Podcrushed - Tilly Keeper

Episode Date: April 26, 2023

“She’s blonde!” The delightful Tilly Keeper (YOU, East Enders) shares about her humiliating first school play, why Britney Spears was her religion, and finally shares the long-awaited answer to what life-altering wisdom Joe whispered in Lady Phoebe’s ear. You don’t wanna miss it! Follow Podcrushed on socials:InstagramTikTokTwitterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lemonada Hey there folks I'm going to take the intro today and I'm just going to go right to a question. Nava, Sophie. We've now like plumbed each other's lives a bit in, I could have found a better way to say that, but we'll keep it.

In our host episodes, you know, where we kind of ask each other questions. But what I don't think I know, what do you think your favorite movie was in middle school? You know, one of my favorite movies, I don't know exactly if this was middle school

or late elementary, but that movie, My Girl, the movie where the kid dies at the very beginning. Yeah, the kid? You mean Macaulay Culkin? Yeah.

Oh, and recently I've been watching Succession and watching Kieran Culkin, and so... Is he die at the end? We don't know yet. TBD. Oh, is that possible? Is it even possible?

It's possible, but he gets stung by a bunch of bees. No, but definitely my girl. I loved that movie. Oh, so did I. It was such a tragic death, too. So good. I have so many.

It sort of like depends on the, like, seventh grade has one, eighth grade has one. Probably, I, the real answer is Jurassic Park, but I feel like that's boring. So I wanted to hear a different one, but the real answer is Jurassic Park. And I think I loved it because I loved the dynamic between the dinosaurs. No, the adults and the kids, like the kids who are trapped in the car with Sam. Oh, yeah. I don't remember that. Oh, no.

I'm with you. I loved that, and I missed that in movies, like having adults and kids. I feel like now kids and adults, the kids are always really rude and bratty. I don't like it. But growing up, there were better dynamics with adults and kids, and I, like, ate that up as a little kid. But I also really loved the Mighty Duck series, and I loved Mike Vitar. Loved, who was also in the sandlot, loved him. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I feel like that's such a middle school. The way you went into that answer was so middle school. Like, this is my real answer, but it's not cool enough. So I'll give you another answer. It's not special enough. Yeah. No, but Jurassic Park was definitely my favorite movie growing up. Yeah, you and...

How about you, Penn? Countless others. Yeah, I think it probably... I'm feeling now like I'm older than you guys because those movies I liked when I was younger. Like, my girl and Jurassic Park and Mighty Ducks were all thoroughly iconic for me at different places, but not by middle school.

Like, if I was 12, 13, to be honest, it's still the same movie. Now, did I openly love it and talk about it? No, but if I go back, and think about like a movie that I would have appreciated at any time coming on it's so not like my sensibility

is Titanic it still is, it really is like and I don't think I realized at the time I think I saw it twice by the way everybody was seeing that movie like five and six and seven times I went twice

you know you're still cool pen but now but now I'm just like no that movie definitely more than any I can think of if I was to watch it

now I would just unabashedly enjoy it I can't recall a movie that I loved then I think I was about to love Fight Club you know I remember when it came out but I didn't see it in theaters I saw it on DVD and then after and then I loved it I was a bit older then

14 15 Leonardo DiCaprio in Fight Club was amazing he was just like that was Edward Norton's third personality don't spoil it we're going to have to put spoiler on the thumbnail of this video Tyler Durden

is two people Tyler Durden is a name that I've referenced in life so much more than than I feel good about and also his name is Robert Paulson I think that's what they say when Meatloaf dies the chanting you guys don't

there's no way you like you know Fight Club as well as do you're probably like I've never seen it what yeah so you did spoil it for me actually you had never come out it's like the first movie that did that I just I just never seen it sorry

that would have been a great time for you a nice ride that we just ruined you know at the end of Titanic it uh it goes down I know I mean the crazy thing is they called it the unsinkable and then yeah

all right let's get to our guest today we have a nice treat her name is tillie keeper best known for playing louise and eastenders which if you're not british you're not aware it's it's an iconic british soap i think and and recently i think what you'll know her from is playing lady phoebe on season four of my show you where i think she may become quite iconic herself we had a lot of fun in this episode you're going to love her don't go anywhere we'll be right back welcome to podcrushed we're hosts i'm penn I'm Nava and I'm Sophie

And I think we would have been your middle school besties Oh my gosh, we would have so much fun Every time Penn let us out of the glass cage Y'all's parents at that age Shouldn't have been letting you watch this show Does anyone else ever get that nagging feeling That their dog might be bored And do you also feel like super guilty about it?

Well, one way that I combat that feeling Is I'm making meal time Everything it can be for my little boy, Louis. Nom Nom does this with food that actually engages your pup senses with a mix of tantalizing smells, textures, and ingredients. Nom Nom offers six recipes bursting with premium proteins, vibrant veggies and tempting textures designed to add excitement to your dog's day. Pork potluck, chicken cuisine, turkey fair, beef mash, lamb, pilaf,

and turkey and chicken cookout. I mean, are you kidding me? I want to eat these recipes. Each recipe is cooked gently in small batches. to seal in vital nutrients and maximize digestibility. And their recipes are crafted by vet nutritionists. So I feel good knowing it's design with Louis' health and happiness in mind. Serve nom nom as a complete and balanced meal or as a tasty and healthy addition to your dog's

current diet. My dogs are like my children, literally, which is why I'm committed to giving them only the best. Hold on. Let me start again because I've only been talking about Louie. Louis is my beat. Louie, you might have heard him growl just now. Louie is my little baby, and I'm committed to only giving him the best.

I love that Nom Nom's recipes contain wholesome nutrient rich food, meat that looks like meat, and veggies that look like veggies, because shocker, they are. Louis has been going absolutely nuts for the lamb pilaf. I have to confess that he's never had anything like it, and he cannot get enough. So he's a lamb pilaf guy. keep mealtime exciting with nom-num available at your local pet smart store or at chewy learn more at trynom.com slash podcrushed spelled try n-o-m dot com slash podcrushed hey it's lena waith legacy talk is my love letter to black storytellers artists who've changed the game and paved the way for so many of us this season i'm sitting down with icons like volisha rachad

Loretta Devine, Ava DuVernay, and more. We're talking about their journeys, their creative process, and the legacies they're building every single day. Come be a part of the conversation. Season 2 drops July 29th. Listen to Legacy Talk wherever you get your podcast, or watch us on YouTube. Tilly, my first and my hardest-hitting question,

are you aware that I owe you $90? Oh. Do you recall this, and do you know what for? Oh, my God. I'm not holding it against you. Yeah, well, you could. You could. Maybe there's some interest accrued.

I want to get your Venmo today after the interview. I mean, you remember, right? Yeah, no, it's true. It's true. Penn is in debt to me. For a way. In many ways. So it was the rap party.

It was the rap party for the season. And we went to, I think, many different players, or at least, I don't know. So we ended up at this club where everybody was being, first of all, it was very difficult to get in. And then I did something, which I never do, which is like, I don't know, do you know who I am? Do I try, do I get people in?

But it was still, it still cost 10 pounds per person. And so then I was like, everybody was filing in. I'm like, yeah, I'll get them, yeah, let's just do that, yeah. And so like, nine people went by. And then I tried to use my credit card and it was declined. And I'm like, hmm, what do I do? Is it because I, is it because I just picked up a big tab You know, I was like, by the way, picking up tabs everywhere I go.

But anyway, you know, I was, I was like, oh, this is an awkward spot. And then I look around, I'm like, who's the most likely to have 90 and then be okay with it? I would roll over and just go, sure. I also really loved that Penn's card got declined. I know, right? I helped him out of the vibe. Yeah, yeah. That's a story that you can have forever.

rates for life. Yeah, but then, unfortunately, I really held it. I was going to everyone like, I got you in, guys. I got you in. Drinks to me, but I'm sitting over there. Just give me the drinks. But they also charge people to get in. That was mad.

Is that uniquely British, or is that just because they could? I think we're just quite tight as a nation, to be honest. So we're just going to charge people. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Well, I mean, I don't know that it's that much of a joke. And I'm sure that money went straight to the government. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Totally. We have really helped. That money went straight to the arts fund. But it was also no disrespect to this place. It's not there for. But it was like the worst place we could have gone.

I kind of agree. Yeah. When we got in, I was like, Tilly paid $90 for this. Can you imagine I was about to pay $90? Pound! Which is like, what, $112, something like that? 130, maybe. you arrived and we had security because we were out in Shoreditch and you need security in Shoreditch and everyone, it was like

as soon as Penn got out the car I know it was really I know it was very and I you know I saw I didn't I don't go places with security I just want to be clear here that was super awkward for me because then I was like

because then there were people who were part of our crew trying to get in but then security was trying to usher me past them like no no no no no we got to make sure they get in and they're like we're gonna do you know and man you know It was a lot. The dynamics.

It was, a lot happened in about three minutes, just even getting out of the car trying to get in. So that was fat enough. So I think it was just then as soon as we got in and they were like, oh, it's the cast of you, 10 pounds each please. It was just, the whole thing was like mortifying anyways. I was just like, oh, just take my money. But it's also one of those places where bless them, but the floor is so sticky that when you walk, it's a bit like walking on celetope. Let's just stop blessing, though. Okay. Let's stop with all of this faf, as you say. Tilia, I want to get to the hard-hitting questions. So just let's go. 13 years old. You know what this show's about. Our listeners know what this shows about. We're going to go everywhere. But let's start here. What were you like? 13.

I don't know who I was in school. The way I look back, I think, is very different to what people thought of me. I actually saw a friend from school the other day. And I said, what was I like around that age? And she said, I don't know, you would just, Tilly, I don't, I wasn't part of a group, which is actually something that I kind of, I'm so aware of even at 25 now that I did find it quite hard to fit in. I hate this phrase. I would think I was a bit of a floater. I hate that phrase. But I think just, I just am interested in people.

I don't know, I don't think I was a popular girl, but I don't think I was a popular girl, but I think I was happy to be in any social situation with any people. And perhaps that could be viewed as popular because a lot of people knew me. But I definitely wasn't the cool girl. Oh, my goodness, was I not? I liked musical theatre and I was in love with One Direction. That doesn't necessarily equate to being the coolest girl's score. Well, why not, though?

Because, I mean, Harry Styles was in One Direction, right? Yeah, he was. Right? Yeah. I mean, and now is more or less the coolest. I can't really have. Yeah, but it's quite a, it's not the same One Direction, Harry Styles.

One Direction, great. One of the most successful boy bands in the world. My love for them is not healthy. I think it wasn't so much what One Direction stood for. It was more the way I adored them was just, I think if any of the cool girls were like, maybe Tilly can sit with us and I'd be like, I love Harry Styles.

And they'd be like, don't want that energy around us. Tilly, you know, the odds are that at least some of them are watching you. So they know who you are. Hopefully. Yeah. Get those. Get those. Use. Okay. Well, can you tell us an embarrassing story from middle school? Do you have any off the top of your head? Oh, gosh. So many. I actually was thinking about what I was, you know, middle school age. And I was like, can't remember a lot of it, which probably meant that a lot of embarrassing stuff happened and I blocked it out. But I think the thing that comes to mind is we were doing a

school play and I was always in the school plays obviously and I but I didn't used to like doing them because none of my friends would come to see them because no one liked our school plays I don't know why and it wasn't just because you know it was me being like I'm the lead um however I suppose it is part of it yeah definitely it's at least it's ugly I mean you can't say it's not not part anyway sorry I'm sorry now no no it's fine it's fine we're just speaking the truth and and and this one year we did it was so we used to have school play in a dance production and um i loved doing the dance production because it was the older girls choreographed all the dances and everyone got involved because it was like the cool thing to do and it was just loads of fun and the school

played not so much but this one year they decided to combine the two and it was we will rock you the musical not my favorite music what is that is that queen i mean like what's the but what is the whole thing queen oh you want me yeah yeah so it's a jubes Box musical of Queen's Music. Don't ask me the plot. It's absolutely insane. Yeah, you don't need one. You don't need one. So, yeah, I was the lead and I just got a real be in my body about this play and I was like, I don't want to do it. And my mum said you have to because if you're spending all this time

and energy and money into classes outside of school, the last thing you can do is be in the school play. Hello. So I got the female lead. I just didn't want to do it. I didn't want to go to the rehearsals. And I was making quite a fuss about it and not having a great attitude, which is quite unlike me because I'm quite keen to do anything else.

And then the first opening night, it was a thing, because it was the dance productions, then everyone came to see it because all the cool girls were in it. So, like, boys were coming to see it, which was just such a novelty for me at 14, because, you know, we didn't interact with boys on a daily basis. So they were, like, unicorns to us. And I was thinking, great, everyone's got to see me in this blooming school play.

I don't want to be in. And I've got to sing all the harmonies because no one else could sing the harmonies. And I remember going to school and being like, I don't feel great. Because I had to sing very high and very low because, like, I had a quite decent range and everything. And I remember I was thinking, I don't feel great. And then I got on stage. And my first song was somebody to love. And it has a big la, at the start.

And I opened my voice and it went, ah. And everyone went silent. And I couldn't finish a song. And I just remember it was more of a thing of pride. Like, I'd been such a cow about this school play, how I didn't want to do it, how I was like, and I have to sing all the songs because no one else can sing them. And I get on stage and I sound, not even like a dying cat.

Like someone had. taken your voice. Strangle the cat. Taken my voice like Ursula from the Little Mermaid had come out of the water, swung to shore, found me and ripped my vocal cords out of my throat.

Wow. And it was just absolutely mortifying. And I was just, I don't think I froze, but I think, because I'm always, the show must go on. But I was a bit like,

this is the worst thing possibly happen. This is karma because I've been such a bitch. I was going to say, it's your religious upbringing. It's karma. Totally. Totally. Totally. Oh, and it was just I had to finish the show. And all these people, I just remember. And I don't think anyone was mean about it. I think everyone knew I had a sore throat. And I had really, I think I had tonsillitis. I definitely damaged something. And it was just absolutely mortifying. And it was that awful thing of my mom and dad trying to pick me afterwards and be like, darling, it was fine. It was, you know, it was like, but it wasn't my best. Even worse.

Even worse. Were you able to, I mean, so basically the whole play, you were sort of eking it out? Is that? Were you able to Like that? I couldn't It was painful So as well It was a lot of pausing to go Oof

Oof, that's pretty miserable How long was that play? I think we did it for three nights Oh I mean to be honest That sounds excruciating Because you just It wasn't a moment

It was like you had to keep Keep at it Yeah I couldn't escape Yeah I was on stage for 90 minutes And it was Yeah it wasn't It was just

just mortifying because it was, you know, oh, God, I've done it. This has happened in front of all these people. I can't run away because that would look even worse. And now it's that thing of, and everyone knows that I was in such a bad mood over this play. And now everyone's like, and for what? She wasn't even that good. It wasn't my fault. So I was just, I don't think, I came into school the next morning and my drama teacher saw me and said,

go home and rest of your voice, which is great, because I've got a day of school. But it was also that thing I was like, God, just because I can't show my face in chemistry. I just couldn't possibly face anyone today. I'm honestly so impressed by that story. Like the fact that you stuck with acting, I mean, that feels, especially at that age, it feels like quite a traumatic event. And to stick with acting, I think says something about how you were meant to do it and, you know. Oh, that's a nice.

way to think about it. He framed it differently for me now. Yeah, I guess so. But I just, the thing was, it wasn't, I've never had fear about going out on stage or, you know, I actually don't like public speaking that much. But, you know, singing in front of people and dancing, I feel very comfortable, but it was more my pride.

And so I think it was almost like a lesson learned of, I can't believe I'm framing a school play like this, but be professional. Don't complain because then no one has anything to say about it. you. So if you do, you know, not have a great performance or you don't have a great take or whatever, then everyone's going to be on your side and not so much sitting back and just wait for you to. Always be prepared for public failure, I think, is my mantra. Always that the other shoe

is going to drop. Yeah. I wake up every morning with that same door. That's a great way to go through the day. It's doom. Right after that meditation. She's like, doom. The birds are singing. I wake up. birds help we get dressed and they go another day to embarrass myself were you were you ever pursuing because I guess we you know we've done our little bits of reading here um did you want to be a

quote unquote pop star this is something that has been written about me as well and the reality is different so I'm just curious like where does that come from I think I did want to be a pop star in a kind of unsirious way yeah I grew up I mean music is such a big part of my upbringing and it's something that my mum and dad, you know, brought them together and it's something we will bond over. I loved Britney Spears growing up, and so I wanted to be Britney Spears. And I think because she danced,

the only way my mom could get me to do anything was Britney Spears, Britney Spears does ballet. Britney Spears drinks lots of water. And so I just... She was your God. She was my God, quite literally. Yeah, my religion was Britney Spears. Yeah.

And I think, yeah, it was just... And so in turn, by following Britney Spears' footsteps, quite literally, and doing ballet and all stuff like that, that's how I kind of fell into performing and acting. I mean, I would love to have been a pop star. Not so much now, because the idea of having to write about, I know you don't have to, but having to write a song about personal experiences and then, I don't know. It's an amazing craft and I really admire, you know, I love music, but I'd be a rubbish pop star.

Who wants to find an album about someone not going out and just staying watching their talk? I do. You're writing an album for me. But Tilly, I want to know if you had gone down that path as a teen, tween, teen, what would your title track on your debut album have been called? Oh, that is a great question. It would have either been something like, she's blonde. Or I don't even know She's blonde Or something a little bit I've tried to be a bit punky about it

Like My favourite colour is orange And that would be the soft That's funky, wow Yeah How funky is like again The punk is like everything Everything is just stating clear facts

She's blonde I like orange Water is clear A long title Penn was doing cocaine when he was 12, so this is like, what are you, Doc? I need more. Break down those walls. Tilly, we are going to move on from middle school.

But before we do, we ask all of our guests what their first experiences around love and heartbreak were around that time. Oh, yeah. Well, because I went to a little girls school, so boys were a bit of a mystery. But I remember, so we used to have school discos from years seven to nine, which I think is like the ages 11 to 1450. So like our middle school. And it was our opportunity to invite boys from the local schools, from the neighbouring schools, could buy tickets to come to our discos. And I was very excited. I had a crush on a boy from a neighbouring school and I knew he was going to be there.

And so I went out shopping with my mum And I got a little dress from Topshop Which she had to get taken up Because it was too long because I was so small And I remember I had like a headband Across my forehead And I just thought I looked at the bees' knees And I was like, I'm going to pull tonight

And by pull I mean he's probably going to hold my hand Or we're going to dance to a song And I just felt really good getting there And he walked in And I was like, oh, he's just so dream me. It's gorgeous. And then he had his first kiss with the most popular girl in school who didn't like me. And I think probably still doesn't like me now. Guess what? I still don't like her. It's funny how petty I can still be. That's maturity right there. But you're

famous. Yeah, exactly. Am I? I can hear music. That's your delusion. That's, that's, uh, It's all coming back now. It's queen, isn't it? The angels are playing the harp. This is it. This is how it all ends, Julie. This is how it ends. See the light.

So, yeah, they had their first kiss, and I was like, oh, no. And I had to text my mom and say, can you come and pick me up? But also, like, I didn't. Well, who am I to sit there and think, yeah, he'll come to me? Well, you were going together, right? We weren't going together. just knew that he was, we used to talk on MSN, MSN messenger, and he said he was going to be there.

And so I doled up for nothing. Okay, so you were passive? I'm not, it's like, yeah, it was passive. So there are you, okay. Still, that's hard. That is hard. Yeah, it was, yeah, it was, you know, it's that kind of, and then you start to compare and you think it's, you know, oh, it's all to do with me and how I look or how I am.

and I could never be as... And she was the polar opposite to me. She was, you know, taller, older, Bruner, and I was just like, oh, God, that's so... Now we know why the debut album is... She's blonde. Yeah. Now we know it makes sense.

Let them know. But yeah, it was quite kind of like my first crush and first heartbreak all kind of came together in one night. Anyway, so yes, they kissed. I was sat in the corner, absolutely fuming, and then I went home. And if that doesn't sound like a Friday night in the life you're telling you back, I don't know.

How long do you think it took you to get over it? Like how long do those feelings of, because it's not just anger, right? I mean, it's actually, it's sort of humiliation and some sadness, right? How long did it last? I think the humiliation probably lasted for about a week because I think people were aware as well, like, Tilly had a crush on him

and now he likes her and everything. But I think I... Probably then it's, I mean, you're what, 12, 13, so they were together. And then when they split up and split up, it sounds so dramatic. But, you know, then they dated for a little bit and they would hang out together and go to parties together. And that was kind of hard. And then when they broke up, I was like, actually, I'm so beyond this. I don't want to be anyone's sloppy seconds, you know, move on.

But it was just that kind of shame as well that we had such a limited source of boys. then it was kind of then I'm never going to find one again one that I really like that likes talking to me and of course you know then you go out to the big wide world and you realize it's all different

but it is that strange thing of like this microcosm of just being in an all-girls school that all your resources is so limited and someone's going to get in there first and boys are like NFTs very confusing to talk about very hard

and just simply non-fungible Tilly, I have this idea that most Americans are somewhat religious or spiritual, sort of most Americans believe in God, maybe changing, but, and that most Europeans, but I don't know where Brits fall in this, but that most Europeans are not, are sort of agnostic or atheists, maybe even judge that. And I was just curious, did your family have any kind of religious or spiritual belief set? And if not, do you think it's weird that so many Americans believe in God? I'm just curious. I don't think it's weird. The way that religion and spirituality has kind of been framed in our family was,

I think my background is we're Irish, so it's Irish Catholic. I don't necessarily know a lot about the religion or agree with it. But religion and stuff like that was more of a source of comfort. My mum used to, when I couldn't sleep, she would like teach me a little prayer to say at night

and that would. I think it was almost like meditation in a way. And also I think, I don't know whether this is common up and down the country, but the primary school I went to was a Methodist school. And so we went to chapel every Wednesday. I know one of my friends went to a six when we had to go to chapel every Wednesday. So it's kind of, it is in some schools a focus. It's definitely there. But it's not necessarily something that I know my family were seeking out. We didn't go to church. But then some schools, you have to. to go to church to get in, interestingly enough. So the way we framed it was always, well, the way that I view it now is that to me it's a source of comfort and grounding. And I think

perhaps I'm a little bit agnostic. I like to think that there's a higher power and there's something that's guarding us and looking out for us and that there's a plan and everything. But it's not something that I kind of look to live as a rule by, if that makes sense. But I definitely You know, the way we frame it is in times of need or distress that you kind of just throw it out. So whatever higher power, whether that's like a god or the universe just in general. And, yeah, I think more our kind of thing was it's about karma. Just we were taught, you know, do good things. So you're Buddhist.

But you also speak Sanskrit. I just feel like there's a trend. There's so many languages. You would not believe. Ancient scrolls on your walls. it's interesting tillie that you say you were telling that sweet story of how your mom you know if you had trouble sleeping your mom might teach you a little prayer to help you meditate actually i've been reading this book called breath by james nestor that i am obsessed with i i can't stop thinking about

it and what's really interesting is he says that there's sort of this like optimal breathing rhythm, which is like five and a half seconds in, I think, and five and a half seconds out, which ends up meaning you take about five and a half breaths a minute, something like that. And that most prayers across religions, across the world, will end up with that sort of breathing rhythm, like a lot of like Tibetan chants or Buddhist chants, end up with that optimum breathing rhythm that helps you relax. and, like, I think, regulate your parasympathetic system. Yeah.

There's so many things. I read that book when Domino was pregnant with our youngest, and that I couldn't stop breathing through my nose. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I'm actually having a hard time because every, you know, anytime you vocalize, it's an exhale and you can't breathe in through your nose at the same time as you're talking. And so I'm like, what am I going to do on this podcast?

I need to keep breathing through my nose. It'll take you about a year to get through. I even did the sleep tape. I actually slept with tape on my mouth for a few months. I tried it out just to see, so I was only breathing to my nose because it regulates. But this five and a half second thing I thought was really fascinating too, because what this guy's theory was building was that the intuitive understanding of the perfect breath that will regulate your body systems, which I thought was pretty beautiful.

Yeah. I also think whenever you, if you're focusing on your breathing and you do breath work, that inhale, like you say when you talk you're just exhaling and so you're throwing it all out but that inhale is about reflection and taking a moment and actually sitting with thought or just listening and receiving what someone's saying and it's interesting because that's when I would say

that little prayer to myself and I was a wee one it's that thing of then you're completely I was relaxing and exhaling and then I was just kind of lulling myself and it's all about you know that breath work it's actually something that because I have like I'm anxious about everything but it's just that

it is like meditation for me in a way just focusing grounding yourself touching your environment and taking those deep breaths but now I know it's five and a half seconds in

and five and a half seconds out I'm going to be as cool as a cucumber stick around we'll be right back all right so let's just real talk as they say for a second that's a little bit of an aged thing

to say now that that dates me doesn't it um but no real talk uh how important is your health to you you know on like a one to ten and i don't mean the in the sense of vanity i mean in the sense of like you want your day to go well right you want to be less stressed you don't want it as sick when you have responsibilities um i know myself i'm a householder i have uh i have two children and two more on the way um a spouse a pet you know a job that sometimes has its demands so i really want to feel like when I'm not getting the sleep and I'm not getting nutrition, when my eating's down,

I want to know that I'm being held down some other way physically. My family holds me down emotionally, spiritually, but I need something to hold me down physically, right? And so honestly, I turned to symbiotica, these vitamins and these beautiful little packets that they taste delicious. And I'm telling you, even before I started doing ads for these guys, it was a product that I really, really liked and enjoyed

and could see the differences with. The three that I use, I use, I use the, what is it called, liposomal vitamin C, and it tastes delicious, like really, really good. Comes out in the packet, you put it right in your mouth. Some people don't do that. I do it, I think it tastes great. I use the liposomal glutathione as well in the morning, really good for gut health, and although I don't need it, you know, anti-aging. And then I also use the magnesium L3 and 8, which is really good for, I think, mood and stress. Sometimes use it in the morning, sometimes use it at night.

All three of these things taste incredible. Honestly, you don't even need to mix it with water. And yeah, I just couldn't recommend them highly enough. If you want to try them out, go to symbiotica.com slash podcrushed for 20% off plus free shipping. That's symbiotica.com slash podcrushed for 20% off plus free shipping. The first few weeks of school are in the books, and now's the time to keep that momentum going. I-XL helps kids stay confident and a head. of the curve. I-Excel is an award-winning online learning platform that helps kids truly understand

what they're learning. Whether they're brushing up on math or diving into social studies, it covers math, language arts, science, and social studies from pre-k through 12th grade with content that's engaging, personalized, and yes, actually fun. It's the perfect tool to keep learning going without making it feel like school. I actually used I Excel quite a bit when I was teaching fifth grade. I used it for my students to give like extra problems for practice or sometimes I also used it to just check on what the standards were in my state for any given topic in math or reading or writing. It's just a helpful tool all around for teachers, for parents, for students. I honestly do love it. Studies have shown that kids who use I-XL score higher on tests.

This has been proven in almost every state in the U.S. so if your child is struggling this is a smart investment that you can make in their learning a single hour of tutoring costs more than a month of ixl don't miss out one in four students in the u.s are learning with ixl and ixl is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the u.s make an impact on your child's learning get ixel now and podcrush listeners can get an exclusive 20% off ixel memberships when they sign up today at ixl.com slash podcrushed visit irechrish listeners can get an exclusive 20% off ixel memberships when they sign up today at ixel. ixcel.com slash podcrush to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. As the seasons change, it's the perfect time to learn something new. Whether you're getting back into a routine after summer or looking for a new challenge before the year ends, Rosetta Stone makes it easy to turn a few minutes a day into real language progress. Rosetta Stone is the trusted leader in language learning for over 30 years. Their immersive, intuitive method helps you naturally absorb

and retain your new language on desktop or mobile whenever and wherever it fits your schedule. Rosetta Stone immerses you in your new language naturally, helping you think and communicate with confidence. There are no English translation so you truly learn to speak, listen, and think in your chosen language. The other day I was actually at the grocery store and I asked one of the people working there if they could help me find a specific item and she was like, sorry, I actually don't speak English, she only spoke Spanish, and I was like, if only I, my Spanish was good enough to be able to have this conversation in Spanish, we would be sorted. And that's where Rosetta Stone comes in. I really need to get back on my Rosetta Stone grind. With 30 years of experience,

millions of users, and 25 languages to choose from, including Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and more. Rosetta Stone is the go-to tool for real language growth. A lifetime membership gives you access to all 25 languages so you can learn as many as you want whenever you want. Don't wait. Unlock your language learning potential now. Podcrush listeners can grab Rosetta Stone's lifetime membership for 50% off.

That's unlimited access to 25 language courses for life. Visit rosettastone.com slash podcrush to get started and claim your 50% off today. Don't miss out. Go to Rosettastone.com slash podcrush and start learning today. Maybe we can talk about you, the show. Yes.

Tilly, can you tell us a little bit how you got into professional acting and then we'll talk about how you landed that show in particular? So I, from the dance school that I went to, had an agency attached. And so I think I had my first audition when I was seven, maybe. So I had that agent throughout the ages of seven until I was maybe 18 or 21. So I'd been auditioning throughout my school life pretty unsuccessfully,

which was, I think, in retrospect, was an amazing thing because it kind of taught me the realities of the industry and that you're not going to get every part you go up for. And, you know, it's down to your height, it's down to, you know, do you look like the person playing your parents? Is she blonde? You know, all those. Is she blonde?

Can we dye her hair? I say, no. I will dye my hair, don't right? And anybody, anybody guessing. I'm not, just to say you know, does you know, change anything. The acting directors out there. Yeah. Would prefer a wig, but if you have to die, I'm okay. And then I was in six form and everyone was applying to universities.

And I was the youngest in my year and I did feel like the youngest of my year. I didn't feel like I was ready to go into even further education by, you know, going away for three years. and I just didn't want to commit to an academic subject when I knew I wanted to be an actress and I felt like I could go to university and study drama, but then I'd still have to go to drama school. So I, much to the dismay of my teachers, said I'm not going to apply for university,

I'm going to take a year off, and I'm going to audition. And while I audition, I'm going to apply for drama school. So hopefully I'll either get a job or I'll get into drama school, you know, I was just keeping positive. And then a month after I left school, I booked a TV show. And I was on that for three and a half years.

Wow. So just really, just lucky. You know, just the timing was perfect. The part, you know, was right for me and all stuff like that. So then I was just kind of steadily employed as an actress for years, which is, you know, such a blessing and unheard of. Yeah. Yeah.

And then the pandemic happened. and it all went quiet again after I left the show, really good timing. And I'd worked with a casting director called Sophie Holland on a movie. And then I'd done that. I think in the summer of 2021, I'd filmed that. I came home. I was auditioning for stuff, getting really close and then not getting it. And I was just like, this is a long old slog.

You know, it's just getting even harder now. And then the heavens opened up and Sophie emailed my agent and said, we've got an audition for Tilly for a part in you to play Lady Phoebe and it was just like oh you were you were you were a fan of you i was a massive fan i have to say i wasn't pen noses like i was such a huge fan of the show i just think the writing is so clever and i love the dark comedy element so and i also really loved the part the way i read you know the character description and the audition side so it was just like this is such a fun character and it's going to be so interesting to see how she interacts with someone like Joe.

And so I was just so excited. And I think originally, I don't know Penn if you know this, but I think maybe the part was meant to be a little bit older because that was the one thing going against me was that they would have maybe wanted someone a bit older, but Sophie really championed me. Yeah, because it is interesting Kate is older and they're like best friends. Yeah. But I think you just don't really address.

You don't know the age. Yeah. Yeah. She's got like age-define serums on and all stuff. Exactly. Exactly. It's all the filler and the Botox now. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. If you notice, my face doesn't move. Lady Phoebe is such a lovable character. I had said to Navajo when we were watching it, I was like, you, you Tilly are going to be like the darling in everybody's world because Lady Phoebe is such a lovable character and you play her so lovably so well. Thank you. But I do have to know what is Penn like on set?

What's he really like? We want like the goss. On my own show. She's like, what can I say? What can I say without not getting blocked by Penn? Penn's lovely. Do you remember when we first met Penn? Do you remember when we first met?

No. Well, no. And that's fine I don't, no. Was it in a single? No, okay, great. We met at my makeup test and I couldn't turn around to look at you

because my hair had been like hair sprayed back into some kind of dew and so it was a bit hard to turn my head to fully say hello. Yeah. And you weren't well. I remember that. You were a bit sick. And you said you've just been coming out.

out on the other side of a cold or something. I think that was right when I got there. And so there was just a lot of different things. Yeah. So we met there and I, he, but you were lovely. This was the thing. You were lovely. And because, you know, I'm quite blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, out there in chatty.

And because you were ill, I was like, oh, God, he's going to be really quiet and he's not going to want to talk to me. And then that totally wasn't the case at all. You were just so lovely. And we were in the first scene together on the first day of filming. And he just made me feel really calm. and really relaxed because I'm you know it's nerve-wracking because I'm on a show that I've loved for so long with an actor that I think is so great and I'm working with Lucas and Ed and Sean so it was intimidating

but you gave me lots of encouragement on my first day and then from then on it was just really lovely but also I remember thinking okay I'm not going to drive this guy mad on the first day because we've got about five or six months left of this shoe and I don't want him to think so you turned yourself down. Yeah, I kind of had to bring it down. I'm not sure you did. I think, no, no, no, no. Not enough for Penn.

No. Well, I was in underwear. That was my first costume was underwear. Oh, that's right, yeah. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, with the robe and all that stuff. It was, it was in the, what is it called? The Four Seasons.

Yeah, it was like this hotel room, this giant suite. Yeah, I do recall that was the first day for everybody. We had the whole cast more or less on. on set and um but you really had the bulk of the work it was like you Lucas and then me of course but I what's people can hardly ever really appreciate is that I do so little talking so yes I'm doing a lot but I'm not speaking so it's like so you had all this talking to do and you have you have the the being of Lady Phoebe which I and I and now that I'm remembering I think I said this to you maybe on that day maybe

later but there's always at least one if not a few roles in each season where the line between camp and you know high camp and low camp whatever that is it's like high camp is great high camp is actually a much needed relief from the intensity of a show like ours low camp is where you know you're falling in your face

and I think lady Phoebe's a hard character to play like she's you know this close to a caricature sometimes and that's the function she has to serve that's the function actually a lot of the characters this season do need to serve because they're meant to be just so awful you know we need to have awful people to make joe the hero

but you did i mean you know i think i think what i could see in that first day and what i might have told you was just that um you were doing it masterfully i thought oh yeah no you were very nice i remember the first thing you said was you're quite good. And I was like, well, I'll take it. I'll take it. But I also, and then you were very kind and, you know, you were saying it. She is, I didn't find her that hard to play, but maybe because there's, you know, I just like her. Wait, Tilly, I have to tell you that that's a huge compliment from Penn. I think the nicest

thing he's ever said to me and Sophie was, this was nice. That's the biggest compliment we've ever gotten from him. So quite good means he thinks. you're phenomenal. Yeah. But also it wasn't, you know, you said it, and I remember I laughed, like, oh, God. And then you were totally nice and you gave me loads of encouragement and, you know, and we had a good chat about it. And then afterwards, but it did, yeah.

I'm going to go home and cry. And I was like, oh no, what about very good? Penn has told us that he doesn't memorize his lines for rehearsals though on set. Did you experience that? Like, he'll just, like, be messing around. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, my God. Doing all your silly voices and all your silly dances.

But, um... Well, not to be clear, I usually don't have lines. That's, that's... Or I do, and it's like, no. Exactly that. Or it's sure. I'll go. Yeah.

Sure. Sounds great. That's right. Sounds great, yeah. But I think, as well, because the dynamic between Phoebe and Joe is that, she's just ranting and raving at his. and winging at him and he's just receiving it and deep thought about it. But, yeah, you didn't have a lot of lines in scenes with, like our scenes.

Well, particularly your scenes, particularly your scenes. You really were doing a lot of talking, and I just had a lot of listening. Really were. She didn't write it. It's just the way it was. And also, because I decided that she should talk really quickly, I would then have to trip over my lines all the time, because I wanted her to have this pace and this energy.

But because I was getting up at like 5 o'clock in the morning, I didn't have that energy. So, Paul Penn would have to just take after take of standing there listening to this girl going, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I wanted to ask what was he like as a director. Penn was probably my favorite director. Aww. And I'm not just saying that, but I think he has a – because you're an actor,

And so you have this kind of dialogue and this language that it's, if you gave a note, I could completely understand what you were saying. I don't know with a huge degree. Maybe I didn't. Maybe it's what I didn't. No, I think so. Just a lot of patience. And I mean, I think your episode's so great.

I think it looks great. I think the pacing and everything. But yeah, and it's just, it's nice to work with someone that you also have like an established relationship with. Yeah. But I think that key of just. the communication because sometimes, you know, directors, they're great, but the way they give notes is just you have to kind of do some kind of mental arithmetic in your brain to let it work

physically as well as mentally and all that stuff. And you just were very clear and concise and a lot of patience. And also it was like really fun because episode nine is, I can say right, is wedding. Yeah. And I was actually really nervous for those scenes because it's the peak of Phoebe's breakdown. But I'm really thinking. that you were the one that got to direct me and all that. Because you were just, you know, there was... I didn't feel like there was any pressure from you to, you know, hit the mark straight away.

Right, yeah. I think that's... I mean, what people don't quite realize about television and directing is that, you know, you have several directors throughout the season and because they're coming and going, they're under a lot of pressure to keep... to keep the show on the track that it's on.

And so they are actually under an intense amount of pressure. They basically want to make sure they're not failing to meet the standard and then where they can add their stamp. I mean, it really is like it's a more utilitarian job than it is in film. You still have, you know, it is still directing, but it is, it does exist in a sort of a different tier in television. It's, you know, the showrunners are really, the executive producers, they're the ones who run the show and call the major shots.

So the directors can just be so under the gun with time even that they, you know, struggle to talk to the actors, which at the end of the day is what you have the least time for when all is said and done. I mean, especially if you recall with my episode, like at this point we were so behind schedule in the whole season that, I mean, I remember, you know, we would do sometimes two or three takes and I would get I would I would be expressed to me later

that like you know I'm sort of pushing it getting that much that well no that that I was like taking almost a little bit too much time with the actors which which I see from that perspective how that was true but that's missing the point like guys I'm actually taking the bare minimum here I'm actually like we were we were not doing excessive ticks in my in my memory or in my experience but also the fact that we didn't do too many takes didn't bother me because I trusted that you weren't going to let me go on camera looking like an idiot because you know you want you want the whole episode to look great and so it's not just you know you had the the whole vision of it all and you cared about us so it's a really nice it was a nice dynamic to explore

Tilly another question about your character about Lady Phoebe I as I said I just I loved her and I wanted to protect her but and you know she has a lot of faith in Joe in Jonathan and I wonder do you think that's because she's naive or do you think she just sees the best in people what's kind of your take I think it's a mix of both I think is that she sees the best in people and that's her best quality but also she's very naive and I think she it's actually something I've been thinking about a lot now the shows come out and we've been doing press about it how important her upbringing is that it's something that Sarah Gamble discussed with me quite a bit is that she doesn't have a lot of guidance in her life and she wasn't shown a way to be a loving you know she didn't have a great example of what it was to be loved and and to have care and so I think you know when Joe shows up, and even though he's not interested, but it's like a new person that she can just throw all this love on and, you know, get some validation out of. And I think because he does

show her kindness, it's this thing of then she wants to latch on to him. And I kind of compare it to like an older brother, little sister relationship that he does protect her. And he is there when she's in times of need. And yeah, she can rely on him. Because apart from Kate, there's really no one else she can fully trust because Adam's proven time and time again that he's just no good for her even if she doesn't want to believe it and she thinks

Jonathan's older and wiser and has a beard and that normally signifies that you have wisdom and life experience. What do you think that Joe said to Phoebe? That thing? Right?

I feel like you had some funny ideas. Penn, can you contextualize this question? for listeners who might not know off the bat well come on listeners you come yeah um so what is it in the first episode first or two episodes uh there's this there's this night that sends really the whole season off where uh jo as professor jonathan more has a like an like an absinth fueled blackout uh night and um in this night many very significant significant events happened that unroll for the duration of the season. One of the things is that he says something to Lady Phoebe that has endeared him to her. So she now trusts him

implicitly because he said something that just absolutely blew her away, seemed to change her perspective on things. And throughout the whole season, you're waiting to see if you're going to find out what he said i really wanted to hear something i wanted to it's like i wanted to like see the monster you know i wanted i wanted to i was that was one reveal the whole season that i i wanted maybe more than anything else and we never got it what do you think he said do you have any quips i have a lot theories i think it could have been as trivial as she's blonde you're so pretty you know like when you meet a girl in the bathroom or the bar and you're really drunk and she's like, oh my God, I love your outfit.

You're like, babe, oh my God, that lipstick is the best color I've ever seen. And then you swap numbers and she's invited to your family's Christmas. You know, it's either something as trivial as that. I had a theory that it was something along the lines of, you know, that thing of, you seem like a great person. Why are you hanging out with all these people? And Charlotte actually had a really good theory about it. and now I wish he kind of told me it when we were filming

and then it could have changed the trajectory of that performance. She said that her thoughts were that Jonathan had said, does all this make you happy? Which I think then from the fallout of the series and where we find Phoebe, I think that is like the perfect thing that he could have said. I think it was more of a he encouraged her to reflect upon where she's at. unfortunately she doesn't act on it till much later

when all the death and distractions happened but yeah I think it was it was either something along the lines of you seem like a great person why are you doing all this why you performing for all these people does this make you feel happy or that dress is amazing on you babe babe

babes all he said was babe and she went babe babe and that was it I like that And we'll be right back. Fall is in full swing, and it's the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with pieces that feel as good as they look. Luckily, Quince makes it easy to look polished, stay warm, and save big, without compromising on quality. Quince has all the elevated essentials for fall.

Think 100% Mongolian cashmere from $50. That's right, $50, washable silk tops and skirts, and perfectly tailored denim, all at that feel too good to be true. I am currently eyeing their silk miniskirt. I have been dying for a silk miniskirt. I've been looking everywhere at thrift stores, just like all over town. But I just saw that Quince has one on their website. It is exactly what I've been looking for. So I'm just going to click, put that in my cart. By partnering directly with ethical top tier factories, quince cuts out the middlemen to deliver luxury quality pieces at half the price of similar brands. It's the kind of wardrobe upgrade that feels smart, stylish, and effortless.

Keep it classic and cozy this fall with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to quince.com slash podcrushed for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. That's Q-U-I-N-Ce.com slash podcrushed to get free shipping and 365-day returns. Quince.com slash podcrushed. Does anyone else ever get that nagging feeling that their dog might be bored and do you also feel like super guilty about it? Well, one way that I combat that feeling is I'm making meal time everything it can be for my little boy, Louis. Nom Nom does this with food that actually engages your pup senses with a mix of tantalizing smells, textures, and ingredients. Nom Nom offers six recipes bursting with premium proteins, vibrant veggies and tempting textures

designed to add excitement to your dog's day. Pork potluck, chicken cuisine, turkey fair, beef mash, lamb pilaf, and turkey and chicken cookout. I mean, are you kidding me? I want to eat these recipes. Each recipe is cooked gently in small batches to seal in vital nutrients and maximize digestibility. And their recipes are crafted by vet nutritionists. So I feel good knowing it's design with Louie's health and happiness in mind. Serve nom nom as a complete and balanced meal or as a tasty and healthy addition to your dog's current diet. My dogs are like my children, literally, which is why I'm committed to giving them only the best. Hold on. Let me start again because I've only been talking about Louie. Louis is my bait. Louis, you might have heard him growl just

now. Louis is my little baby and I'm committed to only giving him the best. I love that Nom Nom recipes contain wholesome nutrient rich food, meat that looks like meat and veggies that look like veggies because shocker they are. Louis has been going absolutely nuts for the lamb pilaf. I have to confess that he's never had anything like it, and he cannot get enough. So he's a lampy laugh guy. Keep mealtime exciting with nom-num, available at your local pet smart store or at Chewy. Learn more at trynom.com slash podcrushed, spelled try-n-o-m.com slash podcrushed. Tilly, we're so sad to have to wrap this up because you're so lovely and charming, and I feel like we could have talked to you for another hour. But

We do have a final question that we ask every guest. So we're going to go back to middle school. We want to know Tilly if you could have a conversation with 12, 13-year-old Tilly. What would you say to her? I would say, you're going to get braces. They're not going to look nice. But stick with it because then you're going to have really nice teeth. But it's going to be a journey.

Brace yourself, quite literally. Pardon the pun. And I would also say on a serious note, tell your parents thank you for everything they've done for you so far and what they will do for you because you don't even know how much they love you and how much they're willing to give of their time and money and energy and love so i would say listen here to our old tilly say thank you don't be so ungrateful love that tilly thank you so much thank you so much thank you so lovely to talk to you.

Thank you for having me. I'm so honored. Pod crush. Also, if you could just cover the entire room with a layer of foam would be great. Just for acoustics. It's simple. Yeah. We're all in a hot sweat in this room.

Where are you? I'm in my publicist's office. My God, this wasn't happening at home. Can you imagine I'd be in my living room just in such a state? I really don't do well with technology. Yeah. Stitcher.