This week, Variety dropped another episode actors on actorsAnd this time, it featured none other than Pedro Pascal and Steven Yeun — both of whom are known for their fun, chaotic energy (seriously, you should check out their photo shoot for the episode).
However, those who have recently seen AOA The episodes — including myself — are incredibly moved by the raw honesty, authenticity, depth, vulnerability, and intelligence of both Pedro and Steven. Some even called it the best episode till date.
12 consecutive hours apart from steven last of us Video games and Pedro’s correct use of Bella Ramsey’s pronouns (they/them), the pair talked about everything from their acting processes to their struggles and insecurities as both people and professional actors.
That being said, here are 17 insightful (and very human) things they revealed during their 40-minute convo:
1.
Steven and Ali Wong didn’t hang out much before or during filming. beef, Despite knowing each other for years. But Steven said that the “more naïve, less experienced, younger versions” of themselves wanted to “force chemistry” by trying to hang out with their classmates during filming.
2.
pedro hasn’t seen the finale last of us (though he has seen every episode up to that point) because he has an emotional attachment to the 12-month filming experience, which he won’t let go.
3.
Steven believes that playing a character in a post-apocalyptic world (eg the walking dead) gave him the ability to break away from stereotypical tropes, especially as an Asian American actor in the 2010s. “You see people at that point,” he said of dystopian societies.
4.
Steven views acting as a “self-destructive” journey and states that some actors could easily become trapped or consumed by it. the mandalorian as a faceless character – but Pedro was kind enough to not only play the “selfless” role, but also make the character a part of his acting journey.
5.
Pedro calls Steven’s “intelligent and astute” observational abilities, which is why Steven’s acting is so “engaging and watchable” – especially in a series like this. beef It is set in the real world (versus a speculative universe) and explores the “danger within mediocrity” of Danny’s life.
6.
Speaking of Danny, Steven felt like Ben Stiller meet the Fockers during the filming of beef Because how much “dirt gets” on their characters. Nevertheless, she used her shyness to connect with Danny.
7.
When first reaching out to his characters, Steven looks inward to find the parts of them that deeply understand them. For Danny, he sought out the parts of himself that felt isolated, alone, cramping, and gross. “I’ve been thrown out of a tree, and everybody’s just watching, and I look pathetic,” he said.
8.
In fact, a younger version of Steven would have objected to being shoved out of a tree beef Because he used to think, both as an actor and as a human being, “Why are things happening to me?” But having matured, he now thinks, “Things are happening for me or through me.”
9.
Steven recognized how much inner work went into Pedro’s performance as Joel. last of us — to which Pedro admits that it’s fun, as an actor, to be allowed to feel everything through the characters. He also admitted that he is jealous of a role like Danny.
10.
Steven described acting as a “study in himself”, which made Pedro reflect on how lonely acting can be. He elaborated by saying how — despite potentially feeling overwhelmed on set by scheduling, lighting, or even social dynamics — acting, as a job, focused on staying in character. Maintaining requires being vulnerable and cooperative.
11.
Pedro has also noticed that he now panics at times when he feels that he is not in character and cannot figure out why – whereas when he was younger, he had the ability to give 100% to a role. There was enough arrogance in him no matter how bad it was.
12.
After this, Pedro no longer likes to see himself on screen as he is “strangely” put out of the experience. In fact, he enjoyed watching an episode of last of us In which his character appeared in the very beginning of the episode.
13.
He also pointed out how an actor has to “give it absolutely everything and then completely drop it” when filming because their performance can be edited in a way that they have no control over.
14.
Steven shared that some days, he goes on set feeling down, but he can use those feelings to fuel his performance.
15.
Pedro believes it’s smart to “lean into the subconscious process” when acting because he would otherwise want to control the experience. And at the end of the day, he believes his responsibility as an actor is to figure out the most practical way to “accomplish the assignment”.
16.
Unbearable weight of immense talent It pulled Pedro “out of a very lonely place” because it was the first job he had found during the pandemic and enabled him to be around people again.
17.
Finally, Pedro feels that he is related to Steven because they both immigrated to the US as young children and grew up in bilingual homes – something that has informed his behavior in ways that he is not fully aware of. Can’t understand from
At the end of their conversation, Pedro mentions that he needs to talk to Steven after the episode because he has more questions (“Steven, how do I deal with this?” he joked). So, Variety, maybe bring him back for part two?