Sam Claflinlearned about the history of Fleetwood Mac from a TikTok video.
How Billy-Daisy is this?'
He also thought that Come Together by the Beatles was a Michael Jackson song.
Daisy Jones & The SixPrime Video
Still, something about him made the producers think hed be right for the role.
But to become a believable frontman, Claflin would have to put in quite a bit of work.
Honestly, that first week, I was very stressed and very worried.
So once you were cast, where did you start?
SAM CLAFLIN:So they gave me a guitar very quickly, like thrust it into my hands.
I think the first thing I did was go to a guitar lesson.
My God, it felt like we were fighting an uphill battle from the very beginning, honestly.
I hit the ground running.
Not only was it the guitar, I was having movement sessions with a movement coach.
It was just a lot of drug addicts.
So I was training with a trainer and eating very little.
I had dialect sessions.
I had singing lessons.
So that was my day-to-day for like a week and then COVID hit.
But honestly, that first week, I was very stressed and very worried.
I think it got off to a very, very rocky start.
And losing the weight, but gradually.
I continued all of those things, but just spread out a little more.
The thing is, despite having gone on that journey, I still wouldnt class myself as a musician.
Im worlds below anyone that is doing that for real.
There are famous musicians who have blagged it, you know, up to a point.
I think its harder to blag it now.
So I kind of also lent into that equally.
As is The Civil Wars.
CLAFLIN:So I knew of Fleetwood Mac.
I grew up listening to them.
AndRumourswas one of them.
So I knew Fleetwood Mac from when I was very little, but didnt know who they were.
I just knew all of the words to all of their songs.
And They were all present.
So it was even more magical.
And that was it.
Really, that was about as much as I knew about Fleetwood Mac.
Ive read the book, and the book always reminds me of this clip.
And hes looking at her longingly, trying to get through it.
And I was like, Oh my god, the chemistry, that connection, the history.
How Billy-Daisy is this?
It was just like a snowball effect, I think, but it happened very late in my life.
It was so confusing, but I watched this video on TikTok.
CLAFLIN:Gosh, I dont know.
I really dont think any of it at all.
It was incredibly difficult.
I think its because Im not one of those actors that can just be completely free.
Im quite OCD in my life.
I am quite controlled.
I suppose, in a way, continuity is one of my strong points.
I find it very difficult to be completely free.
I think as a musician, thats what you better be.
you should probably just go wherever the feeling takes you.
Thats the thing that I struggled with most, Id say.
And it was the music itself, playing guitar and singing whilst remembering to keep playing guitar.
Every aspect of it was difficult.
Im not gonna lie.
It was very difficult.
I mean, the list goes on.
Any lead singers or frontmen of that era, I was obsessed by.
And certain moments required a different character in essence.
So yeah, it was it was enjoyable, but very, very challenging.
DEADLINE: There are so many emotionally charged moments for Billy, both with Camila and with Daisy.
CLAFLIN:I think it depends on the particular scene.
Im talking about the big the big, big scenes.
Whether that was pre or post the addiction or rehab, all those scenes are very heavy.
Im a hopeless romantic.
I know that feeling.
I feel like Ive fallen in love so many times in my life.
I know that feeling of excitement and adrenaline and fear and anxiety.
We both are very trusting and open and honest.
We both love to have fun.
So I think those scenes just kind of wrote themselves in a way.
Thats a lie, and we couldnt have done it without the writers.
I think the scenes with Cami, they were heavier.
So it was often me giving her space rather than me going, I need to be alone.
I think being the oldest and the most experienced amongst the group, Ive lived through the most.
I was the only person whos a dad at the time.
But then when they say Okay, were ready to go.
Id sort of dry myself [and say], Okay, lets go.
Ive never found it so easy with regards to feeling something authentically.
DEADLINE: You have had quite a long career at this point.
When youre searching for new roles, what stands out to you?
CLAFLIN:Its a good question.
Its difficult to answer though, because I dont think I ever know what script is around the corner.
So I think something Id like to explore more would be the opportunity of playing characters closer to home.
I think Ive spent so much of my life going, I want to do something completely different.
I want to prove to people I can do this or prove to people I can do that.
Rather than having to guess or imagine you.
Dont get me wrong.
Theres the huge, huge room for improvement.
But I came a long way, and I think Im like, Wow, good for you.
Ive really put the work in and put the time and effort in.
That could be anything from like an action movie to James Bond or a Marvel superhero.
My schedules kind of free, Im sort of Im open to ideas, really.
I like being flexible.
