Happy Sad Confused - Sienna Miller

Episode Date: June 12, 2019

Sienna Miller joins Josh to discuss the most rewarding film of her career, "American Woman", transforming herself for "The Loudest Voice", knowing her worth as an actor, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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See Golden Nuggett Casino.com for details. Please play responsibly. Today on Happy, Sad Confused, Sienna Miller tackles playing an American woman, an American woman, and helps tell the story of the birth of Fox News. Hey, guys, I'm Josh Harrow. It's welcome to another edition of Happy Sad Confused. Happy to say we have a first-time guest on the podcast today.

Sienna Miller always been a fan of hers, and she is definitely killing it lately. And I took note in this conversation that the last five years for Sienna Miller in particular, I don't know, for my money are the best five of her career. Not that she wasn't, you know, didn't have a great career going already. But, you know, you look at the filmmakers that she's been working with in theater, working on cabaret and cat on a hot tin roof, working in films like Foxcatcher and American Sniper and Mississippi Grind and Lost City of Z. And now this June, as I alluded to in the opening, having two really weighty projects, you know, it's all going pretty well for Sienna Miller. So thrilled to have her at this moment in her life and career. The two projects are, of course, American Woman, which opens this Friday, well worth checking out. This is an intimate kind of character study, great performances from Sienna in the lead role alongside the likes of Christina Hendricks and Aaron Paul.

tells the story of a woman who, you know, working class woman who's been beset by loss and tragedy and hardships, some of which, you know, we all face and some of which are pretty extreme. She's a young mother who is left to take care of her grandchild when her own daughter goes missing. And it's one of her best pieces of acting, I think, ever.

And she'd agree with that. She certainly says in this conversation, It was her favorite filmmaking experience, so well worth celebrating this intimate character drama amid the big budget spectacle of summer. The other film, rather TV project I want to mention, is a five-part mini-series called The Loudest Voice, which does tell the story of the birth of Fox News, primarily around Roger Ailes, the infamous head of Fox News, who's since passed away in the last couple of years. but Sienna plays Elizabeth Ailes, his wife, opposite Russell Crow. I've only seen the first episode of this, but it is kind of delicious and very enjoyable, if a little sad and tragic, given the state of our times these days. But also fascinating, given Sienna's own history with Rupert Murdoch and Fox,

Sienna infamously was beset by paparazzi and phone hats. and really fought back against it all and in fact sued the news of the world and won. And the fact that she's now in a show like this, in a story like this, is kind of poetic justice. Sianna's one of the kind of the category of people I love the most, which is self-deprecating Brits. So it was a real pleasure to have her on the podcast. She came in on a very rainy New York Day, the day after the Tonys, where she presented. And we fought through the elements, including a fire alarm, glamorous world of podcasting. What can I say?

And I will say, it's her first podcast ever, at least that she remembers, and I can tell. So welcome to the podcasting world, Sienna Miller. What else to mention? Well, here's a big, exciting annual tradition for me. The MTV Movie Awards are coming up. I still said movie awards. Sorry, it's the MTV Movie and TV Awards. Yes, we celebrate it all now.

That's coming up next Monday night on MTV. I'm co-hosting the Red Carpet pre-show that's going to be streamed on Twitter. Don't worry, I'll send out all the info on my socials, but that'll be a fun opportunity to talk to all the amazing presenters and winners and nominees and Zachary Levi is hosting. It's going to be a great time. So tune in for that. In addition, yes, I'm mentioning all the exciting things happening. I'm abhor. but these are these are cool things uh after hours on comedy central some exciting new episodes are

one is up one is about to go up i had a chance to tape an after hour sketch with the great adam scott love that guy love him and he brought it to this uh crazy uh little sketch that involves fighting for a check in a restaurant wackiness ensues uh go to the after after YouTube page, Comedy Central's YouTube page, go to the After Hours Facebook page, or again, check out my social media. I've sent out the links, but I encourage you guys to check it out. It's a super fun one. There's also a great sketch coming in the next couple days, starring a recent podcast guest

of mine making his After Hours debut, and it's a good one. Star Trek fans, you'll appreciate it. That's all I'm going to say. Okay, that's it. Remember to review, rate and subscribe to Happy, Say, Confused. Spread the Good Word and enjoy this conversation. We see you in a million. These posters are so good.

This gives you a sense of the inside of my brain. I love it. And how old you are? We must be the same age. It does. I'm 43. I'm a little older. Yeah.

Similar-ish. Yeah, this was the childhood bedroom I probably wanted when I was a kid. So I've made up for lost time. Should we have a chat? It's super casual, as you can tell. Did I move that or not? You know, I mean, maybe like, don't obsess about it, but you're fine. Sienna Miller has come by my office on a rainy New York Day.

It's good to see you. It's good to see you too. A lot going on. Thank you for stopping by. I've seen an American woman. Congratulations on that. I'm already obsessed with the loudest voice. I only saw the first episode of that one, but I'm going to eat that one.

Oh, good. And you had a big night last night. You got to celebrate with the theater community in New York. The community. Well, they always say that theater. Is there really a theater community? There is a real community. I mean, I feel like a total imposter when I'm in it, but I, you know, I've done a few plays.

Yeah. I feel like the community side of it is much more than musical theater people because they, right. I think they've just been around each other forever. And that's a very close tight-knit group that I sort of dipped a toe into because I did one musical. But no, it's very loving and warm and cozy. Yeah. There's so much, yeah, that's, there's a lot of love in that room.

Yeah, there really is, genuinely. Do you see a lot of theater yourself? I do, I try to. Yeah, what's the last great thing you've seen? What was the last great thing? I've seen, I saw the ferryman, which I think is astounding. I'm jealous. That's been on my list for a while. You've got to see it.

Did you see the original cast? I did see it with the original cast. I saw something pretty obscure at the shed, which I'm blanking on the name with Ben, Ben Whishaw. who's astounding. I saw him in the crucible last year. It was kind of, yeah. It was like Marilyn Monroe kind of, Marilyn, I can't remember the name,

which is just awful. That's all good. But it was pretty brave and great. Yeah. Yeah, I tried to see, I saw Fleabag. Oh, I got a show. I finally cut up on the TV show,

at least, so I at least have that. Yeah, she was performing in this tiny theater in the West Village, and it was, yeah, she's pretty epic as well. Yeah, I did, yeah, I did, thankfully I saw Hades Town, so I feel like I got at least like, it's amazing. Is it?

Is it? Is it? The music is remarkable. and quite quite a story yeah exactly um are you are you are you more kizintz are you are you more of like a one act uh play kind of person or like an eight hour angels in america day like what's like i mean i i have to be honest i love going to the theater more than anything in the world but when i see that it's one hour 40 with no intermission there's a part of me that celebrates um that being said like a sweeping epic that holds you is as nourishing if not i mean obviously

probably more yeah but but bad theater is hard. Right. And I've been a part of it as well as seen it. It's not easy for anyone. Oh, and if we can hear that, apparently there's a fire alarm going off, which is always fun in a podcast, Sienna. Yeah, it's real life.

It adds a little bit of character. Slice of life. Hopefully we're not going to burn down. We're slowly towards the exit. It's not a... We're rebels. The podcast must go on as my motto. Yes.

I can't understand a word of it. I mean, if that's a genuine fire, then we're really... We're doomed. What a way to go, though, on a podcast. Is this your first podcast? I was doing some research. I don't think I've heard you. It might be my first.

I'm completely ignorant when it comes to podcasts. I just discovered them. Actually, while doing prosthetics for the loudest voice, there was not a lot else I could do except to listen to podcasts. So I did serial that Adnan Said thing, which was just one of the most compelling things I've ever listened to. So now I'm into them. But you might be popping my podcast cherry.

This clearly has not as a, much import and weight. Maybe you bring the weight to it. You bring the import to it. But it's not exact. We're not, we're not freeing people from prison on this one. Well, they're all not. We never know. Spoiler. We don't. So far. So, okay, so I've always been a fan of your work and there's a lot to cover. And it's interesting, you know, it's when you have an opportunity to talk to somebody at length and you look at what they're up to recently and you start to kind of like create like a narrative around their career. And that's like more my job than your job. You're not probably sitting there being like, well, this was phase one, this was phase two.

But here's what I will say. I feel like the last five years have been the best five years of your career. Like, would you agree with me? I mean, if you look at the theater, the filmmakers, and the kinds of roles you've had. Yeah. I'd say on paper you were definitely right. Okay, on paper, interesting. No, I, no, it looks impressive, but I think what happened in the last five years is I became

apparent and perception shifted and, yes, I worked with some. amazing directors, so that definitely, no. I definitely feel like I have been able to play more interesting roles with more interesting people. But at the same time, I was doing theater before, and I also worked with great filmings before, and I made some films I'm proud of before. It was just a little bit messier. Right.

It's a little more linear grounded now. Have your priorities changed in terms of, like, what you're going after, or what's, or are you noticing different kind of things coming to you in the last five years, or is it, like, how much are you searing your own ship? and how much does it feel like you're just riding the wave? I think before I was so kind of leaf in the wind mentality in my 20s, I was like, a movie, fun, where, great, go. You know, there wasn't much strategizing.

And I'm not really a strategist. It's something I have to work on. Nowadays, it has to be something that's got at least like three of the five essential ingredients for me to even contemplate doing it because it means, you know, it's compromising time with my kid and it's time away from home, which I struggle with. But, yeah, so there's, I'm just a little. a little bit more conscious in every aspect.

She's a little more awake and aware of outside work. I'm here, guys, I'm right here, present and correct. That applies to everybody in their 20s. It takes us all to, so what are the priorities then? You said three of the five. I assume it's not like a specific actual list, but like, fuck, I better come up with my priorities. It's not really good as a soundbite.

Isn't that what a podcast is? I'd say, you know, excellent director, irrespective of the role. therefore an interesting set great script great co-stars you know I'm running out no that works

those makes sense yeah I mean it has to have before it was just like oh I love this part what a fun thing to do yes irrespective of what the state

of the script was which was often diabolical or you know and then you kind of rewrite as you're there and it doesn't turn out great and you're good in something that's not good

or you're not or it just becomes devastating after a while are you as tough on yourself as you're maybe once were or more or less so. Tough for myself. Always.

Really? Yeah. That doesn't get it easier. You don't shake it off and be like, it's not the end of the world if this film, this particular role, this experience wasn't what I wanted to be. I'm tough for myself in the middle of the experience. But if it doesn't work out, you know, that's something I'm, I've never been that focus on the outcome of something.

Right. It's the process. Selfishy, it's much more up my experience doing it. That's good. I think, yeah, this, I don't think I'd ever read a review of anything. I do care a little bit more. now because I think I put a lot into it when it's crushing if it's crushed but at the same time you know it's it yeah if it does well obviously it's a bonus everybody's lying if they say

they don't care about that I just didn't used to look right at numbers or rotten tomatoes tomatoes no every now and then on a hangover will be like yeah no it doesn't deserve to be called rotten tomatoes that makes it sound too classy and important no it's rotten tomatoes Not tomatoes. Tomatoes. So American Woman is, that's the kind of film that probably doesn't come along too often. Yes. It's the kind of project that doesn't reach theaters too often, doesn't exist in our landscape nowadays. How tough is it to get something like this actually made even at this point?

You know, it's not easy. It had the machinery of Scott Free behind it. It had the producers of Manchester by the sea. It has like great ingredients supporting it. And even then it's to. still so hard to get an independent film out. So the fact that it's coming out is great because it deserves you.

I think it's like a beautiful independent film about real life and courage and bravery. And it's not just about this missing kid, which is if you watch the trailer, you'll want a Prozac with your popcorn, but it actually is really funny. Yeah, you think it's almost like a, I mean, when I was even reading the summary,

I'm like, is this a genre kind of a film, a kind of a thriller kind of thing? It's really less about that than it is truly a character study. And the scope of it is kind of, it's, in a weird way it reminded me, it's like apples and oranges, but like the way boyhood kind of tracked like those whatever 12 years of coming of age. Except we didn't have the 20 years to do it. You didn't have the 20 years.

And it's a different stage of life. But it is really a fascinating arc for this woman who has been dealt a lot of blows and is dealing with grief and loss. But there is no knocking this woman down. And I love that about her. She's got such moxie as a character. And to have that, you know, she begins as someone who, you know, you could judge. She's flawed and messy.

And it's kind of epic, the journey that she goes on. And I just think you love her. Like, she's a really lovable woman in all of her mess. Are the days then you're working on this just sort of like manna from heaven? It's like, this is why I do what I do. Like I get to work with like, you know, Christina Hendricks and Aaron Paul and then Jake Scott's the talent behind the camera. It's like, and these, these kind of opportunities are rare for anybody.

Yeah. So when you're in the moment, are you appreciative of that kind of experience, or are you also, like, where's your head at in the process? I mean, I'm feeling, I'm trying to remember. It feels cathartic. It feels fulfilling and nourishing in the way that, like, a great role does. But it also was, it was really hard. A lot of it was really grueling and emotionally exhausting.

Yeah. But there's catharsis in that because actors are just weird. put yourself in your nightmareish situation and spend time imagining it and then feel good at the end of it. It's almost broke me, isn't that awesome? We're suckers for punishment. But yeah, the overwhelming feeling of the experience was definitely the most creative, fulfilling film experience I've ever had.

Really? Certainly, yeah. And theater is different because you get that every night. But this felt like the greatest role I'd ever been given. Amazing. And that was a good feeling. And then do you feel like it's more your baby where you have to like, again, this doesn't have like...

Well, now I care. I don't have like some massive male co-star to hide mine. If it flopped, it's not my fault. You know, now it's like, oh, and it's so hard with a little film. But yeah, I definitely feel like this is my movie. And I don't know that I've ever had that on my own. Actually, I can say for certain that I've never single-handedly carried a film. And how does it feel to watch this one versus your movie?

other work? Can you take pride in the finished product? Or again, are you just thinking back to the experience? I want to be really English and say, no, I'm not proud of it. But actually, I'm really proud of it. I'm proud of it. I'm in America, man. I'm going to fucking say it. No, I'm proud of it because I couldn't have done anymore. You know what I mean? And I feel like there was a great script and a really great director and some amazing actors. And so the experience was good. So it's kind of a nice memory versus the alternative, which has happened to. but yeah I did my absolute best

and I gave my all and that's a good feeling that being said I've now seen the final cut at the premiere I don't need to see again I'm not gonna like some people like to really keep going back I'm good I can't

I get to a point and I'm sort of done with them maybe when I'm 80 I'll be withering away in some apartment going I remember put up the DVD we don't have DVD player Sienna anymore I don't know find something Alexa Play the best of Sienna Miller. How long a shoot is this one?

Is this like one of those things that's... 28 days? Yeah. Six day weeks. Sharon Mass. You know. All the glamour and glitz. Oh, God.

Yeah, you know, hitchhiking to work, basically. Really? No, not quite. Transpo bands. Super cheap. On the other side of... I mean, not the other side, but like, again, I've only seen the first episode of loudest voice,

but this is just like... You're going to abbreviate then of loudest. Yeah, LV. TLV, yeah, yeah. Moving out from AW to us. Exactly, AW and TLV. So in Loudest, how did you, so you hate it when I could see that?

I speak like in variety headlines. Like all, you know, those bizarre like acronyms and... Well, in voice, you were, uh, so annoying. This one is, uh, fascinating because this kind of tells us the birth of Fox News, um, which... Wonderful. Oh, what a gift. Another gift.

Thank you, Rupert. I confess, I, I, I, I, I, I, there was a period of time where I would, like, hate watch it. I would just sort of like, yeah, and my wife was always like, why, why are you doing this? Like, you don't need to, we don't need to know what there is. If there's some liberal prices going on, I do flick between the two. And it's astoundingly compelling. Like, there remembers where I get sucked in and 20 minutes later, I'm like, I'm a goddamn Republican right now. Like, you have to tear yourself away.

I mean, it's very powerful. Yeah, it's a different world. They believe it. Yeah. And that conviction is, like, I'm a damn. Like, numbing. So how much, what, you know, we talked about sort of like the algorithm of, like, taking on a role, like, how much, there must be, there's an interesting set of circumstances around

this one. I mean, you've had your own story past with Rupert Murdoch and Fox. Does that play into any of this at all? Like, Schadenfreude and taking the story out? Not at all. No? No. I mean, there's definitely a part of me that is fascinated by those characters and what, what goes

into creating this kind of network and what the effect of it is. but I wish I had, I wish there was some sort of vengeance, some final. But, you know, bringing down the news, the world was really enough. Right. I feel like I did have been fine. You did your part? Yeah, yeah. So this is gravy.

No, this is just exploration. I don't, I think in this moment of time, like, what is that? What is Fox News? What is the effect of it on our world? Like, that's just an interesting place to be. Yeah. And who is married to Roger Rails? Like, what is that dynamic?

What's happening at that? At home, who are these people behind? Yeah, because behind every great man, as the saying goes, she's just really interesting and so different to anyone I'd ever played. And it was so astounding to be cast, to be seen as being able to do that was just, I was very happy. As you mentioned, a fair amount of prosthetics. There's a lot of prosthetics budget on this one must have been through the roof between you and Russell. So when you're sitting at a table with Russell, you're under all of this, he's under all of that. Yeah.

What do you think? Like, what is that? What is that moment like? Is it like, this is, this is, this is why I got into this? Or this is, or what, like, what are we doing here? I mean, there are moments of, like, total elation at the fact that you are unrecognizable to yourself. And what that does creatively is just, like, very liberating. So that's fun for the first week.

And then, and then the glue goes on. Four hours every day? It's a really, it's intense. I'm sure. We actually got it down to two hours in the last week, which made me want to blow my brains out. no Russell worked obviously more days it's great

for all the reasons you imagine it would be great and it's really arduous and tedious for all the rats you know we brought you to podcasts at least there's an upside

in that chair exactly exactly the whole new world opened up you were going to taking them off is a good feeling how long does that take

shucking bits of chin at Russell yeah that must be no honestly do you get to take it off yourself or do they have to gently remove it rip your skin off. I mean, you know, there was a moment where I look fantastic every time. First of all, you feel good when it comes off, even if you

look monstrous underneath. But I think it peeled off so many layers of skin that I had this kind of glow going. Now it's just withered. This is the new beauty regimen. No, we would lob bits of silicon in each other, which was quite funny. You almost worked with him once before in Robin Hood, didn't you?

Yeah. That's what happened on that one? Well... Funny story, Josh. No, the story I was told, and I guess I believe it, because it would just crush me to not, but was that they ultimately thought at the time I was too young to be his love interest, and thankfully, Kate Blanchett replaced me,

who is a few years older. If it had been some of my age, I would have maybe flung myself off the Hollywood side. It's all connected. Like that one actress. But it was like my dream, you know, to be made Marion, and I'd done costume fittings with a sort of braided hair

and the veils and the horses, and I was, but it was also at a, I was a slightly messy period of my life, so maybe that influenced them to discreetly recar someone superior and old. It all worked out for everybody. It was fine, it's okay, you're okay. Yeah, we're all fine. We're all friends, you know. You have the text message ready to talk about Robin Hood every day. It is interesting, though, like when I think of something like, like that Robin Hood would

have been. Like, if you look at your career, it's like, what could have been? No, no, no, no, but I guess my point is actually that you haven't had to do, like, many of those kinds of films in order to be a very successful, well-regarded actor. I mean, you obviously were, well, what's that face? What is that? Come on. What?

You disagree with my premise? I mean, no, carry on. I'm just going to make faces that they can't hear. She can't take a compliment, clearly. But you haven't. had to do those kind of franchise films too much you infamously you were in G.I. Joe. Infomously.

You've been pretty frank on that one. Yes, yeah. Wasn't exactly. I mean, you knew what you were signing up for. Wasn't great casting. Yes. I did and I didn't. Yes. No, it was fine. And it was fine. Yes. But I did it once and never again. So I guess my point is that an actor doesn't need those

films or do they? I mean, I think they do. Do they? Okay. You're like, they're like, yeah, she's seeing all this. I think you know, those, I think it doesn't actually work the numbers thing in Hollywood, but it is a real part of it. So, looking at Jen,

fused with Bradley on your wall, like she had the Hunger Games and that was a huge box of terrific success, and then she can be the lead in the films with the best filmmakers. It's hard to, it's hard without those numbers to really get those roles. Yeah. It doesn't make sense always because

great numbers don't always add up to numbers in the end, but so what is that, put you in terms of like... It puts me in like if I was out for those movies, I'd do them all right? I'm kidding. Get off with them all the time.

No, but you know, to be also to be totally honest, and this is true, um, you either, you either want to be a massive movie star or you want to be an actor. And I think I could live in L.A. and I'm sure I could schmooze and do my thing if I was really

really ambitious in that way. But it's, but it's not. I'm just not. I love my career. I love being able to play a wide variety of people, which movie styles can't because you go to see them. You don't want to see them in a big fat base. And, you know, it's basically schizophrenic

and the weird roles that they take on. But it's a different kind of career and both equally commendable. But I think this suits me. How often do you even see the big spectacle, like the temple things? Do you watch those kind of films much, like the superhero stuff?

and like do you ever do you ever find yourself watching that and being like you know what as much as like say it's not for me like that one oh yeah i mean like joker i can't wait for but that's not a traditional but you know what i mean there's a big movie yeah well he's gonna jump on then it's yeah i mean the kind of darker the dark night you know the nonon versions i love those and i'm often very much in the mood for them i love a Jurassic park um and the marvel thing i think is fantastic i haven't seen one not wonder woman i haven't I've seen one woman and I loved it. That was great. And the new Captain... Captain Marvel. Yeah.

I haven't seen yet. But I work with Ryan Fleck and Anna Bowden, so I'm excited to see that. I'm a big Mississippi grind fan. Yeah. But, you know, so there are versions of them. Yeah. I'm excited for your old buddy Pattinson. He's going to be Batman.

That must make me... R.P. crushing it. I mean, that alone makes it interesting. Like that he's interested in it? It's great. He's been so smart with his choices and I'm thrilled. Yeah. I mean, he's got no.

to Batman. It just doesn't get better. It's insane. And, yeah, now, because, like, you know, being at MTV, I talked to him and all those books at Twilight for, like, so many... Yeah, for 27 years. Oh, my God. It felt like 27 years. I'm sure to them, too. And to see everybody coming out of it, him and

Kristen, like, are both the, like, the top actors around. Rob is a real cinephile. He deserves all success. I mean, he's just... He's a strategist. Yeah. He's smart. And he's picked such interesting roles with interesting filmmakers and just cumulatively abys. up to Batman.

Yeah. Well, you could say, yeah, as soon as... I'm going to be a 60-year-old catwoman crawling out of my... I'm just going to... Better late than never. It's fine. Okay, so let's go back. I know, okay, you're a New Yorker now.

Yeah. You were New Yorker at birth, very briefly. Yeah. But you were raised in London, correct? I was, yeah. So has it always been basically London, New York, New York, London, like back and forth throughout your life? I mean, it was London from 18 months old to 18 years old. Okay.

And New York, either side of that? No. Actually, that's not true. Then I had some New York. Then I traveled. I was really based in London until three years ago when I moved here. Got it. And I love it here.

So why? I mean, they're twin cities. They are like, if you love one, you're going to love the other. I grew up here in New York, and I do often say that one is. You feel at home in London. Yeah, totally. The irreverence and the kind of openness. Yes.

The fact that I don't need a driver's license in either one. Do you have a driver's license? I do. I have a UK one and a St. Thomas, USVI one. Very impressive. You're more of a functional adult than I am. So why New York over at London now?

I really miss London at London's home. I live in New York because I find it inspiring and energetic. And it sounds trite and it sounds predictable. And there's no revelation here. Guys, New York has really good energy. But for me and my character, I sort of need to be galvanized by that kind of thing. And if you leave New York and you come back, like the entire thing is shifted in three weeks time

if I go back to London it's like I press play and I'm like where were we and I love that when I'm older but right now I want to be motivated and there's something really motivating about this city yeah I think if like and exhausting well no but I

I hear everything you're saying because like people also talk about L.A. and L.A. has its merits but I feel like I would like die alone in a cocoon like in a sad dark cave in L.A. I'm not noticing that 20 years it passed because there's no seasons. I definitely need seasons. Yeah.

So growing up, would like, would people around you growing up be surprised that this is where you ended up? Like, were you kind of like a big personality? Were you somebody that was craving attention that enjoyed the spotlight as a kid? I think it was, I was a real mix. I'm still probably am of reading as extremely confident and also extremely shy. It doesn't quite add up. It's quite English morning school abandoned child behavior. Lie down on the couch if you want.

Kind of shy. I'm dying inside. And no, I'm also a pathological optimist, which is not very English. No. Was I, as a child, I remember, it's funny, I remember watching great expectations the Quarron version with Gwyneth. Great. And we watched it at school, or like the whole of the senior school, watched it. And so many people thought that I was like the old lady. Not her, not Gwyneth.

You two, I was going to give myself the biggest comment ever. They were like, you're going to be just like that. year old it, which... No, you're Anne Bancroft or whoever it was, yeah, exactly, you know, cha-cha-cha-chying around with a cigarette holder and a few hats on my head. So it was kind of like, maybe I was a bit of a character, clearly. I was quite shocked to hear it from like seven different people, but, yeah, I was both of those things. Were your parents similar personalities?

Do you have equal parts of both of them in terms of... Dad was quite academic. and but also kind of a hippie it doesn't no one really adds up to what they should mum is a real mom sort of open and loving and nurturing and I don't know no I'm different what was it because in reading up

it sounds like your mom had a string up very interesting kind of jobs like was she like was she an acting teacher did she what was her relationship she went there when I was little I think just out of curiosity and like it sounded fun but I don't think she ever meant to be an actor,

but then she became great friends with Anna Strasberg, and she set up the Lee Strasberg Institute in London and ran it for a year. Because they wanted to open one there, and she was sort of, I don't know, capable. So what was your vision then of the profession as a kid? I mean, I was, I don't remember it. I don't remember that.

But she used to take us to the theatre all the time and the ballet so that we were kind of involved in that world, and she's definitely prone to drama. There was like opera blaring and food cooking and eccentric people around. so I think it felt it felt sort of theatrical yeah um but without yeah there was no one else that was an actor around me and what were you into as a kid in terms of the arts like were you seeing plays were you just watching tv like every other like i was seeing plays i'd see

ballet often dragged to it museums were really tiring but the odd little thing would jump out you know i was a normal kid yeah i watch i used to watch films that were like very into horror films at quite a young age oh really what were you scarred by or affected by Poltergeist and oh god the exorcist I watched far too young my kid is really prone to prone to the dark as well

every time we go when we were back in England for Christmas we go to like a crib service it's like a sweet thing at Christmas time all she wants to do is be in the graveyard from two she's just like but we're quite sunny on the outside on that side dark on the inside

yeah those are the kind of movies but also yeah bad TV and I liked reading a bit of a book well so when you come back here when you're around 18, yes, and what was the goal? Was it, was it? I went to Lee Strasbourg for three months, a lot of training. And then I went traveling around Central America, a lot of mind expanding,

and then I came back for a couple of months and did a bit more at Strasbourg, which was really, it's really interesting technique, it's very therapeutic. And then I went back to England and demanded that this agent take me on and give me a chance and put me up for five things, and if I get one of them great, and if I don't, he never has to see me again and I got number four I was very lucky what was number four was that the TV show was that number four was this movie called

went straight to radio it's cool two wheels only maybe it was a bike of biker film that was actually sweet but we shot the sequel back to back I mean it was just a funny and then I did a BBC thing and then I did this Fox series keen Eddie

yeah that was a firework for one big season and then disappeared. Got it. Otherwise, it'd have been 28 or 27 still doing it so in a way. It's a good thing.

And off of that was Alfie or Layer Cake the first? I think I got cast in Layer Cake before I got Cast in Alfie but shot Alfe shot Lerkekech, no, I got,

yeah, cast in Alfie before Layer Cake but shot layer cake before Alfi within three days of each other. Right. Rapping. So Alfie and Layer Cake which is a hell of a one-two punch.

Did it feel like like a lot all at once? It was so exciting. Yeah. It was so excited. I mean, Alfie felt like a huge movie. Learcake felt like a movie. Daniel Craig wasn't James Bond yet, but he was a pretty amazing actor.

Yeah, he jumped off the screen. Yeah, and I knew his work. But Jude was a huge actor, and then it was Susan Sarandon and Marissa DeMay and Jane Quirkowski. It was like this, it was just a very exciting thing. It was a big budget. So what a big trailer and like... I'm sure. That's a, you know, Hollywood movie making.

I couldn't quite believe where I was. And on the Warecake side, this was also Matthew Vaughn's directing debut, as I recall, right? Just what do you remember about that experience? I mean, and did, I mean, Daniel already was like a successful actor. It wasn't like he was an unknown. It was just that was the one that kind of launched. He wasn't a movie star yet, but he was very respected.

He'd done a lot of theater. You know, he was like a very successful actor, yes. Like, did you feel like you had, like, a justifiable, like, seat at the table then? Like, was ignorance bliss of, okay. No. No. You were like. No.

I mean, I think in layer cake, I felt like, oh, it's a bit of a tits-and-ass part, you know, to be honest. Right. But I didn't mind because, you know, I'm female and gendered. But at the time, I was like, great, you know, it was exciting and it was a big movie. But there wasn't a, didn't require a lot of me. Yeah. But also in the company of some astounding British actors. And then, I mean, off of those two films, suddenly you're everywhere.

it seems like, you know, it's that... It wasn't off of those two films that I was ever as off the relationship that blossomed on the set of one of those films. This is true. Before either of those two films had come out, which was unfortunate, but also the way that life goes.

But I think had those films come out, before that relationship came out, things might have been a little bit easier, but that's... Was the first blush of celebrity fun? Like, did it turn at a certain point where it was like, this is cool, and then this is a nightmare?

Or like... I mean, they were a part. you'd be, I'd be in line that there wasn't, you know, you can get tables at restaurants and that's kind of where it ends. I mean, at first it was so strange. It was like, it was funny, but it never felt, it always felt aggressive just because the nature of the tabloids in those days in England were. Yeah.

I mean, it wasn't like they're sitting there going, no, you know, it was, it was really out to get you. Yeah. And the aggressiveness of the kind of, it was insane. It's just like, it's, it's, I can't describe it. I wish I could. but it's harassment, like, real deep. No, you feel like you're in danger.

You're scared, yeah. So it wasn't, very quickly, I don't know. The fun one way, yeah. I was so in love that I think that kind of shaped the entire thing. It was such a, it was in many ways, such a beautiful time. But, but yeah, I guess there were fun things ducking out through kitchens and, like, running down the street, and occasionally losing them and being like, yeah, you know, that was kind of fun. Sure. And, and of course, of course, we were sort of glamorous.

I suppose, as a young girl, that was fun for a minute. And what about in terms of, like, did it feel like that kind of stuff, the celebrity around a relationship was overwhelming, like, your career to the point where you weren't getting the opportunities you would have had because, like, in the minds of producers and studios, they were, do you think they were affected by your image at the time? I don't think they were affected my image at that time. I think it probably was, in many ways, I became quite well-known,

and that can be really useful. I don't think I was managed in the right way. I don't think I was manageable, probably. Yeah. I grew up, I was like a kid in the 90s looking at how people behaved, and I thought that's how famous people behaved. And so I didn't really have the kind of filter or the protection to not. So I, you know, I was quite.

Like that wild child image was like an embrace. People were like, that's what you're supposed to do when you were celebrity. Yeah, exactly. And didn't realize that as a woman in that town, you can't. really behave that way. So I didn't, I wasn't, I probably could have been protected a little bit more from my impulses, which were quite rebellious and, right. And quite fun. I don't think I made any enemies, but I, you know, there was, there was probably a version of capitalizing on that success that I didn't really pay much attention to. And did it feel like, I mean, you know, you say very

frankly about like what the kind of role that, like, layer cake was? Was there a feeling in your 20s that like you were sick of that kind of a role that like that was it didn't happen that much to be honest i mean alfie i felt like i got to act in and and then i did casanova which didn't do well but it was definitely a part yeah um i wish i'd done a little bit better at that part and then i did factory girl which was an insane part and then i did oh between that i did Shakespeare for four months in the west end and so i was always like right i can't really think of another gratuitous part that I ever did other than their cake, which was also kind of cool

because I get to look at myself at 21 and be like, wow. It's documented. Things are really attuned. Stop it. That was epic. But you are frank about saying something like American woman where like you're the lead, it's your story. And it's like you've done

a lot of great roles in films that are, as you said yourself, you're propping up male leads often. And that's something that's got to wear on you at a certain point where you're like, I'm more than this. I can do that supporting role in my sleep yeah what's really sad it's only just occurring to me that I'm more than this do you know what I mean and I do think that that's that's a reaction to the world that I grew up in

and being underestimated and feeling grateful right just for like being able to breathe air that great men have breathed it's this I promise you it's that entrenched I'm really very effective by that so I feel like something to do with what's going on in the world yeah when was that that was that shift coinciding with where when the whole world started the shift a couple years ago or was it? The time where it really changed was the first time I actually got paid, which was very recently to do acting, not to

go to things or, you know, I had to make money somehow so there was advertising and that's all fantastic. But I'd really been underpaid quite horrendously now that I look back for the work that I'd done in big films. And the first paycheck I got, I was like, wow, that

feels really good to be paid to act. and it like it's shifted everything because you were you were as I was reading up on it like you were talking about pay inequality before this I remember not saying like you started this all thing but you were you were upfront about like the fact that you knew for a fact that you weren't being paid

what you were worth a few years back well I think I probably said that I probably felt like it's hard to feel self-worth when you're not being valued yeah it's hard to feel like an actor when you don't really get paid to act. In fact, you get underpaid to do it. You know what I mean? It's sort of an auriborous.

It feeds into itself. Yeah, it's basic. But I have something to do with this, kind of this moment for women, which there are, you know, many different aspects to it. But something about, like, just actually saying, you know what, no, there's no reason why I should feel inferior to men or walk into a room full of men and feel a little bit less than. Right. You know, firstly I've given birth, so fuck you. I don't even know if you can swear on your show. You can.

Meet you and I don't know. I think it's conscious as it's growing up, but now I'm like, wow, oh wow, there's some rage. There's, like, I am not going to tolerate what I tolerated. And I was fortunate. I never got, no one ever offered me sex for a part. Right. Quite offended at this point.

I'm joking, joking, joking, joking, joking, joking, joking, joking, English humor. Got it, received. Anywho. That was a really inappropriate joke. That's okay. Thank you. You're in the right space for that. Okay.

Actually, her publicist has abandoned her. She's like, you're fired. It's like that cartoon where there's a hole in the paper. Exactly. Where'd she go? What happened? There goes my career. No, impossible.

You have a very interesting, eclectic kind of career going in that you're also in a big, like, a cop thriller coming soon. Which here's my big... It's acts of Frankie Burns. Here's my... Is that how if he sounds? Kind of. Amazing.

You do a hell of an American accent. It's pretty impressive. It's my job. I guess. Even though it's like, you are good at accents. I'm like, that is what I am paid to do. I sound like the asshole now.

No, you don't. No, no, no, you don't. But here's my big question about that film. Yeah. It's 21 bridges. Yes. There are 21 of them. But it was filmed as 17 bridges.

Somebody miscounted the bridges. This is my... question. It's so funny. I just started calling it several bridges when we were shooting many bridges. How does that happen? What happened? You know what? It's yeah it's did somebody literally miscounted. I assume that they just miscounted it. That's amazing. But I have you know the back of my chair that says 17 bridges. I've got my 17 bridges mug. That's going to be worth something. You should keep all that. At some point we realize that yeah, it would fit in your office actually. Yeah, there are 21 of them. Let's hope.

they don't build another by the time it comes out. Oh, God, reshoots. It's going to be expensive. Something rewarding about that one? That's kind of more of a genre action. It's genre, but it's also dark, and it's also conflicted, and it doesn't shy away from the kind of

immorality that exists in the cop world and in the detective world and in the crime world. You're confused about who you love in that movie, and I think that's brave. It's definitely it's definitely a complex look at that world, which is incredibly complex. So it feels like more of a kind of like LeMette, old school.

You know, those kind of movies that they don't really make anymore. Plus Chadwick Bozeman is just... He's the man. Yeah, yeah. He's the man. And Stefan James and Taylor Kitch and, I mean, everybody in that film is... J.K. Simmons, right? J.K. Simmons, stop.

This is a good one. Every time he said words to me, I say, eh. I just couldn't. I was like, so they're like, cut. I was like, sorry. Sorry, sorry, yeah. Does that, do you still get starstruck a little bit with certain kinds of actors? Is it a certain kind of actor?

Because for me, it's like, I get most nervous about the ones that I, or excited about, the ones I grew up with, the ones that like, when like Kurt Russell came in here, I was like, Kurt Russell, come on. Like, do you still have that? Do you still have that kind of, yeah, hopefully you don't lose that, right? No, I mean, you know, it's a really, it's a small world. So, but it's really exciting, yeah. I mean, I definitely get starstruck.

Who's the first movie star you ever worked with or Matt, do you remember? The first movie star I ever worked with, I guess probably was Jude Law, who was at the time of big movie star. Yeah. And probably still is, sorry. Sorry, dude. No, he's a massive movie star. And, yeah, that was probably the first, my first encounter with it.

But that was like a whole, I was so, I was 21, I'd never been, you know, on a private. pitch out or one of these amazing things. It was so exciting. That part of it was really fun. Yeah. I remember he took me to the Brian Lord CIA Oscar party and I just couldn't cope with the level of celebrity in the room and got proceeded to get hammered with sort of like hanging out with the waiters because I just didn't know what to do. Tripped over a light. The light fell. The shade came off. The spotlight went in Tom Hanks's eyes. He went, ah! And then Jude saw me like, come on to crawl out of the room and into a bathroom to hide. so that was my first brush with like

but everywhere you turned it was like Julia Roberts, Diane Sawyer you know it was Were you like that at the Tony's last night Or did you keep it a little bit more classy Now I'm I try to contain my inner fan girl But I'm excited I mean actually the Tony's is amazing

Because they are the greatest Performers in the world To see like a sort of like little kind of vignette Of snippets of these shows And the talent is astounding Yeah Are you eye another play or music.

I know you mentioned your musical experience. That was a pretty significant moment, I would imagine. It was great fun, yeah. I mean, that's Sally Bowles is like one of those ultimate roles that... I would love to just be Sally Bowles forever and that's it. I loved it so much. And singing and dancing on Broadway and not having to be a train singer and it's having sort of off nights where you're croaky and raspy and it's Sally,

so it's fine. I mean, she's just a total nihilist in 30s, Berlin and the world is crumper. and you're just smoking fags and it just was like, you know, in a pair of French stockings. And it was just fantastic. It was really, really fun. And theater, safe to say, is where you've felt the most, generally speaking, the most rewarding experiences. Again, you mentioned American women sounds like film-wise was the most. But like, generally speaking, theater is where the most growth is, the most day-to-day, like, just enjoying it.

Yeah, it's like really tuning an instrument. You just get better doing it. You're forced to, it's massive and it's an Everest and climbing that can be really depressing and hard at times but there's you know I like beating myself up and there's no nothing quite like eight shows a week to really just really just hammer yourself there you go but there's a good feeling that when it happens that connection between an audience and you and nothing exists and you don't exist and it's a blissful feeling well I look forward to seeing you on the stage hopefully soon um and let's see, TLV, the loudest voice. Oh, right.

A voice. I like, which is the, yeah. So tell me about the. That's coming to Showtime. Yes. How many parts is that? I've only seen the first one. That's seven.

I can't wait to watch the rest of it. Everybody should check out an American woman, which is a great piece of work, honestly, an amazing cast and a hell of her performance, and the kind of small, intimate character study that I certainly enjoy, and we want to see more of on the big screen in these times where it's superheroes or bust. those two. You can tell from the walls, but there's room for everything. Thanks for coming on. You are now a podcast veteran. I love it. Go back out. We're going to go back out until the rain and try not to catch pneumonia now. Thank you. Thanks for stopping by.

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. Bye, Josh. in one battle after another, Timothy Salome playing power ping pong in Marty Supreme. Let's not forget Emma Stone

and Jorgos Lantamos' Bougonia. Dwayne Johnson, he's coming for that Oscar in The Smashing Machine, Spike Lee and Denzel teaming up again, plus Daniel DeLuess's return from retirement. There will be plenty of blockbusters to chat about two. Tron Aries looks exceptional, plus Mortal Kombat 2, and Edgar Wright's, The Running Man, starring Glenn Powell.

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