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The fact that the series is ending is certainly one of them.
Another is Miriam Shor.
Your work onThe Americansis terrific.Oh, thank you so much.
]But it was.
I would say it was wonderful.
It was exactly what I wanted to do, you know?
Thats why Im an actor.
How did the part come to you?I auditioned for it.
I dont mind it, either.
The whole crew, the cast, everyone was a mensch.
Seeing a show thats been running for six seasons, you dont know what youre going into, necessarily.
Its like joining a family and some of those families can be a little dysfunctional in our business.
I got tospend a day on the setand I observed that, too.
I was watching a lot of scenes where it was just Matthew and Keri.
As is typical, they were very serious scenes.
But then they would stop and start cracking jokes.Like total goofballs.
Yeah.She would make me break almost every time.
Give me some tips.
What did he tell you?He was just very generous.
I would watch him and see how hes setting up a shot.
Hes an amazing actor, so hes also very good at giving direction to actors as well.
Were you watchingThe Americansregularly before you did this stint?Yes, I was.
You knowthe episode where he pulls her teeth?
How could I forget?So I was really, really ill in a hotel.
I had the worst fever.
It was just a blur.
For some reason, that particular moment ofThe Americanshas stuck with me forever.
How fitting, then, that you got to vomit on the show.I know, exactly.
Theres another second time left.
But you havent seen the whole thing.
Once you were cast, what were you told about Ericas arc?
However, I got to meetthe artist [Alyssa Monks], who created the art.
It was so eye opening.
She made me look at art completely differently.
Think about it as pulling something out of the paper.
Youre bringing something out of it.Which was revelatory.
In a lot of these scenes, Erica is furiously sketching.
One of the other things she said to me is, Im not planning each thing.
It takes you out of whatever youre thinking.
Were not going to see what youre drawing, so just do whatever you care to do.
Elizabeth is, even as Stephanie the character or as Keri and I dubbed her, Steph.
We love Stephs hair, first of all.
Its maybe my favorite wig Ive ever seen.
Her whole look was really working for me.
But her presence was very noninvasive.
She just let me do my work, right?
So that was what initially ingratiated me to her.
Id be like, Okay, shes the one I can handle while Im trying to work.
Shes the one I want around because she wont bother me.
But I think she wants to impart something before she leaves the earth.
Maybe she senses a challenge there.
Like, Oh, you think art doesnt mean anything?
Im going to show you that it does mean something to you.
It was a delicious casserole.
I was like, I will give $50 to anybody who eats a spoonful of this.Nobody would.
Nobody took me up on it.
It was cut-up raisin and aloe juice and a little coconut water.
Keri would be like, Really get it on me.
She had costume changes every time.
This bad human moment juxtaposed with this high espionage moment is really what the show is.
Obviously, Im in the scene.
But then Im also an actor watching these other actors do this amazing work.
To be front and center watching Keri Russell work is amazing.
It was a joy to get to vomit all over her.
Do you think they would have anything in common?I absolutely did.
I will tell you why because Diana is a big art fan.
She would absolutely love anyone who was an artist and would understand her on that level.
And theres something uncompromising about Erica, right?
Diana has that same work ethic, that idea, like,Dont fuck around with me.
Elizabeth has that too.
But for Diana, its because shes far too self-involved to realize that shes acting that way.
For Erica, its because she doesnt have time.
Like, wow, theyre so good.
I was talking about it with Keri and she was excited about it too.
And you’re free to feel that from everyone in the show.
Everyones a fan, you know?
I actually miss being on that set.
It was so fun.
You also got to draw and throw up.Its true.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
