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This interview contains spoilers for the second season ofFleabag.
(Also, as Scott points out, that priest is pretty hot, too.)
It seems like everyone just calls your character hot priest, even in the press.
So yeah, its great, its cool.
The reaction to the priest has been unbelievable.
I think its more about the character itself.
I think the dog collar probably does something to people thats more privy to that than to me.
How did Phoebe Waller-Bridge first pitch you on the role?We knew each other from before.
We did a play together about ten years ago.
We had a big long meeting in London.
I signed on to it without a script.
I think theres a genuine dilemma.
I think hes somebody who is really deeply conflicted.
They have an immediate connection as soon as they see each other.
It was very interesting to me, to play a character like that on TV.
I havent played a character like that before.
I like the idea of all the characters inFleabagare flawed characters, but no less deserving of love.
I think the wonderful thing about these characters is they dont have names.
I think sometimes we think of characters in terms of how much we know about them.
Its sort of forbidden and comedic and sexy and moving all at the same time.
Big, sort of almost theatrical gestures.
I think shes bold and its just to ensure that theyre compelling, that theyre alive.
I think theyre very special scenes.
Im very proud of them.
Which I think is very dangerous territory.
But having said that, we didnt want to paint a character thats an extreme character.
This is somebody who went into the Catholic church trying to do good.
But I think it shows the kind of conflict that a lot of young priests and nuns might feel.
Its interesting because he doesnt initially seem like a character whos repressed.
Without labelling it too much, I think hes got a troubled relationship with alcohol.
This whole idea of the foxes [who follow the priest around] and all that kind of stuff.
Theres something very spiritual about that and religious about that.
In the sense that we dont know about God and whats the mystery of God as well.
So theres sort of an epic feel to this series.
What lurks beneath us is very much at play, as well as the fun.
I suppose we wanted as well to break TV convention, the visual convention.
It was really good fun to play.
So I think thats one of the magical things that weve got for free.
Fleabag and the priest drink G&Ts in a can on the show.
But, yeah, sales of thisparticular punch in of G&T are up by 25 percent.
Thats the sort of extraordinaryFleabagaffect.
Most American audiences at least probably know you best as Moriarty fromSherlock.
Theres still darkness to this, but theres more of a romance, more of a comedy.
Were you looking to sort of branch out to try different things?Absolutely.
Youre also in the future season ofBlack Mirror, as per the trailer.
Yeah, its a very exciting film.
Very distinct writing and very distinct worlds make for the best kind of TV and best kind of theater.
So yeah, thats the next big adventure.
One last question: The priest is so obsessed with his different outfits.
Did you have a favorite of those?You gotta go for white.
White is always, I think, a reflection of my inner purity, you know.
Ill vote for that one.
