Sex Education's Asa Butterfield & Mimi Keene on Otis & Ruby's Relationship

Hi guys. How are you?

Good. Thank you.

Great.

How are you feeling now that season three of Sex Education is finally coming out?

Very excited. Yeah. It's always a fun time of year. Um, sex ed season. Uh, so yeah, just, uh, excited to get it out there and, um, make people laugh.

Same. Yeah.

So when it's long overdue. I know a lot of the comments on the video were like, oh my gosh, I've been waiting so long for this. Like it's very overdue. I'm ready. So the audience is definitely ready for the new season. Um, aside from, okay, so step back, like pretend that you were just watching the show, like yourselves, like you pulled it up on Netflix. One, do you think you would watch it? And two, which character do you think would be your favorite?

I would watch it. Um, probably, possibly Eric.

Oh, honestly, Mimi, you make me laugh so much. Ruby's character is hilarious. Um, yeah, I'd definitely watch the show. I, I don't, I would obviously definitely watch it. I'm trying to think of my favorite character. I've said, I've said Jim before. Um, sorry, not Jim. Jim's character, Mr. Hendricks. Oh, I love him. Because it always makes me laugh without fail. Even just one little word from him. You know? Sometimes it's not even a word, it's just a, a look.

It's a look or a pose.

It's just or or a shake of the of the beard. Yeah. Fantastic. Yeah. I think he, he, uh, he is my favorite character for sure.

Yeah. It'd be, it's cool that you guys would actually watch it. And then another, like a couple of the other comments were kind of like, when I was in school, like this was, like the topics that you guys talk about are something that like I would be ashamed to do, but that's why this show is so brilliant because it makes it like normal to talk about these things that people actually want to talk about. How does that make you feel knowing you're part of a show that just impacts so many people's lives?

It's a very proud moment. I'm sure it's it's a very proud moment for everyone who, um, who is part of the show, because, you know, so many so many different people that that contribute. Um, but definitely, you know, you never know when when you when you start something what it's gonna what it's gonna become. But this has become something so, you know, iconic and something that people have been able to relate to and see themselves represented, and it's it's an emotional thing a little bit, um, but mostly it's it's just you feel very lucky and very proud to be part of something that that can achieve that, because it's not easy. And you have to sort of approach things in a a very what's the word? Unflinching way, you know, you can't be scared to sort of say the things that maybe are a bit embarrassing to say, and do some scenes that are a bit daunting, you know, and say some stuff that, you know, you wouldn't usually say, but it's, uh, it all pays off in the end because it's really, it's it's an amazing thing to be part of. So, yeah, just very lucky. Very so.

Um, I mean, Mimi's just hit the nail on the head. Um, I'm so proud of the show and everyone involved in it. It's, uh, I think it's really special and it's not only is it kind of funny and original and well-written and well-acted, but it really I think it's really helped a lot of people, um, in their in in their lives and in terms of coming to terms with themselves, finding solidarity and community and, uh, and and being represented in a mainstream show. Uh, I think there's a huge amount of people who who've really benefit from that. Um, and that alone is is is worth it.

There's a couple comments too that it's like Otis and Ruby, like are we gonna see them together? Can you guys talk about like any spoilers there like if that was a possibility?

Well, I mean, we'll see, you'll see quite early on in the first season that this is, uh, this is, um, this is not the last you'll see of Otis and Ruby, um, being together. You'll see a lot more of them. In fact, uh, much to people's, I think most people's surprise. But when they see it when they see it play out, you're like, you know what, this kind of works. Um, and they really bring a lot out in each other which people won't expect. And, uh, and that's really nice. I think they actually come out better as better people at the other side of this, um, relationship. Yeah. Sure.

And there was a couple cast additions too. How was it adding to the set and having more people join, you know, the cast?

It was super cool. Um, I mean, Jemima brought a real energy to to the head teacher, um, and and through that a lot of conflict within the story, which is always, uh, there's always a juicy bit of drama there. Um, Dua brought an amazing arc for for their character and Cal, um, and having them stand up for themselves, um, and having that representation, um, I thought they were awesome. I thought they, uh, really really brought a lot and, uh, I was so impressed. And who else did we have? Jason Isaacs was hilarious. I didn't know he was so funny. But, um, really it's really tickled me.

Same, Mimi. Same. Yeah. I'm a big fan of him. He doesn't know that. But I, I didn't I didn't see him. But I was very excited that he was gonna be in it. And he's very funny. Yeah. But but all of the new characters I think really brought I mean, we we have new characters every every season, I think we've added. Um, and it always brings so much more to the show. And and it achieves what we already are trying to achieve even more. Um, but everyone's everyone's been incredible. And I think that's the reason the cast is is really good and it's really, I think it's a really well-cast show. So, very lucky to be able to work with great people.

Yeah, Amy had said in the other zoom room or whatever that it just feels like they've been part of all, like all seasons. Like it's very normal, like it was good to have everybody on set.

Yeah, 100%.

How what is the vibe like behind the scenes? Are you guys always laughing on set? Joking around? What would you say?

There's a lot of laughing, especially when Jim Howick is involved. Um, yeah, it's great. It's such a nice atmosphere. Um, I think we all, I mean, we all, as we said, we're all super close. We all this is our third season now, so we all know each other really well, um, and that lets us really push these scenes and have fun with them and experiment a bit. Uh, but it's always a good vibe on set. It's great. But, um, yeah.

Do you have any special plans? Have you guys already seen all eight episodes? Have you already watched it through or no?

I almost finished it. Mimi has. I've not.

I have, yeah. Uh, I'm, I have no patience. I let it all in one day. Yeah. I can't wait to see stuff. Um, but it's it's very, very good. I'll probably watch it again. I like to really, really watch something. But yeah, very everyone's done an incredible job. Yeah. I'm very excited for everyone to see it.

Do you cringe at all when you guys watch yourselves? Do you like watching yourselves? Because a lot of different like actors that we've interviewed and stuff, they're like, oh no, I can't watch. Like I'll cringe or whatever. Or do you guys like to see how you guys did?

I don't mind it, do you? I think my character is really different from myself. So it don't feel like I'm watching myself as much. What about you?

I don't really. Um, no, I don't really like it. I've gotten used to it over the years. But I think what's different about this show is there are so many characters and stories to follow. It's I can enjoy watching the show because there's so many things I haven't seen and and and and I can kind of really get immersed in these other characters' storylines. But no, I don't I don't like watching myself on on camera.

And what is one thing that you would say like that you're most looking forward to the audience maybe seeing? So it could be like a certain like spoiler maybe or there's like one scene you think might blow up on social media?

Um, honestly, I'm excited for people to see more of Otis and Ruby. I think it's a really, um, unique combo. Um, Yeah. And we as I said before, we get to see sides of them we've never seen before. Um, and that's always fun for us as actors and also for the audience.

Yeah. Yeah. I think there's been I've I've definitely had some people say to me that like is that gonna carry on and stuff and is that gonna be a thing. So, I think there'll be a couple of people that will be pleasantly surprised by that. It's gonna be good.

There's literally so many comments underneath about Otis and Ruby. They're just like so much speculation and everybody wondering about it. Good. Yeah. Do you ever Do you guys read the comments on the trailer and stuff like that to see kind of what the vibe is and what people are thinking? Or not really?

It depends. I haven't. Have you?

I don't read. No, I I try not to. But I've I mean I've seen comments like I I posted the trailer on Instagram. I saw some of those comments and people are very excited.

And they have noticed Otis and Ruby's potentially being, um, a thing. It's that scene where we have our sunglasses on. Yeah. Like, hang on a second. I've been tagged in that quite a few times actually. Yeah. I've seen that. I've seen that people are noticing something's coming. People will literally take every little detail and run with it. Like people are smart. Like they can tell what's going on and what's the vibe. I know there's literally a picture of my hand in one scene. It's just my hand. And people have screenshotted that and sent it and been like that's your hand, isn't it? I'm like I don't know. You have to go watch and find out if that is actually my hand. Yeah.

And what would you say? So are you guys when was the last time that you all saw each other in person? Or maybe specifically you two saw each other in person?

What was it? Our press has been bloody remote. So

Oh, yeah. And you you you couldn't make it to the

I couldn't make it to the other press day because I had I had that well, shall not be named. Um,

Yeah. That shall not be named.

Yes. So, uh, it's been too long. Yeah, it's been. No, we got a little screening this weekend. Yeah. So we'll be seeing each other this weekend and get to see nearly all of our most of our other castmates. So it should be very good.

Well, that's so exciting that you guys finally see each other again. Well, Yeah. Have fun with that. Congrats on, you know, season three coming out and thank you guys so much for talking to us.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Thanks, Joy. See you later.