'Slow Horses' just got a worrying development — but I'm confident the spy thriller will survive
In an interview with Deadline, showrunner Will Smith revealed he's stepping down from the show at the end of season 5. Which, since that season has now entered the post-production phase of its life cycle, means his time with the show has come to an end.
'There were certainly some private tears,' the writer told Deadline. 'Series [season] 5, it doesn't end things by any means, but it concludes certain story arcs that started in season 1, so it felt like a good moment to hand over the show.'
In retrospect, we already had some hints that this news was coming. When Apple announced "Slow Horses" season 6, the press release didn't mention Smith anywhere. But given that his comments at the time indicated plenty more of Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb was to come, nobody batted an eye.
But when Apple also left Smith's name out of the season 7 announcement, that caught some people's attention, myself included. Still, it was brushed aside as Smith simply stepping back on the writing of that season, rather than away from the show entirely.
Still, it seems Smith has the right perspective on the situation. "I do want to emphasize, it's not in any way that I thought I'm now too good for 'Slow Horses,'" he stated.
"It's much more that I want to keep being good enough for 'Slow Horses.' And I would never want it to be like, 'Oh, that one wasn't quite there.' It's just that risk of just pushing it too far. And I just felt, I just want to go when I know I'm still delivering my very, very best for all the people that work on the show.'
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Look, there's no beating around the bush: Smith was not Slough House material. He was at the top of his game, unlike the sometimes bumbling rejects or washed-up spies he wrote about. He even finally took home an Emmy last year for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
Apple TV Plus is the home of original shows like "Severance," "Ted Lasso" and "Slow Horses." You also get original movies, with "F1: The Movie" coming later this year. Get your first week free!
So losing him could not just be the end of an era for the show — it could mark the beginning of the show's decline.
However, I'm hopeful for two reasons. First, with all due respect to Smith, "Slow Horses" is an adaptation, meaning that the source material that originally developed this world and these characters remains unchanged. This isn't like when Benioff and Weiss went off script in "Game of Thrones."
Second, Smith has clearly been out of the lead role for a while now, but is only just revealing the news. That leads me to believe that he and the show's production team have a plan in place and people they trust to continue the work at the same caliber once Smith is gone.
If it were any other show, I'd be gravely concerned. But "Slow Horses" is such a finely tuned machine — producing three seasons at any given time — that I'm going to trust they know what they are doing until I'm proven otherwise.
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Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.
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San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Why Apple has sued San Francisco's newest movie theater
A dispute over a shared name has landed a small East Coast theater chain in legal trouble with one of the world's biggest tech companies. Cupertino-based Apple Inc. has filed suit against Apple Cinemas a month after the small and relatively new East Coast movie theater chain expanded to San Francisco. The Cupertino-based tech giant has filed suit against the movie exhibitor in federal court for copyright infringement, alleging that the brand is trying to trick ticket buyers into thinking that the two companies are affiliated. The lawsuit was filed Friday, Aug. 1, in federal court in Massachusetts, where Apple Cinemas is headquartered. According to the Hollywood Reporter, which reviewed the suit, Apple Inc. is seeking a court order to force the chain to cease using the word 'Apple' in its name and is also asking for unspecified damages. 'Consumers should not go to an 'Apple Cinemas' theater thinking it is connected to the famous Apple brand, with all its goodwill and brand equity,' reads the complaint, written by Miranda Means, a lawyer for Apple. The Chronicle has reached out to Apple Cinemas co-founder Siva Shan and Director of Operations Jessica Robitaille for comment. Apple Cinemas, formed in 2013, had grown into a 13-theater chain in the northeastern United States when in June it struck a deal to occupy the 1921 Don Lee Building at 1000 Van Ness Ave., expanding its footprint into the West Coast. Apple Cinemas opened the 14-screen, 92,724-square-foot space previously occupied by AMC Theatres and CGV Cinemas on July 10. 'I think San Francisco opens up a lot of opportunities,' Robitaille told the Chronicle at the time. 'I think it's really a fantastic space that we have to work with and we have big plans for it.' Apple Cinemas also signed a lease to take over the former Century Blackhawk Plaza in Danville to transform the space into a new theater for the East Bay suburb. It's expected to open by the end of the year. Robitaille and Shan said that the Bay Area foray is part of the company's ambitious expansion plans to become a major national cinema chain. A notable part of the lawsuit is that Apple Inc. contends its brand could be damaged by being associated with Apple Cinemas' alleged lack of quality control. The suit highlights comments on social media that its theaters are 'greasy,' 'dirty' and 'grungy,' with some complaining of tech issues, including the projection system and online purchase portal. Last year, parent company Sand Media applied to register Apple Cinemas and a related mark for ACX — Apple Cinematic Experience but was denied, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The trademark examiner concluded that its movie theaters are 'closely related' to Apple Inc.'s entertainment services — such as Apple Studios and Apple TV+ — and may cause confusion among consumers.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Severance,' ‘The Studio,' and ‘Adolescence' are poised for a big night: See Emmy predictions in all 25 Primetime categories
With the Emmy Awards just over a month away, the potential winners are starting to sever themselves from the rest of the pack. Based on Gold Derby's latest predictions, Severance, The Studio, and Adolescence are frontrunners in drama, comedy and limited, respectively. Should our odds prove correct, Apple TV+'s wins for Severance and The Studio would mark the first time a network or streamer has won drama and comedy in the same night since HBO's victories for Game of Thrones and Veep in 2016. More from Gold Derby Richard Linklater, Sean Baker and more filmmakers lead TIFF's 2025 Centerpiece program 'I share this nomination with Emile': 'Severance' star Gwendoline Christie on her favorite furry screen partner, 'spitting blood across the wall,' and her good-luck prop Below are our latest predictions below for all 25 main categories for the Primetime Emmys, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 14, spanning drama, comedy, limited, competition, and variety. (The other 98 races will be doled out across two Creative Arts ceremonies on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7.) For drama, Severance is out front in a trio of categories: Best Drama Series, Best Drama Directing (Ben Stiller for "Cold Harbor"), and Best Drama Writing (Dan Erickson for "Cold Harbor"). Apple's sci-fi workplace series was a running-through-the-hallways hit with Emmy voters, receiving a whopping 27 nominations, more than any other show this year. As for the four acting races, Matlock is predicted to prevail with its sole nomination for Best Drama Actress (Kathy Bates), The Pitt is the odds leader for Best Drama Actor (Noah Wyle), and The White Lotus is the favorite in both Best Drama Supporting Actress (Carrie Coon) and Best Drama Supporting Actor (Walton Goggins). BEST DRAMA SERIES Drama Series Contender Odds 1. Severance 65.6% 2. The Pitt 22.2% 3. The Last of Us 6.2% 4. The White Lotus 3.7% 5. Andor 1.6% 6. Slow Horses 0.3% 7. The Diplomat 0.3% 8. Paradise 0.2% BEST DRAMA ACTRESS Drama Actress Contender Odds 1. Kathy Bates Matlock 66.9% 2. Britt Lower Severance 20.5% 3. Bella Ramsey The Last of Us 9.7% 4. Keri Russell The Diplomat 2.0% 5. Sharon Horgan Bad Sisters 0.8% BEST DRAMA ACTOR Drama Actor Contender Odds 1. Noah Wyle The Pitt 71.4% 2. Adam Scott Severance 18.7% 3. Pedro Pascal The Last of Us 8.6% 4. Sterling K. Brown Paradise 0.7% 5. Gary Oldman Slow Horses 0.7% BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS Drama Supporting Actress Contender Odds 1. Carrie Coon The White Lotus 65.2% 2. Parker Posey The White Lotus 16.7% 3. Katherine LaNasa The Pitt 9.1% 4. Aimee Lou Wood The White Lotus 4.5% 5. Patricia Arquette Severance 2.4% 6. Natasha Rothwell The White Lotus 1.2% 7. Julianne Nicholson Paradise 0.9% BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR Drama Supporting Actor Contender Odds 1. Walton Goggins The White Lotus 51.5% 2. Tramell Tillman Severance 39.4% 3. James Marsden Paradise 2.3% 4. John Turturro Severance 2.1% 5. Jason Isaacs The White Lotus 2.0% 6. Sam Rockwell The White Lotus 1.4% 7. Zach Cherry Severance 1.2% BEST DRAMA DIRECTING Drama Directing Contender Odds 1. Severance Cold Harbor 73.2% 2. The Pitt 6:00 P.M. 12.2% 3. The White Lotus Amor Fati 5.0% 4. Severance Chikhai Bardo 5.0% 5. Andor Who Are You 3.6% 6. The Pitt 7:00 A.M. 0.8% 7. Slow Horses Hello Goodbye 0.3% BEST DRAMA WRITING Drama Writing Contender Odds 1. Severance Cold Harbor 76.5% 2. The Pitt 2:00 P.M. 8.7% 3. The White Lotus Full Moon Party 6.4% 4. Andor Welcome to the Rebellion 5.3% 5. The Pitt 7:00 A.M. 2.0% 6. Slow Horses Hello Goodbye 1.1% Apple's The Studio is predicted to nab top prizes for Best Comedy Series, Best Comedy Actor (Seth Rogen), Best Comedy Supporting Actor (Ike Barinholtz), and Best Comedy Directing (Rogen and Evan Goldberg for "The Oner"). The half-hour program, which takes place behind the scenes at a fictional Hollywood movie studio, received a record number of Emmy nominations for a first-year comedy, at 23. Meanwhile, HBO Max's reigning comedy champion Hacks is the pick to win Best Comedy Actress (Jean Smart), Best Comedy Supporting Actress (Hannah Einbinder), and Best Comedy Writing (Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky for "A Slippery Slope"). BEST COMEDY SERIES Comedy Series Contender Odds 1. The Studio 69.9% 2. Hacks 17.0% 3. Abbott Elementary 3.6% 4. The Bear 3.4% 5. Only Murders in the Building 2.8% 6. What We Do in the Shadows 1.5% 7. Nobody Wants This 1.2% 8. Shrinking 0.5% BEST COMEDY ACTRESS Comedy Actress Contender Odds 1. Jean Smart Hacks 86.5% 2. Ayo Edebiri The Bear 4.3% 3. Kristen Bell Nobody Wants This 4.3% 4. Quinta Brunson Abbott Elementary 3.7% 5. Uzo Aduba The Residence 1.2% BEST COMEDY ACTOR Comedy Actor Contender Odds 1. Seth Rogen The Studio 75.6% 2. Martin Short Only Murders in the Building 13.0% 3. Jeremy Allen White The Bear 7.9% 4. Adam Brody Nobody Wants This 2.6% 5. Jason Segel Shrinking 1.0% BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS Comedy Supporting Actress Contender Odds 1. Hannah Einbinder Hacks 67.8% 2. Catherine O'Hara The Studio 14.7% 3. Liza Colon-Zayas The Bear 6.3% 4. Kathryn Hahn The Studio 4.7% 5. Janelle James Abbott Elementary 4.5% 6. Sheryl Lee Ralph Abbott Elementary 1.2% 7. Jessica Williams Shrinking 1.0% BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR Comedy Supporting Actor Contender Odds 1. Ike Barinholtz The Studio 46.9% 2. Harrison Ford Shrinking 38.4% 3. Ebon Moss-Bachrach The Bear 7.9% 4. Bowen Yang Saturday Night Live 2.5% 5. Jeff Hiller Somebody Somewhere 1.6% 6. Colman Domingo The Four Seasons 1.4% 7. Michael Urie Shrinking 1.3% BEST COMEDY DIRECTING Comedy Directing Contender Odds 1. The Studio The Oner 85.7% 2. The Bear Napkins 8.0% 3. Hacks A Slippery Slope 3.8% 4. Mid-Century Modern Here's to You, Mrs. Schneiderman 1.3% 5. The Rehearsal Pilot's Code 1.2% BEST COMEDY WRITING Comedy Writing Contender Odds 1. Hacks A Slippery Slope 71.8% 2. The Studio The Promotion 16.9% 3. Abbott Elementary Back to School 4.8% 4. What We Do in the Shadows The Finale 2.6% 5. The Rehearsal Pilot's Code 2.1% 6. Somebody Somewhere AGG 1.9% Netflix's psychological crime drama about the stabbing of a young girl is the overwhelming frontrunner to win five races at the Primetime Emmys: Best Limited Series, Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actress (Erin Doherty), Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actor (Owen Cooper), Best Movie/Limited Directing (Philip Barantini), and Best Movie/Limited Writing (Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham). With each episode filmed in a single take, the series prides itself on "saving lives," as it brings to the forefront much-needed conversations about online bullying and toxic masculinity. Meanwhile, the two lead acting races are expected to go to HBO's comic book adaptation of The Penguin: Best Movie/Limited Actress (Cristin Milioti) and Best Movie/Limited Actor (Colin Farrell). BEST LIMITED SERIES Limited Series Contender Odds 1. Adolescence 87.9% 2. The Penguin 7.2% 3. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story 2.6% 4. Black Mirror 1.8% 5. Dying for Sex 0.6% BEST MOVIE/LIMITED ACTRESS Movie/Limited Actress Contender Odds 1. Cristin Milioti The Penguin 69.8% 2. Michelle Williams Dying for Sex 22.6% 3. Cate Blanchett Disclaimer 3.9% 4. Rashida Jones Black Mirror 2.8% 5. Meghann Fahy Sirens 1.0% BEST MOVIE/LIMITED ACTOR Movie/Limited Actor Contender Odds 1. Colin Farrell The Penguin 72.2% 2. Stephen Graham Adolescence 22.0% 3. Cooper Koch Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story 3.2% 4. Jake Gyllenhaal Presumed Innocent 1.8% 5. Brian Tyree Henry Dope Thief 0.8% BEST MOVIE/LIMITED SUPPORTING ACTRESS Movie/Limited Supporting Actress Contender Odds 1. Erin Doherty Adolescence 80.2% 2. Jenny Slate Dying for Sex 8.8% 3. Deirdre O'Connell The Penguin 5.7% 4. Chloe Sevigny Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story 3.5% 5. Ruth Negga Presumed Innocent 0.9% 6. Christine Tremarco Adolescence 0.8% BEST MOVIE/LIMITED SUPPORTING ACTOR Movie/Limited Supporting Actor Contender Odds 1. Owen Cooper Adolescence 92.4% 2. Javier Bardem Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story 4.7% 3. Rob Delaney Dying for Sex 1.4% 4. Peter Sarsgaard Presumed Innocent 0.8% 5. Ashley Walters Adolescence 0.3% 6. Bill Camp Presumed Innocent 0.3% BEST MOVIE/LIMITED DIRECTING Movie/Limited Directing Contender Odds 1. Adolescence 91.8% 2. The Penguin Cent'anni 5.7% 3. Sirens 1.0% 4. Dying for Sex 0.6% 5. The Penguin A Great or Little Thing 0.6% 6. Zero Day 0.4% BEST MOVIE/LIMITED WRITING Movie/Limited Writing Contender Odds 1. Adolescence 89.6% 2. The Penguin 5.3% 3. Black Mirror 2.4% 4. Dying for Sex 1.9% 5. Say Nothing 0.8% While most of the reality/variety trophies will be handed out a week prior at the Creative Arts, four of those contests will be announced at the Primetime Emmys. The Traitors is expected to repeat in Best Competition Program after last year's inaugural victory. Despite The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's shocking cancellation last month, it's still currently predicted to lose Best Variety Talk Series to The Daily Show, though it is gaining in the odds. Best Variety Scripted Series is a two-horse race between the forecasted frontrunner, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and its runner-up, Saturday Night Live. And Best Variety Series Writing looks to be a winner yet again for Last Week Tonight for the 10th consecutive year. BEST COMPETITION PROGRAM Competition Program Contender Odds 1. The Traitors 86.5% 2. RuPaul's Drag Race 9.3% 3. Survivor 1.7% 4. Top Chef 1.7% 5. The Amazing Race 0.8% BEST VARIETY TALK SERIES Variety Talk Series Contender Odds 1. The Daily Show 65.4% 2. Late Show with Stephen Colbert 30.3% 3. Jimmy Kimmel Live 4.3% BEST VARIETY SCRIPTED SERIES Variety Scripted Series Contender Odds 1. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver 84.1% 2. Saturday Night Live 15.9% BEST VARIETY SERIES WRITING Variety Series Writing Contender Odds 1. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver 85.0% 2. The Daily Show 7.7% 3. Saturday Night Live 7.3% Gold Derby's Emmy predictions are based on the combined forecasts of a record 1,700 people (and counting), including experts we've polled from major media outlets, editors who cover awards year-round for this website, and the mass of users who make up our biggest predictions bloc. Track the Emmy predictions by exploring all of our charts and graphs, and sound off in our TV forum. 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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘I share this nomination with Emile': ‘Severance' star Gwendoline Christie on her favorite furry screen partner, ‘spitting blood across the wall,' and her good-luck prop
Gwendoline Christie loves her goats — so much, in fact, that she credits her Emmy nomination to a very special screen partner. 'What can I say?' the actress tells Gold Derby. 'Emile's a star. I share this nomination with Emile.' More from Gold Derby Richard Linklater, Sean Baker and more filmmakers lead TIFF's 2025 Centerpiece program 'Severance,' 'The Studio,' and 'Adolescence' are poised for a big night: See Emmy predictions in all 25 Primetime categories Emile, of course, is the baby goat that made an instantly viral appearance in 'Cold Harbor,' the second-season finale of Severance that earned Christie her second career nomination — for Best Drama Guest Actress for playing the intrepid goatherd Lorne. Lorne teams with Adam Scott's Mark S. and resorts to extreme measures to save Emile from being sacrificed at the altar of Lumon. Christie's first nomination came for playing Brienne of Tarth on Game of Thrones, a bid she famously self-submitted for. This time around, the experience was less DIY, with Apple handling the entry fee as part of a Severance campaign machine that netted nine bids for cast members and an Emmy-leading 27 overall. 'I can't tell you how over the moon I am, truly. Because I really wanted this. And it takes a lot to say that out loud, you know?' Christie tells us. 'I thought the chances of it happening were incredibly slim. And it means a lot because I'm in a different place now from Game of Thrones.' In the following Q&A, the actress explores the differences between Game of Thrones and Severance, what her first Emmy experience was like, and the one prop from the Severance set she'd love to bring as a good-luck charm to this year's ceremony. Gold Derby: Congratulations on your nomination. You really captivated the internet with the portrayal of Lorne. This is your second nomination, the first obviously being for , which you submitted yourself. How does that experience differ from this year with ? Gwendoline Christie: I can't tell you how over the moon I am, truly. Because I really wanted this. I really wanted this. I really wanted it to happen. And it takes a lot to say that out loud, you know? I thought the chances of it happening were incredibly slim. And, you know, it means a lot because I'm in a different place now from Game of Thrones. In Game of Thrones, I played the wonderful Brienne of Tarth for seven seasons. So that's a long time to live with people. And then it culminated in that extraordinary nomination that I self-submitted for, and I was hugely fortunate to be nominated. You wonder if you're ever going to do anything else that could ever possibly be considered for a nomination. And this coming out of the blue is so extraordinary because we've only just met Lorne. But I have to say, I really dedicated myself to the part, because the show is my favorite show on television. It's one of my favorite shows ever. I was a huge fan of Season 1. And when Ben wanted to talk to me about possibly being involved in the show, I was desperately hoping it might be something to do with the goats. So I really did dedicate myself to just trying to find out who this character is, and build this character. I truly threw myself into it, and overcame some trepidations, as well, with regards to doing combat again. I'm just truly full of joy and gratitude that this nominations happened. I really am. The TV Academy really embraced Severance this year. Season 2 was a breakout across the board. It led the Emmy nominations and even gave a run for the all-time record. Is there a text chain where everyone congratulated other? There were lots. Everybody was really generous and there were lots of really amazing congratulations. It's pretty it's pretty overwhelming. I am so happy for many people. The wonderful Britt Lower said to me she's still processing this. They're such a wonderful group of people and so thrilling to work with because they're so they're really highly skilled. They love what they do and they're incredibly generous. And when you work with them, you feel very held. For the season finale, there was a special fan screening at the Dolby Theater. The following morning, I spoke to some of the cast members, including Adam Scott, and he said that was the first time the cast had watched an episode with a live audience and the fan reaction was overwhelming. His one thought was, 'Holy sh-t, this is like .' That's a direct quote. Having been in makes you an expert on that: How does the fandom compare? It's truly glorious, because to be a part of something that people love is a real rarity and a privilege. And it's a very unifying force these days, a TV show that many of us love and can get behind and can talk about. We can forget the everyday. We can forget the larger, more serious and deeply upsetting elements in our world. We can come together to discuss a story that has transfixed us, transfixed us. It has. It has taken us over and seduced us. And we are in that world, and we want to live within it, and we talk with each other. I wasn't expecting the response. I knew the show was incredible and knew a lot of people talking to me about the show, but being in that theater and hearing the swell of the crowd and you feel it, you feel it within you, the power of people's joy. It was it was magical. And I was really pleased for everybody between Ben [Stiller, the show's main director] and Adam and Dan [Erickson, the show creator] and everybody that works on the show. Britt and Zach [Cherry] and Tramell [Tillman], the so many incredible actors in this show. I was just thrilled that all their hard work had paid off. You mentioned how the show is an escape from what we're dealing with in the world today, I know Dan wrote the scripts a while ago, but they are relevant to what's going on. These moments of resistance and rebellion on the Severed Floor throughout Season 2. There's this pushback against authority, and the 'Cold Harbor' ending presages a larger showdown to come. Do you think that makes feels even more resonant? It's extraordinary, isn't it? I think it's the mark of a truly good idea. And I think we all are feeling that desire for freedom. I think we're all feeling the desire to be out of corporate binds, the pressure of conglomerates and the pressure of finance over creativity. And I think people are feeling that in every area of their lives. And when you when you're able to tap into society and into what people are experiencing, and their tensions and their fears and their desires, and are able to express it in an extraordinary story with a whole premise that we haven't seen before, that has never existed in human life, then I think that's the mark of something truly exceptional. When there's a great piece of work that people have invested so much of themselves in, their own humanity, thenwe start to see what we want to see, or we start to see what we can't bring ourselves to admit that we're going through. All these things, come out through a great story. You worked with lots of goats on this show, from when we first meet Lorne in Mammalians Nurturable with an entire flock in Episode 3, to those climactic moments in the season finale, where it's just you and a goat kid named Emile. What was it like working with that particular goat? I couldn't wait to work with a goat one on one, because in Episode 3, there are 50 goats. It was thrilling to be around those goats, some of whom were eating people's costumes. One of the goats was nibbling at Adam's shoelace. Another goat was seemingly operating the camera. And then when it came to Emile … Emile is the very cutest goat I've ever seen. And I was terribly concerned that Emile may upstage me, because that is a very cute and talented goat. But I was thrilled, actually, because the animal handlers told me that Emile and I bonded very quickly, and I was very taken with that goat. Emile is a star. What can I say? I share this nomination with Emile. I assume Lorne will have a role in future episodes? Have you heard anything about that, or is it still under lock and key? There is so much that is mysterious about this show that not even I can quite bring myself to ask. When I got onto the show, I said, 'Don't worry. I'm not going to ask anything.' But I yearn to explore Lorne further. This woman that has such good intentions, such good intent and such desire to protect her animals and her people and such connection to the goats that she is willing to nearly kill someone. I'm glad she remembers her humanity, but for all of that good intent, there was a very dark well there. And in that, in that episode, we see Lorne transform. I mean, it's it's like a psychic transformation. And she becomes it's animalistic. And I would love to see what else Lorne transforms into. Lorne is on the Severed Floor, which means that she has an outie. Have you ever given yourself an imaginary backstory for Outie Lorne, or have you are leaving that to Dan? [Laughs] I've only ever given myself an extremely intense and detailed backstory that I've been slowly formulating over the last two, three years, however long it is. It's something that is something that's personal, and it's something that I continue to build for my own supreme enjoyment. You mentioned you had a slight trepidation about returning to combat on screen. In 'Cold Harbor,' Lorne has a very brutal confrontation. Can you take me through how that scene came together and how you made it so convincing? I didn't know that that was how Lorne ended up in the final episode. And I had said, since I finished Game of Thrones, that I wouldn't do any more combat. I wanted to do other things and play other characters and show the breadth of what I can do, but also explore many different types of people. But when Ben Stiller asks you to do a fight sequence that is as detailed and intense and emotional and explosive as that one in your favorite TV show with a character that you're obsessed with, you say yes. I decided to go about it as seriously as I went about all of my fights in Game of Thrones. I went, to the gym and I spoke to my trainer, and I did my two-hour training sessions to build up my stamina, and worked on all aspect of my strength and flexibility. I managed to end up with a bit of a bit of an injury a couple of weeks before shooting, but, I've done this enough to know that my will and focus of executing the scene would take me through it. I wanted to bring everything to this. I wanted to make it totally alive. I wanted to honor what was written on the page, and I wanted to bring more to it. I wanted to show who this person is, who this woman is, and different ranges of this as the spectrum of her emotionality, her own terror and fear and rage. I couldn't believe I was going to be doing this with Adam Scott. Darri [Ólafsson, aka Mr. Drummond] was incredible to work with. We all worked together. They took it really seriously and were so, thoughtful and considerate about making sure everybody was safe. But I have to say that I did find, once again, extreme enjoyment in acting, being punched in the face, spitting blood across the wall, and exacting my revenge on my oppressor. The Emmy ceremony is coming up fast. What was that the ceremony like for you the first time? Really overwhelming and extraordinary. The is almost unbelievable, but when I was at the ceremony, I was sitting there and I took a selfie of my partner on my phone. And then I looked at the picture and I said, 'There's Ben Stiller on the corner. Oh, no, what if he thinks I'm taking a picture of him?' And then I felt a tap on my shoulder and I look up and it's Ben Stiller. And I think, 'Oh, no, he thinks I'm weird.' He was actually incredibly nice about my performance in Game of Thrones. So there is something wonderfully cyclical about this. I am extremely grateful to be a part of the show. And I'm extremely grateful to Ben and to the entire team for for this nomination. One last question: For you, Gwendoline Christie, if you could choose one Lumon department to work in, which would it be? I'm obsessed with MDR. When I was on the set, I really went a bit weird, I went into a bit of a meltdown. 'Can I touch it? I won't touch it, won't touch it. Can I touch?' And then they let me sit down, touch computer, switch on computer, use the computer. I touched the ball thing. I was transfixed by the vending machine. It was an amazing experience, truly. But, you know, I'm just obsessed with Mammalians Nurturable. I know Lorne works there. I think Gwendoline would really want to work there too. I don't blame you. I love that bell. I hope you bring the bell to the Emmys with you. Maybe that'll be a good-luck charm. I hope so. This interview has been edited for length. Best of Gold Derby 'Australian Survivor vs. The World' premiere date and cast photos: 'King' George Mladenov, Cirie Fields, Parvati Shallow … 'Five new life forms from distant planets': Everything to know about 'Alien: Earth' as new trailer drops Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2, including the departure of Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
