From playing a fierce undercover spy in Prime VideosMr.
Here, the actor opens up about identity, vulnerability and playing complicated women on television.
What was the process of being cast on the show?
Maya Erskine in ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith.‘David Lee/Prime Video
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MAYA ERSKINE: It started with phone calls from Donald [Glover].
Carmen Cuba, the casting director said, Can I give your number to Donald?
And everything was so esoteric.
Donald Gloverand Maya Erskine inMr. & Mrs. Smith.David Lee/Prime Video
I really didnt know until the third call that I was potentially being asked to play Jane.
& Mrs. Smithstarring Angelina Jolie?
ERSKINE: It was a couple things.
One, I had just had a baby, so I had to get strong.
My body was a total wreck, and I didnt feel like I was in my body after birth.
It took a long time to come back from that.
So that was the foundation of becoming this character.
I was like, OK, get strong in the gym.
So that was step number one, and that made a huge difference.
Theres just a little bit more closed-offness in her.
And so, in the physicality thats represented, shes not loose, shes not in the moment.
So that was a big part of my physicality that I feel like might have been different.
And also, that shes just completely a mess in a lot of ways too.
Shes not a perfect spy.
So, there was no pressure to get to Angelina Jolies status, because theyre not that.
Theyre just these people who happen to sign up for this job and get it.
DEADLINE: Also, something different is the discussion of culture and race inMr.
& Mrs. Smith, which also bleeds intoBlue Eye Samurai.
Both shows center around biracial Japanese protagonists.
How did your own perception of race play into your experience growing up and your acting career?
But whats interesting is that it subverts what you normally see.
Because its usually a mixed-race person trying to hide their Asian part.
And thats something we dont see all the time.
I didnt have that touchstone.
And then when I would go to Japan, I wouldnt be Japanese enough.
So, there was no place for me to exist as just a person.
In terms of how it affects roles, Ive always just felt like an outsider.
So thats how Im drawn to roles and characters.
I do feel inMr.
Theyre not the perfect mold for these spies.
In Janes life, I dont think she ever had a sense of what her identity was.
So, the whole show is her searching for that and finding her place in the world.
DEADLINE: The couples therapy episode is quite a turning point for Jane and Johns relationship.
It really encapsulates how different the two are.
John is the far more emotionally vulnerable one, and Jane, while well meaning, is quite cold.
What is your take on their dynamic?
But because they are in this situation, they do end up getting to know each other.
But they have to form trust because theyre putting their lives in each others hands.
So, theres real trust there.
And in terms of their dynamic, I think that Jane isnt good at showing her vulnerability.
And thats obviously a big trigger for him.
Its interesting that theyre a couple that work together.
That can be great.
Their dynamic mirrors relationships that are happening all the time without all the spy stuff.
DEADLINE: Speaking ofBlue Eye Samurai, that also has some pretty high stakes.
Its got violence, nudity, swearing, spying.
What drew you to it?
That was an exciting challenge for me because I knew I couldnt just sound like myself.
I really think that was the right choice to make it animated.
Theres just so much to it, so it felt really rich.
Especially in your portrayal of Jane, who is very guarded.
Was it vulnerable for you to step into this more serious space to portray her?
DEADLINE:Mr.&Mrs.
Smiths ending is so ambiguous.
What was your take on it?
That they would do the truth serum.
That the final shot would be the three gunshots, all of that.
And I love that.
Is it like MDMA?
DEADLINE: Where would you like to see Season 2 ofMr.
ERSKINE: Trick question because I cant say if it includes our John and Jane.
Do they have kids?
Do they not have kids?
Do those issues come up?
& Mrs. Smithagain, just have it completely different and explore a whole new set of relationships.
That would be exciting.
