Photo: REX USA/Rob Latour.
“There’s definitely some tension there. The thing about it is, she’s a woman. She is not a little girl. Everyone grows up real fast in this world. Daryl, being a man, starting out was really child-like. There is an emotion; he makes a decision. A sort of distinctive honesty that kept him mentally in a non-grown-up situation. He had a mother that kept him down. He never really emotionally grew. He never learned how to be around people. And, then you have Beth who is the little sister who’s growing up really fast. Meanwhile she’s not a kid. She was a young farm girl. So, there is definitely some tension going on. It’s not just one layer of tension; it’s a whole bunch of tension. Circumstantial tension. It’s a very volatile episode. Stuff goes on for all of us, not just these two characters, but for all of us.”
Is there a role you would never do? Are you a baddie, or will we see Norman Reedus try comedy?
“I do play people with troubled pasts; I do look like that sort of person. That being said, I never really get seen in a comedy. I’d be great in a comedy. I might be the only one who thinks I’m funny, but I think I’m kind of funny. But, a part that I wouldn’t play? Maybe something that has just been done to death. I know they are remaking everything now. If someone said, 'Would you like to play Joe Buck [Edit: We originally said "Bub" but Norman called us out personally, and for that we are honored, humbled, and embarrassed] from Midnight Cowboy?' I’d be like, 'That’s my all-time favorite movie in the world. But, can you really do it better than Jon Voight did it? Could you even attempt that?' Like thinking of remaking Taxi Driver. Would you ever remake Taxi Driver? I don’t know — I couldn't do that kind of a part. But, as far as a character? No. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”
So, we might see you in some sort of slapstick comedy in the future, like Will Ferrel-esque?
“I mean, it can be fun. I don’t think it’s really my thing. Just hanging out with those kind of geniuses on set, like that. There is also something about comedians, a sadness. It’s sort of intense sometimes. Those guys are all geniuses. I don’t know if I’d do Dude, Where’s My Car, but working with someone like Will Ferrell? Hell yeah. Or Eastbound and Down? I love that show.”
“They should do that with Eastbound and Down. That’s my favorite show. Quote me.”
“A Lot of Motorhead. And Slayer. Stuff like that. I think Daryl listens to a lot of Lynyrd Skynyrd as well. But, Norman, on his own, on the other end, listens to Sonic Youth.”
So, does he have relaxing music? What does he fall asleep to? Like Hank Williams?
“Maybe Hank to wake back up. I think Daryl likes the kind of music he wouldn’t want to admit. Secretly bubble gummy.”
“Probably not. Probably more of an AC/DC guy.”
“Oh, I’m in New York right now. I’m wearing a cat onsie and looking out at the snow on the patio. Rearranging all my furniture.”
“Yeah. Portlandia and Eastbound and Down. I just cranked through that whole series, back to back. That’s really my new thing. But, I really want to get into House of Cards. I haven’t hit that one yet.”
It’s really good. Really dark. It’s kind of campy, but in a good way. Kevin Spacey is a wizard.
“What else are you watching?”
“That’s my next go-to, right there.”
“All four. From all four seasons at this point. And, I also took my vest with the wings on it. I have a poncho. Two ponchos. I have my boots. I really have a lot. I drive about half way back to New York and my producer asks me, 'Did you steal another costume?' He goes, ‘Sonofabitch!’”
Your costume is the coolest. Between you and Danai (who plays Michonne).
“I’ll steal Danai’s next!”
I hope she has her sword.
“It would be hard to get on a plane with a sword. I can just drive with my crossbow.”
“Yeah. It’s pretty big. Its funny. When I go through airport security, they always ask me, 'You don’t have a crossbow in here, do you?' I get that all the time.”
“I get it every time I go through.”
“I like it.”
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