Kit Harington ('Industry'): "My father is a baronet, so I do know that world well"

When Industry premiered at the end of 2020, it went completely unnoticed. Perhaps it was because our bodies were only asking for utopian fictions like Ted Lasso, because its protagonists were young and totally unknown, or because its title is not very eloquent. Whatever the reason, for the premiere of the third season, the series arrives with cult status and rated by many as the heir to Succession.

In addition to its narcissistic, contradictory, affectionless, insecure, and ambitious characters, it has also taken the place that the series Waystar Royco occupied as the critics' and HBO's spoiled child, which for this season has decided to bring out the promotional artillery and give it the Sunday night for the live broadcast, a time slot reserved only for the big ones like Succession or House of the Dragon.

A large part of the reason for this commitment is due to the signing of Kit Harington, the British actor who played the heroic Jon Snow on Game of Thrones for eight seasons, and whose popularity could well benefit this series that had so far been a niche product and the hidden gem in the Max catalog.

A signing that is reinforced by Harington's fan status, who revealed in an interview with EL ESPAÑOL that "I was a fanboy of Industry and contacted HBO to offer myself for a role."

Regarding what he has in common with his character, Sir Henry Muck, a member of the British aristocracy and CEO and founder of a technology company, and his experience filming the series, this newspaper spoke with Harington and with Marisa Abela, main character of Industry since the first season, and his scene partner in this installment.

Harry Lawtey and Kit Harington

How have you prepared for the jargon of this role?

KH: I think the brilliance of the series is that you don't need to know all the financial concepts to understand the dynamics of the relationship between two characters; what is really happening between them.

It is incredibly important as an actor to understand what you are saying when you enter any of those scenes; otherwise, you would be like a parrot repeating words, so I try to understand what all the jargon means. But above all, why it is important, what it implies for an operation to be carried out or not, so that when you get to the scene you can at least pretend that you know what you are talking about.

Marisa Abela in 'Industry' 3x01

How was it to explore the fragile mental state Yas is in this season?

MA: We have seen Yasmin anxious and vulnerable before, but in these episodes she is in escape mode and I think that is a very difficult place to be for an extended period of time. It is incredibly traumatic.

I think there are different levels of anxiety; you can experience it for a specific situation, but in her case, it's a kind of inertia, like an inability to really feel anything other than fear.

For her, it is incredibly comforting to meet with Henry, because he offers her levels of security and relaxation that she does not feel she can find anywhere else.

"Yasmin can bring out her princess side with Henry"

Marisa Abela

You share many scenes this season, how was the experience of working together and what was the most difficult scene to shoot?

MA: This season we had a bit of pressure to keep things fresh after the first two. We already know a lot about Yasmin, but we had to explore different things and what better than to see her through the eyes of a new character.

I think what Henry brings out of Yasmin is a side of her that she can't let out with the rest of the characters, and I really enjoyed playing that. With him, she can somehow bring out more of her... how to say it... her princess side. Working that out with Kit was really amazing.

I would say that the most difficult scene to shoot was the shower scene... right?

KH: Yes. I'm glad we shot that one after doing others first.

Marisa is an extraordinary actress and it is incredible to share scenes with her. And Yasmin's arc this season is impressive. It is nice to work with good actors and perform scenes written by good writers. And that's what we have in Industry.

"Mickey and Konrad write in a way that merges you with the character in a very intelligent way"

Kit Harington

Do you have any points in common with your characters?

KH: I am not from the same background as him, I did not go to private school, not even to an elite public school, but, and I can say this because it's on Wikipedia, my father is a baronet, so I do know that world well. Henry is in many people I have known. I know many Henrys.

MA: There will always be parts of Yas that I identify with. There are parts of her personality and decisions she makes that do not have to do with me, but I can always understand why she does them and what she feels.

I really enjoy interpreting all her facets, both those that may be similar to me and those that are totally foreign to me. I think that's where the fun aspect of our profession lies, in being able to live different lives than yours. What I can say is that I empathize a lot with her this season.

What do you like most about Mickey and Konrad's way of working?

KH: Everything. They are very talented and create a very good atmosphere on set, but I could point out that they have a lot of instinct and strive to get to know you as a person to find a way to merge yourself with the character.

When we start filming, they are still writing the season, changing things, rewriting scenes, and adding dialogues, so they write in a way that merges you with the character in a very intelligent way.

*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence