COMPASSION IS KEY

Will Poulter says that the roles he gets excited about the most are the ones that have the potential to spark social change. ‘I think about what the story is saying and what it is contributing to society. Is it just pure entertainment or does it have some kind of social application and will stoke an important conversation,’ explains the British actor known for his roles in instant classics like ‘Midsommar’ or ‘The Revenant’. It’s no surprise then that he decided to be part of Danny Strong’s miniseries ‘Dopesick’ (out now on Hulu) without any hesitation. The show, based on an investigative book with the same title by Beth Macy, is a complex portrayal of the opioid crisis in American society - it simultaneously dissects the sinister tactics of a big pharma corporation ruthlessly trying to increase the sales of OxyContin and tells the stories of people who became dependent on the highly addictive drug. For us, Poulter talks about the research he did to prepare to play a pharma sales rep and what it’s like to act opposite his legendary co-star, Michael Keaton.

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Right Jacket & knit Hermès and Lanvin

 What attracted you to this project? What was it about Danny Strong’s vision when it comes to telling this story that made you want to be part of it?

 The opioid crisis in America was something that I was aware of and interested in before this project came along – looking at it from a socio-political perspective, it really intrigued and concerned me. And so when I was asked to do ‘Dopesick’, I jumped at the opportunity to have a hand in trying to explain how the corporate forces united to trigger the worst drug epidemic in American history. Danny is a writer that I’ve admired for a long time. I think he does a really wonderful job when it comes to influencing important conversations and addressing societal issues. 

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What intrigued you about your character, Billy?

 I was really interested in the arc that he experiences over the course of the series. He enters the pharmaceutical industry with the best intentions, but with time, he starts to wrestle with the moral conundrum of being involved in such a successful company, when that success is built on the backs of hardworking people that are being taken advantage of.

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 What research did you do to prepare for your role?

 I started by reading Beth Macy’s book. After that, I focused on getting a better sense of how my character would fit into this story. I was researching the Purdue Pharma training programs and looked at the materials that were popular amongst young salespeople at the time. There’s a book called ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ which is considered to be one of the earliest self-development books. And looking in retrospect, a lot of the principles in the book are wildly problematic – they go beyond winning people over and having a positive influence, and read more like a how-to on manipulation and deceit.

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 What was the most surprising or shocking thing that you have discovered in your research?

 The extent to which Purdue lied and fabricated data in order to present their drug as being non-addictive when the reality was entirely opposite. I learned about stories of them inventing graphs and burying the information that reflected anything negative about the drug. Another thing was the level of intimidation towards the employees – anyone who reported any worrying feedback or said anything remotely negative about the company was threatened with legal action, which is really quite sinister.

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 Most of your scenes are with the acting legend, Michael Keaton. What was it like to act opposite him?

 He’s phenomenal, I absolutely loved working with him! He was so generous with his energy and time, as well as very encouraging – he really bolstered my confidence along the way. He sets a great example with his professionalism and draws the best out of people around him because he is so good! He makes the experience so real and immersive that you just turn up and react to him – he immediately gets you in the right zone [to tell the story].

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Jacket Alfred Dunhill

What’s important to you while choosing future roles?

 I think about what the story is saying and what it is contributing to society. Is it just pure entertainment or does it have some kind of social application and will stoke an important conversation? If I feel like the project will initiate social change and action, that’s when I get excited the most about any possible role.

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“Dopesick” premieres November 12th on Disney+.

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Interview by MARTIN ONUFROWICZ

Photography by RAF STAHELIN

Fashion by MICHAEL MILLER

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Groomer FEDERICO GHEZZI

Digital Tech TONY TRAN

Photographer’s assistant CONNOR KENNEDY

Stylist’s assistant FRANCESCA RUSSO

A DAY’S WORK

Why sign up for a mercenary mission when your signature weapons are a fork and a spoon? For Dieter, the happy go lucky safe-cracker played by Matthias Schweighöfer, there are 250 thousand reasons, but for the German actor, it was Zach Snyder’s generosity in letting him spin his own funny ad lib that cinched his agreement to experience the ultimate very bad day at work (to find out why, Army of the Dead is now out on Netflix). But after our interview is interrupted by a personal call, it’s not the zombie apocalypse that Matthias has most to fear: it’s coming home empty handed, or worse, with something uncool. 

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Is everything alright?

 Everything’s great. That was my daughter. I’m driving back for her birthday and she just asked me for a college jacket. So I asked her what kind. Her answer? “A cool one.” Uh-huh. 

 That sounds like the premise for another kind of road movie! 

 (Laughs.) That’s very right. And it’s called “Puberty, Reloaded.” 

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You better be careful because shoppers are way more ferocious than zombies, after this last lockdown. So what’s your hunting perimeter? 

 Well, I’m in London for work. It’s going to be a long journey [back]. Border is like this kind of stasis. It took us four hours, but thankfully, we only have to do 5 days in quarantine because we come for professional reasons. 

“Zack and the team asked me if we have experience with weapons in Germany, and I said “yes, I have a fork and a spoon at home.”

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I hope it's a nicer setting than the Las Vegas refugees we meet at the beginning of Army of the Dead.

 Yes, thank God!

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 Dieter gets offered 250 thousand dollars for a day’s work. What’s your going rate these days?

 That’s my going rate. I’m known for that. And given I usually have 110 shooting days on a film, life’s great. (Laughs.)

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 Definitely enough to get the coolest of cool varsity jackets!

 Right. But 250 grand for a day? That’s a lot of money. It’s crazy.

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 Depends how bad the day gets, even with that badass bat with metal spikes. Everyone else has guns, so what gives? 

 I am so proud that I have a bat in that scene. Zack and the team asked me if we have experience with weapons in Germany, and I said “yes, I have a fork and a spoon at home.” That, I can handle. Or something made of wood. So I got pretty lucky to have something that gangster version of a bat.

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What happens after the zombie apocalypse? 

 I’m working on this film called The Swimmers. It’s based on the true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, two Syrian sisters who swam across the Aegean sea 5 or so years ago, pulling a boat. They saved something like 20 people. After that, as they were both professional swimmers, they came to Berlin to train for the Olympics. Yusra eventually competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, in the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team, at the age of 16. I play Sven Spannenkrebs, her trainer.

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Are your swimming skills up to the task to measure up to swimming across a sea?

 I’d love to say that it’s my genuine expertise. I think I’m a decent swimmer but would perform best in a calm setting. You know, a pool. 

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Army of the Dead is currently airing on Netflix.

Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Letizia Guel

Fashion by Fabio Pace

All clothes BALENCIAGA

Grooming by Paolo Ferreira

Casting by ImageMachine_cs

Production by Agnes Virag

Stylist’s assistant Lucas Avid

CAKE AS KRYPTONITE

There's not as big a step as you might think between wanting to be the fastest man in the world and become an out-of-this-world actor. Just ask Aaron Pierre. 

 Ever since he made a remarkable and remarked debut on stage, as Cassio in Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe opposite Mark Rylance – arguably one of the greatest thespians of our time – the 27-year-old South Londoner  has been around the (acting) universe a fair bit, going from the dark days of the Roman Empire to the shining doom of Krypton. 

 But our hero's destiny was probably set long before that, when in 2004, he read the lines "Greetings, gang, and welcome to the ultimate superhero battle, the one comics fans have been awaiting for decades" in the JLA/Avengers comic book. And like any good superhero, ours has a dastardly weakness...

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Left Jacket GUCCI

Right Shirt ROCHAS

Word is that your career as an international athlete was derailed by an addiction to food, especially cake. For real?

Ha! I have a serious sweet tooth. Cake, cookies – that's my thing! Growing up I loved athletics. Particularly sprinting. 100m and 4x100m relay were my favourite events. There was definitely a time when I wanted to pursue athletics as a career! My passion changed around 14 years old. I wanted to share stories. I joined a theatre group in my area and the rest is history!

So what was on the menu during lockdown?

I cooked a lot during lockdown! There was a lot on the menu. My favourite thing I made was Caramel Shortbread. It didn't last long!

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Jacket LANVIN & pants DIOR HOMME

C'mon then, what's your all-time favourite?

That's a difficult question! I have many favourite dishes. I'm going to say Callaloo and Saltfish with Plantain and Rice!

From Krypton to Shakespeare’s Italy… What’s harder: stepping into a role that’s been around for centuries or going for an all-new character? 

Both may present challenges in their own unique way. When approaching a character, I do my best to discover what I believe to be that character's truth and see any challenges as positive challenges; an opportunity to grow.

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The Guardian’s Michael Billington says you brought vitality to Cassio, a “bookish wimp”. How do you breathe contemporary spirt and relevance into a role?

That's very kind. I'm not sure. As I said, I do my best to discover what I believe to be that character's truth – I believe that combined with thorough exploration of the text, conversations with the director and company will guide you in the right direction.

And which one are you in real life. The bookish shy guy type or the stylish rake?

Neither. Ha! There are times when I like solitude and quiet. There are also times when I like big social events! I think things can coexist.

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Tank top MAISON MARGIELA

What makes you say yes to a role?

The character and story. Saying yes to a role and story that you are passionate about is a brilliant feeling. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to experience that feeling a number of times in my career.

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Left Shirt ROCHAS & pants QUASIMI

Right Jacket GUCCI

What's next for you?

Two projects I can tell you about are The Underground Railroad (directed by Barry Jenkins) and OLD (directed by M. Night Shyamalan) – 2021! Stay tuned!

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Interviewed by Lily Templeton

Photography by Patricia Ruiz del Portal

Fashion by Marco Drammis

Hair by Ryona Rushima

Make-Up by Philippe Miletto

Studio Lucerne Studio

WISHING UPON A LONE STAR

Ever since he first discovered the thrill of the stage in his junior year of high school (thank you, unnamed guidance counselor who encouraged him to try!), Ronen Rubinstein has been lighting up the characters he portrays with a cocktail of passion, enthusiasm, and humility. Oh, and the smoldering good looks don’t hurt, either, especially in his role as T.K. Strand in 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Los Angeles, February 2021

Captured by Alex La Cruz

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 Behind the Blinds catches up with TV’s hottest firefighter (sorry Rob Lowe) between shifts for a chat. 

If your house was on fire, what’s the one thing you’d grab? All living creatures big and small being safe, of course.

What would I grab… Oh my god. That’s something I’ve never been asked before!

Seriously? You’re on a show about firemen! 

No, really, you’re the first one. Ok, but not to sound like a hero or anything, but I’d just make sure the living creatures were out. Everything else is replaceable. But I would really hope I had insurance! 

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What are you up to on your day off, other than talking to strangers on the phone?

You know, I’m used to it at this point. Whenever I get a day off, I take it easy to recover because our jobs are demanding physically. I try to take care of myself – sleep if I can, drink lots of water, eat something good for me. And then just focusing on not doing much, just laying out in the back yard or watching [movies].

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Isn’t that the hardest task you’ve ever had? 

It is! I have a hard time sitting around, so I really have to focus on just doing nothing. But I know I need to do it. 

What’s it like being T.K. Strand? Was it one of those roles that you have to think about picking up? 

How could I not accept the role? It’s like winning the lottery, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a TV show that is so gigantic, so epic. You’re almost guaranteed a massive audience, thanks to who is making the show and the network it’s on. One of the beautiful sides of T.K. is the family aspect. He's a very relatable character, someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, loves his job, and puts his family before anything. So, a lot of people have connected to him as a family member – a brother, a son or even (chuckles.) a prospective boyfriend – because he’s a really good kid. 

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Does the TV format factor in this connection? 

Being allowed into the living room of our viewers creates this very intimate relationship, where you go through the experiences [that T.K. is living] together. That’s what special about TV. With movies, you go to a movie theatre with strangers and then you leave. For a series, you get cozy and you let these characters enter your life. So how can you say no to someone like T.K.? 

So who are you letting into your living room? 

There’s “The Little Things” on HBO with Denzel Washington. And then catching up with all the Oscar-nominated movies of this year. Music-wise, it’ll be cycling through old favorites, like Kings of Leon and Frank Ocean. 

Which one will it be today? 

It’s really sunny so it’s a Frank Ocean kind of day, where I’ll probably lay by the pool and relax. 

Sunny day, lucky you! It’s a miserable rainy evening here in Paris. 

Well, I’d gladly trade places with you. I would love to see [a place] outside of American right now. You know what, it’s funny because I’ve been invited to a convention in Paris in June. I’m really hoping it happens because it’ll be my first trip there as an adult. The one time I went, I was about 6 years old. We went to Disneyland Paris and the Eiffel Tower, but beyond that, it’s very minimal flashes of memories. What I do know is that it’s a magical place and I think I’d lose myself there for sure. 

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Anywhere else? 

Portofino! Por. To. Fi. No. (Wistful sigh.)

How very Alexei-the-Russian-oligarch of you, Ronen. 

(Laughs.) More like Roman Emperor. I’m obsessed with Europe. Italy, France and Portugal are my favorite places in the world right now. But when I visited Portofino a few years ago… Have you ever had that feeling where you feel at home in a place you’d never been to before? In my mind and body, Portofino felt very right. It might be because it’s by the sea and I’m a big ocean person. But there’s also the culture and history. So I’m putting it out there as much as I can, so that it may happen one day: I’d love a little house where I can look at the ocean, drink my coffee and then walk down to the stores. Maybe learn some Italian. Just a beautiful, simple life. 

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Interviewed by Lily Templeton

Production & cast by IMAGEMACHINE CS

All clothes Erl

THE BOY

Jack Quaid on superheroes and scary times

Ever since Jack Quaid made his debut as a boy we loved to hate in The Hunger Games, his tousled curls have cropped up in unexpected places. Point in case, he's on the wall of the metro as I go home for the Zoom call scheduled with the 28-year-old actor. 

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Jacket and sweater SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, denim pants LEVI’S & hat NICK FOUQUET

 Lily Templeton: Sorry about the Blair Witch lighting but I don't want you to have my lamp in your face. But it matches the mood of your recent work. That opening sequence in The Boys, season 2? Just when I thought you couldn't top the hand-holding scene of episode 1 [where Hughie's love Robin dies].

Jack Quaid: Yeah, we waste no time in showing you how gruesome our show is.

LT: We all love horror flicks, though. So this is the perfect superhero caper that caters to that.

JQ: You're totally right. I never thought about it that way, but those who are horror movie nerds will definitely get a kick out of The Boys, for sure. Just wait till you see the rest of the show. I don't know how we top ourselves, but somehow we definitely do.

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Right Vest and coat DIOR & hat NICK FOUQUET

“Horror movies are a way of exploring our fears in a safe environment.”

 LT: Have we just become an ultraviolent society?

JQ: That's not necessarily true. Horror movies are a way of exploring our fears in a safe environment. People make that argument about video games, too. I don't think it's necessarily people indulging in violence. But if you have that tendency towards violence, wouldn't you want a space where you can get that out of you [through gameplay] so you don't put it out into the real world?

LT: Wait… Why are you wearing a Coffee For Sasquatch cap and where’s he hiding? Because his Comedy Club’s been awfully quiet recently.

JQ: Oh my god, I'm so happy you even know about Sasquatch! He really loves iced lattes, so I couldn't resist getting the hat from this coffee place in Los Angeles called Coffee For Sasquatch. You’re right. We have been pretty quiet lately. At least online. While we haven’t shot a sketch in quite a while, we were doing live comedy shows in LA right up until the pandemic, at the Comedy Central stage every couple of months. We just kind of fell into this groove of live comedy and we stuck to it. We all come from a performance background so that was always very, very rewarding for us. I’m sure we’ll get back to doing something together again once this is all over. 

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LT: Why the Sasquatch as your comedic spirit animal? Can't fool you, I'm obsessed.

JQ: I love that you're obsessed with the mythological beast of Sasquatch. I've always been obsessed with like UFO’s, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and just the paranormal. I've always just had kind of an eye... Well, maybe not an eye. Let's say an interest in that. And yeah, it's kind of radiated into all different aspects of my life.

LT: From the paranormal to the barely believable year we're living. It's like a series we'd like to see the end of, no?

JQ: The bar is so low that “I’m guess we’re alive” is the feeling. The world is just absolutely insane right now. I don't know what's coming, it seems like the pressure is just going to keep getting ratcheted. The American election is like the season finale.

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Left Jacket DRIES VAN NOTEN

Right Jacket and sweater SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 LT: “Those dirty supes are gonna get what’s coming to them sooner or later,” you told me earlier. Given the circumstances we're in, lots of people are looking for a magic bullet of sorts to end this. Do you think superpowers are what's needed, or is it really up to regular Joes and Janes to feel their way out as best they can?

JQ: I'd never thought about it that way. Our show's very timely and we talk about a lot of real issues. And the feeling, at least in my community in America, is that those who were supposed to be our champions and our leaders have failed us in a lot of ways –– not very altruistic, they don't seem to have our best interests at heart. This is the first time where my generation has seen an injustice that we could do something about. So we do have to pick up the slack a little bit, as regular citizens. But it's an opportunity for everyone to be a better person. When times are tough like these, I try my best to learn as much as I can about other people's perspectives and experiences; about things that are outside my purview as a straight white man in America. 

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“This is the first time where my generation has seen an injustice that we could do something about.”

LT: If you could have an actual superpower, what would it be?

JQ: Flight. I know that’s the boring answer. And I feel like anyone else who says anything different is lying a little bit. I mean, I would love that. And talking to animals. That's like my unique one. Because I just think we can learn a lot from them. At the same time, it could get kind of annoying because the animals would either be very smart and have discourse with you or just be like "food, food, food, food". Flying just seems like so much fun.

Tank top, jacket, hat and boots GIVENCHY, denim pants LEVI’S

LT: C'mon, flight's just because you want to cut those TSA lines...

JQ: I do. I really do. I hate air travel as it is now so anything that can help mitigate. Although teleportation could also be great. In an instant, you're somewhere else. But yeah, I would definitely want to cut the TSA line.

LT: So as an actor, you spend a lot of time answering questions. Turning the tables around, what's one question you always want to ask your interviewers?

JQ: What got you into journalism in the first place?

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Vest, coat, pants DIOR & hat NICK FOUQUET

LT: Okay, you got me there. Well, I would say probably that, like actors, I'm all for a good story and for character. And having actual conversations, rather than following a script of questions.

JQ: Yeah, sometimes the questions I get — and it's fine, that's the dance — are a bit ‘generic’. I love when people point to a specific thing in my life. The more specific the question, the more I jump out because I always love that so much.

LT: What are you up to these days? Are you back filming or are you just being Zoomed to death by us journos? Or should I say… “Are you alone in the house, Jack?”

JQ: I'm about to start a movie, which is crazy, a bit like I was going to the moon. I didn't think that would happen now or any time soon. And yes, it’s the next Scream movie, so I've been watching every one there ever was in preparation.

LT: Aha! So you ARE a horror movie nerd.

JQ: I'm becoming that way. You know, actually no, I'm gonna say yes, I am. I'm a huge fan of modern horror that's been coming out like The Babadook. It's an amazing resurgence.

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 LT: If I were Ghostface, I’d ask “Sidney, what makes you scared?”.

JQ: I think my niche is sci-fi horror. I watched the director's cut of Alien when I was nine. Bad move. I was so scared. Growing up, there was this old movie called Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein, about them encountering Dracula, the Wolf Man, Frankenstein's monster, and it was scary enough for a kid. You could laugh a little but there were all the little elements of horror seeping into you. I do remember having very visceral memories of Halloween where I was scared while trick or treating. There was this one year where I was very scared from ghost faces... the year Scream came out. So it's weirdly coming full circle.

LT: How does Scream hold up in the scare scale?

JQ: It made a horror movie cool. It’s a brilliant movie: full of references and Easter eggs that true horror cinephiles would love, but never too meta or too far up its own whatever. So genuinely scary and frightening in its own right, with satirical elements but also characters that you connect to. Sidney, Gale and Dewey are just genuinely great characters. The fact that I'm going to be joining this universe is incredible. I feel great but it also is terrifying because I know it's something that fans really, really care about.

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JACK QUAID, Los Angeles, September 2020

interviewed by Lily Templeton

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Sharon Chitrit

Grooming by Candice Birns

using Eminence skin care r&co haircare