I think anyone who says I'm just trying to do the right thing is inherently flawed.

A douche.

Incredibly, yeah. Douche. Yeah.

I heard that you were actually really into sort of science and engineering and sort of studying that and that you come from a family of academics, and I was wondering how did the the acting thing come about?

You know what, it probably comes down to a desperate need for attention as a kid and wanting to

I can relate.

being noticed. And then I I guess I was lucky that at some point I went to an acting school which was I I I guess I never understood how you could do this as a career, rationally coming from that household. And then at school, I actually discovered that, you know, um sure maybe only 5% of actors are able to live off their earnings. Acting but to live as an artist and live thoughtfully, which is maybe closer to what acting is for me. Um that anyone can do and you can do that working at a coffee shop or getting your science degree, which is what I started first.

Right. Right. Since you have been on the show, have you gotten more into like delving into the I'm sure you have, delving into the actual history of that time and

The history, yeah. I mean, we had to catch up, I think very quickly. Between getting the gig and shooting, I did everything I could to study the physics. I tried to understand or some of this material. I tried to understand the history, but once we got on set, um Tommy Shlame, who directed the pilot and

That's the best name I've ever heard.

And he's one of the best guys you'd ever meet. Um he made it very clear that that stuff's great, that stuff's a window dressing, but what's actually important is just what's happening between two people in every scene. And there it's just a scene about a marriage trying to work. It's just a scene about a guy trying to figure out if his uh

Right.

Yeah, if his life's work is going to uh yeah, destroy the world or not. Yeah. Um so when it comes, that's I think what our show is about and that's where it lies. And that's also the much more complicated part of history. I think I could read a book and understand something. But to actually understand how these men and women did what they did and somehow we're lived their lives. I think that's an incredibly complicated issue and something that I'll be able to hopefully study for four years or five years, however long the show goes.

And how many times have you been asked, are you good at keeping secrets? In life.

A lot. A lot. And just in the last three months. Cuz you're we're now talking about season two. So, yeah.

Are you are you particularly good at keeping secrets?

I used to be so good. I used to and I used to lie all the time and I had a lot of fun. I was like, how? Like, who would you Like, nonsense. Like, I'd meet someone and they'd ask me what if I had brothers or sisters and I'd tell you I've got a twin brother. Which just fascinates me because I think as soon as you learn that someone has a twin, you look at them a little differently. And so, anyway, so I used to lie that stuff like that, but now I can't do it. That's why. I think my acting's probably gotten better since then and uh

Well, so acting and lying are two different things.

I think so. And that's what I had to learn. now instead of lying. Yeah, that's right. But I think acting it's it's something I guess for actors, but it's about telling the truth and that's I guess what I had to learn. Um I know that the problem was for season two, they're you know, showing you all being interrogated and it's like, yes, no, maybe, yes, no, maybe. Yes. And um I love there was one where they asked you, have you ever, you know, conspired to like basically destroy the world and you're like, maybe.

Yeah. Which I think is a nice idea and that sets up our show very well. And the character very well that you never know or that it's up to any audience to decide actually what he's after, is he after uh world preservation or is he working for his own ambition? And I think that that's an interesting

So what is he doing?

Um I think he's just For me, he's a guy trying to do the right thing.

That sounds like every guy I've ever dated in LA. That's that excuse that you give. I'm just trying to do the right thing. I'm just trying to do the right thing. Um That's the best breakup line, by the way. Jeez, that's heartbreaking. I'm a guy trying to do the right thing. You can get out of so many If anyone ever says that to you, get out of there. Jesus. You can get out of so many scenarios using that phrase. How could you do this to me? I'm just trying to do the right thing.

I think anyone who says I'm just trying to do the right thing is inherently flawed.

A douche. You're saying it's incredibly. You're saying it in a very, very nice way. Um so if you're ever lied in an interview?

Yeah, probably.

Like, right now? Not just then. Um

You lied since you've been on this couch. I don't think I've lied. No, I've done all right.

You've done fine. Um But sure I've lied. Yeah. And how is it how is Cuz I know before we started rolling, you were telling me, I said, where do you live now? And you said, you know, basically you're in New Mexico shooting the show. Yeah. Um and other than that, you sort of you just have this nomadic existence.

That's right. Yeah. My home's in Melbourne, Australia. Family and friends are there and then for the last two years especially, I've been working. I mean, Santa Fe, I've spent the most time in and that's four months of the year.

What's it like there? I always feel like that's like the place where everybody goes to shoot and nobody goes, nobody really knows what it's like there.

It's just beautiful.

Is it?

It's stunning. Like so it's at an altitude so the air's a little thinner, but it's very clear. The skies are amazing. It's a desert and you're in this um mid point between I'm going to get this wrong, but they say that Texas blows and Arizona sucks. And so then New Mexico gets caught in the middle or it's the other way around. But um so you get these amazing kind of winds coming through and and so the sunsets are always stunning. And it's just a simple town. It's just a small town feel and

That is the best advert for like a travel. Come to New Mexico. You can you can be like their their state, you know, spokesperson at this point.

I'm going to that's why I'm here.

And then last but not least, um you were born in Santa Monica.

That's right.

And then your family moved to Australia.

Yeah.

When you were quite young.

Yeah.

But then neither your parents are Australian.

No, so they were just studying here and uh then they found work in Australia and just wanted a good life for their kids. And so we grew up in beautiful Australia and then somehow I found my way back.

And you had the green card.

And I got the I had the passport. Yeah, that made life very easy.

Your mom's very smart and she raised you right.

Very clever. Yeah, and just that withholding that little bit of attention that I needed to become an actor.

Oh my gosh. Well, thank you for coming in.

Thanks for having me. Such a pleasure.

fun chatting with you.