After last years finale, I was really curious as to how Eliot is gonna handle married life. Because he doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would be into monogamy or heterosexuality for that matter.
He’s certainly not! He’s certainly not the prototypical male version of either of those things. And I think it’s important to remember that this isn’t a marriage of choice. It’s a marriage of necessity. It’s essentially to save everyone. To get after the beast and to preserve our hopes of following through with the grand plan that set up in season 1. Eliot is really reluctant to commit to this marriage in the way that it’s been set up. Even though he’s bound contractually to it. And physically he can’t have sex with anyone else. So I think that it’s sort of fun to watch him try and create loopholes in that manage contract throughout the beginning of the second season. He’ll do what he can to flirt with a handsome guard or five.
Oh, and then there’s this kind of surprising element that Fin brings to the table which is that she’s incredibly sincere and incredibly honest. And I think that that sort of opens something up in Eliot. While she’s not someone who he would have picked for himself, ever, even for just a one night stand, she’s someone who continues to open him up in really surprising ways.
Good. That makes me happy to hear. I want that for him. Because it does seem like a really heavy… like, as funny as it could be, it seems like it could also be a really heavy burden to bear. Especially for someone like Eliot who you can tell really craves love and intimacy.
Yeah he craves — he certainly craves sex. I think he craves intimacy as well. I think you’re absolutely right about that. I don’t think that he gets it. I think he’s quite lonely at the core. I don’t think that he’s really found that outside of Margo, and perhaps Quentin in a fleeting moment or two. They have a deep friendship love that satisfies a closeness that Eliot has always wanted. But I think he is very much searching for the kind of connection that he feels he needs. In order to feel nurtured and taken care of. I don’t think that he ever has before.
Yeah, I think you can see that in your performance for sure. Which is so rich and there’s so much depth there, it’s really beautiful. And I was kind of wondering in that aspect if… because I do, I feel like you bring so much to him [Eliot] if the creators ever get your input on where you’d like to see Eliot go or the arcs of the season?
Yeah. I definitely, in passing, said to John McNamara, “You know I’d really love to sword fight and swashbuckle. If I could ever sword fight through Fillory that would make me so happy.” And he kind of surprised me this season with an episode in which I get to do just that. So they’re definitely incredibly… John and Sara are available to me and they leave a lot of room for interpretation. They let me bring my Eliot to the table. I think they really trust you with that and I’m so grateful to them. It really gives me space to create him. Which is not the case all the time. So I think we’re particularly fortunate to have showrunners who truly let us play with what we bring and cultivate what we bring. And I think it makes for a more interesting show because that’s a part of a really true collaboration. I’m so grateful to them for that.
And then of course they throw Eliot into the most unbelievable situations! Every day I get to go to work and my mind is blown! I get to walk into the next fantasy kingdom or magical forest — and then the circumstances I have to play with are so fun and inspiring. So I really am kind of living a childhood dream by being on this show. Truly.
Well, I’m really glad to hear that they’re willing to collaborate with you because I feel like you can see that in the product of the show. Because as magical and mystical as it is, it does seem very organic at times. And that’s really nice. I was going to ask you what do you think you’ve discovered about Eliot this season that you didn’t know about him before?
Oh, that’s a great question! Hmm… let me think about that. You know I guess I was just surprised, at different moments throughout the season, about Eliot’s relationship to change. The slow gradual embracing of change in his life. He’s not someone who’s particularly… Eliot is malleable in the sense that he’s recreating himself every day and he might surprise you and show a side of himself that you weren’t expecting; but that’s on his terms. So Eliot’s relationship to responsibility: It was a really slow burn this season. I think he comes to grips with [it] in a way that ultimately I’m very excited to see how it continues to evolve. I guess what was surprising was seeing how he surprised himself. Really stepping up to the plate every once and awhile, and I think you’ll see that over the course of the season.
That makes me very happy. I like that. As for other upcoming projects, is there anything you have coming up that you’d like to tell people about or anything you’re hoping you get to do? I don’t know what your schedule is like right now.
Oh yeah. Right now, honestly I just took the first vacation of my adult life, which was totally amazing. I’m actively seeking the next project, whether that be a film or a play. I continue to create music in my spare time. But right now I’m really just looking for the next thing. So there’s not really an exciting answer.
No, I understand. That’s how life works. You don’t always know what’s coming.
You don’t do you! Very wise.
But it was nice speaking with you. I hope we get to do it again.
We want to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Write a comment below or submit an article to Hypable.