“I’m discovering out we’re the identical particular person — long-lost cousins,” Drew Starkey says to Harris Dickinson. Though the 2 have simply met, at 31 and 28, they’re certainly in the identical uncommon place: Both play the love pursuits of much more seasoned film stars. Starkey was greatest recognized for Netflix’s teen drama “Outer Banks” earlier than entering into Luca Guadagnino’s surreal love story “Queer” as a quiet veteran who’s passionately pursued by a tenderhearted heroin addict (Daniel Craig) in Fifties Mexico City. And, directed by Halina Reijn, “Babygirl” imagines Dickinson because the intern of a distinguished CEO performed by Nicole Kidman. In each movies, questions come up about which lover actually holds the ability. In actual life, Starkey and Dickinson are discovering their energy, nonetheless reflecting on their school-play roots and studying to take care of the anxiousness that comes with every new script.
HARRIS DICKINSON: I’m a bit full up. I had a whole lot of pancakes this morning.
DREW STARKEY: You’re a pancake man?
DICKINSON: I used to be this morning. You’re from North Carolina?
STARKEY: Yeah, in a rural space. But unusually, I used to be surrounded by artwork rising up. How did you begin?
DICKINSON: My mum was determining little one care throughout summer season, and there was a neighborhood drama college. We did “Grease.” All of the boys performed Danny, and all the women performed Sandy. How did you get into it?
Alexi Lubomirski for Variety
STARKEY: Just being at school performs. And then I went to school, and — [He looks at the table beside him.] Someone left their gum on the desk.
DICKINSON: Someone very well-known, in all probability.
STARKEY: I’m wondering who was in right here final.
DICKINSON: Put that on eBay. You may repay that faculty tuition.
STARKEY: But I went to school, like, “I wish to take an appearing class. It’s enjoyable.” And a professor was like, “I believe you may do that.”
DICKINSON: I used to be within the Marine Cadets for years as a child, and even they have been like, “Do you wish to play the sufferer that we do our medical coaching on?” Then an appearing trainer mentioned, “Don’t be part of the army. You can in all probability be an actor.”
STARKEY: You’re a director as properly, although?
DICKINSON: I’ve all the time wished to direct, nevertheless it seems like two very completely different sides of me. When I’m appearing, I must be guided. I succumb to no matter world I step into.
STARKEY: Talking about steering and submission, inform me about “Babygirl.”
DICKINSON: The script acquired despatched to me, and I used to be like, “I don’t know if I can do that.” You are likely to go to that place of “I don’t assume I’m proper” — to guard your self, perhaps. But Halina and I had a very lengthy chat, and I knew that Nicole was on board, which was intimidating.
STARKEY: You and Nicole do such a great job of discovering the humor in it. There’s one thing childlike about it.
DICKINSON: Nicole and I didn’t have a ton of time collectively. To not totally perceive one another — there was a component of thriller between us that was useful.
STARKEY: I didn’t meet Daniel till a month earlier than we shot in Rome, at Cinecittà.
Alexi Lubomirski for Variety
DICKINSON: Where was the remainder of it? Actually within the jungle?
STARKEY: No, the jungle was in a again lot. Dude, Luca was like, “I would like these crops,” they usually introduced in 1000’s of kilos of dust and constructed a jungle. Luca was very particular about how he wished the world to really feel. He despatched visible references. Some pictures; these work by Francis Bacon. With Daniel and I, there wasn’t a whole lot of dialog in regards to the soiled phrase — “chemistry” — between us. It was simply going for it. My coronary heart was racing on the primary day.
DICKINSON: Did you ask him about James Bond?
STARKEY: He simply began speaking about it. I acquired a whole lot of insider buying and selling on that. It was actually unusual, as a result of I’m watching this fantastically crafted, ready efficiency, but in addition freed from all inhibitions. I’m like, “What is he tapped into? Fuck! Let me lock again in.”
DICKINSON: I really like the ayahuasca sequence. How lengthy did it take?
STARKEY: It was over the course of an evening, however the rehearsals for the dance, that was months. I’m horrible at it.
DICKINSON: I really like to bounce, fairly frankly, Drew.
STARKEY: I do know this about you. Many mutual buddies, all of them say, “Harris, he’s a dancer.”
DICKINSON: Daniel’s a great dancer, isn’t he? I’ve seen him on the golf equipment.
STARKEY: He can transfer his physique.
DICKINSON: You have to essentially fall a couple of occasions. There’s an inclination, which I’m making an attempt to work on, like, “I’ll simply attempt to do it protected.” And then, “All proper. I’m going to simply be an fool for a second.” Nicole’s like that. She’ll simply strive it.
STARKEY: Daniel’s the identical approach. They take the lead. You have permission to make a idiot of your self.
