SPOILER ALERT: The following story contains details from theseries finaleofHBOsBarry.
Its also, naturally, the sentiment with which we, as an audience, are left.
DEADLINE: When did you learn how the events ofBarrys finale would play out?
Sarah Goldberg, Zachary Golinger and Bill Hader in ‘Barry’s series finaleHBO
What was your first impression when you did?
But yeah, there were details.
I just want to go fullWoman Under the InfluenceorOpening Night, and do something surprising with her.
HBO
So, that direction was always there, but the final details, we found out very late.
I loved the idea of the film at the end.
And I remember thinking, Okay, interesting.
Theres no big fireworks, no murder scene, no suicide, no big, dramatic event.
I just loved that.
And instead of saying, I love you, too, she says, Was it good?
It was good, wasnt it?
She still needs that external validation.
Theres still a callback to the old Sally, somebody who does have that twinkle of narcissism.
That piece of her is still alive.
The duality in her still exists, its just kind of muted.
And theres a real contentment there.
I had hope for her, which surprised me.
I wasnt expecting any hope at the end of this show.
DEADLINE:What was discussed as far as that final moment, lingering on her in the car?
There is the sense that she maybe has hit on a happy ending of sorts.
Shes turned down a date, so shes finally out of the cycle of these abusive relationships.
I feel like shes changed and evolved.
DEADLINE:Do you see her fully swearing off of dating?
GOLDBERG: I think so, yeah.
I feel sad for Sally.
I dont know that love is something shes ever even really experienced.
Her marriage was loveless and brutal, and her relationship with Barry was so toxic.
So, I dont know that shes ever had a healthy, loving relationship.
GOLDBERG: Its great.
It was a place where she felt seen, where she felt challenged, where she felt heard.
Hes not a licensed therapist, so Id say it was actually kind of a dangerous dynamic.
Certainly, not when she started out in Los Angeles.
But I think theres a contentment thats come from taking on that role.
Because she obviously has such an averse response to it earlier in the episode.
So, theres different paths there, different story that the audience can fill in.
Any way you cut it, Gene went down for the crimes, which is terrible.
DEADLINE:This was one of the big questions the episode left me with.
And ultimately, Barry is not.
I think for Sally, its interesting.
Its in the face of death.
I think that after that moment, shes changed.
And I dont think shes become a saint.
And she is not a bad person at that point.
She is making better decisions that are about other humans, including her son.
I didnt want it to tie up in it in a way that was one thing.
GOLDBERG: Again, not to sound like a lazy actor, but I didnt really prepare.
I didnt know how to prepare for that.
And over the various seasons, theres been different ways to prep different scenes.
Sometimes, it would require serious technical rehearsal, or being backwards-forwards, front to back with your lines.
I feel like the fun of Sally has always been performances within the performances.
GOLDBERG: It was great.
And it was important at the end to keep us fresh.
Where are you from?
Where do you live?
Whered you go to school?
DEADLINE:Do you think John is going to be okay?
[Laughs] I love the ambiguity of his response, watching the film.
Its like youre watching his face move from relief… Obviously, he remembers.
Like, Thats not what happened when we escaped the Chechens.
Hes old enough at that age.
So I feel like whats obvious is hes a decent person again, despite his DNA.
So I hope hes going to be okay.
I feel like if hes not, he got it honestly.
[Laughs] Like, thats a tough break, having Sally and Barry for parents.
DEADLINE:What do you see as the ultimate takeaway from the way this story ends?
And we have leaders that lie.
At least, thank God, [Donald Trump] is not in power anymore.
But the world has changed in such an extreme way since we startedBarry.
We started in 2016, before Trump was elected.
The world has changed [with] the pandemic, all of these things.
Its not a happy ending.
I thought it was pretty moving while being very funny.
DEADLINE:What has this show meant to you, personally and professionally?
GOLDBERG: Thats such a huge question.
Im so grateful for that.
And professionally it was a wild ride.
Its what you hope for.
I feel like I really learned to let go, as an actor.
I came from a theater background and most of what I would do would be very rehearsed.
Just let it go and lets see what we find.
So, somewhere, we met in the middle.
And I think I learned a lot as a performer.
And you’re free to get out of your own way and just have fun with it.
I hope I can sustain it.
I mean, starting a new job youre going to get first-day-of-school jitters, of course.
But I hope that we can take what we found creatively onto other jobs.
DEADLINE:Youve already found your next job, joining the cast ofIndustryfor Season 3.
What can you tell us about your experience with that show so far?
GOLDBERG: Listen, talk about preparation.
Thats a show youve got to prep for.
So, that is not one you’re able to phone in.
The characters called Petra and she couldnt be more opposite to Sally.
So, its a very different technical exercise, and its really fun.
Its a total change for me, and the cast are just so talented.
I do feel old.
[Laughs] I got to be the youngest onBarry, and not on this set.
DEADLINE:What are your goals as you look ahead to the next stages of your career?
GOLDBERG: Im really hoping to write and create my own work.
Sally was a brilliant part, and its not always the case for women.
So, I feel inspired to write my own material.
