Billy Magnussen on Key Scenes with James Bond – The Hollywood Reporter

[This interview contains spoilers for No Time to Die.]

For No Time to Die star Billy Magnussen, there’s no time like the current. Within the twenty fifth James Bond movie from Eon Productions, Magnussen performs CIA officer Logan Ash, who, alongside together with his fellow CIA operative Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), tries to persuade a retired Bond to help with a mission. Magnussen, who had beforehand labored with No Time to Die filmmaker Cary Fukunaga on the Netflix restricted collection Maniac, really made his case for a Bond position on Maniac‘s purple carpet.

“I keep in mind once we premiered Maniac as a result of we came upon that day that Cary was going to do the following James Bond,” Magnussen tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So I went as much as him and I used to be like, ‘Hear, put me in James Bond if it’s worthwhile to.’ After which a 12 months later, I used to be on a backpack journey in Vietnam, and I used to be standing exterior this tackle. I’ve a photograph of it in Sapa, Vietnam, and it mentioned 007. I believed, ‘That’s bizarre.’ After which I bought a textual content from Cary Fukunaga going, ‘Dude, what are you doing subsequent summer season?’ So I texted him proper again with out hesitation and was like, ‘If it’s for Bond, I’m free.’”

Magnussen additionally seems as Paulie Walnuts within the The Sopranos prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark. To organize for the position, he did a deep dive into The Sopranos, one thing he wasn’t capable of do on the time of its broadcast.

“I actually tried to get his mannerisms and cadence down. All of these issues,” Magnussen says. “I didn’t know a lot about The Sopranos till I bought the job as a result of I couldn’t afford HBO, particularly in school. So I watched the entire collection, however I didn’t need to do an impersonation. I simply wished to catch the essence of this man. So the important thing issues I locked on have been the mannerisms, the actions and the place they may come from, but additionally how we constructed phrases, how his head thought and the place the character was pushed. Lots of that credit score goes to David Chase, so I can’t take that.”

In a current dialog with THR, Magnussen additionally displays on his downtime capturing No Time to Die, together with a “Coloration Run” with Fukunaga and browsing in Jamaica with Wright. Then he seems to be again at his time on the units of The Huge Quick, Bridge of Spies and The Leftovers.

[This interview contains spoilers for No Time to Die.]

So did Maniac principally function your audition for No Time to Die?

I’d say so. I bought Maniac, which gave me the chance to work with Cary Fukunaga. So we turned buddies, and I felt we collaborated very well with one another. And I keep in mind once we premiered Maniac as a result of we came upon that day that Cary was going to do the following James Bond. So I went as much as him and I used to be like, “Hear, put me in James Bond if it’s worthwhile to.” After which a 12 months later, I used to be on a backpack journey in Vietnam, and I used to be standing exterior this tackle. I’ve a photograph of it in Sapa, Vietnam, and it mentioned 007. I believed, “That’s bizarre.” After which I bought a textual content from Cary Fukunaga going, “Dude, what are you doing subsequent summer season?” So I texted him proper again with out hesitation and was like, “If it’s for Bond, I’m free.” (Laughs.) So I’d say that Maniac was part of it.

So the very first thing I seen about Logan Ash was his paranoia. Somebody ran into him on the road, and he instantly checked for his pockets and such. Had been you attempting to determine early that he was comparatively new to this line of labor and was apprehensive about his total plan?

Yeah, it was in regards to the juxtaposition of the characters. You’ve got Bond, who’s clean, coy and comfy all over the place he goes, in a way. After which I attempted to play the other of that: a man who’s on this world however is a little bit vanilla and hesitant. He doesn’t have his footing but, however it additionally distracts from what the character’s actual intentions are.

Was the smiling one other solution to present that he’s uncomfortable with what he’s about to do?

It’s extra that there’s this darkish world round him, and he’s getting his plan to work. He’s excited. He drank Safin’s [Rami Malek] Kool-Help, so he’s all about pushing his agenda ahead.

What places did you journey to on this?

Jamaica and the U.Ok.

I’m not attempting to get into the weeds of Daniel’s harm, however was a few of your stuff rescheduled for later?

No, I used to be on board for a lot of months. I used to be there, and I used to be simply there to service the undertaking. I believe that’s what you do as an artist or a performer. It’s not about you. It’s extra in regards to the undertaking that you just’re placing collectively. How can I be the piece that helps or makes it transfer as easily as attainable?

So that you not solely fought James Bond however you really held your personal. Had been you on cloud 9 the entire time?

Yeah, after I bought the chance — or was informed that I had the chance to be in it — I used to be like, “There’s bought to be a battle scene, proper?!” And naturally, after I came upon, I used to be identical to, “Sure!” Not many individuals get to battle Bond. It’s wilder now than it was then as a result of after I was doing it, you’re exhibiting as much as do the work. You’re nonetheless simply an actor in a chunk. However trying again at it now, you’re like, “Holy crap, dude! This chance is unbelievable.” So I simply have such gratitude for all of it.

Did the choreography take its toll on you?

No, I used to be like, “I get to go do that every single day?” So getting to try this every single day, I used to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I beloved it.

And Logan Ash principally killed Jeffrey Wright’s Felix Leiter, who’s not solely a fan-favorite character however one among Bond’s solely buddies. As an actor, you have been most likely ecstatic about impacting the story to that diploma, however as Billy, have been you barely apprehensive about followers providing you with a tough time on the road?

No, under no circumstances. (Laughs.) I adore it, man. Once more, you’re a personality in a chunk, and if you happen to’re doing all of your half nicely, the hope is that it impacts folks and impacts folks. We’re simply telling a narrative and it’s all play. I adore it. Who doesn’t prefer to play Brutus in Hamlet, you realize?

Was there quite a lot of fanfare on set since Felix’s story was coming to an finish? May everybody sense how massive a second it might be for Bond and the viewers?

No, probably not. (Laughs.) It was simply one other second.

Had been you available to observe Ash’s Vary Rover flip over?

Yeah, that was cool. That was actually cool. All of the bikes and Vary Rovers have been flying round. I beloved exhibiting up on these days since you’re like, “How are they going to drag this off?” After which they do it and also you’re like, “These guys are professionals. That is some dope shit.” I want I used to be utilizing higher phrases than “dope shit.” (Laughs.)

Did they flip Ash’s Vary Rover a number of instances?

I have no idea the precise quantity, however it was undoubtedly a couple of.

And what do you keep in mind about capturing Ash’s remaining moments?

I used to be with Cary and Craig, and I simply tried to be as current as attainable. I attempted to be glad about the moments that have been in entrance of me and I attempted to not fear about the rest. I don’t want to fret about what the followers are going to assume or no matter. I’m there with folks I really like and care about, and we have been creating one thing that I really feel is gorgeous. And I bought to expertise it, which implies the world to me. These days, we stay all over the place aside from the current second, and I’m simply glad I bought to look at and be part of this entire course of.

In 50 years, if you inform your great-grandchildren about your expertise on No Time to Die, what reminiscence will you share with them first?

(Laughs.) I’ll keep in mind browsing with Jeffrey Wright nearly each different morning in Jamaica. Simply browsing, having a couple of rums and being like, “Wow, that is stunning.” Jeffrey is a real gentleman.

What’s the story behind this run you and Cary did?

Oh, it’s referred to as The Coloration Run. I believe it’s a 5K run. So we have been simply in London on the time, and I used to be like, “Cary, you need to go do that race?” And he was like, “Yeah.” Typically, you’ve bought to step away from work after which come again to it. So we simply did the jog, and so they threw shade at us. After which we bought a couple of mimosas and referred to as it a day.

So, Paulie Walnuts. How’s that for a segue?

(Laughs.)

Did you watch quite a lot of tape on Tony Sirico’s Paulie?

Oh yeah! I actually tried to get his mannerisms and cadence down. All of these issues. I didn’t know a lot about The Sopranos till I bought the job as a result of I couldn’t afford HBO, particularly in school. So I watched the entire collection, however I didn’t need to do an impersonation. I simply wished to catch the essence of this man. So the important thing issues I locked on have been the mannerisms, the actions and the place they may come from, but additionally how we constructed phrases, how his head thought and the place the character was pushed. Lots of that credit score goes to David Chase, so I can’t take that. However placing breath into the strains and the character was my job. So I simply soaked it in. It was enjoyable.

Sirico’s Paulie gave a really particular look at any time when he was offended, and I believe you captured that nicely.

(Laughs.) Thanks, man. I want he had a little bit extra to do, however I’m proud of what I had. So I really feel actually grateful for it.

Was utilizing a drill on somebody’s mouth the whole lot you thought it might be?

(Laughs.) Oh, so enjoyable! Such a enjoyable day. The man who was getting drilled was such a sport.

How intensive was the make-up course of?

We bought it all the way down to an hour. So it wasn’t dangerous. It’s extra about sitting in all of it day. That was the factor since you’re like, “I’ve this itch on my nostril that I’ve simply bought to scratch, however I can’t get to it.”

Because the make-up and prosthetics pile up, does it grow to be tougher to behave since your face might not have the identical motion it normally has?

No, I believe it’s simpler. You’re constructing the character and also you’re simply sliding your self into it. It’s the identical with wardrobe and set design. When these folks do a great job, you’re simply on this planet. You don’t must fake. You simply must be the character. So quite a lot of the credit score goes to the prosthetic staff, the make-up and hair staff, as a result of they made my job a lot simpler.

Let’s return in time to your The Leftovers episode, “The Visitor,” which I really like. I’m really chatting with Carrie Coon once more fairly quickly…

Oh, she’s fantastic, isn’t she?

The most effective.

Inform her I am keen on her!

I completely will. So what do you keep in mind about your scenes with Carrie?

She was simply enjoyable. She’s a theater-trained actress, and we had the identical type of dialogue with one another. So we knew easy methods to discuss it. And all through my profession, I’ve simply been attempting to be extra current and extra within the second as an alternative of worrying about the whole lot else. So I simply keep in mind sharing an exquisite time along with her.

They made an precise doll that appeared such as you, proper? It wasn’t a bunch of digital camera tips with you enjoying each components?

Yeah, they made a complete doll. It was actually freaky, I’ve bought to let you know. To face over your self mendacity there was loopy. That was a jarring second, I do must say. It’s an out-of-body expertise. (Laughs.) I didn’t have HBO on the time, so I really by no means noticed the episode.

What did you observe throughout your time on The Huge Quick? What’s caught with you?

The genius that’s Adam McKay. That’s what I noticed. To be round somebody so proficient, so good and so revolutionary with cinematography and storytelling, you’re like, “I need to understand how this man will get it achieved.” So it was extra simply observing such proficient folks. Look, I can’t clarify what number of wonderful alternatives I’ve needed to work with a number of the most proficient folks of our time. And if you’re in these moments, I believe you simply shut up and simply observe. (Laughs.)

And what was your takeaway from Bridge of Spies?

The quantity of pleasure and enjoyable that Steven [Spielberg] has. He’s simply having enjoyable. He’s enjoying.

Do some units neglect that it’s alleged to be about enjoying make-believe?

I all the time discover that essentially the most difficult initiatives I’ve come throughout are when somebody makes it about ego and themselves reasonably than the undertaking. Their precedence isn’t the undertaking first. We’re in a collaborative artwork type. It’s a few bunch of individuals coming collectively and making one of the best thought win. And people instances when it’s all about a person is when it goes to shit. It’s all about being open and the willingness to play. And with Steven Spielberg, all I may assume was that he was enjoying, and he was listening to folks’s concepts. He was simply open.

So when are you and Lil Rel Howery beginning a band?

(Laughs.) We already did. We’re referred to as The Low-Key Kings. You noticed that little publish?

Yeah, I additionally heard your first single, “Inglewood.”

(Laughs.) Yeah, Rel is the person, dude. He’s so cool. I really must go to set quickly, and we’re with him. We’re ending up a movie. However I really like that man; I actually do. I like him, I respect him and I’m proud to name him a buddy.

What does a great day at work imply to you?

It means I used to be current, invested and dedicated to the day. I wasn’t attempting to be some other place. Even when it was a wrestle, even when it was difficult, even when it was wonderful, it’s about being current. If I used to be attempting to depart or escape, that’s a foul day.

Are you enthusiastic about something that’s developing for you?

It’s loopy. Typically, this profession can confuse you and make you hunt greater than relaxation and be at peace within the second. So I’m enthusiastic about as we speak, man, and I hope you’re, too.

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No Time to Die and The Many Saints of Newark are actually enjoying in theaters.