don't know like where did you gravitate towards were you hanging out more with i guess you did we're doing more scenes with gaiton et cetera than harbour and winona well we were all in atlanta during the pandemic so it was a pretty prolonged shooting process but we were very fortunate in the fact that a lot of the people would stay there. So Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dian, Joe Keri, myself, Maya, Sadi, yeah, and the rest of the gang, we were all kind of knocking around. So we were able to kind of keep each other company. But it was a long shoe, definitely. It was prolonged. How quickly did you get

dropped from the text group once you were killed off? I never really made it in. He's just passing through guys. Banging on the door. There's nothing. There's no, there's no easy way for me to ask this for you to answer this, but it is my responsibility to ask it. You know what's coming. What is it? Are you going to appear in the final season of Stranger Things? What happened? No. No, she's just, no? Am I not? There's literally nobody there. You're a good actor? He's not even looking at anybody. Am I? You don't? She doesn't know. She doesn't know. Is she a metaphor for? This Vic, my publicist. She knows everything. She's just there. Would it be disappointing? Would you be disappointed to see your friends finish out Stranger Things?

So that one little Eddie Munson flashback moment, anything? I'm excited to see how they do. I think it's going to be amazing. I've heard some ideas from the fifth season, and I think it's going to surpass all of our expectations. And I'm just excited to see... I'm not saying anything. Wait, they've told you?

Yeah, I know everything. Who has broken their silence? Who has told you? Like whispers, I've had to tie them to a chair and get it out of them. But I do know now. I know some bits, and it sounds very exciting. I'm very excited to see how they pull it off. And I've no doubt that it's very much within all of their capacities,

like the showrunners, the direction, the cast, everything. I think it's going to be a wonderful swan song to that incredible TV show, yeah. Okay, which brings us to what's front and center right now, which is this insanely prosperous career. I mean, you must be pinching yourself with the opportunities the last few years. How quickly did it change? So the TV show comes out, it's received extraordinarily well.

Your role was received extraordinarily well. Did you notice a difference immediately in terms of meetings, auditions, opportunities? Well, I guess the most obvious change was I got representation here in America, which I didn't have before. but yeah there were other little I haven't had people kind of come up to me

and go like that before yeah that was that what was happening which takes an adjustment how do you respond to that yep right back at shit no no no you take their energy and pour it right back at them yeah

I don't know I'm still I don't know it's very odd but it was amazing in terms of like I was able to But I was here in New York, actually. I met my agents here, and we had a lovely dinner. And then some opportunities started presenting themselves. And you have to be a little discerning, I suppose, in terms of which things you want to pick.

I mean, I guess I had no experience in, like, picking anything. It was very much. I love this conversation I always had with actors, like, because you go from, like, taking anything, like, you're so lucky to take anything, get anything. Yeah. To then the switch just turns, like that, you're like, oh, wait, I have the opportunity and responsibility to actually say no and craft a career now.

Responsibility is a good word for it, and it feels a little lofty kind of, like, saying it, but it is, it's a completely different lens to look at your work through. It's like, if you have the opportunity to kind of be selective, like, that's a gift and such a luxury. And I really hope that that never goes away, that feeling of, um, no, I don't think it will. I'm so grateful to be able to have a bit more choice. And with that comes a kind of different hat that you have to put on. But it's one, it's definitely one I'm enjoying, I think. Yeah, I'm enjoying it. So one of those first choices, opportunities,

is why you're here today, which is a quiet place, day one, which is fantastic new extension of the universe. And it's you and Lupita Nyango, front and center. Come on. Come on. What's wrong with that? Nothing is wrong with that. Nothing is wrong with that.

Michael Sarnowski, for those that don't know, a very talented filmmaker, did pig. Check it out. Great film. A challenging role in different respects. Very physical role. Maybe the most physical performance you've had to give thus far.

Is that part of the challenge and excitement of taking this on? I don't think it read as something that was going to be the most physical, but then it kind of, as we were doing it seemed like, okay, being quiet is like it's a full-body gig. Well, I was going to say, but even your introduction in the film

and not to, like, ruin anything. Like once water's involved, this is not a good day at the office. It is a good day at the office. It's a fun day at the office, but really it's a good day for the character. Yeah. Right. It was great fun. Yeah, sorry, what did you ask?

No, no concurrent thought. Don't worry. But the opportunity also just to be essentially one-on-one most of the time with Lupita, who is just sublime, one of our best. I don't know, what do you pick up from that extended time working with Lupita? It's a rare opportunity, certainly. uh being in an orbit like that being in someone's orbit like uh le peter she is uh a one of a kind she is uh fiercely talented kind composed uh vulnerable um everything that you could possibly want

from a scene partner and i guess as you said this film provided an opportunity where i could get into numerous scenes with someone like that. Someone as accomplished and as, yeah, powerful. It's in her soul. Presence, just like she is. Yeah, she's got it. It's that.

And the camera sees all of that. And it's like that. You can't really foster that. You can't cultivate that. That's just a person. That's like it's like our bones. So I learned a lot, as you can imagine, just on and off sets,

about how one conducts oneself um how someone like that conducts themselves like it's uh she is um working with her was um another kind of apprenticeship in a way just um of how to how to be able to access herself uh in in her art and how to perform but then also how to move through this kind of confusing stuff that we were talking about well she went through a semi similar thing like like obviously which all 12 years of slave and suddenly from anonymity to... Exactly. And having to make those choices.

And to watch someone handle those choices and handled themselves with a grace that is so rare on this earth is just a gift to be around. And I've learned a lot from her and will continue to, God willing. Yeah. Let me ask you a stupid, junkety kind of question that you'll probably get. Oh, go on. You like these?

Yeah. The movie kind of hinges on on pizza, which I appreciate as a New Yorker as a lover of pizza. Where are you at, just where are you out on pizza? Are you a pizza snob? Are you going to do the pineapple question? Which is that you're shaking? The pineapple on pizza question, what people do? I wasn't going to, but now I kind of want to.

Well, it's just, it's kind of, it's horrible that it's such a divisive question, isn't it? And it's an indicator. You're triggered. I can see it. Yeah, it's just like, so do you like it or do you not like it? I'm like, I'm kind of indifferent to it. What about us? What about the people that don't care?

We exist too. Yeah. Yeah. So you know what I mean? Yeah, I'm with you actually. I don't care. Like, it's fine. Okay.

Some people are like traumatized by it. Some people are evangelical about the pineapple has to be on the pizza. Right. I just, let's talk about something else. Right, right. And yet I raised it. Do you have, well, clearly, again, do you have strong food tastes? Do you have like, are you like cilantro must be burned at the steak or you?

No. I also don't believe those people. just saying it's people that say they hate cilantro it's a herb it's fine eat it's fine eat it's now we're getting the good stuff yeah what do you hate what food do you react to you like that what else do you hate yeah give me your hate your hate list hates um food no hates i love all food really i do you're something of a cook i understand i do like to cook a lot um i haven't been cooking as much recently but i i like to cook a lot not I don't get to cook a lot

but when I do cook I cook and it's good fun okay for your loved ones for your new best friend Josh Josh come on over you're gonna make me feel good I'm gonna roast you a chicken that's what I'm gonna do

gonna have you around I'm gonna roast your chicken I don't like the unbroken eye contact that you said that that was really upset that upset me I'll rose you doing I mean I'm sure many people would pay big money for Joe Quinn

to say I'll roast you a chicken to them I'm not one of them okay that won't happen again That's done. So that's your go-to. I would invite you around and I would rice you a chicken whenever you'd like. When your investors, customers and workers demand more from your business, make it happen with SAP. The AI-powered capabilities of SAP can help you streamline costs, connect with new suppliers, and manage payroll, even when your business is being pulled in different directions. To deliver a quality product at a fair price, while paying your people what they're worth too.

So your business can stay unfazed. Learn more at SAP.com slash uncertainty Oh, this is it the day you finally ask for that big promotion You're in front of your mirror with your Starbucks coffee Be confident

assertive Remember eye contact But also remember to blink Smile, but not too much That's weird What if you aren't any good at your job What if they dim out you instead? Okay, don't be silly

You're smart, you're driven You're gonna be late If you keep talking to the mirror This promotion is yours. Go get them. Starbucks, it's never just coffee. Better? Yeah, that was good.

What else is on the menu? All he got is roast chicken. No apps. You get no apps. You get some spuds there, some veg there. There'll be a kind of lemony gravy there. Or some kind of seasonal salad, which is quite like a kind of raw, spinach, kind of fettery, pumpkin seeds. And then like depending on the seasonal vegetable, that's kind of like,

my kind of staple go out get out of jail card because it's easy to roast a chicken isn't it and it's not it is and then and then you can just do some that some kind of seasonal salad with it and it's um yeah it's that's the thing it's like something that's easy but it's when you're moving around all the time you don't really get to cook you don't carry your your equipment with you no you walked into this room with a whole setup there you go Rally the hamas with menu Pizza Hatt My Box, the new. Four of My Box to addle her on how you, and add on it with a few.

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Okay, it's official. We are very much in the final sprint to election day. And face it, between debates, polling releases, even court appearances, it can feel exhausting, even impossible to keep up with. I'm Brad Nilke. I'm the host of Start Here, the Daily Podcast from ABC News. And every morning, my team and I get you caught up on the day's news in a quick. straightforward way that's easy to understand with just enough context so you can listen get it and go on with your day so kickstart your morning start smart with

start here and ABC News because staying informed shouldn't feel overwhelming all right back to the work let's talk about really tough stuff that you can't talk about yet but we can talk abstractly you shot gladiator too which is it's done I mean congratulations you got I mean, we were talking about like those films we grow up with. You might as well have been talking about, you know, Ridley Scott movies on Laserdisc. I grew up with those films. Ridley is a hell of a filmmaker and for a unique filmmaker, an intense filmmaker.

How did you adapt to the Ridley Scott experience? What was it like? He's a force of nature. He is. It was amazing. I think for a lot of the cast there, myself, Fred, Paul, the, the, oh God, I can't even say I guess like the younger members of the current. Pedro's going to funny.

Yeah, where does Pedro fit in your sense? Oh, wow. That film, Gladiator, was such a pivotal and seminal film for us growing up. And not just that demographic, like our age demographic. It was, I remember just watching it and thinking this is one of those films. Like, how have they done this? The story was so strong. Performances were amazing.

The art design was just like, um it transported you yeah and so the idea that they were going to make it again i kind of had this knee jerk reaction don't go near it sure don't don't leave it it's perfect yeah and then i started hearing whispers of um casting and i heard that denzil was involved and then that paul meskell was going to be the lead in it who i think it's just so gifted and perfect in that role and so it seemed like okay there might be they might be going for it on this one. I think they might be trying to do it right.

Then an opportunity came along that I could throw my hat in the ring. I did. And then it was quite a quick disarming process. And kind of they invited me on the team like pretty quickly. And then from there, it was kind of the maddest experience of my life in a way. Don't think it's going to get kind of madder than that. But an extraordinary thing to put just in terms of the fact that Ridley will, he builds worlds doesn't he so he built ancient Rome so to kind of bear witness to all of that

let alone participate in the making of it was a privilege I made sure that my family were there to see it because like this isn't going to happen again for anyone I mean no one makes movies like that no practically speaking he you know he runs like eight nine cameras it's giant sets it's animals it's like what this is how they made movies back in the day and they don't do it like this anymore. Well, I don't think anyone can. It's the way he marshals it all with such profound confidence. And he's got these, yeah, the eight cameras going at once. And I'm just like, so he's like, you've got to know when I fucking put him. That's the gift. That's it. So how do you do it? It's just, oh, you just got to know where to put them.

Okay. But we had an amazing time. I've made some fantastic friends on it working with Denzel Washington as obviously that doesn't never happen. So I learned a lot from him and kind of being watching him work and trying to keep up with him was extraordinary. Paul is devastating in this film. I don't think people are ready for it. Wow. Fred Hakenger, we played these emperor brothers which was he's just a delight. Connie Nilsson came back

to kind of look after us and give us some tips which was amazing and she's brilliant. I mean I haven't seen the film but I watched her do her thing and it was like she mentioned how surreal it was and then yeah I met Pedro on that film and it was a really

rare experience and we had a great time and I'm excited for it to am I excited? Yeah I'm excited I think you should be excited I'm nervous but you know what are you going to do

the word on the street is good I'm very excited for all the reasons you said and then we come to the film you haven't shot a frame of yet but it's going to be a big one is fantastic four congratulations

Man. This is a big moment. So long process, long audition process. I mean, seeming, from my vantage point, like they were casting this movie for a year. Were you, like, meeting 10 different times, 10 different auditions? Can you give me a sense of what it was like? Um, uh, it was pretty straightforward, I guess, as straightforward as it can be. Um, I had a chat with Matt and then it kind of moved a little bit, uh, beyond that. And we, um, and then they kind of invited me to come on. Um, so it was a pretty, again, I don't know what's going on. So it was pretty wild. And when it was, uh, it was clear that with the casting of it, Ebert Moss back crack, uh, Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, they were, um, um, they're all brilliant actors, you know, brilliant actors. So it felt like a real, they're trying to do something interesting with this, I think. And it has to, obviously, work as a team, it's a team movie, and that quartet, that relationship. Like, did you spend a lot of, have you spent a lot of time with them figuring out that that dynamic is going to work? We've got some rehearsals, which I think will be helpful. We have a group chat, and so we're kind of talking on there.

but I think a lot of it will just come down to what it's like or being together. And I think that I know Pedro and I find wonderful things about the other two. So I think we're going to have a nice gang on it. And I think that's what we're trying to do. It's sending this family. And I'm looking forward to just really looking forward to it. When you got the call that it was official, that it was happening. Yeah.

Is that top three, five moments in the? the career is that like what do you what do you do you call pinch me moment yes certainly a pinch me moment who like all i think i call my dad and that was uh pretty yeah it's lovely did you grow up into comics yeah not as much as some people are definitely well it's whole relative yes definitely is relative to some people really really like them um but the fantastic four was definitely one that um would find itself on my lap sometimes and um johnny storm has been he's like just such a such a treat of a character so i'm looking forward to kind of getting in there are you in the middle of prep right now like are you like i'm setting myself on fire every morning you're

probably very well yes thank you how many times have you spent how many hours have you spent in the mirror saying flame on like like one hour probably collectively right of flame ons Do you want to give me a version that you're not going to do? What's the flame on? We're not getting. What is it? We're on? Fine.

Flame. Flame. I don't know. We'll figure it out. You'll figure it out. You've got a long way to go. Yeah. And not to mention, by the way, just to say, the supporting cast, I mean, you got Malkovich.

I know, man. He's one of my all-time favorites. As he should be. And I just can't wait to watch it. I remember I watched Dangerous Liaisons when I was very young, not too young, but young enough to kind of what he does in that film and being John Malkovich and, I mean, obviously, Conair, like there's so many. Burned After Reading After Reading. I watched that again recently. Oh, that's an underrated Cohn brothers. He's so funny in that opening scene.

Memoir. A memoir? Memoir. This is a crucifixion. I just think he's just dynamite, isn't he? He's dynamite. So I think, I think, yeah, it will be a. another education I've got an adventure exactly amazing speaking of it let's just talk about filmmakers so you've worked with some amazing ones cohen brothers on the list of any any young actor of course yeah what is the short list what are what's your secret or not-so-secret filmmaker obsessive list that you'd want to work with I mean I think Paul Thomas Anderson is a fairly obvious one but I adore his films I watched a wonderful film called Dumbo limbo recently

John Sales? No, it was directed by a man called Ben Sharrick. Okay. Just a weird, it was a wonderful indie film a few years ago. That's just something that pops to mind. I mean, like that we thought for a second it was Dumbo.

Dumbow. It was Tim. I mean, he's great, too. He's great. I'd love to work with Tim Burton. That would be amazing. Michael Mann. It would be cool.

You hit 30. this year you got goals are you goal driven is it like by 35 I need to work with this person do this kind of thing or if I'm honest I think if like you set yourself up with those kind of goals you're going to be pretty unhappy I think so much of it is out of our control yeah to be honest I think that all you can do is put yourself in a situation where you're prepared you have to be prepared for opportunities but I think I mean short of like writing to these people which like maybe I should do I don't know that's not going to have to happen so i think it's just being open to the opportunities that present themselves and having some

kind of instinct as to whether that that's something that you should um you should go for and if it's something you want to say ultimately i think you can't it's a career obviously but it's also like you're it's your you've got to be getting some kind of creative outlet from it or some kind of creative um lesson from it otherwise it's just it can become a little procedural and I I think what I imagine is it like it can become a little procedural and then I think that the joy goes a little bit. Right. I think with anything like when you stop enjoying it, then you can become resentful and I don't want that. I want it to always be challenging and for it to be putting me out of my comfort zone.

That's where I think you've got to be as, as, you know, at the risk of using grandiose terms like artists, you've got to be uncomfortable. If you're doing something that feels like it's going to be easy and that you kind of know your way around it and how to, like, which buttons to press or which chords to play, then you're not really going to grow, I don't think, at the risk of being a little earnest.

No, no, it's okay. We got the silliness out of the way. There we go. We need a balance of us. Speaking of serious, theater, I mean, you're a busy guy. Would you want to get back? We'd want you on stage here in New York. I'd love to, I think, would I love to?

I think I just lied to you. I don't think I would love to. I think I'd find it scary, yeah. I think I'd like to. You shared the stage with Olivia Coleman. She's fantastic, yes, but I was younger then. It was like, I don't know. There's a fearlessness.

Getting more fearful now? Yeah, I think so. Definitely. I think you kind of, you doubt, I think when I was at drama school and a younger actor, it's like, you're just, there's a fearlessness. There's a kind of like, why not?

I'll try it. And I'm kind of trying to hang on to that. Yeah, now they're stakes. Now people know who you are. It's a little bit like that. Yeah, but I would definitely be open to doing a play again, but only if Olivia's there. She'll carry you on her back. Yeah, that would be great.

Are you a musical guy? I mean, I wouldn't want to subject anyone to that. Generally speaking? Generally speaking. Do I like them? I went to see Hell's Kitchen the other day. The Alicia Keys musical is amazing, beautiful. Would you want to see me?

Uh, sent a stage? Probably not. Would you pay money? Definitely not. So don't want to... Can you carry a tune or you carry a... I can sing along with everyone else. Just fine. Quietly, with everyone else, I can sing a song.

See, I respect that. But I'm not banging out an aria, like, belting that out. Because I feel like nowadays, every actor I speak to, feels the need to do everything. And it's like, you don't have to do everything. You have to know, you know, no, you know, yourself. Don't do everything. There are professionals that can do the musical. But at the same

time, why not challenge yourself? Obviously, now you want to do a music. Now you're like, Josh, you're saying I can't do it? I'm fucking doing. Interesting. No, I would. It would be a very different kind of palette to paint with, wouldn't it? I think just kind of, that's a very different thing. I don't know if I have access to that, if that's within my capabilities. I doubt I do, but maybe down the line. I'll give it a go. What's in? What's in? with the happy say confused profoundly random questions. Yes. Are you a dog or cat guy?

Dog, dog, dog. Yes. Correct. Don't mind cats. No, no, no. Fine. But I am a little kind of ambivalent to them. Do you have a dog?

Or is dogs? My stepdad has a dog in Italy called Poppy. An old English sheep dog. She's to die for. What do you collect? What do I collect? I don't really, I've started, I bought my first painting. actually. But I don't know if that's a collection, but it's, uh, it's my favorite thing that I

own. I look at it every day and maybe one day. Is it a painting of yourself? It is. It's a portrait someone you got commissioned? Yeah. It's just, yeah, it's, it's a collage of fan art in my kitchen. No, I mean, I love the fan art, but this painting is, uh, is incredible. Yeah, I saw it at an art fair and I bought it and I'm very, uh, lucky to, to have that. So maybe I'll add to that and maybe that will become a collection. Can I, can you believe that? I'm an art collector. Can you believe that? Once he hit 30, you became so classy. What's the wallpaper on your phone? Charlie Heaton from Stranger Things. Yeah, it's about four years old. Why? I don't know. Is it an embarrassing photo? Is it just? It's upside down. Okay. It's kind of funny and he's

in a pub and we did it as a joke, I think, and the jokes still, still. Still making me chuckle. There you go. I think we need to grab the phone. Can we grab the phone? We need to see this. Last actor you were mistaken for? Justin Timberlake.

Well, this week, that's not the best thing. It's the hair. It's the hair. Yeah. People just see the hair. Yes. I've had that for a while, though. Yeah.

Oh, you've had? Really? Yeah, people say, oh, Justin's Timberlake. Thanks. Yeah. Worst noted. director has ever given you? Silent thumbs.

That's a killer. Why? Because it's not a no, it's kind of, it's a little like nearly there. It's like, oh, we're getting there, but no actual. Again, okay. Is there something that is a pet peeve for you on a set? What gets under your skin? Phones going off, obviously.

That is maddening. A pet peeve. Yeah, just that really. I think. I mean, it's people's jobs. It does get a little tiresome, get the thing in the face just before when you're about to do the thing. But everyone's doing that job.

Yeah, but to maintain that concentration, that's the more, that's the true test of an actor, is like how you shut out all the noise. It is a little bit, yeah, that's how, yeah. Well, is it shutting it out or letting it be there? It's, um, it changes. But I'd say phones going off. no excuse yeah frankly what's your do you have a special ringtone is that charlie heaton singing

a song yeah exactly singing the stranger things theme song what out of the words go to that i miss that done no no no no he's doing that oh my gosh can drive a man insane uh and finally uh in the spirit of happy second few is an actor that makes you happy always makes you happy you see him on screen Robin Williams. Yeah. The best. It was like a hug on screen. Like, are you a Mrs. Doubtfire?

Are you a... All of them. I mean, Hook, he's so gorgeous in. Mrs. Doubtfire as well. Flubber. Oh, you're flubber, man. Hunting. Flubber.

I mean, it's a weird film, obviously. Jamanji, like, even the weird films. He's just... Yeah. One-hour photo. The dramas, too. Come on. Like...

What's that, sorry? Have you seen one-hour photo? No. Dude. Yeah, this is him as like a serial killer basically. Oh, okay, I've never seen that. See it. I'm gonna run that directed a very good movie. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, on the list. A movie that makes you sad? Uh, life is sweet life is life is. Oh, uh, life is that the Mike Lee movie? No, or is that or life is beautiful. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yes. Yeah, that makes me sad. Yeah, um, what just happened. Yeah, that makes me sad. Yeah, okay. Just, just, that makes me sad. Yeah, okay. Just, just, Yeah, vibrated. I have that effect on people.

And we kind of covered this, but food that makes you confused. You sound like you're open to all foods. You're good. I just think it's all there to be eaten and enjoyed. And when people say, I don't like certain cuisines or, yeah, we can have preferences, but just like just, yeah, eat the mushroom. I don't like mushrooms. Eat the egg plant. You do.

No, I don't. No, I really do. Because they're mushrooms and they're fine. I mean, but the, there's some, the texture. The texture. This is the thing that people say. What's wrong with the texture? We all can't be so as evolved as Joe Quinn.

I'm sorry. It's a mushroom. You can make me a roast chicken. I'm going to make you a roast chicken and there's going to, there might be a mushroom or two in there. If you don't want them, they won't be there, but there'll be a side. There'll be an option. Okay. And you might like them.

I can do some nice mushrooms for you. Thank you. the time, Joe. It's been a pleasure. Congratulations to the new film. And we'll catch up again soon. I hope so. I hope so. Thank you for having me. Thanks, buddy. And so ends another edition of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley and I definitely wasn't

pressure to do this by Josh. 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 the 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

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