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(A wig had to be worn, obviously.)
I know you and Phoebe were great friends for years beforeFleabagbegan.
She picked her battles and thankfully I was one of those.
They werent too keen on having me, but she said it had to be me.
So rude of the BBC!Eventually they let me come and audition.
I felt way too much pressure and I didnt think it was going my way.
With anyone else, Id have to fake it.
But, honestly, I just didnt believe it was gonna happen.
Ive lived to tell the tale.
It was such a dream job.
Phoebe and I had fantasized about playing sisters ever since drama school.
The problem was Id done a lot of theater work as opposed to television stuff.
Its quite divisive in terms of getting pigeonholed; they dont really let you do anything else.
We were in this restaurant in Covent Garden in London.
Those days were all so rainy and hot.
Especially when youre literally sitting in it for a week to film.
What was most challenging for you?The scenes are much longer than they were in season one.
For me, that was the biggest challenge.
My process as an actor is all about energy, just feeling the person in your body.
With mood switching, its the greatest joy you’re free to have as an actor.
Thats whats awesome about Phoebes writing.
We all completely collapsed of laughter.
Shell test things out on us like that.
Shell play around with the rhythm or shell swap out things.
Do you have a favorite collaborative moment between you and Phoebe?Phoebe is an uncompromising artist.
We have a unique way of working together because we trust each other so much.
I thought Get your hands off my miscarriage!
was such a powerful quote.
How did you and Phoebe approach handling that moment?That took seven hours to film.
That was a really, really hard day.
I think its incredible how, without question, those two sisters absolutely just banded together.
Theres no question that they are there for each other.
Its such a beautiful representation of sisterhood.
Its like,Forget everything else, I will be here to support you.
Its also sparked an extraordinary conversation.
Miscarriages are now being talked about in U.K. schools because of the show.
Theres so much shame around it, and its such a sensitive and taboo subject.
As with all of the themes, our intention is always just to tell the truth.
So, we did.
The response was different in every audience.
Me and Phoebe always grip each other when it starts to play to see how itll land.
In London, it was this real kind of animal laugh a laugh that people then backtracked on.
In L.A., it was a roar of laughter.
In New York, it was silent.
Like, people were really upset.
We all have blind spots.
Shes forced to do that this season.
Whats significant for Claire is she does actually take the promotion.
I love that everything happens on Claires own terms.
Can we talk about your pencil haircut?
I do think haircuts completely change people.
I love that Fleabag said, Hair is everything.Because it is.
Something happens to Claire when she has that haircut, but it happens without her even knowing.
It empowers her to be able to break away from the marriage.
Were you wearing a wig?I wasdefinitelywearing a wig.
I would never let someone do that to my hair.
Initially, Phoebe and I were thinking of something a bit shorter.
We tried a few wigs on and they just looked really weird.
There was something about it that spoke of Scandinavia.
We were like,Shes working in Finland, maybe shes trying to look like Bjork or something.
Well, Bjork is Icelandic.
Maybe she went to a Bjork concert and she thought she could pull the look off.
I was screaming of joy when Claire finally dumped her husband and ran after that Finnish hottie.
Even if she didnt, Im sure shell find him over in Finland.
She can always hop on a plane!
They have their numbers.
Im optimistic for their future!
