MH: I haven’t done a screen test in years. I don’t think they really do them anymore.
ND: That’s something so wild that’s changed, the Zoom of it all, the video aspect of everything. I dearly miss going in the room, I miss those kind of chemistry reads.

MH: I miss it so much.
ND: I think it’s such an important part of this job. It’s an aspect I didn’t realise I’d miss until it wasn’t there anymore. It’s a muscle, an aspect of performance and it’s a space for an actor to cultivate a certain skill that you don’t necessarily have the opportunity for anymore.

MH: I miss it, too. Self tapes also let you work the muscle, but they’re so timeless because you could either spend half an hour doing it, or you could spend like, five days.
ND: When I was younger and in theatre, things were very visceral, that’s where you fall in love with this job, and where you get the most from it. With all of the technology these days, you have to remind yourself a bit more of the aspects that brought you here – and they’re worth it when you have those moments. Filming this last season, there were so many beautiful moments on set. I felt so grateful to have so many ‘I love my job’ moments – making something with people I love. That’s the most gratifying aspect. Of course, that’s like, whatever percent of the time…

MH: I used to make a joke at drama school: “God, the day is like, 80 percent magic and 20 percent bullshit.” I was like, “This sucks.” Then I got into the real world and I was like, “Oh, 80 percent magic is a high number.” You’re lucky if you get five percent magic a day. It took me a while to learn that, how to adjust to it, and to figure out how to make that five percent really magical.
ND: And really be present with it. Especially in film and TV, the hurry up and wait of it all, and the fatigue of being so on. You do have to make a mental effort to not let that get in the way of a day, scene, moment or possibility, for yourself, but also for your fellow actors.

MH: That’s one thing you’re so great at, reminding everyone that the five percent magic is possible. You have this wonderful ability to go, “Wait, everyone, wake up, listen, watch, the magic might walk right by you and you might not notice.” I watched you give reality checks like that to me and to others so frequently throughout this past season. I was so grateful every time.
ND: That’s so sweet, thank you. For me as well, there was a real keeping the balloon in the air [feeling]. I know there were times where I felt like I needed those pep talks.

MH: We were shooting for a year, everyone’s going to have their days.
ND: Yeah, it was a long time to be shooting and everybody was cognisant of it being the final season. There was an attempt to try to stay present as much as possible. It’s really special, what we have – have had. Being able to work together over years, with these characters, these people, and develop these relationships – not everyone gets that.

MH: Especially this past season, for me at least. I think it was something about everyone’s ages starting to balance out. When I first came on the show, the ages were all very stark. There were the kids, the teens and the grown-ups. I felt somewhere in the middle. Even though casting-wise, I was paired with Joe [Keery], I was so much younger than him at the time. The difference between 24 and 19 felt big. It was so nice to get to this place this season where we all felt generally on the same footing. Everyone was living by themselves, we got rid of the parents – no offence parents, but they had to go [laughs] – and we all got to camp out together in town, in walking distance from each other. I treasure it so much.
ND: Same. Of course season one was a very impactful thing, but honestly this last season is so big in my heart for all of those reasons. Obviously, you’re making something and that’s amazing – you want to make great projects and be a part of amazing stories and art – but the interaction with how that plays into your own personal life is so big.

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