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When Fiona Shaw picks up the phone, Im startled to hear her real Irish accent come through.
Im so sorry to be short, she started, but Im heading to a barbecue at my mothers.
You and Phoebe Waller-Bridge have turned into this brilliant duo.
FirstKilling Eveand now that great therapy scene inFleabag.
How did you two decide to start working together?One thing led to another, really.
She asked me to doKilling Eve.
We had a wonderful lunch where I was just enchanted.
She has such enthusiasm, and such energy, and such self-deprecation and that meets my Irish self-deprecation.
We get on very well.
Killing Evewas astonishing, because I had no clue how I should play it.
But then Phoebe was there and knew exactly how to play it.
Youre only inFleabagfor ten minutes, but the scene is jam-packed with meaningful looks and dialogue.
And then she began to slightly rewrite it that morning.
That woman can do so much in five minutes.
Of course, her great director, Harry Bradbeer, was with her.
She herself suddenly sees something beyond what shes already written and so she begins to rewrite.
So I had to relearn, which was very hard.
And of course, she understands rhythm, which I think were both good at.
If I respond with my wayward rhythms to her rhythm, its like playing jazz.
Is there any room for improv?
I almost fell out of my chair laughing at the dry-forearm bit.No, its all written.
Its just that you have to respond to whats written.
You cant believe she starts such a scene like that.
She always starts in such an oblique, unlikely premise.
She, herself, is so undermining of herself as Fleabag.
That kind of tragic comedy character is an amazing creation.
And then you never know where its going to go.
She has a great way of being charming whilst being actually quite anarchic, doesnt she?
Yeah.Or damaged, or something.
She makes very difficult things very charming.
YourFleabagcharacter is wearing the perfect therapist outfit, right?
The sweater, the little silk scarf, the big jewelry.
Do you supply your own ideas for that?No, no.
She needed the scarf.
As you know, she refers to the scarf.
The scarf is not something I would wear.
Its something the character has to wear.
Maybe that tells you something about Phoebe, that she already envisages something, doesnt she?
Normally, when I work in the theater, I absolutely invent the thing Im playing.
In this instance, Im just responding to Phoebes invention.
Do you believe in therapy?
There are some genius therapists in the world and there are some frightening therapists.
I dont think that was the issue in this instance.
It doesnt bear scrutiny, does it?
Youve been a renowned actress for decades.
But all of a sudden, youre everywhere.
You have a cult following, especially among women who just adore these characters youre playing.
Are you getting noticed on the street?Im certainly more noticed in the streets.
I cant ask for directions anymore.
Oh no!No, no, its amazing.
Ive had bits of it before when I didTrue Bloodin America.
For a while, you have a lot of following.
But this is quite extraordinary, because its bumped into culture.
People on bicycles stop when Im crossing the street, and they come over.
I think,Shouldnt you keep on your bicycle?Thats a new level for me.
In theKilling Evebooks, the role of Carolyn is actually a man.
The show not only changed her to a woman but made her so complex.
And shes sort of absurdist.
Whats your favorite part about playing her?Reinventing her.
Its quite hard work, actually.
The lines are the tiniest cherry on the cake, arent they?
Theres much more going on.
She may have five other Eves working.
Thats how big she is.
At one point, we realize that Carolyns boss is also a woman.Yes!
It felt really great to see this long chain of capable women running things.
It still feels to me, at least, like a rarity in television.
Do you think thatKilling Eveis an exception in how brilliantly it highlights women?
Thats hopeful.I think its broken something through, hasnt it?
And all the rest of it.
Carolyn isnt stoic, but shes so dry.
She manages to say these shocking things without a trace of concern.
Do you do anything particular to flip yourself into that mind-set?I work very hard at it!
I lose sleep about it.
I live with it.
Its not easy to get, because shes not at all like me.
And so Ive had great fun finding her.
And I am surprised at the styles that I have found that hide so much.
In this instance, Im hiding from the audience.
At one point this season, Carolyn testily points out that Eve is wasting her time.
She says something like, I have hobbies, you know.
Do you know what those hobbies are?
Have you built Carolyns whole life out in your mind?I dont know if you better know that.
Why do you want me to take away the mystery of Carolyn?
Weve seen her fencing.
Oh, thats true.
Did you have to learn how to fence at all for that brief scene?
No, it wouldnt change.
Except that, as I say, theres been a great excitement.
People are delighted by its success.
Its been nothing but a huge pleasure.
Its been hard work and a pleasure.
The mystery of its jackpot is that its obviously hit the times very correctly, hasnt it?
We live in very insecure times.
And theres something about the insecurity thats being explored inKilling Evethat people respond to, I think.
