What can you tell me about it?
Watch on Deadline
TOM HOLLANDER:Its calledIris.
DEADLINE: Creepy AI!
FX / Courtesy Everett Collection
I dont really understand how to explain…
DEADLINE: I dont know either.
This is why neither one of us are quantum physicists.
HOLLANDER:Its a technology thriller.
So, my character believes in it and thinks that its a force for good.
But she thinks its a force for bad, and she runs off with the codes.
She runs off with the activation sequence, and thereafter, its a chase.
Its a very, very long chase spread over the whole of Italy and seven episodes.
And its written by Neil Cross, who writesLuther, so its zappy and witty and sassy and fun.
Its funny, but also very dark, so I dont know if its dramedy.
I think it read funnier than its going to be.
Once youve seen the sets, its actually quite dark and its very violent.
DEADLINE: Congratulations on the Emmy nomination forFeud: Capote vs. HOLLANDER:Thanks very much.
Its a lovely thing.
DEADLINE: Tell me what you knew about Truman before this?
I mean, I know you auditioned for the role of Capote years ago.
But this is obviously a very different project.
HOLLANDER:It was maybe 15 years ago.
I cant remember the date.
I could do the degradation.
This was about the decline, and I found that easier to get into.
So, thats the simple answer.
And that figure was mostly projected through those TV interviews, which he did a lot of.
He had also watched Truman Capote on the TV [back then].
And he suffered for it.
He paid a price for it.
Its a version of the person, never an impression.
DEADLINE: Well, thats acting.
You cant necessarily describe the how, I guess.
And if I did what youre describing, if I did, thats a wonderful thing.
DEADLINE: That was my perception of your performance, yes.
HOLLANDER:Im not quite sure.
There were wide shots where you could see the performance, you could see the wide stuff.
To be honest, something happened in the playing of this part, in how it all came together.
And I dont know exactly why, but it just did.
And I dont even know if I could do it again.
We were living in it when we were making it.
So, it was everywhere.
I feel the privilege of being able to escape reality into the characters that Im playing.
Its a bit like what one hopes to get from going on holidayescaping the reality of ones existence.
Actors can get that going to work, lucky them if theyre in it.
I think the older you get, the more of a relief that is.
DEADLINE: How do you feel about his decision to effectively betray the swans?
HOLLANDER:I think youre right.
The anger of, They think of me as an adornment to their table.
He forgot that he deeply needed their friendship and their affirmation, I think.
But I also think he didnt actually think he was betraying them.
He thought he was, but actually he wasnt.
What he was writing was not as good as that.
And because I think at this point hed lost it bit.
He was too drunk.
In a way, he was acting out inLa Cote Basque[the 1975 article in Esquire magazine].
Some of its brilliant.
The last sentence is completely brilliant.
WhereasLa Cote Basqueis about deeply privileged women and gossiping, so maybe he doesnt really like that.
He was getting affirmation out of that stuff.
Castle creeping, its called in England.
DEADLINE: How did Gus Van Sants direction help inform your presentation of alcoholism?
Because he has a history of having worked with these topics.
What was his approach?
You havent watched any of this?
HOLLANDER:I havent, no.
Hes very interior, Gus.
Hes very shy, but hes very, very watchful.
Im there, and Molly Ringwald comes to visit him.
Molly as Joanne Carson and Chloe [Sevigny] as C.Z.
Anyway, Gus gave a very rare and big note.
And the big note was, While youre in rehab, you are very up.
Youre not very down.
You are playing it down.
Youre playing it, Look at me, Ive ended up here.
And he said it with total authority.
