Like you say, it is a big group effort.
MG: We take credit for a lot of it.
AL: We’re basically his crutches. He’s really up there because he’s on our shoulders.
MG: Yeah [laughs]. Standing on the shoulders of giants. He’s an acting giant, have you seen his shoulders? They’re so broad.
AL: [laughs]
MG: I saw him in the pool last night doing laps and he’s huge!
It’s such a stacked cast of talent of British talent. I was waiting for you guys, and one of your co-stars walks by –Keira- and I got completely flustered. You guys are pros, but does that intimidation ever go away?
AL: That happens to everyone. Keira walks by you, everyone gets flustered.
MG: That’s fine. Keira walks by, she’s the person you want to follow off on a photoshoot, and be like, “well what is the point?” Thanks Keira. Parents must be really proud. My parents hate me, they called me Private Failure too! And they were just talking about my face, they don’t know my work.
AL: Or your style of lovemaking.
MG: Yeah. Well I don’t want to talk to a journalist about my lovemaking –again. I’ll bring it up, but I don’t really want to talk about it. In detail.
AL: Speaking of your style, you did just bring it up as well.
MG: Yeah, I like to go here, there, everywhere.
AL: [laughs] Oh God.
How do you guys keep up this energy through all the publicity?
AL/MG: More coffee!
That’s the secret?
AL: Well, you’re right. When I heard who was involved in the movie, and then read the script, I mean.
MG: He’s about to answer some serious questions.
AL: I was like, “Benedict Cumberbatch? No way. Keira Knightley? Amazing. Matthew Goode? Meh.”
MG: “Private Failure? Oh look, he’s in it.” I do actually have to get rid of this Private Failure name, because I’m going to get into trouble, it could stick.
AL: I think it already has.
MG: It really has.
AL: I just can’t believe that you finally know what we call you. But yeah, I felt very lucky and privileged to be amongst very talented actors.
MG: It’s a great story. It has –I hate the words “All-Star British Cast.” I’ve been sitting on the outside of the All-Star British Cast a lot.
AL: You’re front and center in this one.
MG: Yeah. Ultimately, I suppose, a bit like the war effort, there was a huge amount of people involved in getting it to the screen.
AL: Morten [Tyldum] said himself, the cast he wanted came together, and the editor he wanted and the composer, he said this movie almost wanted to make itself.
MG: I love the fact that you mention that, because he’s genuinely, genuinely, genuinely so excited. Because you finish a film, we go off and do another job -or, more likely, go home, pick up the baby while the misses goes on holiday with the girls. But he then goes into editing, into like a mancave for three months, just to get hairier, and more like a Viking. He immerses himself in it for like a year. He probably hasn’t slept that much, and he’s coming here and he’s so enthusiastic. It rubs off, hugely. I know we are lesser figures in the film, but it is a really lovely thing to be associated with.
And that’s the fun. It’s not some stuffy biopic covering every part of Alan’s life, like “here’s Alan when he’s a child, here he’s a teenager-“
MG: Well we do have Alan as a child.
AL: Alex Lawther!
And he’s terrific.
MG: Yeah absolutely, he’s brilliant. He’s going to be usurping us in what?
AL: Everything.
MG: In a couple months: everything. Oh God. He’s playing a character, who’s 43, he’s that good.
AL: He’s a young, male Meryl Streep.
MG: He’s a young Meryl Streep.
AL: Male.
MG: Quote, unquote.
AL: Call it Alex Lawther: The New Streep. There’s a new Streep on the street.
What are you hoping people are going to take away once they’ve seen the film?
AL: The movie is a wonderful tribute to being different, and it’s a wonderful celebration of man who people don’t know that much about.
MG: Outside of the British Isles.
AL: Yeah, certainly. It’s a wonderful celebration of his life. He’s an incredibly important character for all of our lives, he’s the reason that you’re able to record this on this phone. He created the first digital computer, he was absolutely instrumental in the Allies winning the war.
MG: And it’s also very important to underline man’s inhumanity towards man. In a world where we still do things, and operate in ways that are extraordinary. You think, “wow, I thought we were a very modern, thoughtful society.” And yet, it was only a few years ago that we decided to, basically, offer this man the choice: go to prison, or we’re going to de-sex you. “What we think you’re doing is abhorrent and inhuman.” To de-categorize a man, or a woman, or anybody, and take them to a neutral state, is absolutely disgusting. And that was our government!
Can I just say Private Failure just pulled one out there? Sorry, but it’s true. We try to keep these things as lucid as we possibly can, cause I’m tired. Your point.
AL: You already made it.
So where can we see you guys next?
AL: I’m back on your television in January with Downton Abbey.
MG: I’m back on your television, too, or perhaps for the first time. I’m Good Wife-ing. Only 16 episodes to go this season, so that takes us up to about April.
AL: How many car chases have you done?
MG: Three.
That concludes our interview, but we’d like to thank Allen and Matthew very much for their time. Be sure to check out The Imitation Game when it hits theatres this Friday!