What did you learn from this [TPotD] shoot, being part of Jane Campion’s orbit?
BC: To get out of my own way, to be allowed to be a character and not have to apologize for it, to not need to be liked. She allowed me to be more open, I think, than I’ve ever been in a performance. At the same time, the character needed that, so it was a perfect combination. I feel fearless at the moment. I really do. I feel really emboldened. Not just by this experience and what we’ve all been through in this film, but just where I’m at in life, I guess. I feel more capable of dealing with the fact that it’s all right if people don’t agree with you, it’s all right to say no, and it’s all right to be yourself. These are all lessons that were profoundly impactful in the portrayal of Phil, the tragedy of him, the whole experience. As an actor, I’ve been brought into realms I hadn’t discovered yet or been tested by, and I feel pretty fearless.
