Erin Doherty had never heard of the 80/20 rule.
It was mentally draining to put together, Doherty admits.
I never want to let go of Briony, Doherty says.
Photo: Connor Harris
Vogue: Adolescencehas had a mammoth response.
Wheres your head at?
And I dont think I do…I dont think its possible to.
Photo: Connor Harris
Im in the theater at the moment and I think its the best thing that I could be doing.
It forces you to put it down for a second and just do the work.
Thats what I needed.
Whats it been like, seeing it become what it has?
Ive never experienced anything like that in my life!
To be there from the beginning of this incredibly powerful thing and see it through…surreal.
It came out a beautiful friendship with Stephen.
We were shootingA Thousand Blowsin this massive metal container which they had built to look like old east London.
He talked to me about creating the story because of the news articles that really hit him.
I remember him talking about the scene following the police van.
And if Stephen is championing something, Ill get behind it too.
Im a Spurs fan, but if Stephen asked me, Id probably support Liverpool.
How have these themes resonated with you?
Ive always been really nervous of social media.
Im such a grandma, and before, I had been happy to not fully understand it.
What was your own research into the role like?
Theres a quiet will to stay focused on the job, but you might see the intimate distress.
Thats why I also didnt want to learn everything I could.
Brionys mask has to fall.
It felt important that Briony is a woman in a position of power too.
He had to be sat in a room with a woman of my age.
Thats a nod to the brilliant casting director Shaheen Baig.
How did you and Owen find your rhythm together?
I am so obsessed with this kid!
Until you are in that rehearsal room, you dont really know whats being asked of you.
And this is his first major role.
We were the first episode shot, due to scheduling reasonswe had to rock up and go straight in.
I was nervous about that linearity: How were we going to achieve the intensity?
I think our genuine bond created an intensity that gave Briony and Jamie an energy.
We never did the same tape twice and we were always pushing each others instincts to go somewhere different.
You kind of cant do that unless you feel safe.
That was what he offered me and what I hoped I offered him.
We had kept going while he was still coughing.
I remember thinking,I bet theyll use it.
Its a testament to believing in the organic nature of what youre doing.
We chased the rawness.
Phil [Philip Barantini] is an actors director through and through.
The one-shot filming seems like such a thrillanda terror.
Do you think your theater experience impacted how you approached that?
Ive grown up doing theater.
Theres a magic to itwhether Im in the room or on stage.
Its different every single time, and everyone is in a room together watching this one-of-a-kind thing.
This was the best of both creative stimulating worlds, essentially doing a play on screen.
Id do it for the rest of my life.
From the minute they call action, its yours and whatever happens, happens.
Theres a fear, but in a way that fear fuels something different.
You end up surprising yourself.
Have you had time recently to go to the theater?
Im going to seeThe Yearsand I cant wait.
People keepfaintingmaybe that will be me?
Im so here for theater that pushes people to the limits and forces us to face these issues.
Im buzzed by it.
Youre a shapeshifting actor and seem to thrive in character studies.
What have your characters taught you?
They linger with you.
I think Princess Anne definitely gave me the determination to just say it like it is.
She has an unvarnished resilience that I found that so inspiring to embody.
Of late, Viola Davis is very inspiring to me.
Ill watch actors and scenes I find powerful over and over again.
Like inKramer vs. Kramer,where Dustin Hoffman smashes the glass up against the wall.
I think Ive probably seen just that scene upwards of 100 times.
What do you hopeAdolescenceactivates among people who see it?
I feel even more now how important it is to engage in human contact and conversation.
This is so complex.
Ive never been a part of something that is so necessary and of its time.
And what could be next for you?
Id love to write, but I dont think Id have the confidence to direct.
I love being a small cog in an important project.
Im up for just letting an absolute primal need to do a role that comes up take me forward.
I’m chasing that.
I love that it isnt totally clear to me what Ill do next.
Im chasing a feeling.
This conversation has been edited and condensed.Adolescenceis available to stream on Netflix everywhere now.
In this story: hair, Brady Lea; makeup, Caroline Barnes; styling, Aimee Croysdill.
