Chris Geere Has That Hugh Grant Charm (Exclusive Interview)
Interview by Michael Aaron Gallagher of StayFamous.Net
Actor Chris Geere
Photo by Prashant Gupta/FX.
There is a sort of charming deviousness about the character of Jimmy Shive-Overly, a British novelist described as “a brash, self-destructive narcissist,” whose book is titled “Congratulations, You’re Dying.” In some ways, Chris Geere‘s You’re the Worst character is vaguely reminiscent of Hugh Grant as Will Freeman in the romantic comedy About a Boy. But it doesn’t take long for actor Chris Geere to demonstrate that like Grant, he is a deeply talented actor, who can make you both like and despise his character all at the same time.
“I think he’s so different to me,” Geere told me in a recent interview. “I keep my opinions to myself an awful lot and I’m quite reserved in a way when it comes to expressing myself fully and Jimmy has no filter whatsoever. So I kind of have the opportunity to be that voice of un-reason.”
A brilliantly talented actor (who would make a terrific James Bond 007 someday), Geere was born in Cambridge, England and has appeared in British television on EastEnders, Trollied, and Waterloo Road. Yet, although television is television, he explained, there are some differences when it comes to working in American TV.
Chris Geere as Jimmy Shive-Overly and Aya Cash as Gretchen Cutler in “You’re the Worst. Photo by Byron Cohen/FX.
“Craft service,” Geere said with a laugh. “When we have breaks in English TV, we’re lucky if we get a cup of tea. In America, you have these huge tables of naughty fats, and a guy in a van will [let you make] your own sandwich, it’s just incredible. I think a combination of that and the weather. Obviously, it’s a bit of a clichéd response. I can’t remember the last time I did a shoot on a British show where we had sunshine 98% of the time.”
Although the weather may be predictable, You’re the Worst, which also stars Aya Cash, Desmin Borges, and Kether Donohue is a roller coaster ride of modern relationship drama and edgy, no-holds-barred comedy.
When asked which character has evolved the most over the course of the two seasons, Geere responded, “I’d probably say Edgar, actually. I think he was very much, not a side character, a supporting character. Now we know so much more about him. I think we’re interested. We’re really rooting for him. He’s a good guy and now that he’s gotten into this relationship with Dorothy, as well and revealing more about the PTSD, he’s becoming more and more confident. If you remember the flashback episode from last season, he really was a shell of a man, and now he’s got a bit more about him and he’s holding his own in the world. And I want to see what happens to him next. But I think all of us have evolved in totally different ways, whether professionally, romantically or emotionally. I think everyone’s progressed and that is the point. We’re still the inherently not nice people, but they’re learning and they’re trying to be better. And I think in many many ways we have progressed.”
Aya Cash and Chris Geere in “You’re the Worst.” Photo by Byron Cohen/FX.
As far as Jimmy goes, the biggest way he’s changed, Geere said is emotionally, “Just realizing that he needs Gretchen more than he’s ever admitted, and they need each other, and they’re just better off with each other. So emotionally. I would say that he’s better at explaining how he feels and I think that can open doors to many things. So who know’s what’s going to happen with him.’
You’re the Worst airs Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. on the FXX television network.
“Chris Geere Has That Hugh Grant Charm”
Copyright 2015 by Michael Aaron Gallagher
Photography courtesy of FXX
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