Meghann Fahy Talks Roles on ‘The Perfect Couple’ and ‘Sirens’

When the trailer for the Netflix restricted sequence Sirens dropped, a viewer commented, “That is the third present I’ve seen the place Meghann Fahy is shedding her thoughts on a seashore however trying nice whereas at it.” That lavish coastal settings and extreme wealth is a standard thread of her newest initiatives — The White Lotus, The Excellent Couple and Sirens — just isn’t misplaced on the actress.

“I suppose audiences need to see wealthy folks behaving badly in good locations!” she tells THR with fun. “I didn’t understand I had performed three of these exhibits in a row till somebody pointed it out to me after Sirens. Then I used to be like, ‘Oh shit, I gotta do one thing else.’ ”

Right here, Fahy, who performed Daphne on the Italy-set season two of The White Lotus, talks about her Emmy contenders The Excellent Couple and Sirens, whether or not she feels typecast and why she is perhaps performed with water work for some time.

Let’s begin with The Excellent Couple. What made you need to play Merritt?

Merritt appeared like any person who desperately needed a household. To me, that’s her motivation, and I discovered that actually fascinating. Clearly, she has a extremely unhealthy weekend, and the affair is horrible, however I used to be approaching it from a standpoint of, that is only a lady who’s actually lonely, who doesn’t have a household to name her personal, and he or she actually desires to create that for herself.

I learn that the flash mob scene within the opening credit was not one thing you all needed to do. Is that true?

Oh, it’s very true. None of us needed to do it. I actually wrestle with studying choreography. That’s form of my Everest, however yeah, we have been all like, “That is insane!” We have been all actually stunned that on the day of doing it, we have been simply having a lot enjoyable, and it was efficient in its manner. Individuals talked about it — I suppose that was what they have been going for. However we have been similar to, “Whose thought was this? That is so random.”

Speak to me about your useless physique solid.

One of many crazier experiences of my life was getting a “lifecast” [a body dummy]. It took all day — they do your head first, then your arms, midsection, legs, your ft and your arms individually. They pour thick silicone, after which they put plaster on prime of that, which creates a chemical response that causes intense warmth. It was actually uncomfortable. I needed to meditate by it. … But it surely’s nice, as a result of then you definately don’t need to be within the water as a lot, which can also be actually exhausting. The primary time I ever needed to do something within the water was The White Lotus, the opening once I’m working. That appeared like not loads of water work, because it’s referred to as, however we filmed that for therefore many hours, and on the finish of the day, my entire physique was shaking. In The Excellent Couple, Dakota [Fanning] and I had to take action many alternative variations of strolling into the precise water, after which we had an entire day the place we filmed at a pool, after which it cuts collectively and it seems to be like not that a lot time within the water, however it was. I had by no means skilled that earlier than. Jack Reynor [Fahy’s Perfect Couple co-star] was like, “If I learn a script and there’s water in it, I’m not doing it.” He was like, “I’ve performed my time.” It’s actually tedious. I positively shall be paying extra consideration sooner or later to something that includes water within the script.

What concerning the thriller/homicide thriller style you hit with The White Lotus, The Excellent Couple and Sirens currently? Plus, you simply did Drop.

It’s a style that I really like to look at, after which I believe Sirens, for me, was much less that, and extra form of the darkish comedy part to it, as a result of that’s one other style that I really like. After I signed on to do Sirens, I had solely learn the primary episode, so I didn’t even actually know the place it was going to go, which was actually enjoyable to seek out it out as we have been making it.

On the coronary heart of Sirens lies the connection between the 2 sisters. How did you and Milly Alcock develop that relationship forward of capturing?

It occurred naturally. I do really feel protecting of her as an older sister, and the best way that you simply see Devon being on the present, I really feel that manner about Milly. I used to be such a fan of hers earlier than assembly her, after which, we have been going to be New York, which is the place I dwell, and so she got here, and we frolicked collectively alone a bunch earlier than we began filming. We simply had an easy connection in that manner. It’s so humorous, as a result of Milly, in actual life, is just a little bit extra energetically like Devon — she’s just a little extra punk in actual life — so I believe for her, it was straightforward to drop into these dramatic moments.

However as an alternative, you bought to play the “punk” character.

I cherished it. I learn the pilot and I used to be like, I’ve to do that. I’ve by no means cherished a personality this manner, and it’s so totally different than something I had ever performed earlier than. I used to be like, I hope that they’ll let me step into this house, as a result of the factor that occurs lots on this business is, should you haven’t performed it earlier than, persons are just a little skeptical. All people is extra snug asking you to do one thing that they’ve seen you do earlier than.

Does that result in a slippery slope of being typecast?

I believe so. Most individuals met me for the primary time as an actor on White Lotus, and I really like Daphne, however I’m so totally different than her energetically. Devon’s comedic sensibility aligns extra with who I really feel I’m. And so I’ve at all times needed to step into a job like that. There’s one thing so liberating about taking part in a personality like Devon who actually doesn’t give a fuck about something, at the very least on the floor. I wasn’t fascinated with what my hair regarded like or what my make-up regarded like, as a result of she wasn’t both. It was actually liberating.

What was your most difficult scene on Sirens?

There’s a scene in episode two between Milly and me, the place I come to bust her out within the evening and he or she doesn’t need to go. It’s this eight-page scene of dialogue, and it’s very uncommon that for tv you get to do an eight-page scene, in order that was thrilling in and of itself. After which we have been in a position to shoot it form of in a single take, which can also be distinctive. It was so helpful as a result of the scene turns into very emotionally charged between the 2 of them. … That was one in every of my favourite days I’ve ever had on any set. It was so particular that everybody got here collectively to service the emotional panorama of what we have been doing.

What was your strategy to decompress after a few of the more durable scenes?

After I was doing Sirens, I began Dawson’s Creek. I might simply watch it in my trailer or in my room, and I used to be simply rolling by and it was such a unique world that I used to be in a position to simply form of disconnect in that manner.

You’ve been extraordinarily busy and it seems to be like you don’t have any plans to cease. Are you able to tease just a little bit about your upcoming initiatives, The Good Daughter and The Banquet?

I’m in the course of filming The Good Daughter proper now. We end finish of June. It’s actually intense. The story is fairly darkish, and it’s an unimaginable solid: Rose Byrne and Brendan Gleeson, who I simply shot my final scene with yesterday, and I used to be simply form of pinching myself, as a result of I believe he’s a legend, and I believe Rose is simply too, actually. I’m having a blast, however it’s positively a extremely intense shoot, plenty of the Southern dialog, which is gorgeous, however it’s so melodic. … I believe we’re supposed to complete Banquet mid-December, after which it’ll be the vacations. And I’m already fascinated with the place my subsequent little journey second goes to be. That’s how I deal with myself after I’ve been actually busy, is planning a visit to someplace I’ve by no means been earlier than.

This story first appeared in a June stand-alone difficulty of The Hollywood Reporter journal. To obtain the journal, click here to subscribe.