Warning: This article contains spoilers about the HBO Max seriesIt’s a Sin.
Alexander stars as Ritchie in the HBO Max limited series, which debuted Friday.
OLLY ALEXANDER:Oh my gosh, it’s such a range.
Ben Blackall/HBO Max
It’s been amazing to see it.
I think it’s really started a conversation here.
It’s kind of blown my mind.
Ben Blackall/HBO Max
I would say I was somewhat familiar with this area of history through some books I really love.
I read Sarah Schulman,People in Trouble, andDancer From the Danceby Andrew Holleran.
I’d love some works on TV.
Ben Blackall/HBO Max
So I think it was kind of a gradual process.
What was it on the page that you felt you connected with so quickly or easily, or convincingly?
But I also saw the way he hid a lot of things from himself and the people around him.
Olly Alexander and Lydia West in ‘It’s a Sin’.Ben Blackall/HBO Max
I really related to that kind of shame that drove Ritchie to do things.
I kind of know a bit about how that feels.
Well, it was “Hooked on Classics.”
Ben Blackall/HBO Max
But, yes, it samples that.
[Laughs]
Ah, okay.
The fact that the whole thing was set to classical music was kind of brilliant.
It’s also helpful as an actor to just laugh and kind of break the ice with other performers.
But yeah, all the music in the show, Russell pretty much [had] in the script.
Russell was very specific about what he wanted.
And I was exhausted.
[Laughs]
Understandably so!
[Laughs] Okay, so back to the serious stuff I mentioned.
These characters don’t, of course.
Do you view that question “Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?”
differently now, having been in this and experienced Ritchie’s life?
Personally, I don’t feel that way any longer.
I definitely used to.
I had a real plan.
And I think sometimes you need that and that can really do you a wonderful thing.
But you’re right, that’s such a beautiful scene for all the characters.
Take us into that moment and how it alters Ritchie.
He cannot ignore it.
Because even right up to the end, Ritchie doesn’t really know Colin much.
He’s just too involved in his own mind and other things.
He just doesn’t think he’s that important until it’s too late.
It’s such a huge moment in the show.
Everything that comes out of his mouth is gold.
And he is such a wonderful actor at the same time.
I was just like, I can’t wait for the world to see you.
Let’s talk about Ritchie’s boyfriend, Donald, who you mentioned.
Ritchie sees that spot on his back.
He’s been in denial and a bit reckless until that point.
So in that moment, what was going through Ritchie’s head?
It’s where the cracks are really, really getting bigger.
That was a turning point for him too.
He never sees Donald again he can’t face him, and he just dropped him.
[Sighs] Yeah.
Break all of that down for me and its importance in the bigger picture.
So these scenes where I’m working up to speak to Martin we shot in sequence.
Jonny is an amazing actor, so it was really fun.
[Throughout the show], a lot happens in a lot of the scenes.
But then there are also the scenes which really relax into the dialogue, but they are sparing.
[Laughs] Yeah.
Lydia West as Jill I think everyone needs a Jill in their lives.
She’s a best friend to everyone; she’s a mother-figure when one is needed.
And she’s based on Russell’s real-life friend, Jill.
Tell me about creating that dynamic and how important that relationship was to you?
Anybody that means Lydia would say the same because she’s joyful, positive, funny.
She’s just so fun to be around; she makes everyone around her happy.
She is just one of those people I can’t describe it.
She makes everyone happy on set she comes in, and everyone lights up.
And Jill, she does so much.
She really bears such a large burden throughout the whole show.
That character really touches people because where would we be without that person in our lives?
We’d be nowhere.
And they don’t always get the gratitude and the thanks that they deserve.
I think a lot of people are kind of recognizing that.
Let’s get into those finale scenes with her.
And Keeley Hawes, by the way, is just phenomenal in this.
But tell me about the first time you watched the end.
You’re watching two performers just absolutely smash it out of the park.
That’s what Ritchie wanted, and he didn’t get to have it.
And that’s the moment…it just [gasps] took my breath away.
[Sighs] It breaks my heart.
