Sarah Niles joins season 2 as Sharon, the team’s straight-talking new sports psychologist.
“Part of me was going, ‘Yeah, yeah, what’s the big hoo-ha about?'”
“He’s charming, funny, and got good teeth - what more can you say?”
Jason Sudeikis and Sarah Niles on ‘Ted Lasso’.Colin Hutton/Apple
SARAH NILES:I was not familiar with it all.
Then I watched it, [and] absolutely loved it.
How would you describe Sharon?
She’s a sports psychologist who is coming in to sort a few things out.
They think the game is about physicality and the body, and it’s not about the mind.
So I’m sure she’s going to come up against some kind of resistance.
She’s straight-talking, very good at her job, very kind, and wants the best for everyone.
What is Sharon and Ted’s dynamic like?
There’s much more than meets the eye.
He’s very smart and very sharp, so there’s a lot more going on.
In addition to the comedy, should we expect some heavier moments?
There’s always that, isn’t there?
There’s always light and shade, which makes this character and this show more than just one-dimensional.
He’s obviously really tapped into something with this character that a lot of people have connected with.
It just felt so easy.
Like, I remember meeting him the first day and we had a chat.
We had a long conversation, about the character, where he thinks the shades of it might go.
But it’s been just an absolute joy working on it.
I’d argue that it ended up being the show of 2020.
I know Jason is leading the way, but it really feels like it’s a group thing.
He really opens up a lot of space and suggestions, which is really humbling.
And I just think it’s the hope, there’s always that hope.
And he’s an underdog, and, you know, the British love an underdog!
And he’s charming, funny, and got good teeth - what more can you say?
But it’s the hope, the optimism, the heart.
You see parts of him that are a real human being.
Must be something in the water!
[Laughs]
You’ve already given us some info already on season 2…
Have I?
[Laughs] Not too much, or Apple will kill me.
But what would maybe be your very non-specific tease of what fans should expect whenTed Lassoreturns?
I suppose there’s a few more roller coasters.
That’s as much as I can do.
