He learned many lessons, though at the cost of many mistakes and hurt feelings.
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DEADLINE: Tell me about your journey playing this character across three seasons.
I auditioned for Higgins actually and obviously didnt get that, the role went to Jeremy [Swift].
Nick MohammedApple
It was probably a good month or so later that I got asked to go in for Nate.
I couldnt do it at the time, because I was filming something else.
They were like, Can you just do a tape on your phone?
So I hastily put something together over a lunch break during filming.
Then in August 2019, we started filming Season 1.
Obviously, theres quite a visceral reaction to that from fans.
Ultimately, Season 3 is about our capacity to forgive Nate.
Then in the filming process as well, they really stuck to it.
MOHAMMED:Everyones entitled to their interpretation of it, even I questioned it.
It cant just be that.
And Jason was clear that its not that at all.
And thats why there are no tears on Nates part and he doesnt hug his dad.
His dad doesnt hug him.
It was not, Oh, right.
I think I agree that some people probably did see it like that.
I was keen that the apology wasnt just enough, and then thats it.
But it has to represent hope, which I think it does.
And thats really important because thats dramatically a strong part of the show.
What all went down?
MOHAMMED:Yes, we watched it all together in the hotel.
We were all an absolute wreck because its really so special.
Who knows if well make any more, and I dont know if we will.
Obviously, its such a special thing for all of us.
Its so rare that youre in a show that suddenly takes off like that.
None of us anticipated it.
We just wanted to do a good job.
Were so indebted to it, and were a little family.
Ive never watched an episode with other people so it was quite nice to share it all together.
MOHAMMED:Completely, to the first one, the British one.
I know that line from like, literally when I was a student.
I was obsessed withThe Officewhen it came out and Id just watch it again and again.
DEADLINE: There are so many little nods in the show that its inevitable to catch them all.
What were some standouts for you?
Like Brendan, who plays Beard, is an absolute football nut.
Even in the background on the whiteboard, the gameplay and tactics.
There are so many kinds of little clues and codes and things.
[The writers] made the best possible show they could make.
They just pulled absolutely everything into it, and it shows.
It does translate, that stuff, when people care.
DEADLINE: Is there anything you wish wouldve been different for Nate?
MOHAMMED:No, I dont think so.
In Nates story, particularly in Season 3, hes deliberately out on a limb and hes abandoned.
His screen time is quite minimal.
So it was important to be really efficient.
A lot of the time he is literally alone.
He doesnt have people to bounce off of.
Are people going to buy into a redemption story?
Similarly, when he was being nasty in Season 2, you want it to feel believable.
I still wanted people to at least see where he was coming from.
I try not to really have any regrets.
We were so lucky.
We were surrounded by the creators and great writers and directors pretty much every day.
I felt like we were really supported.
DEADLINE: Have you thought of Nates future once the show goes dark?
MOHAMMED:No, no, I havent actually.
Well, occasionally I do.
I feel like we dont really need to see or know anymore.
We just needed to just have those bits.
I think we could leave it there, and Id be very proud of it.
Could you be into that?
MOHAMMED:I still dont think theres definitely unfinished business to a degree there.
He probably still needs to go to Dr. Sharon [Sarah Niles] for a little bit.
DEADLINE: We all need Dr. Sharon.
[Laughs] Many speculated Nate would become the teams new manager but it was Roy who was picked.
Why was that the right decision?
MOHAMMED:I think Roy was the correct choice, because I think ultimately, Roy deserved it.
When we see Roy and Nate and Beard together, I think thats the perfect trio.
I think itd be too unbelievable if Nate took over that job.
Roy definitely deserves that.
I think Roy has been through a lot.
I really liked the fact that when theyve just returned to Richmond, hes the assistant to the kitman.
Theyre very seductive, but theyre not the things that really truly make him happy.
I think Roy always loved Nate.
DEADLINE: We never saw Nates reaction to Ruperts downfall.
How do you feel about that?
MOHAMMED:It was really deliberate on the writers part to leave out key things.
And then they didnt include it.
And we were like, I wonder why.
Its not important because the show is not about revenge.
Its about doing the right thing.
Its a lot more positive and optimistic.
So him just leaving and going straight to Jade, I felt like it was a really smart move.
I think that scene would have just been too predictable.
I think thats whatTed Lassodoes.
Suddenly, youve got this player singing So Long, Farewell.
And I was like, Well done, Jason.
And he was laughing like, Its a bit mad isnt it?
And I was like, Yeah, it is a bit mad.
Its just such a ride.
Because what the comedy does, its sort of slightly blind with you.
It really kind of smacks you in the gut.
I mean, initially, that season finale goes from hilarious to devastatingly heartbreaking to hilarious.
MOHAMMED:Oh, we were all just whooping and cheering.
We couldnt believe that.
Even when Ted stepped out and it was the insinuation that he and Rebecca were together.
It was playing with our emotions.
Were proper fans of the show.
MOHAMMED:No, no.
I mean, he made mistakes.
I think some of his actions could be seen as villainous.
And he doesnt feel that Ted is the best.
He doesnt have a support web link.
In my head, I was like, Give the guy a break.
We were there for you.
We wanted to see you succeed.
And then obviously, he starts his downward spiral in Season 2 and then betrays Ted.
Its a really positive trajectory.
DEADLINE: What is your take on whether or not this is really the end?
Do you feel like the chapter is closed?
In our heads, were like, Wait.
Teds not going to come back, because hes not going to make that mistake.
Hes got to stay with Melissa and Henry.
Thats where his place is, and thats where hes happy.
Theres always going to still be fixing for the characters to do.
Theyre not all of a sudden perfect.
Teds still probably got his demons in there.
But it is such a cathartic ending.
I think it would be a shame to kind of be like, And see you next year.
Its like, well, where are we starting off on that?
DEADLINE: What are you taking with you from your time playing Nate?
MOHAMMED:I didnt go to drama school or anything.
Its the same as doing live comedy actually.
You have to approach it with an attitude that youre probably not gonna get huge audiences.
You might get mixed press, but its all about having thick skin.
Youve just got to keep at it.
But what no one teaches is what happens when a show does well.
There was a responsibility to the storytelling and the kind of characters we were playing.
Id never experienced that before.
Or This got me through the pandemic.
No one can take that away from us.
My first time in America was to go to the Emmys.
Ive never been before, even on holiday.
Its just been absolutely crazy.
I will remember it forever.
We adore each other.
Weve got lots of WhatsApp groups.
DEADLINE: Multiple groups?
How do they differ from each other?
MOHAMMED:Diamond Dogs, of course.
So we just had our own.
Then weve got our main one, which is with the whole cast.
We also have a little spin-off group from a few of us who took part in Hannahs Christmas special.
So theres a few of us who were involved in that.
So thats a separate group called Hairless Penguins.
Nate’s apology… page 1!
