What does Brad Pitt think of his 'F1' co-star Damson Idris?
NEW YORK – Damson Idris is smiling as he looks down at his shoes. Brad Pitt laughs.
'Do I really need to say this in front of Damson?' Pitt says of his co-star in 'F1: The Movie' (in theaters now).
Idris shakes his head. 'That's why I'm picking lint off my trousers.'
Pitt forges ahead. 'What I really love about him is he knows how to enjoy this. At your age, man, I didn't know how to enjoy this (movie star) ride.'
Idris fidgets in his hotel conference room chair.
'We cast a wide net for this guy,' says Pitt, 61. 'But beyond his immediate charm, he could really drive a car, he had composure. We needed someone with chops, and my man won out.'
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Idris, 33, jumps up. 'OK, you heard it here first, folks, and last, that's it, my career is now over,' he beams as he reaches over to shake Pitt's hand. The British actor of Nigerian descent is quick to return the compliment from one of Hollywood's biggest stars.
'Others call him Brad Pitt, but I call him 'Troy,' because for me he's like Achilles,' Idris says, referencing Pitt's 2004 starring role. 'But as nervous as I was to act with him, he just made me feel so comfortable. He's such a giving actor.'
In 'F1,' Idris plays brash rookie Formula 1 driver Joshua Pearce, who bristles at the arrival of Pitt's veteran Sonny Hayes. Previously, he'd appeared in FX's 'Snowfall,' in Liam Neeson's 'The Commuter,' and more recently, in the anthology series 'Black Mirror.' Next up, he'll tackle the role of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in "Miles & Juliette," about Davis' love affair with French singer and actress Juliette Gréco.
To date, "F1" is the actor's biggest role by a mile. He says he's ready for this spotlight moment.
Damson Idris reveals his favorite Formula 1 driver
Idris credits both his tenacity and levelheadedness to his mother Silifat, a Nigerian immigrant to London who singlehandedly raised him and his five older siblings.
'Here I am driving to the premiere (of 'F1') in a Mercedes-AMG with (producer) Jerry Bruckheimer and people are screaming my name, but it's important to stay humble, and that comes from my mother,' Idris says.
'She had me when she was 40,' he says. 'She calls me her miracle baby, and she's my biggest fan but she's also a wise guru. She says always remember where you come from.'
In 'F1,' Sarah Niles, who played the team psychologist in 'Ted Lasso,' is mom to Idris' driver character, Joshua Pearce. Niles' no-nonsense portrayal reminded Idris of his real mother. 'She really got it,' he says of the actress.
One significant bonus of his 'F1' role was getting to meet a childhood idol, legendary Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who also served as a producer on the movie and gave Idris and Pitt driving tips.
Hamilton, 40, is the only Black driver in Formula 1, and with seven world championships under his belt, he's tied with Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher at the top of the F1 podium. Hamilton also is a fashion icon, a book Idris took a page from when he arrived at the Met Gala in May in full racing gear with a crystal-encrusted helmet, only to have the white jumpsuit ripped off to reveal a stylish Tommy Hilfiger suit underneath.
'For me, it was very important that my character Joshua exists in a world where Lewis is his idol, where the doors Lewis broke down in the sport gave Joshua the freedom to stroll in and make his mark, much like as an actor I'm standing on the shoulders of Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier,' Idris says.
'But I also wanted to make Joshua and his quest relatable to all people,' he adds. 'They had to see Joshua not just as a young Black guy, but as someone who is young and wants to prove himself.'
Like Brad Pitt, Damson Idris got an offer to drive professionally while filming 'F1'
Idris did more than that while filming 'F1,' much of which took place on real racetracks during breaks in actual F1 races around the world.
He and Pitt were approached about considering a stab at pro racing careers in light of the skills they displayed. But both are taking a pass.
'I won't say who, but, yes, some people during filming did whisper to me that they'd fund me on this journey if I wanted,' Idris says. 'But you get to know these drivers, who started when they were little kids, and you develop so much respect for what they can do. It's another world of talent.'
That's not to say you won't spot Idris tooling around London or other big cities in a fast exotic car now that he's got F1-driving experience under his belt. His favorite car?
'Well, that's got to be a Mercedes,' he says, a reference to Hamilton's longtime F1 team before shifting to Ferrari last year. 'But I also love McLarens, and Lewis is with Ferrari now, after all, so maybe that's an option.'
Then again, maybe there is no need for the actor to sink any of his 'F1' salary into a new ride.
'I am blessed to have access to fun cars these days,' he says with a smile. 'People see what I did in an F1 car and say, please try this one. And you know what, I'm happy to play with them all.'
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The Scotts part with Agnes on good terms, and with a much-needed reminder that civil rights will not be brushed to one side. Jack continues to work on the clock presentation downstairs in the Forte home. Like everyone else on staff, he voices his concerns about signing the temperance pledge, other than Armstrong (Debra Monk), who signs immediately. Jack asks if it only means no drinking in the house or everywhere, and the answer is the latter. Mrs. Bauer (Kristine Nielsen) rightly points out that asking them to work hard and then dictating what they drink in their free time is unfair. At least they know Agnes will fight their corner. Now that Larry wants Jack to attend the pitch meetings, Jack is nervous about dealing with businessmen. Larry stops by to check on Jack's preparations and asks if he has a suit he can wear. When Jack says it no longer fits, Larry insists on taking him to his tailor as part of his investment. Later at the fitting, Larry gives Jack a few tips about how to dress as a gentleman. Larry says Jack needs to aim for "understated elegance.' Quiet luxury is far from a new trend. Of course, Larry also stops by the Fortes to steal a moment alone with Marian. When they have a brief window of privacy, he passionately kisses her and says he loves her. Marian tells Ada about this declaration (her aunt is thrilled), but is still cautious about the whole thing thanks to her spotty track record. Ada also asks if Marian will sign the pledge, but Marian does not see anything wrong with wine at dinner or the staff having a beer on their time off. Agnes jokes that Ada will ask the duke next, and Ada says maybe she will. 'He's English. His Loyalty is to the queen and to the bottle. Not necessarily in that order,' Agnes replies. It is another top-tier delivery from Baranski. At Aurora's party, more cracks in Billy and Gladys's union begin to show. Bertha tells Billy's mother that if their engagement is to go ahead, George will ruin Billy's career and they can cut Gladys off. The party is buzzing with talk of Gladys already being engaged to Hector, and Billy freezes when he goes to talk to George. Perhaps he doesn't love Gladys enough to put everything on the line. Theirs is not the only forbidden love story at this gathering, as Oscar reunites with former lover John Adams (Clayborne Elder). The latter wants to know why Oscar has not come to him for help after his financial collapse and inability to find new clients who will invest with him. John still believes in Oscar, offering to write a check to kickstart Oscar's future because John would do anything for him. Later on in the privacy of Bertha's bedroom, sex is the last thing on her mind. Instead, she continues to push the importance of ensnaring the duke. Because the news of the engagement (that she definitely planted) is public, if the wedding doesn't happen, Gladys will be branded a failure. George wants to know if he has a say in this, and Bertha draws a solid line between the house and his railroad empire. She will keep out of his business if he does the same. Bertha claims she has told him everything, but there is the small matter of what Bertha promised the duke in exchange for his coming to the opening night of the Met in the season 2 finale. The following night, George learns his wife has been lying to him when Hector turns up with his lawyer at the Russell home so they can work out the details. Here, George thought they were simply having dinner together. Now, Bertha says, George knows everything. George often has the look of a serious man, but the fury is written all over his face at his wife's deception. Gladys can barely keep it together as Billy has just reneged on his proposal, choosing his prospects over fighting for her. Larry is on hand to give her a much-needed hug, but George's promise that he will take care of the duke offers Gladys some hope. However, George's word might not withstand his wife's ambition. The Russells' winning dynamic is experiencing unchartered waters.
