Has it made navigating in public easier, given how different you look from the character with whom people most associate you?The beard, the haircut,
Has it made navigating in public easier, given how different you look from the character with whom people most associate you?
The beard, the haircut, and the size all have helped. People are now puzzled, because they see a face they vaguely recognize who’s a bit bigger, through a beard, and sometimes through sunglasses. When Baby Reindeer first came out, I looked exactly like Donny Dunn, and it was borderline unbearable. I’m always fine with people coming up to me, because I know where I stand with them, but what I hate is the secret photos, and the whispering and pointing, because I’m like, What are they saying? Is it something negative?
I still don’t feel like I could go out in public properly, especially by myself. If I’m with someone, people tend to leave you alone. By myself, it’s free rein. Jamie’s really great at going out by himself. I said to him, “Do you not get pestered? Do you not get annoyed?” He’s like, “Yeah,” but he’s chilly with it. He’s such a pro.
You’re about to don yet another tux for the BAFTA carpet—do you enjoy that side of fame, getting dressed up?
I’m wearing Dior tonight, and I really do love Dior. They dressed me for the Globes. I loved that outfit, and they gifted it to me afterwards, which I couldn’t believe. Loewe gifted me the kilt from the Emmys, and I almost want to frame it because I’m definitely not going to wear it again. What if I snag it on a park bench or something? I don’t know why I’d be wearing it to a park…
I do like a suit, but tonight I’m going a bit more casual, with a sweater underneath. I think it looks quite classy, and I’m excited to wear it.
I quite like the red carpet. I like it because it feels like this weird escape. I like the buzz of it, and you feel tapped into life, which is quite nice. I’m not a substantial industry [person], in that I don’t hang out at the private members’ bars or anything like that, so the red carpet is sort of my chance to connect, which feels quite good.
Is the up-to-date show also a restricted series?
It will be. I quite like a restricted series. Baby Reindeer took four years, and I don’t know if it’d have been four years per season, but let’s say it did run—it would have wound up being almost a decade of my life. I like the idea of a restricted series defining your life for a period, and then you move on.
There have been so many calls for me to [bring back] the Baby Reindeer live show. Maybe I’ll do it—I’m toying with the idea of a 10-year anniversary [in 2029]. But life is so fleeting, and it would be nice to keep it varied and compelling. I think I’m probably leaning more towards moving on to up-to-date things. I do want to get back on stage. I miss live performance.
Maybe an acting gig in a play? Get Sam Mendes on speed dial?
Oh yeah, for sure. I’ve actually had quite a lot of acting offers since Baby Reindeer came out. It’s the crazy twists and turns of, pre–Baby Reindeer, going to auditions for Servant No. 5, and then suddenly, after the show came out, there were straight offers for leads in Netflix shows and films and all this stuff. But I think it has to feel really right.
The biggest challenge is doing all the stuff [in my shows], because I’m so hands-on. It’s like three jobs at once—writing, acting, and show-running. I get in at midnight, and I get up at 4 a.m., and my days repeat like that. So, the idea of being an actor with just one thing on my mind, that feels quite nice to me actually. If Sam Mendes calls, I’ll definitely be returning that call, for sure.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity, and the piece has been updated.
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