By: Izumi Hasegawa June 17, 2022
In the TV show, The Boys, Homelander (played by Antony Starr) and Starlight (played by Erin Moriarty) are not getting along well in the show. However, at the interview, we can see they have pretty good colleague chemistry.
Q: Since this series is getting so popular, maybe when you go to Starbucks, or the airport or a store, people recognize you and approach you to take a selfie together or something like that. Have you ever had experiences of being called your character’s name or someone else you look like?
Erin Moriarty: I have. You [points to Antony], less.
Antony Starr: I don’t get that. Cause I don’t look anything like the character.
Erin Moriarty: Yeah. He benefits from the hair dye, but I will, occasionally. I’ve had a Starbucks cup written out as Starlight before, without them telling them, without them calling out that name. And it’s sweet. It’s really nice. It’s like a nice little nod, a nice little subtle nod.
Q: Antony, this is going to be a spoiler question. You get what you want at the end of the season. Do you think that is going to change Homelander (your character) for the worse or for the better?
Antony Starr: Well, I would have said, I would say for the better, except that the very last thing that we see is him zapping someone’s head and getting away with it, more than getting away with it, getting support, getting rewarded for and praised for it. And then his son, the last thing we see is that little smirk that the kid gives. So I don’t think it bodes well? If we get a season four, I guess we’ll get to dig into that, but Jaws can’t turn into a friendly dolphin and Homelander can’t turn into a lovable good dad. So whatever happens, it’s going to be fucked up.
Q: Erin, you said that you were relieved that Starlight wasn’t the stereotypical blonde character and that you were glad her character was so well-crafted. What are the things you really value about Starlight and Annie (Annie January, Starlight’s real name) and her character and her journey?
Erin Moriarty: What I most value about her is that we’ve seen typically the naive ingenue, or the opposite, which I love, the kind of kick ass female lead that’s a superhero. But I think what I like about Starlight is that she’s both vulnerable and strong, and that neither of those traits negates the other; you can be simultaneously vulnerable, and by embracing that it just makes you stronger. And she’s also a bad ass. So I think kind of creating a character that doesn’t fit in any pigeonhole and having her be empathetic and emotionally intelligent whilst also being literally and figuratively strong and resilient, I like that kind of paradoxical combination of traits that she exemplifies. I think it makes her different and nuanced.
Q: Antony, what is the best thing about playing Homelander?
AS: Well, in a sea of good things, the best thing, used to be, that I don’t have to do fight sequences, but that changed this season. Because my body’s getting old, and falling apart, I don’t do well with them. But no, it’s a great character to play, and I think Jensen (Jensen Ackles, plays Soldier Boy, joined from season three) and Karl (Karl Urban, plays Billy Butcher) and I have a good, three way superhero combat scene in episode six. And it’s a lot of fun.
Q: What do each of you like most about working with the other?
Antony Starr: As the show’s gone on across the board. It’s a great, great cast, just typical actor spiel, but in this case, it’s actually true. We actually have a really great cast, and as we’ve got to know each other and our friendships outside of work have developed, that can only lend itself to what’s going on. There’s just an understanding and an at ease with each other and a shorthand about creative and collaborative discussions. It just makes everything flow better. As Erin said, a bunch of times, everyone turns up really prepared, especially. I know you really do. I sure as hell do as well, and everyone does, but I know in our scenes specifically, it just makes the whole process very fluid.
Erin Moriarty: I’ve learned from you. I’ll tell you why. This is my favorite part about working with Antony. There’s a presence there, a constant and it’s not excessive, but self-analysis, and there’s mindfulness and thoughtfulness. So when we do the scene and then we cut, you think about it, and then you come back and you alter it a little bit and I can get locked in my patterns, that’s one of my problems. And that’s one of the things that I constantly work on, and Antony will alter and change until he finds it. And then, he has a really good idea of what he does really lock into it, but you’re really present and you’re really thoughtful and you’ll make little different choices in each take and that then causes a different reaction in me, and allows me to stay more present. So I’ve taken that to even other jobs. I don’t know, there’s a presence there and a thoughtfulness that I think is really cool that I enjoy when working with Antony a lot. That’s very specific to him.
Antony Starr: That’s called neuroses.
Erin Moriarty: I’ve learned from you. I’ll tell you why. This is my favorite part about working with Antony. There’s a presence there, a constant and it’s not excessive, but self-analysis, and there’s mindfulness and thoughtfulness. So when we do the scene and then we cut, you think about it, and then you come back and you alter it a little bit and I can get locked in my patterns, that’s one of my problems. And that’s one of the things that I constantly work on, and Antony will alter and change until he finds it. And then, he has a really good idea of what he does really lock into it, but you really you’re really present and you’re really thoughtful and you’ll make little different choices in each take and that then causes a different reaction in me, and allows me to stay more present. So I’ve taken that to even other jobs. I don’t know, there’s a presence there and a thoughtfulness that I think is really cool that I enjoy when working with Antony a lot. That’s very specific to him.
Antony Starr: That’s called neuroses.
The Boys season 3 is on Prime Video.
