The words BԪַTom HollandBԪַ and can immediately illicit snickering. There are compilation videos on YouTube of the BԪַ star accidentally revealing too much about the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
His slip-ups and near-giveaways have become a running joke among his co-stars and filmmakers. The actor found himself in familiar territory with his new twisty, surprise-laden series BԪַThe Crowded Room,BԪַ now streaming on Apple TV+ BԪַ and says by comparison, keeping quiet about Marvel is a piece of cake.
BԪַWith MarvelBԪַ itBԪַs all about the villain, the costume, the locations, the end result. TheyBԪַre relatively easy to keep those things a secret,BԪַ said Holland in a recent interview. BԪַI know that sounds stupid coming from me because I spoil everything, but with BԪַThe Crowded RoomBԪַ there are so many twists and turns in this show that people wonBԪַt be expecting. It really is a puzzle.BԪַ
The limited-series takes place in 1970s New York with Holland as Danny, a young man arrested in connection with a . His accomplices are nowhere to be found and an investigator assigned to the case (played by Amanda Seyfried) conducts a series of interviews with Danny to piece together his involvement.
Holland and Seyfried filmed their scenes BԪַ out of order BԪַ BԪַfor almost three weeks straightBԪַ in an interrogation room.
BԪַIt sometimes was confusing. I needed to know exactly where I was in the process with Danny, how much we knew or how much the audience knew and how much (SeyfriedBԪַs character) Rya knew,BԪַ she explained. BԪַIt was tricky.BԪַ
Holland credits Seyfried for keeping him on track as they BԪַdid over 100 pages of dialogue at that one table in that one room.BԪַ
BԪַAmanda is so talented, sheBԪַs so professional. SheBԪַs able to keep it light when itBԪַs dark,BԪַ he said. BԪַThere were certain times in that room where we were both just losing our minds, just scenes after scenes, after scenes after scenes. We were just a great team.BԪַ
Holland describes the job as BԪַthe hardestBԪַ heBԪַs had so far and says halfway through filming he BԪַwas counting down the days that I could take this year off and have some time to myself.BԪַ
BԪַDanny is an exhausting character. Going to those places on a daily basis, having that haircut, shooting on the streets of New York, it was tough. It was not an easy show to make,BԪַ but says watching the end result BԪַwas so rewarding. IBԪַm happy that I dug my heels in and stuck with it.BԪַ
He also served as a co-executive producer for the first time, which helped him to finally understand what the job entails.
BԪַI spent the first 15 years of my career on set being like, BԪַWhat do all of these people do? TheyBԪַre all just sitting there.BԪַ But having been a producer now myself, it is one of the most stressful things IBԪַve ever done. YouBԪַre shooting in a car and the car breaks down and all of a sudden youBԪַre trying to figure out how to get a new car or how to turn the scene into a walking scene and all that sort of stuff.BԪַ
Since beginning his performing career at 11 in BԪַBilly Elliott the Musical,BԪַ in LondonBԪַs West End, Holland says his formal education has been BԪַsomewhat non-existentBԪַ so he appreciates the learning opportunities he gets from working.
With BԪַThe Crowded RoomBԪַ Holland says BԪַI learned a lot about myself. I learned about my capabilities as an actor. I learned about things that I can put up with. I feel like IBԪַm much more capable at dealing with adversities and fighting against things that are going wrong on set. I learned a lot about mental health. I learned a lot about the power of the human mind and the amazing things we can do to protect ourselves, to heal and to survive.BԪַ
BԪַAlicia Rancilio, The Associated Press