anything goes with emma chamberlain - a talk with daisy edgar-jones [video]

Episode Date: July 18, 2024

[video available on spotify] i'm very excited because today i’m going to be speaking with the critically acclaimed actress daisy edgar-jones. you probably know her from the emmy-nominated series normal people, or maybe where the crawdads sing, and the horror flick fresh. this summer, you can catch her in twisters with glen powell. she's got a super busy schedule, but she's taking some time to chat with us. and so i’m excited to present the talented and amazing, daisy edgar-jones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was going through this horror movie phase, I don't know, maybe a year ago, and I watched the movie Fresh. And who is in the movie Fresh? Daisy Edgar Jones. You probably know her from Normal People, a phenomenal, phenomenal TV show that blew up during COVID. But I discovered her from that movie Fresh,

and I remember watching that movie and thinking to myself, this girl is fucking awesome. Even though she's playing a character in the movie, obviously, I was like, I feel like she's cool and I wanna hang out with her. Like I was like, I don't know anything about her. I'm watching her in a movie, but I was like, I just feel like she's a cool person.

And so I'm very excited today to be talking to Daisy. She is a critically acclaimed British actress, known for her versatile performances. She began her journey in the performing arts at a young age. I love theater kids. Like, I like dating theater kids. I like being friends with theater kids. Like, I'm just really attracted to theater kids. I can't tell you how many crushes I've

had on theater boys. I haven't always like won them over necessarily, but I've definitely always had a weird thing for theater kids. As I mentioned earlier, she became known for her breakout performance in the Emmy Award nominated series, Normal People. And this summer, Daisy is starring in the universal feature, Twisters. And then later this year, she will appear on Swift Horses alongside Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, and Diego Calva. She is busy, okay?

She's booked and busy, but she's given me a little piece of her day today to hang out and talk. And we're all gonna get to know Daisy today and just to hang out with her. And I think it's gonna be absolutely awesome. So I'm excited to present the talented, the beautiful, the amazing Daisy Edgar Jones. You know what I'm obsessed with about us is that, and you definitely don't know this, we have an unbelievable amount of things in common.

Like it's actually weird. Like it's really bizarre. Like I had to make a list because we have so many just random coincidental things in common. For example, we're both only children. Okay, okay. How did you find that? I'm really curious. Okay, I... I both love and hate it. Yeah, I understand.

That's so interesting. That's so interesting you're an only child. I kind of like... I feel like that's why you're very good at making friends. We're forced to be good at it. You have to be because it's like, you have to be that person on the beach on a like holiday with your family who's like, can I play? Because you don't have the like safety net of a sibling. Yes. And it's hard, but I do think it's a great lesson in life to like get good at putting yourself out there.

Yes. But I was actually talking about this with my friend recently. Like I love being an only child because I'm very close with my family. I'm very like, I feel like I was forced to sort of be at the adults table from a young age and like be able to sort of sit quietly and listen. But I also like, there's a lot about it I don't like.

Like, do you like being an only child? I did feel lonely. I know what you mean. It can be really lonely. And I think the thing that I find like loneliest is, I don't know if you feel this way, but I'm very, I'm a very nostalgic person. Like me as well. I love sitting in the sort of comfortable pain of like memory and remembering my childhood. But I think I have this sort of desperate want to impart what it was like to other people because only I experienced it and I don't have anyone else to be like, dad was like that, wasn't he? Or mom used to do this thing.

Like no one to be like, oh, and also no one to sort of legitimize my experience as well and be like, yeah, that I remember that was like that, not the way you were told it was like, you know what I mean? Absolutely. Are you very like emotionally attached to your parents would you say? Because that's my experience. I'm like almost borderline probably toxic in the way that I'm like attached to them in a way. Yeah like are you quite like obsessed with your... Like I'm just very anxious about them I would say. I'm like anxiously attached to them.

Actually that's so funny you say that. Like I... I was very good. Like it's maybe one of my biggest regrets. I wish I'd been like naughtier. Me too. I was never snuck out. Yep. No, I was like unbelievably well behaved. I'm like, I think it's because I felt this incredible pressure

that like if I fucked up, I was like... It was all on me. Yes. You just feel more responsible because you are the only one. I don't know. Parents, when there's only one child, they have the ability to keep close tabs on the kid.

And so, you know, how would we have snuck out? Like, I don't think we could have. Whereas like when there's three other kids in the house, it's like, okay, well, Johnny's over here. Like, he just shit himself. So we have to like clean up Johnny's shit. And then, you know, Sally's over here and like she's, you know, I don to like clean up Johnny's shit, and then Sally's over here, and like she's, I don't know, crying about something,

and then you can sneak off. Emma is sneaking off. Exactly, but we couldn't do that. But I think that in some ways, that is kind of a miracle, because ugh, like the danger, in retrospect now that I'm an adult, I regret not taking those risks, but I'm also like, god, like gnarly shit can happen.

So like honestly kind of good. Do you feel like it made you more creative being an only child because you were bored a lot? I think I was quite weird. Please elaborate on that. Well, because like, you know, a lot of my childhood was like playing on my own, like with my little like imaginary little like imaginary like fairy friends and the kind of stuff. I had fairy so much!

Did you ever build fairy houses and stuff? Oh big time. I was big time into it. I took it very seriously. So we're twins. Oh good. We're just exactly twins. This is insane.

Yeah. It's that you have to. How else were you weird? Oh God. I mean, I think I was just genuinely just sort of generally embarrassing, but I think that's carried on into my adulthood as well. Like I don't know if I've left that. Guess what else we have in common.

What else? We're both Geminis. Hey, hey, was it your birthday? Yes, May 22nd. May 24th. Exactly. Are you into astrology? I am.

I'm like, I'm not very versed in it, but I'm like, I am getting there. I'm into it. I did honestly more research than I think I've ever done because I was like, we're both Geminis. Let's see if this leads to us having things in common. Okay. And we'll see. So a Gemini trait that I read about is that you're good at language.

Geminis are supposed to be good at language, right? As in learning languages? Just language in general. So like speaking, like just communicator speaking and like accents and things like that. And you have done so many different accents in your career. And I'm curious, do you have a natural knack for that? For speaking for language for these things? That's really interesting.

I didn't know that. I think I do. Like I think I have accents in my house, so I think I've always grown up with loads of different accents. But I'm also, I think like when I'm with other people, I'm like mirroring them a little bit. So like that accent thing starts to happen. But yeah, that's funny. I wonder if it's actually more to do with my star sign. How are you with communicating? Are you a good communicator, would you say?

I don't know. I think, well, I'm struggling to communicate whether I'm a good communicator, so maybe that's a sign. So far, you're a great communicator. Thank you. I think that like, actually, yeah, I think I'm quite good at articulating how I feel. I'm just like, but more of me struggles to like voice how I feel honestly. Like I'm that part I'm not particularly how I feel. I'm just like, but more of me struggles to like voice how I feel honestly. Like I'm that part I'm not good at.

People pleaser maybe in some ways. Yes, completely. I am prone to people pleasing as well. I've had to really, really work on that. It's an affliction. It really genuinely is. It's challenging. But I think it gets, I guess it gets easier.

I think like what I struggle with is like, I find my people pleasing. I so struggled to say how I feel sometimes, but then what happens is I just build up resentment, which is totally unfair, and then I'm just like, cut it all off. I'm the same. Do you cut people off? Rarely. I have a very like high stretch, but yeah, sometimes when it's just there's one little thing that will like absolutely do it and then I'm like goodbye forever. Well, you just, but it's also, but it's not even that.

I feel like if you're describing what I think you're describing, it is this long buildup, but then it'll be like some random thing that breaks the camel's back. Like it'll be the smallest straw, but I get that. Final Gemini trait is being indecisive. There's actually a bazillion Gemini traits. Honestly, there's probably so many that it would apply to every single human on the planet,

which is maybe why people hate astrology. But are you indecisive, would you say? Massively. Okay, interesting. So are you? Yes, I would say like 75%. So like, I'm not, there are times when I'm just dead set on something for no reason. Like I couldn't tell you why. But I, I would say for the most part I am indecisive,

maybe because I'm a Gemini. But how do you choose what projects are exciting to you? Because I mean, I, I feel like there are always, you know, there are so many things to audition for. And it's like, at a certain point, you have to narrow it down and figure out, okay, what's worth my energy. How do you figure that out? I feel like I'm getting better at it. But like, I mean, I love being decided for, like I love going to a restaurant

and being like, you tell me what I should order. Yes, I totally, yes. Give me a tasting menu any day. So with like, and I'm only now in a position in my career where I do have some semblance of choice. And that's like such a privilege, but also like, yeah, it's hard because you know, there's so many reasons why a project could be really good and could be not, but I like, I'm getting much better at sort of like honing in on the kind of career I want and the type of actor I wanna be.

And also like, I think the thing, especially with filmmaking is I love filmmakers. I love being in a director's vision. I love feeling like I'm in somebody else's painting. And so that's becoming a lot more specific for me of like, I'm choosing to go for a filmmaker and you know, character is everything obviously, but you can't be sure that that character will be what you want it to be unless the filmmaker is like there to make that because it's so their medium. So yeah, but I also have like a great team who, who they are very patient with me going

like, maybe I really want to do it. Maybe I don't know. Maybe I do. Like I, which I do all the time. So that's important. Like having a good team who gets it and who also is like, this is actually a really good opportunity. You should do this.

You should at least try it or whatever. Would you ever like, what's your feeling about being on the other side of things? good opportunity. You should do this. You should at least try it or whatever. Would you ever like, what's your feeling about being on the other side of things? So, you know, writing, directing, because I think it depends. Like, you know, there's certain people that are like, I really just love, you know, this one sort of act. And it's like, I just like being in it. I, you know, there's a passion for being Almost like a blob of paint for the painter like there's something So beautiful about relinquishing control in that way, especially as an indecisive person

But do you also have a desire to say right or direct or are you like no? I don't care I actually would like in in that I'm a bit of a control freak, like I would absolutely love to direct. And I think also I do love every part of making a film. And I think that I would love to just sort of be behind the camera and play with camera and play with like music and play with another actor and see what would happen. So I definitely have dreams, but I feel like I have so many things that I haven't even like scratched the surface of in terms of acting that I'm like, it would be a while

away. But I watched your podcast with Charlie XCX. Yes! Which I loved. Oh my god. I was like, you're like all of your, just the brat, just it's all amazing. Thank you. But Charlie was talking about like, I was just thinking she needs to direct. Like she really does.

She's like, she was like, I watched like four movies at Sun. It's unbelievable. Oh my God, I need to like get my movie watching. It was like wild. But would you do you feel this kind of itch? Like, it's a funny thing when you find yourself in a career. Like, do you do you feel an itch to kind of keep changing what you do. Like, you know, like I've gone back and forth about sort of like the next say 10 years,

a lot in the last say five years. Like, you know, just thinking about what I want to do. And there's a lot of noise around you, right? People saying like, oh, you would be really good at this, telling you what you would be good at. And that's very nice and like very inspiring in a lot of ways, but at the same time, it's confusing because that's not your own original thought.

And so I've been challenged by that, like trying to sort of hone in on what I wanna do. I've sort of started to figure out what I like and don't like when it comes to like my own. Like for me, I'm terrible at things that are fictional. That's so funny. I've like toyed around with the idea of, you know, possibly getting into more things that are fictional, like in various realms, like, you, like whether that's writing something or whatever.

And there might be a world where that makes sense, but I'm somebody who, I'm just drawn to nonfiction. I love documentary. I love based on true story. Like I love these things, right? For like to create anyways, to consume, it's, I love everything. But, and so it's confusing.

And I bet you can probably relate to that as well. Sort of this There's a lot of noise. I also think too. There's a lot of pressure to do things at a young age Yeah, right like oh you need we need to do it now. We're young we do it now It's like no you like you guys we can create things for the rest of our lives That's the thing that's so mad to me because like I through this industry and I suppose and also through being an only child Yes, always calling back but like have a lot of older friends. And they're always like, you're obsessed with age. Like I'm obsessed with going, and how old were they when they did that?

And how old were you when you like met your partner and how old were you and you like achieved this thing? I think like, I think that's something of like being in your twenties, there's this sort of feeling of like, I don't know, you're so aware of age and where you thought you would be and milestones, especially because you've been doing this since you were 16. And this is when I know everything about you and you start, I'm a mad stan. No, this is amazing. But like, when your career kind of launches at a young age, it's funny. It's like, it's that thing where it's an amazing thing

that sort of, yeah, that sort of honing in on what you really desire. And I think when you've sort of gone full blaze into something really young, it's a funny thing when then you're older going like, oh, is this actually, do I really love like figuring it out? So yeah, I'm so obsessed with age and how old people were when they did things. It's so funny. The one thing that changed my perspective on it was my dad. Because he, to me, is the epitome of somebody who's like, I don't care how old I am. I don't care what the timeline is supposed to look like.

It doesn't matter. And I am constantly looking at him like, okay, I have to remember this because there is this sort of pressure, I think internally in this industry to do everything now, but also societally as well to be like, do everything now. Like find your partner that you're gonna be with forever if you're somebody who wants to do that or start thinking about kids, start thinking about where you're gonna live,

start doing, you need to be on it. And it's, you don't need to be on it, but there's the pressure to be on it and it's, it's overwhelming. It's so overwhelming. We're living a lot longer and actually the guy, the director who directed normal people, he, he did a talk recently with his best friend who also did the music for it. And they would talk, I wasn't there, but my friend was telling me that they didn't like, he didn't make his first feature film until he was like in his late thirties. Wow. Yeah. Or maybe even older and like now

he's Oscar nominated and like, you know, he's just, it's amazing when you realize like there is, you can take a deep breath. Like there is this feeling like I need to and I get that you have to work you have to earn you have to you know start to grow roots for the life you want to have but there's also like I think that pressure of like it has to be now and I have to have achieved it by 24 I think it's nice to be like actually that's not not at all not the case speaking of that another thing that we have in common is that we both didn't go to college. Hey!

What was that decision like? Because I can relate to sort of this feeling of, this might not be the right thing for me. Yeah. Yeah. It was like, I remember sort of the first year, which was like my gap year, I suppose, and then being like, oh, this is a gap life. Like this is actually just my life. Like, I had been acting, like, from the age of...

I had an agent from when I was 16, but I got my first job when I was 17 in a show, which was like the British equivalent of Friends. So I played like one of the kids of the adult cast. Yep. And I'd like have one line an episode, but I'd be like, you know, I thought it was sick and I was like, had made it.

It is sick. It was sick. It totally is. I was thrilled. I was working like three or four months in the year and auditioning loads and I kind of just was like, I applied for uni and I got in and I really thought about it, but it didn't make sense for me to, it felt like it didn't make sense to go to then come out of uni

three years later to continue trying to audition. Yes. But I did like really weigh up because I loved learning and I, you know, I loved school and I wanted that live experience, but I decided not to, but I don't regret it. Do you ever like? No. Well, I actually did something even weirder where I left high school as well. So I like didn't even finish high school.

I technically got like a California diploma because I went and took a little test and they were like, here you go. It's like the bare minimum, but like, so legally it's not like I dropped out, I guess. But it is one of those things where I think when you can feel that there's an opportunity there to dedicate yourself to something in the moment,

and it's sort of, and you get that feeling that like, you must do it now. Yeah. You can't fight that. But it's something that I struggle with discussing at times, because it's not a one size fits all thing. Like, there are so many people who loved going to college, who benefited from it so much,

who have been able to build these incredible careers off of it. And so that's why it's sort of a weird thing because it's like I can't give advice about it. I can't, it's something that was so unique. It's so unique to the individual that, but I was somebody that was so unique. It's so unique to the individual that, you know, but I was somebody that was so obsessed with doing well in school that it was like,

oh my God, what am I doing? Like leaving. So what made you leave? What was the decision? I left because YouTube was able to be a job for me all of a sudden. And I'm like 17, or no, 16 at the time. And all of a sudden it was like, oh my God this this could be my job for the next few years I I should

probably just do this for now and then if I want to go back to school you can I always can and that was hard for me to swallow because as we've talked about with age it's like yeah but going back to college as like a 30 year old is embarrassing like that's what I thought as a 16 year old now. I know that that's ridiculous But at the time I was like this is you know I have to either do this now or I'm never gonna do it my parents kept reminding me no you can go back whenever But were you somebody who? You know you loved learning would you say that your experience at school?

like you know high school was, how was it? Like in general? I loved school. Like, and I was really, I mean, I was head girl, like head girl. Do you have head girl here? Do you? What does that mean? It's a big deal.

No, basically, like, you just sort of, you do a little speech and then they like the school vote on whether you should like represent everybody. Oh, the class president? Yeah, yeah. Great. Yeah. So I was head girl and so it was a big deal. It was a lot of pressure actually.

That's a lot of pressure. It was a lot of pressure. I mean, I have an old diary that I've been keeping since I was 14 and it is so funny. I was like, like the amount of pressure I felt and I'm like, now I look back and I'm like, the stakes were so low. You had no idea the pressure that you were going to experience later in your life. You did not know. No. But for me, that was like, you know, a big deal. But I loved school and I really

enjoyed learning. But I think you're right. I think, you know, that college thing, sort of it was really drummed into us of like, we call it university, but like you have to go, you kind of like have to, that's the one route. And obviously like, not saying that, like you said, it's very different for each person, but I will say that like, I feel there's so many other ways to follow what you're interested in.

What's so cool about your story is that you've been acting for a long time, you know? Like this has been a steady sort of dream for you since it feels like forever. And so, you know, has this like, what's your relationship to sort of acting as maybe a hobby to a career? Like what has that sort of process been like

and how has your relationship with acting sort of evolved as you've made it into a career? Yeah, I still can't believe I like get to do it. Like genuinely, I mean, it's like make believe for a living and it is, you know, I mean, I think that this last five years in particular have been bonkers. Like when I was 16, 17 doing Cold Feet, this show, I, you know, I was working with brilliant British actors who were older than me and just like hearing that like amazing story. I love actors as well. Like actors

get a bad rap, but they shouldn't. They shouldn't. But yeah, I just loved all their stories and like learning from watching them. And so, you know, and like the jobs that have come my way have been amazing, but Normal People is definitely like, if you could boil down my absolute dream project. It would be that. I'm a huge romantic. It's a love story. It's like the best writer and book I've read and an amazing filmmaker and brilliant cast. So I think that that's really sort of, I've been so lucky and also in some ways spoiled by that because I, you know, it really, what kind of launched my career really was something that is sort of my absolute dream. So since then, it's just, I feel like I feel so much older now, five years on, I feel so much older than I was.

It'll age you. It really, yeah. I feel like, yeah, just sort of looking back on, yeah, I feel like I've learned like a lot these last few years and yeah, really become an adult. I am also growing older, so it's probably just like... No, but I understand what you mean because in a way, like when you really get thrust into such a jarring and unusual experience, such as becoming a public figure in one way or another, you're faced with challenges that are like so extreme and unusual that in a way, you know, you're almost forced to

sort of mature, I think, all of a sudden at this rapid rate to manage the situation that you're being faced with, because there are so many scary, intimidating pieces of it, also incredible pieces of it, but whether it's the pressure of working on something that has this insane budget, and there are other really experienced actors working on it as well, and there's an experienced director, and you're coming in and you know there are other really experienced you know actors working on it as well and there's an experienced director and you're you know coming in and you're like I need to live up to this I need to step up to the

plate and then there's this pressure of the whole world's watching so it's all of this like you know all of this I think forces you to in a lot of ways philosophize about things in a way that you wouldn't have otherwise or sort of grow this more adult thick skin in a way. Totally. Like do you remember, I'm so curious, for you that kind of moment of your life changing in that thing of being known, was that like an overnight thing or do you remember, do you remember like a point in your life where you were like,

ah, the tap's been turned on and I don't think I'll turn it, it'll turn off again? It's weird. Like, yes, I feel like it was when I was at school and because I started my YouTube channel the summer before junior year, and then by junior year in school, people knew about it. And like kids that maybe wouldn't have talked to me before, not necessarily because of any reason

other than we just weren't crossing paths, but I was being sought out to discuss this thing now. And it was so unusual. And at school, it was like became the sort of like microscopic version of, of, you know, what it would sort of later become. But that was sort of when I was like, well, this is weird. Like people understand.

But then after that, it was like a blur. Like I don't even remember. Do you have a moment? Well, it was during COVID. So I... Yes, that's weird. Weird. Like, and I honestly, it was like, I mean, mean, I don't know if it was because of that, that like,

I don't, I know in some ways a lot of my life has really changed and like, you know, but I also feel like it was sort of like a simulation, the whole thing. Like even like the first time we met, I feel like was that, was that the Met Gala? Yes. And like that whole, I mean, that whole night was just like a complete simulation for me. I was like, I'm not in my body. This, I mean, it went wrong for me in many ways, but like, it was also amazing. But yeah, I think that like, there was so much sort of during that

time the show came out and I kept getting sort of calls from people saying like, it's everywhere, it's everywhere. I'm looking, especially in the UK, like it was the biggest, I think, show that had ever been on the BBC iPlayer. And like, I was being told that my life was changing exponentially. But in my actual life, I was just having these sort of Zoom interviews. I was on the Graham Norton show on the Zoom. So then you sort of turn your laptop off and be like, did that even happen? Like 100%.

It was such a weird thing. I think partly like there was so often where I was on like these having these conversations with like a journalist, for example, and then reading the article two days later and being like, because I hadn't met a real person, I don't know, it was just a really strange time. But even like going out with a mask on and having like prolonged eye contact with people and being like, that's a bit different, but is it that they've just not seen another human being in three days? And they're like, oh, there is one. So yeah, it was really, I guess, like, I mean, a couple years ago, because I went from COVID back to back job to do back to

back jobs. And so it was an insular experience. So it was really like 2022 when it was actually coming out into the world and a normal way that I was like, oh, okay, yeah, this feels different. Was it really jarring for you? Or do you think that in a way it was almost like more comforting to have it be this tangible thing now because there is something very unnerving about feeling disconnected from your reality because everything is virtual in a way and like you, your life in all ways is not changing.

Like you know, what was the sort of emotional reaction? I feel like I'm quite like, I'm quite self-conscious generally. Like, I'm naturally mostly my like base level is slightly deeply mortified. Yes. Which is weird because a lot of the jobs I've done are like really mortifying in many ways. Like some of the things I've had to do. So like I used to, I remember when I was 16, there was a walk from my English class to the toilet and it would be through the main common area and everyone would sort of look at you when you were walking. And I remember

being really like, how do I walk? I was so self-aware of it. And so then it was like that but on steroids where like you just get like really like, is my mouth doing weird things? Because you know that you're being looked at a little bit more. So I found it quite like strange initially, but now like now I sort of again, I've been able to sort of compartmentalize the two things I think of like life and then that part of it that I know exists. Maybe it's good in a way. I mean, obviously it's not ideal to sort of have this career explosion during a pandemic.

That's not ideal, right? But at the same time, I think there is something sort of nice about it because you can adjust to one thing at a time. Totally. It was like having stabilizers on, I suppose. And also I always wonder like, would the show have resonated if it hadn't been?

Like there was something about that time that was like... It was the perfect escape at that time. Yeah. Yes. We were all like horny and lonely and it was like the perfect show for that. But yeah, I mean, the thing that I find that the strangest is like about the kind of like Zoom interviews and doing it all in Zoom and especially like social media

growing and like, I find I'm not very good at like social media and all of that stuff. But like, I think that it was the sort of ultimate like autonomy I had over so much. Like, like I look back now and I wish I could have said to myself, that video will live on the internet forever. Wear a nicer outfit. Choose a better, light it better. But I was so sort of like, yeah, just setting up my laptop. And I'd have these weird moments sometimes during calls where, because I was so in control of it all, I wasn't being brought into a room to have interviews. I was setting it up and and lighting it where I'd have these weird like urges to sort of like do something really like, I don't know, like flash and like throw the

lapses on them because I was like, I could, I just could ruin my complete career in like one second. We have the same brain. That's so, do you feel that too? I'm well, that actually leads me to our next thing that we have in common, which is that we're both very anxious Fuck I love that you know that I know that So is it true that you also are prone to a level of sort of hypochondria even at times?

Yeah, yeah, because I'm the same way no way but more recently I I never ever had an issue with hypochondria at all, but recently I Am a mess. This week, this week, I diagnosed myself with multiple things. I convinced myself that I had lupus. Oh no. Okay, because I had a rash on my neck that looked sort of like a hickey.

And I was like, what is that? And I Googled it and Google told me it was lupus. That was horrible. I have allergies really bad. My right eye has been twitching. Convinced myself I was going blind in the right eye. But isn't it crazy? Like, you literally stub your toe and it's like you're pregnant or you have like stage fours on.

Oh, I think I'm pregnant once a week by the way. I have literally, my mom forced me to have an entire like drawer in my bathroom filled with pregnancy tests because of the amount of time that I've called her being like, no, this time it's real, I'm pregnant. Like it's, I could not understand more. But also the anxiety of being a public figure for me has been,

to be honest, my biggest challenge thus far. Because of the reason that you just like, your explanation of being like, I could just flash and fucking go to the laptop. Oh my god. It's like terrifying. Intrusive thoughts. Yeah, completely. Like from anxiety. When I'm posting, like it takes me so long to... Oh my God. It's like terrifying. Intrusive thoughts. Yeah, completely. Like from anxiety. When I'm posting, like it takes me so long to, like even just doing a story, I'm like,

I could just do, I could do anything. I can write anything. Even though I don't want to, like the only thing stopping me is my brain going like, I don't do that. Like it'll have lasting consequences. I completely understand. But I don't know, what if that part of me me is I think it's why like I don't love heights because a big part of my brain is like, ah, just jump. What if you just did? And then obviously my logic is like, you don't want to because you'll plummet. Don't do it. Right. But then it's, I don't know. I'm always like, if that part of my brain just stopped and I just went like, ah, I'm going to just do it. I know it's a weird thing. I could not understand more and I feel like

The thing that's the hardest I think is for us in a way is that our our situations in life Exacerbate and I lately like it makes it harder to do the things that we need to do in a way like for example If we if we need to like promote something on social media or do something on social media, now we're thinking about not only how everything's going to be perceived, but also like what if we lose our head one time? And what if we fuck it up?

Do you feel like you're constantly in a way maybe censoring yourself? Or do you find that you've been able to manage this sort of fear of the pressure of being in the public eye in a way? Like how do you manage that? I definitely like, I definitely sense myself. I think I'm sort of very, very meticulous or sort of want to make sure that I say the right thing and do the right thing. But then at the same time I think I've realized more like how quickly things are yesterday's news. And also like we live in a time where like stuff doesn't stay for very long. No, it doesn't.

The like the Met Gala that I met you on, like I got like memed for a bit for like a really embarrassing interview I did. I didn't even see that. That's the thing. Like probably not that many people did, but obviously that was the only thing all of my friends sent me post the Met Gala. They were like, lol, like this is the funniest thing I've ever seen. Basically I had an interview. I mean that whole day was, I was like completely just so like having an out of body experience.

Of course. It was just like, I just couldn't believe I was there. And also was like, oh my God, like, what am I going to do? And like my friend, Paul had said like, we'll meet beforehand. And he was late. So I was just sort of at the front of the like, you know, the little pen area that you're in. And I literally was like, hi guys, scan your barcodes to the last. Like I was literally working there. So then this person was like, do you want to do an interview, like a Vogue interview? And I was like, sure, it would pass the time.

And it wasn't even that bad, but I basically just was really unbelievably awkward in this interview and then it cut and I didn't leave. I should have left, but I just sort of stood there like a weirdo. Anyway. By the way, that's not your job. Don't worry, they're supposed to be like, okay, you're good.

Thank you. They should have said goodbye. I was being polite. I was waiting to be dismissed You should have said goodbye. No, I I as somebody who does the bogey they should have said goodbye They should have said okay. Goodbye. I think they actually did say goodbye You just forgot you're like I was like no, but it's scary was it the live one Yeah, that's terrifying. They were cutting away or something and I didn't want to just leave. No, it's very, it's, it's when it's live, it's impossible to navigate. These things happen all the time. But I understand because I had a similar meme experience with this speech that I did when I won like some sort of digital award, like the Streamy Awards. Congratulations. Thank you so much. 2018 or something. But I did

this speech and it was like, I, this was my first big event and I did this speech. I didn't know I was going to win. I had no idea. I thought they told you beforehand. So I was like, oh, I'm not winning. I'm just here to like, you know, rub shoulders with like, you know, Casey Neistat or like, you know, these YouTubers that I love and like that's what I'm stoked about. But I won and I had to go up and give a speech. I had nothing prepared and I fucking bombed it and said some cringey ass shit. I don't even remember. I've literally blocked it out because I'm not kidding. I continue to this day to get shit about it. Listen, in the grand scheme, you can Google it after this. It's horrible. Emma's screaming speech.

It was pretty bad. Like I watch it and like I can laugh now, but whoa. You can Google it after this. It's horrible. Emma's screaming speech. It was pretty bad. Like I watch it and like, I can laugh now, but whoa. Next time you win, which will be soon, you need to like do it word for word again. You need to double down and be like, no, this is my acceptance speech every time. Yeah, because guess what y'all?

This is me and y'all fucking gave me this award. I won because you like me. Accept me for me. Completely. Or, you know, like give the award to someone else. I mean it's like that's crazy. You know, but here's the thing though, if you're bringing your genuine personality to the table, you are more prone to these sort of embarrassing moments because you're not putting on this facade. If you like choose like, okay I'm gonna go into

the Met Gala, I'm gonna go into the 2018 Streamy Awards with this sort of facade, then guess what? You're safe. But no one then knows you. So it's sort of this like, you know, it's a tempting route to take, but like, I, you know, I personally can't exist in that way. Like I don't know how to have that sort of facade.

Also like, I think that people connect to people that they like know are being authentic. And I definitely, there's been times where I've tried to be, but I like, that's just not like, I still not who I am. But I also like, I love like when I see people being real. And also there's something, this is really, I didn't, I learned about this recently, there's something called the Pratt fall effect. Have you heard of it? No. It's actually, this makes this, this kind of like, it's, it's very interesting, but it's basically a psychological term whereby if you meet, when you meet someone for the first time, if you can like sort of make a fool of yourself or a prat in yourself, you basically like they

they automatically like you more, if that makes sense. Whereby like, for example, one of the best things that ever happened to Jennifer Lawrence, well Lawrence otherwise, other than being just like mega talented, was also like tripping up at the Oscars because everyone was like, I love her. She's like a real person. We all trip up. Like what a legend. And it kind of like, you know, I love her. She's like a real person. Yes. We all trip up. Like, what a legend. Yes. And it kind of like, you know, I mean, winning the Oscar is probably the best thing that happened to me. One of them.

But yeah, I think that like, it's, I think people just like realness. They like being able to go like, I see, I see you, you're a human. Yes. It's, it's, it's, I also think too, for anxious people in a way, to sort of accept and be okay with embarrassment or failure. To come to terms with the fact that that is inevitable. And in your case, potentially in the public eye even,

to come to terms with it is to set yourself free and then re-fall in love with what you're doing all over again. But it is challenging to get there. Would you say that removing the variable of like the public eye does acting cause or relax anxiety? Or maybe both? A bit of both. I think that like when you're in the free flow with another actor doing like a cracking scene and you feel completely lost in it, like that is the most sort of freeing feeling because you're just like, oh, I'm just like living in the present in this moment. And there is something massively magical about the like moment between action

and cut where you just have the floor and there's sort of like a true escape. But I also like, I'm such a perfectionist and I hold myself to a very high standard. So I think wanting to get it right, wanting to make sure that like I've done my best is something that like, and the lack of control sometimes where you can't predict whether you're going to have two takes or five, or you're gonna have, like, something go wrong, or, like, a weather come in, so you have to wrap up quickly and you didn't... You know, or you stumbled over a line,

or a line dialogue changes just before. Like, I think there's some parts of it that then I do, like, I find I really want to get it right. But I also, like, kind of like that, because I think I'll always want to, like, be better than I was before and like push myself better, like more so, and not be complacent. But it's rational anxiety, right? Because you're actually having anxiety about something that actually warrants a level of

anxiety. Yeah. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Because like, that's something that's been hard for me to distinguish being a very anxious person myself is like, what anxiety is rational and irrational? Yeah, that one's especially with hypochondria. Like, because like, there are times where it's hard because that is irrational, I suppose.

But you know, you can really, it can be psychosomatic, you really can start to feel it. Oh, yes. So that's really funny. Have you, how have you found, have you found ways to kind of do that to differentiate the two? I mean, I'm getting better now because I think that what I've been able to do is,

you know, over the years, every time that I think something's gonna go wrong and then it doesn't, I remember that. And I sort of store that in this place in my brain that is not hidden. I try to keep it up, you know, in the front of my brain so that I remember that next time. And that's been the thing that's helped me is like, time and time again, I've worried about these things and they've not come to pass. Like I've thought I'm going blind in my right eye. I've thought that I got food poisoning, you know, from

this like thing that I ate that like, wait, I think it was past its expiration date. Like, you know, all these little things, I've been fine. Mm-hmm. That's actually the, I think that's such a good way of handling it. Like, that's exactly how I do it too. Where, my health anxiety is not as bad as it used to be, or my health anxiety is not as bad as it used to be, but it definitely like, it comes and goes. And I think in part, like, I think it's sort of a control thing maybe of being like, I need to do something. So it's a sort of like, in a job, I think where a lot of the time you don't have control over a lot of your life. I think maybe that's sometimes a way of like, of having some. But you're so right. That's

the kind of, I think not letting myself Google has been a really good thing because then you're rationalizing something that there's times where you, you know, it makes sense. But I think where I've gone like, okay, I'm just going to leave it for a bit before I immediately diagnose a bunch of stuff. But also, it's one of the most natural human experiences to be anxious is how we survive. And the issue is now that the equivalent of a tiger is like an email you'll get through. And so we're constantly being stimulated with things that make us anxious. And so that's sort of natural and not to like, I feel like a lot of compassion for that part of myself because I'm like, you know, of course, there's sort of natural and not to like, I feel like a lot of compassion for that part

of myself because I'm like, you know, of course, like there's loads of things that like are quite anxiety inducing. But I think as I'm getting older, I'm getting much better at noticing it and figuring out ways to deal with it. And like a couple of things have really helped me like journaling is like amazing. Yes, it can be so good. It's so good. Whenever I'm like really, really anxious, I'm just like, do you know what? I'm going to like write a bunch of stuff down and suddenly when it's written out, it's the same when you talk to someone about something, you go like, ah, okay, now I'm zoomed out.

That's like, I can tackle that. Yes. I know that like this, this, this entries or this thing is actually like, you know, nothing to fear. No. And then also, um, breathe also like breathing techniques is really good. Oh, that's a game changer. Oh my God.

Like, because I think also there's been times in my life like in 2021, I played like back to back very anxious characters. Like I played somebody who's being like hunted by a cannibal. Somebody who was like being hunted like in the marsh. And then someone who was like, well was sort of was murdered. So there was like a lot of like for my job, I had to do a lot of like type breathing. And I really realized there was times where I was doing it loads and that like my body was like, Oh, what is happening? Because it didn't know the difference,

even though my brain was like, that isn't real. And in the reverse, I think I realized that you can then trick your body to be calm as well. And the sort of like four seconds in and six seconds out, that has been really amazing. What does your routine look like on a day-to-day basis that sort of supports a more calm vibe? A more calm vibe.

A calm vibe. I feel like I'm actually getting into my calm vibe era. I wasn't for a while, but this like, maybe this last month, I feel like, I'm feeling chill. I'm feeling really chilled. What do you think has led to this? I think I just felt sort of overwhelmed a lot. And so I've kind of gotten into like a good routine of sort of... The thing I found actually to be really great is giving myself 20 minutes of every day

to actually do something I really, really want to do. Because I like... I read a lot for work, but I love, and I love reading, but a lot of the time when it's for work, I think that there's never a kind of feeling of like, oh, I'm really, so I'm now saying like, you get 25 minutes to read like whatever you really want to read. That's amazing. And then from there, like, you know, so I don't know, like that's really helped, but also just sort of, I think deleting Instagram really helps me.

Okay. So do you not have your Instagram? You don't have Instagram. I do. And then I like, I redownload it and then I delete it often. Whoa. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. My mental state is absolutely atrocious when I'm going on Instagram. It's horrible. Wait, so tell me your story of deleting Instagram. Well, I like, I kind of feel that too. Like I, of feel that too. I wake up and I'm on it and I kind of put it away and then I go on my phone to answer an email and I'm on it. And I'm like, there's a time when I

was realizing that I'm not necessarily sort of deciding, it's sort of becoming a habit now. That is just something that I do. Losing hours to it, getting like comparing myself, feeling anxious. So I was like, I just, I don't have the self control you do. Like if it's on my phone, I'm clicking on it. Like I can't not. So I just deleted it and realized like it really does immediately, immediately change, I don't know, my mood. And I think, yeah, it's just so loud sometimes and it's just like all encompassing. And then you sort of turn it off and you go like, oh, it doesn't really exist actually.

Like what's here in this room exists and like that's where I'd rather be most of the time. What are you reading right now? And what are you watching? Like what's happening? So I'm actually reading something called, I think it's called Conversations on Love or something. Um, the title's escaped my brain, but Phoebe Dinevo, who's an actor,

she was like, you can't read it. And I was like, oh, my God. And it's so good. It's basically this woman, and she's interviewed people over the years about love. And she's like, I want to... Why do we learn about maths and science, but we don't know about, like of the fundamental like parts being a human. Absolutely. It's so good. It's all about like romantic

love but also platonic and familial. It's like lovely. So I'm loving that. Okay. Amazing. That's pretty good. What am I watching? I mean, I'm quite a sucker for like bad, but like I like quite bad, totally. Like, yeah, like if I'm going to watch telly, I'm like, I do want to escape. I like good shows. Like I watched all the classics, but like, like I love like a reality TV show. I love that you love that. Oh, massively. Like, I love...

What's your favorite? I don't think you have it here, but we have a show called Made in Chelsea, which is like... I don't know that. It's basically like, it just follows people. Like Chelsea is like a part of London, which is sort of where the like posh people live. And they all go to like bougie restaurants and like wear like bougie clothes.

And they're like Binky and Cheska are like arguing over something. It's like, it's like they're all like really posh. But it just, it just follows them and they're always having like relationship drama. And like... So Real Housewives. Oh, completely. It's like... Okay, I love that. The recipe is the same every episode. You're like, oh, they're always having like relationship drama and like... So Real Housewives. Oh, completely. It's like... Okay, I love that.

The recipe is the same every episode. Yes. You're like, oh, they're still having relationship dramas in a different way, but I will absolutely watch every episode. And I've been watching it religiously since I was probably like 11 and I love it. I love that. So that's my big thing. Did you grow up watching like Vice documentaries?

Yes, I have. Yes. I really remember I went to Amsterdam to try like weed for the first time. And I was like super convinced it was good for me because of a vice documentary about like Californian nuns. Yes. No, that's I grew up on those. And I feel like that's what made me like love the Demented documentary. Yeah. I just grew to love it.

And, you know, it's there's something so there is something grew to love it. And you know, it's, there's something so, there is something so fun about it. But you know, I had a horrible experience smoking weed, so I hope that yours was better. Did you ever freak out? Yeah, it was not good. Me as well. Yeah. I had a panic attack, one of my worst.

Oh yeah, I ended up in an ambulance in Amsterdam. I almost called 911. Yeah, yeah. But also the person was like, no one's ever died of smoking weed. Like you genuinely deserve it. Well did you think you were losing it? So I went interraining with my friend, which is a big thing in like, well, I think there's a lot of American people on Spring Break there.

So I think it's a big thing, but where you just get one massive train ticket and it takes you like to any city in Europe you want to go and you do a list of like cities and my friend Nancy and I went for like two weeks and we went all over. Amazing. It was so much fun. But we went down some because we were like, we got to try. We got to go. We got to, we have to do it all.

So like we went mental like for about four days we were like doing all the brownies, going on walking tours, like, you know, and on the final day, Nancy was like, it's our last day. Like we've got to like, you know, we've got final day, Nancy was like, it's our last day. Like we've got to, like, you know, we've got to try, we've got to do one. And I was like, oh my God, okay, fine. But can I pick because we've smoked too much and I don't, I don't really think I have the capacity. So anyway, they handed this menu over at one of the cafes and it had like a list of stuff. And I remember there was one, I think it has some mental name called like slaggathor on it. And it had like four different strains of weed and I was like, yeah, that's

what like, that's pure. Like that's what the guys in California smoke. Cause I'd seen the Vice documentary. So I was like, this will be super chill. Anyway, we shared it and like, I was on the side of this canal and you know, when you're like on weed and someone just like does the stupidest thing, like I think Nancy went like, or something like that. And you know when you're like on Weed and someone just like does the stupidest thing like I think Nancy went like, or something like that. And I was like, anyway, we were like pissing ourselves just like laughing for ages and ages and ages and ages. I wet myself and I was like, I wet myself. I was like laughing, laughing, laughing. And then I had that paranoid thought where I was like, I'm never going to stop laughing. Like ever. Yes. That's when it, that's when it starts with you. I was like the Joker. I was like, I was streaming. I was like,

like, I was like, I don't like this anymore. Like, please, please can this end? Yes. So I was like, ha ha ha. Like we were just painfully laughing. Anyway, I think like, I was obviously starting to have a panic attack about the fact I was laughing. So I felt my heart go like, and it was like beating really fast. And I was like, my heart's really, but it was like beating really fast. And I was like, my heart's beating really fast. But like, anyway. No, I, fully, like, I don't know what happened.

I think I passed out and I came to in an ambulance and like, I had all these like ECG strapped to me and Nancy was like in the front, like high as a kite, just like eating raspberries. And I just remember that like that song, you know that song? I've been through the desert on a horse with no name. You know that one. That was playing on the radio of the ambulance. And I was just like, what the hell has happened to me? Anyway, and then this guy was like, yeah, you're absolutely fine. You've just had a bit of a panic attack. Cause they were probably like, Oh God, they're so sick of these tourists coming over like thinking they can just like handle it. So anyway, from then on, I was like, oh god, they're so sick of these tourists coming over, like thinking they can just like handle it.

So anyway, from then on, I was like, this isn't for me. Yeah, have you not smoked since? No, well, no, because I had a gummy experience where pretty much the exact same thing happened. The gummy. No, that's yeah. I could talk to you about drugs all day. But instead, we have to talk about your new movie.

Because I want to know, like, tell me everything about this project, considering that, you know, you've had this sort of meteoric rise, as one would say, and it's like, now you're working on this project, starting from a completely different point. Do you know what I'm saying? Like you're going into this with so much under your belt in a way. Yeah, I feel like with every job,

I feel like the first day of school, like a complete, like completely green. I've wondered that. Like, especially with this, because it's like, I've never been on something that's like a big blockbuster. And like I mean it is it was the most fun film to make genuinely. And I think it's the same to watch. Like I think it is such a blast. But also like you know it's the best cast.

I feel like I have like this absolute knack for like working with the internet's boyfriend. Like, so true. I mean, we're with Glenn Powell. He's like the best. He's amazing. And like, you know, like, yeah, I've like my career, I've worked with so many like, so many handsome, brilliant men. It's amazing. But he's just like phenomenal and like so talented. And yeah, but but no it was such a great experience like This is definitely the biggest like scale thing i've ever done for sure like do you feel like you were able to sort of relax into it a bit more because You know you have this sort of experience I guess i'm trying to like Tap into

The fun level. Yeah, like like what does the fun look like on a set to you now, right? Yeah, well I feel like there was so much about it that I wanted to do. Like I really wanted to work with Isaac, our director, and he's that filmmaker that I'm obsessed with. Like I loved Banari, I loved his first film and I thought like him doing a disaster movie or like the, you know, like him doing Twisters is such a cool unexpected combination. And so meeting with Isaac and hearing his enthusiasm, like he was, he grew up in Arkansas, so he's like knows what it is to like see tornadoes and like has seen them and like

sheltered from them. And he also like was a big lover of Spielberg and like Spielberg produced the film and he like he was like I just want to like in my career I want to do everything. I want to I want to not limit myself to what I could do. Yes. And so I was like that is so cool and so what I want to I want to be able to be like yeah I've done a massive fuck fuck off, huge disaster movie, and I've also done like a really insular character driven thing. And like, you know, I want to

have that range. And so his enthusiasm got me excited. But also just like, I am fascinated by tornadoes and like that. I know nothing about them. They're like, they're the wildest thing. Like, we still know so little about them. Yes. But we filmed in Oklahoma, so I got to actually like, like live where they have them regularly. And we were there during tornado season. So. Whoa.

Yeah. Like they were a part of the process in many ways. Whoa. In real, for real. And I met like all these like, like gnarly storm chasers who are these absolute adrenaline junkie like mad scientists. Yep. And they were really cool. And I actually had like one of them, Sean, who is our main consultant. He messaged like a bunch of the cast a couple months ago being, it felt like a line from the movie. He was like, there's a crazy weather event. And like we all went out and went chasing for real.

Cause I'm like, I didn't actually see a tornado, but I like, I am determined to see one before I die. Like I have to. Well, especially now. Oh, completely. In on theme. I can't have seen five in a movie world and not have like actually seen one.

Yes. But yeah, so I think that like part of it, like that kind of ability to learn about that phenomenon and also like, you know, just like being something that had like crazy stunts and crazy rigs and... I know, I can't imagine that's like probably kind of scary in itself, like doing these, like, you know, like... I mean, there was like, it was like being in a full blown roller coaster.

Like, like some of the scenes were wild. There was one sequence which is just such a sick action sequence where it's all done on a one-er with all these camera whips. And so we were doing it in pieces and then they whip the camera so it looks like it's all happening for real. So you travel with the characters as a tornado is coming and they go down into this pool and then you come back out and the whole world has been flattened.

And so it's like, it looks like it's all in a one-er. And it was like, they were dropping horse trailers at us, like people being like pulled up on wires. Whoa! It's like, this is mad that this is a joke. Fucking badass. It was so fun bad ass you okay You know what?

You being a kid and not doing any edgy shit has all been this is your edge This is my edge. That's edgy shit. Oh my god. I'm being edgy Yeah, oh my god, that's so true Yeah, this is giving you like all the edgy crud. I'm not kidding. Because like being a storm chaser is actually the edgiest shit you could ever do. You're getting to the edge. You're literally on the edge.

Also, it's quite literally near death always it feels like with that. Yeah. I mean, like definitely when we went storm chasing, like there was a moment where I was like, oh, we're not in the movie. Like, this is real. I'm a bit scared. I would be horrified. Yeah, but we were in safe hands. And like the thing with like Sean and all those chases

is they're so disciplined and they're so like, they go as far as they know is safe. They're not like- They know what they're doing. They're not so driving into the tornadoes. But yeah, I mean like, I also like have so many weather facts now, which I really enjoy. Like I love learning about whatever subject I'm like, in the movie of.

So apparently the most tornadoes a year happens in the UK. Really? Yeah. The UK gets the most tornadoes a year. Since when? They're really little, obviously, because I've like never seen a tornado. I've never once heard of a tornado happening there. No, I think they have like extreme tornadoes, like the US winds by far. But like in general, the more frequent, like it's the UK.

Isn't that weird? Wow. I know. Well now, like now you can look out. I'm going to be like the only chaser in the UK. Finding this tiny little EF0. They're so small. They're so cute.

It's just a little leaf flurry and I'm like... That's my edge. You can probably make your own there, honestly, somehow. That's amazing. I'm so fucking stoked to see it. There's something nostalgic about it. There's something like... Something fucking badass about it. Yeah, it feels like one of those, especially the way it's filmed.

Like it's all... It was shot on actual film. So it has this like grainy 90s, like disaster movie nostalgia that is so much fun. And I really also like this CGI like... I thought the original holds up. Like I think the visual effects are really impressive, but the team that did the original were working on ours and they were like, yes, we get like another chance with this new technology. And so like the

visual effects are like, it is wild. Like they look so real. I do think like the experience of watching it will be like as good as chasing. I hope. Oh my God. This has been amazing. I get to talk to you all day. I could talk to you all day. If you ever want to come back on and talk about God knows what, just know that I'm here. Oh, thank you. This was awesome. So lovely.

I'll talk to you soon. Thanks for having me.