THE CHALLENGERS STAR ON COFFEE, CHIPS AND ZENDAYA’S ONESIE…
What’s the first thing you do when you get to set?
Just a big mug of coffee. I’m filming in New York right now and I’m on decaf because coffees here give me the shakes. I don’t know if there’s any science to back this up, but I feel like I still get a kick when I have a decaf.
What do you always take to set?
I’ll have my scrapbooks, which is what I do for prep for a film – notes, drawings and ideas. My little book is always with me. There’s lots of stuff about backstory. In this case, what [my character] Patrick was like before, and family background stuff that isn’t in the movie.
Hot lunch or cold lunch?
Right now, I’m eating very low-calorie nutritious things. I’m not trying to lose weight, and normally I’d just have lasagne or chips or whatever is going on, but I’ve been told that I’ll get much more energy eating rocket and tuna. It’s delicious, but so far, it’s not working. I’m exhausted.
Do you ever sleep on set?
At lunchtime, I pretty much always sleep. I eat my food walking from set just to maximise sleep. My rule is no more than 40 minutes any more, or I feel like I’ve cheated the people who employ me and feel a bit groggy.
What’s been your best on-set experience?
Challengers was a beautiful experience. [My co-stars] Mike [Faist] and Zendaya were just a dream, and Luca [Guadagnino, director] is phenomenal. Just before Challengers, I made this film, La Chimera [see page 28], and I’d say that was probably the best, most important experience in my career so far.
Have you ever stolen anything from set as a memento?
I attempted to steal something from The Crown. There was this paperweight with Prince Charles’ face on it, and it was kind of tacky, but I loved it. My plan was to get caught but then be given it as a wrap gift. But they never did, so now I wish I had just stolen it.
Did you learn any useful skills on the set of Challengers?
I’m a lot better at tennis, but a lot better
