On the HBO series, Herrold and Leung play cutthroat investment bankers. But at a Brooklyn pizza joint, they let their guards down.
Myha’la Herrold , the whiz of HBO’sIndustry , is giddy when she enters Dellarocco ’s , a pizza spot on a smooth block in Brooklyn Heights . Already sit at a tabular array is Ken Leung , who plays her mentor - slash - abusive political boss - slash - competitor on the serial . As Harper Stern and Eric Tao , their family relationship bristles with tension . On this muggy July day , Herrold greets Leung with a fond embrace and they immediately start chatting , scarce stopping as Thrillist ’s photographer snap away .
For fans ofIndustry , the financial dramatic event created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay that begins its 2d season on August 1 , Herrold and Leung might look out of place at this depleted - Florida key eating house . We ’re used to seeing them under the harsh lighting on the trading floor of the fictional bank Pierpoint & Co. , clothe in crisp shirts and sports jacket , or dining in London ’s finest establishments , trying to romance clients via outsized glasses of wine-colored . Both Herrold and Leung walked to Dellarocco ’s from their respective homes nigh by . Leung undulate up with a Starbucks iced coffee berry , black , smoke a cigarette , while Herrold bounds in subsequently in a stays top and low - track skirt , eager to deplete her gluten - detached margherita pizza . ( Dellarocco ’s was her suggestion ; on the manner out , she orders a pizza pie to take home to her boyfriend . )
During our consultation , I feel like I ’m in the middle of an admiration society . Leung and Herrold wield the kind of compliments Eric and Harper would never dare say aloud . " I have always feel secure with Ken , " Herrold says . " I think because there ’s that reliance , we know we can go anywhere . The relationship was what it was on the page , and then it have creepier and more layered and foreign , because as people we love each other . In the show , it ’s like , do they bang each other or do they hate each other ? It ’s all of that . "
Photo by Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for Thrillist
The first season ofIndustryends with Harper save up Eric ’s job at the disbursal of the women trying to make Pierpoint a less toxic surround , therefore secure a permanent gig for herself and knock her competition out of the way . for sure , Eric locked her in a conference way to berate her , but he also overlook the fact that she did n’t in reality graduate college , and , for both of them , ambition takes antecedency .
When Season 2 open , Pierpoint is just go forth from COVID . harpist is living out of a hotel where she fit Jesse Bloom ( Jay Duplass ) , a billionaire who made money off the pandemic . Eric , prune his toenail on the trading flooring , lures his protégé back into the office , but Harper , in courting Jesse as a node , position a wedge shape between them . Eric is no longer the " world - killing alpha " he once was ( Leung ’s words ) , and Harper is still out to rise she ’s " the baddest and the best " ( Herrold ’s ) . Theirs is a platonic office romance defined only by mutually parasitic co - dependance .
ThoughIndustryhas gotten a lot of attending for its denotative sexual urge scenes — many of which Herrold participates in — Harper ’s connections with old male mentors are made all the more unsettling because they are deep unsexual . In fact , concord to Leung , a reference work to the notion that other hoi polloi bear Eric and Harper were sleeping together was cut from Season 1 , and Herrold recalls that a scene where Duplass ' Bloom attain what could be a pass was axed out of Season 2 . " For those of us who have closeness scenes , it is our problem to maintain the integrity because it is the sluttish , tacky route to go for sex , " Herrold allege . " And sex activity exists , but why does sexual urge survive ? For a heap of reasons . People have sex for money , for ability , for erotic love , for a peck of other things , aside from just being sexy . So adding this intimate element was n’t necessary , I cerebrate , because there was so much other distorted shit going on . "
Before arrive in the UK to film the first season ofIndustry , Herrold had n’t clocked the Harper - Eric dynamic as being the serial ' cardinal one , but she was directly pull to Leung . " It did n’t dawn on me how close we were going to have to be as human beings , as actors , as persona , until I meet Ken and I was like , ' This motherfucker is cool , ' " she says , addressing him . " I just cogitate you were so cool and stoic and kind of cryptic . " Herrold was tonic off of finishing the conservatory course of study at Carnegie Mellon University , while Leung was a veteran best known for his work onLostand inRush HourandSaw . Leung , for his part , knew he was going to have to play elder statesman in a cast filled mostly with 20 - somethings play sluttish , substance - abusing interns duking it out to stay at Pierpont beyond its infamous " reduction in force " day .
Lena Dunham , who directedIndustry ’s pilot light , explain to Leung that the newbies might look to him for guidance , and he was open to play that persona . Herrold put it all on him , asking questions about his process , even his techniques for memorizing lines . ( The cant - heavy script , ground on Down and Kay ’s own experience , make memorization key . ) Leung was impress by Herrold ’s receptivity .
" You give voice to thing that people may typically keep to themselves , " he tells her from across the table , and she seems surprised by his assessment . " Especially if they ’re young , there ’s a opinion of wanting to come across a sure way , to impress in a sure agency , to be coolheaded . And your coolness comes from the fact that you do n’t do that , that you are just bang-up and you know what works for you and what does n’t . That ’s a not bad energy to be around . "
Photo by Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for Thrillist
Their comfort with one another has led to fairly experimental method . Before film one acute scene that happen late in Season 2 , they tried a rendering where they sing all their line of credit like they were in a melodic . " I do n’t have intercourse if you bed , but Myha’la is an amazing singer , " Leung says like a proud daddy .
While all that " twisted poop " is palpable in the parky creation ofIndustry , you may feel a shared warmth between Leung and Herrold . After time of year 2 wrapped , Herrold , who also star in A24 ’s upcoming Gen - Z satireBodies Bodies Bodies , went on to film a function in the literary adaptationLeave the World Behindopposite Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali . Leung , meanwhile , went off to Vancouver for a part inNetflix ’s bouncy - actionAvatar : The Last Airbenderseries adaption . Herrold is arguably more pumped for that than he is . " I ’m so fucking frantic , " she pronounce . " Ken does n’t even get how major this is . " He respond : " I kind of do now . " At first , he had it confused with James Cameron’sAvatar . He promise to show her photograph from the solidifying after I leave .
" you could only get to that lieu of pure play once you work up combine , and there ’s no judgement or insecurity in the relationship , because you might strain something and someone does n’t answer , and then you ’re like , ' Aw , fuck , ' " Herrold adds . " But I can do the stupidest thing ever , and Ken ’s like , ' Brilliant . You ’re the best role player in the humankind . I love that . ' And he can turn around and scream in my side , and I ’m like , ' Wow , a small spit . Did you get that ? ' "
Photo by Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for Thrillist
After we ’ve cease our interview and the bill is pay , Herrold and Leung have no interest in pay off up . So while the relief of us — photographer , publiciser , reporter — all head out into the sticky heat , they last out seated , still catching up . For the abbreviated time I was there demand questions , it ’s almost like I was interrupting their time to just hang out — Eric and Harper , off the clock .
Photo by Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for Thrillist
