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When I spoke with Miller over Zoom, shed just finished shooting in Madrid for the day.
Where did you get your amazing coat?I got it onThe Hauntingfrom one of the drivers!
He was like, No, not at all!
Hes like this middle-aged guy, plain clothes, doesnt have a lot of fashion sense.
But anyway, he picked out this jacket for me!
Turns out he loves fashion he loves shopping for his daughters!
Anyhow, how are you?
How are you?Im good!
Its great Ive had lots of tapas and wine [laughs].
The Haunting of Bly Manorhas been out for a little bit now.
Do you read reviews or responses from viewers?
Are you someone who tries to ignore them?Its been very hard not to notice the response!
Im on social media, and the response has been overwhelming.
Were also our own worst critics, arent we?
But Im glad that people have stuck with it.
Hannahs a bloody trooper, man.
Shes an awesome, awesome being.
Shes far more generous than I am.
I think I wouldve spoken up a little sooner than her.
Ive been fortunate in my career to play all sorts of different women, all sorts of powerful women.
I dont expect itll be any different going forward.
I dont like slashers I can appreciate the makeup, but all the blood and gore [winces].
But no, I love horror.
What kinds of horror do you like?The classics, likeThe Shining.
Not the latest version, but the original scared the shit out of me.
Couldnt sleep forweeks.I was 12 years old when I first watched it.
But for more recent titles, things likeStranger Things, that first season.
Anything with children:TheOmen,Insidious,Poltergeist.Get Outis also quite recent.
Why do you think children are so scary in horror?Because theyre innocent!
Or at least I cant, because Im a mother.
Its in most of our DNA, that we protect.
The thing that were meant to protect is the very thing thats coming to get us.
Did you show your kids scary movies, horror movies, when they were young?
Oh Jesus, what a mistake.
Let them be children!
Masochists, were all sadomasochists.
I think about it when I think aboutThe Haunting, both seasons.
And I think thats why hes so successful at what he does.
Its all our own psyche, and he taps into that place.
Thats the real horror.
And then something happens when it gets turned into a literal ghost story.Its a ghost, its something else!
Its outside of us!
Well, okay, inThe Hauntingit is also something outside their control.
But, for me, its all about epigenetics.
Like, Ive fucked my children up.
Theres no doubt Ive fucked them up 100 percent.
I think its that, its: What do we carry from our parents?
What do we hand down to our children and keep repeating ourselves until we can break the curse?
Was it hard to figure out all the different facets of Hannah?
She rules the roost.
Yes, everyone has their job, but she fancies herself in charge.
Shes a bit of a bossy boots, really.
Lovely, but a bossy boots.
]And also being a Black woman and playing basically a maid.
Were all servants here.
Its an equal playing field.
Had it been any different, it wouldve been someone else playing that part.
Those nuances, finding them was about time.
They were her family.
Shes so divorced from her own culture.
I was a child of the 80s, so I know what that looked like.
For her, this is a safe place.
Her and Charlotte [Wingrave, the owner of Bly Manor] become friends.
Hannah says, I know this sounds like upstairs-downstairs, but this is my home.
So those other things dont matter as much, and therein lies the nuance.
Sorry, that was a very long-winded answer!
No, that was really helpful, because I think I put something together I hadnt really before.
Id been wrestling with why Hannah dies.
Its so sad, and I wish she couldve survived!
But when you explained that she really sees herself as the lady of the manor, it makes sense.
Because the house kills all the ladies of the manor.
Its almost like by dying, the show proves how powerful she was.Yes!
Its very sad, though.
But she hasnt seen episode five yet!
So Im talking to you, and Im like [Claps hand over her mouth].
Hello!Lorna Gayle:Hi!
Im so sorry!L.G.
:No, its okay.
Ive got some music on I never heard it!
Shes in the other room now!
Okay, if youre sure.
Did you read all the scripts before you started shooting, or did you read as you go?
Did you go into shooting knowing the twist?It was a little bit of both.
When I accepted the part, Id literally just got the sides.
I was like,Shes really, really nice.
This is not really my thing.But Id watchedHill Houseand been absolutely blown away, totally addicted.
And Im a bit dizzy.
I just said, Huh, no.
They said, you’re gonna wanna read episode five.
Theres some really good stuff there for you.
I didnt see it coming.
I thought,Its an old house.
[Huge laugh.]
Have you watched the show?I have!
I thought they were just spectacular.
I think its where Tahirah Sharif [who plays Rebecca Jessel] really comes into her own.
And, I have to admit, I didnt expect to like episode eight.
They were like, Its going to be shot in black and white, and I thought,Really?
The whole things in color.
You thought it was going to be cheesy?Not even cheesy, justbad.
Too avant-garde, too indie Sundance Festival.
I thought,Nah, babe, this is Netflix.
Just keep it real.
But oh my God, they know what theyre doing.
It was bloody brilliant!
I eat my hat.
She pissed herself laughing.
She flew back on the sofa laughing.
!She went, Youre a ghost and he wants to take you to Paris!
She thought it was absolutely hilarious.
He wants to take you to Paris, but he doesnt know youre a ghost!
But thats so sad!Everybody else thinks,Oh, thats so sad.
But she just pissed herself laughing.
I dont know where her mind went, but it was bellyaching laughter.
