The actor also shares his feelings about Lawrence and Issa’s break-up in the premiere.
Warning: This article contains spoilers from the third episode ofInsecure’s final season.
This Sunday’sInsecurewas the Lawrence Walker (Jay Ellis) show.
‘Insecure’ star Jay Ellis as Lawrence.Merie Weismiller Wallace/HBO
During an interview forour recentInsecuredigital cover, EW had a chance to talk to Ellis about this tough episode.
I don’t ever really work with the girls, right?
We going to tell jokes all day long.
Merie Weismiller Wallace/HBO
But, I was definitely sad for the characters for sure because I think Lawrence wants it to work.
I think he respects her decision.
How did you feel about Lawrence’s journey in this episode?
It was a frustrating episode.
I say that not because of the production or because of the writing.
It was frustrating in the way that it was very lonely.
There were parts of it that felt very lonely.
I shot a lot by myself.
I think it made me very much step into Lawrence’s shoes.
But it’s always empty and he’s always by himself.
Then, I think the frustration comes out like you just want him to do better.
To your point, wanting to be there is not being there.
Wanting to be a good dad is not being a good dad.
Wanting to be a good co-parent is not being a co-parent.
You have to do.
He’s never trying to include Condola in what he thinks is good parenting.
He’s trying to put his good parenting on her.
Never getting any response or engagement from her or just asking, “Hey, what do you need?
How can I do better?”
Just never asking that as opposed to just pushing it on her.
Just step out the way.
You’re not the only one in this."
I remember reading it though at the table read and I was like, “Yo, America?
America about to hate Lawrence, dude.
I don’t know.
I might have to get out the country for this episode.It’s going to get rough.”
If they was mad at Lawrence back then?
Oh, my God.
And he was like, “Nah, I think we have to explore this.”
I think this episode is 100 percent that.
For me, that was Lawrence declaring he was going to see his son with or without Condola.
It’s just such a crazy statement to throw at somebody.
You just popping in 48 hours at a time.
That was a rough scene.
Christina Elmore is one of the most lovely human beings on the planet.
I am so grateful that she ended up in this role.
I think she made me a better actor every single day, to be very honest with you.
She probably didn’t talk to me for 48 hours after we shot that scene.
She was so pissed off at me because…
I think also her being a mother, right?
She knows that I have a kid.
You know what I mean?
It lived in such an amazing way.
Everybody on the set would be like, “Eek.
Lawrence, what are you doing, bro?”
Everybody hard me that week.
And most of the world will, too, probably.
It looks like he’s going to course correct and figure out how to do better.
But, those moments are … Let me call my Mama, ‘Hey, I love you,’ my grandma."
It was because of the kid.
That brought a whole new layer of what it means to be present every single day and be responsible.
Insecureairs Sundays at 10 p.m. on HBO.
