Daryl McCormack Talks ‘Knives Out 3’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice’

Daryl McCormack possesses a résumé that would have most young actors green with envy.

In 2019, the Irish star had a recurring role in the Cillian Murphy-led Peaky Blinders as Shelby gang member Isaiah Jesus. Stephen Knight’s smoky, Birmingham-set period drama was a bona fide hit. McCormack had other various successes up until this point, including a part in A Very English Scandal with Hugh Grant and Barnaby Thompson’s comedy thriller Pixie, but his undoubtable charm and humility were yet to land him a major leading role.

Then Emma Thompson needed a male sex worker for her Nancy Stokes in the 2022 dramedy Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, and McCormack had liftoff. “Doing that film with Emma, being able to hold a film like that with someone like Emma,” he says to The Hollywood Reporter over Zoom in November, “it’s the most scared I’ve ever felt as an actor, and yet it’s led to the [biggest] breakthrough in my career thus far.”

It’s safe to say McCormack is now reaping the rewards of his downright lovely performance in Leo Grande. He tells THR that it’s the film most often mentioned when meeting with some of the industry’s top directors, who hope to have McCormack’s acting prowess for themselves.

Enter Rian Johnson, the latest filmmaker to nab McCormack for his third Knives Out installment, Wake Up Dead Man, which hits Netflix Dec. 12. “Rian is probably one of the very few directors who can just easily gather these A-list actors,” says the star. “I was definitely unexpected, because I don’t think I’m there yet. I think it just shows that, for him, he really does scour who’s out there. He really is an artist who just respects people’s work and I was so honored that I was even being considered to be a part of it.”

In Wake Up Dead Man, Daniel Craig returns as the mischievous detective Benoit Blanc on his most dangerous case yet. It follows Josh O’Connor as Father Jud Duplenticy, who unravels a web of lies at a parish in upstate New York. Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny and Thomas Haden Church round out a colorful new cast of suspects alongside McCormack as Cy, a failed-politician-turned-YouTuber.

“He takes up video vlogging and really starts to use the Christian faith as a vehicle to move forward into a place of influence and power,” teases McCormack about his character. “So he does definitely represent, for me, someone who uses faith as a means to rage bait and [appease] their own greedy appetite, which, sadly, there are plenty of examples of out there.”

And in a departure as far as you can get from an amoral internet rage-baiter, McCormack has also just wrapped Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice, written by British author Dolly Alderton and starring (ready?): Emma Corrin, Jack Lowden, Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell, Louis Partridge, Fiona Shaw, Jamie Demetriou, Freya Mavor, Rhea Norwood and Siena Kelly, to name a few. “I’m off to go ride a horse with Jack Lowden right now,” McCormack, playing Mr. Bingley, teases about his Mr. Darcy to THR.

Below, the Irishman unpacks what’s ahead — starting with Knives Out. He explains how Johnson searches the entertainment industry for his next batch of bigwigs, nearly landing a role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and why he made the decision to not watch either the BBC series or film version of Pride and Prejudice while prepping for Mr. Bingley: “I’d be influenced by them too much!”

Daryl, what would you describe as your big break?

It’s like a domino effect. There’s multiple little things that happen that can put you in a position to have a more significant break, so I never want to discredit all of the little moments, but I would say for me, all of those little moments led up to Leo Grande. Doing that film with Emma, and even in the creative sense [of] being able to hold a film like that with someone like Emma, for the film to really fall and rest on the performances of your two actors … I would say that it really culminated to that moment, which is funny, because it’s the most scared I’ve ever felt as an actor, and yet it’s led to the [biggest] breakthrough in my career thus far, in terms of a being in a position to work with bigger directors.

And it’s the [film], I think, in my career thus far, that a lot of directors that I’ve had the opportunity to work with now, like Rian and there was a recent release about working with Tom Ford in the new year — in all of those meetings, that’s the film and that’s the performance that a lot of people have seen. For me, that was the film that really did it, and what’s been the most beautiful is it’s been the most personal film. It’s the one I really look back on with fond memories.

I was anticipating that you might say that. And that fear must have been so formative, but sharing scenes with Emma — did she give you any advice?

Yeah, I think it’s interesting. The nature of that film, I spent a lot of time with Emma. So in some sense, she was giving me advice all the time, even if it wasn’t, like, direct advice. And just from spending time and hearing about how she made choices early on in her career. Her heart has always been connected to the work that she’s done and the choices she’s made, and I think that rubbed off on me for sure and to be encouraged to take the risks and also weigh in on the work that you really feel passionate about and not working for the sake of it. I definitely took that on board.

Then, aside from that, just on a human level, to witness how much she respected and catered to the crew. Her sense of leadership was one that was really humble. The second day on set — I know it’s a small, simple thing — but she knew everyone’s name. And I was like, my mind [was blown] How on earth? I was saying, “We’ve literally only been here two days!” But that would have required an element of effort and I think it’s those small details that I was just like, “Wow,” aside from her talent and her as an actor. She was very inspiring to me as a person.

Your resume really is hit after hit: Peaky Blinders, Bad Sisters, Twisters as well. I read that you were nearly cast in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but in hindsight it’s all really worked out, right?

(Laughs.) When I say nearly cast, I think I had gotten into maybe the second or third [round]. It was an open [casting] call in Dublin, I remember, at Croke Park. There was thousands of people and part of me was like, “An open call, is this just a publicity stunt?” But I don’t think it was. I think it was a genuine open call. And so I got through all of the rounds of that, and then I went on tape, and then they liked the tapes. I went over to London and met some of the casting team. That was as far as it went for me. But there was definitely a moment that I was like, “Wow, there’s momentum here. Am I actually about to make it all the way and and be cast in this new trilogy of Star Wars?” I was still in drama school, so I was very much swept up by the excitement of that.

But yeah, in hindsight, I just recognized I had so much learning to do, as a person, but also as an actor. And I think there is a lot of blessing when you struggle, actually, as an actor. The amount of times I’ve done a little acting job and then returned to waiting tables … I think in all of those moments and in those years, they’ve definitely formed me as both an actor and a person, and that’s a lesson that is invaluable. There’s no other way you can get it without going through the rejection. So I’m really glad that my career started off with — as it has for a lot of people — receiving a lot of rejection, successes and battles and losses and victories.

Now we arrive at Knives Out, one of the biggest murder mystery franchises of the 21st century. How did you get involved?

I got involved very unexpectedly. I was doing a play in London. I was doing Long Day’s Journey Into Night on the West End, and I was just coming towards the end of the run on that, and I really didn’t have anything lined up, project wise. So I was like, “Okay, well, I’ll need a break anyway, after this.

Rian Johnson came into town, in London, and my agent just said, “Hey, he’s taking meetings for his next film.” And I didn’t know what that was. There was no rumors of there being a third Knives Out. So I met with him in London, and he told me that he was making a third Knives Out. He said there was a role that he had been thinking of me for, but it was a very loose meeting — there was no certainty that it was an offer or anything. But he was like, “If you’re interested, I’d love to send you the script and I’d love to hear your thoughts.” So, yeah, he basically sent the script, I read it, and then I didn’t hear anything. I just told my agents, “This is fantastic. Absolutely.” And he came back to London maybe a month or so later, and he came to see the play, and then after the play, he met me in the green room, and he said, “What do you think of the script?” And I was, like, “Of course, it’s fantastic.” And then he offered me the role. It all happened kind of quickly and very much unexpectedly. Yes, I’ve been in London a few years now, but my career still feels relatively early. I still feel like I’m just starting which is amazing. And with these films, part of the appeal of Knives Out is seeing all these mega-stars in one film. And Rian is probably one of the very few directors who can just easily gather these A-list actors. I was definitely unexpected, because I don’t think I’m there yet. I think it just shows that, for him, he really does scour who’s out there. I think he really is an artist who just respects people’s work and so I was so honored that I was even being considered to be a part of it. I remember […] calling my agent, roaring down the phone. I don’t think I was anyway aware of how I looked, but I was like, “I can’t believe this. But Rian Johnson has just cast me in his new film!” It was another pinch me moment.

What would you tease about Wake Up Dead Man? What’s your spoiler-free summary of this particular installment?

Well, I know for Rian, this is the most personal [Knives Out film]. It explores a murder mystery with the backdrop of faith. And for him, faith was a major part of his life growing up. And so what I would say that, with that in mind, it has these sweeping themes of forgiveness, grace and in that it feels the most emotional, actually. What I was really taken with [is] there’s some moments in this film that really feels like the heartbeat of it is emotional and human and what it means to be fallible and what it means to receive forgiveness.

How would you describe Cy and where he fits into the story?

When you meet him, he is scrambling for direction. He’s ultimately been rejected and failed as a politician. And you quickly see why. I don’t know if he really has a moral understanding, or at least if he really knows what he stands for. There’s this amazing bit — well, I can’t say amazing, I’m actually the actor doing it, but I love the writing — in which he lists off to father Jud all of the things he’s tried and how none of it has stuck or received the response he was hoping for. And in that you kind of see that his compass is very just like: “Anything will do.” And yes, as a plan B he takes up video vlogging and really starts to use the Christian faith as a vehicle to move forward into a place of influence and power. So he does definitely represent, for me, someone who uses faith as a means to rage bait and [appease] their own greedy appetite, which, sadly, there are plenty of examples of out there.

As an actor, you have to empathize, in some sense, with that person, and you have to try and find a way in which you can understand how they’ve gotten to that place, or what drives them. For me, the kind of father figure element of his story and recognizing that he’s a young man trying to fill a hole… He’s very fervent in his ambition. And I think it speaks to the fact that actually, there’s a deeper part of him that’s probably just not being tended to.

As you mention, there might be quite a bit of real-life inspiration for a failed-politician-turned-YouTuber. Some good source material to sink your teeth into. Was there anyone in particular that you looked to? You can be as vague as you like…

The amount of times I’ve gotten this question. (Laughs.) Oh my goodness. I won’t say names. There’s plenty of people out there that could reflect Cy for sure, but you have to think: When we shot this and I was prepping, it was a year and a bit ago. So there’s certain people that might not have been out on the surface as much, but yeah, there’s plenty of people I think that you can look to. Obviously, Rian does such a good job of using these murder mysteries to speak on a personal level but also to reflect what’s happening in the culture. So I don’t have to go far. But yeah, absolutely.

Maybe figures that have percolated the culture right now weren’t as prominent back when we were creating the film. I never just try to model my characters off of a particular living person. I always try and use the script and look into the ether and see what’s happening, because the script always speaks to the personal and the cultural moment.

It does, and you’re right. There’s always that currentness to Rian’s scripts and there’s something very Gen Z about Cy and his constant need to document. There’s also some great questions raised around cult-ish figures and what kind of power they wield on a platform like YouTube.

There is, absolutely. But if you think about it, when we made this, it was a year ago, so there’s no particular figures that were really in the zeitgeist, so to speak. And I think that’s kind of interesting that, there might not be at a certain time that you make something, but by the time you release it … It’s kind of very spooky almost.

If you could have played another character in this Knives Out film, who would it have been?

I love Jud’s heart, Jud Duplenticy [O’Connor]. I love the idea that he has come from a more broken, troubled past and he’s trying to grow into a place of love and, particularly, that he is in a congregation with people that share the same faith as him — yet how it manifests is very different. It seems to be like a different ethos. I love that his resilience and his humility to stay in the congregation that he feels disregarded by, and his willingness to forgive and to offer people grace. Particularly the scene where, in the midst of this search for the killer, he takes a moment to stop and speak with a grieving woman who is struggling with her mum’s illness.

Oh it was so good. Who do you think is most like their character, then?

Maybe Kerry [Washington]. I’m rattling off the top of my head, but Kerry’s character is super strong and I don’t want to say defiant, but she just has a presence that feels quite strong, like Vera. Maybe her, I don’t know.

You’re privy to this very powerful partnership between Rian and Daniel as well. Was it cool getting to see them at work?

Yeah, it was. I mean, I was obviously privy to the other films and I’ve been a fan of them so I think it’s interesting meeting Rian and Daniel on their third iteration, because what they’ve built has become really established and really steady. And I think as an actor coming on to a [Knives Out] film, I can almost speak for everyone … You can feel intimated because of the other films and the nature of the big cast, and I’ve definitely found that Rian and Daniel are the steady points. They’re like the anchors because they’re the ones who’ve been there from the first film, and they really do lead by example, in the sense that they just welcome everyone so openly. They really hit reset every time they do a new one, because [with] every new batch of actors, we’re like a factory. Every new cast, they’re bringing their own things. And I think the welcoming nature of the pair of them really encourages everyone to step in and go, “Hey, this is our rendition.” It always drips from the top down. They’re just a great example of people who are at the top of their game and also just are great people.

While we have the time, I can’t let you leave without talking the tiniest bit about Pride and Prejudice.

I finish tomorrow! I’m off to go ride a horse with Jack Lowden right now.

Hey, that is some people’s dream life. You haven’t seen the BBC or Keira Knightley version?

I haven’t, and I know it’s huge. I think I’m glad I haven’t, and I’m probably going to go back and watch them now that I’m finishing. But for me, I think it was crucial that [I didn’t] just because I was so close to starting the [shoot] and then I just thought, if I had watched them, I would be afraid I’d be influenced by them too much. So I really wanted to just take a stab at it from the book and the script by Dolly, obviously. That gave me enough to really go, “Okay, I know what I think. I know who Bingley is, and what I can add to the whole Pride and Prejudice…”

Universe.

Yeah, universe!

How would you describe your Mr. Bingley?

I was really leaning into the fact that kindness is a choice. And I do think Mr. Bingley has a disposition of gentleness; he is a gentleman, and there’s a kindness to him that I really respected. I wanted to make him intelligent with that and to see the good in everyone. It’s not always naive, but it’s a choice to choose faith and strength. That was how I wanted to see him and I wanted to make him. I didn’t want to make him naive, I didn’t want to make him just like, “I see the sun, the rainbow, everywhere I go.” That is to belittle his intelligence. So I think that’s probably what people will see, hopefully, and what I might be adding. But we’ll see if they think I’m crap or they might not enjoy it, but I really enjoyed getting to be a part of it and such notable writing.

Remind me, who plays Jane?

An amazing actor called Freya Mavor. Freya is Scottish. She was in Industry. She’s fantastic. I honestly had the best time with her. We were so naughty. Do you know when you have that one person in school? I was a messer at school. And when I was in secondary school, I had a friend called Robert, and every time we ended up being in the same class, he would drag the messing out of me. For me, that’s Freya. We’re too silly. But she’s amazing, and we had such an amazing time being Jane and Bingley. It was great.

I’m so excited. I can guarantee people will not think you’re crap.

No, they won’t. No, I’m being self deprecating. I would say yeah, get ready, because to see the shots, to see the costumes, the sets. It’s honestly stunning. People’s performances, I think you’re gonna love the entire Bennet family. Like, the joy that was captured. And these new actors as well, Hollie Avery, Rhea Norwood and Hopey Parish, all the Bennet sisters. They’re just spot-on casting. And, of course, you have Olivia Colman. I think it’s going to be great.

As you said, you feel like you’re still like starting out. But Knives Out next to Glenn Close and Josh Brolin is crazy. Are you at a stage now in your career where it’s a lot less worry and a lot more fun?

It’s interesting. Because I think it never stops. [With] human nature, you’re never really satisfied, are you? There’s always more to achieve and more that you want to do. For me, that’s kind of the question of: “What does that look like?” My natural instinct has always been to trust the process and be open to what is around the corner. One thing that I’m excited about is that I’m starting to write now. I’m writing with my friend and writing partner, James Hutchinson, and we’re currently developing a limited series.

Oh wow!

Yeah. We’re hoping to pitch to people in the new year. So just having that creative outlet alongside my acting career is exciting. But in terms of acting, I just hope to keep getting to work with great people, to be honest. I know that’s very simple, but I hope to keep working with great directors and and I think maybe stepping more into the forefront of these films would be exciting too. I like just being stretched as an actor. This year was fun for me. I got to play a lot of supporting roles, but some of them, like, I got to work with [British director] Clio Barnard in the early part of the year, and I played this brutish man from Birmingham who’s a builder and who’s drinking excessively and a little bit struggling with his inner emotional landscape and is making quite horrible choices. Then to go from him to playing Mr. Bingley, an esteemed gentleman who’s so wholesome and the epitome of selflessness and a gentleman … that’s so fun. I love to put these characters beside each other and go, “How am I jumping in and out of these different people?” That’s always a joy and I hope to continue to do that.

So exciting about your limited series. Can you tell me what it’s about?

It’s all early days, but we’re just looking at a demographic for people in their early 30s and people who are essentially stepping out of their 20s and looking for something more. We’re opening at a friend’s wedding. I’ve found I’m one of the last few friends who have gotten married and have the whole white picket fence and everything. Maybe that’s not for everyone, but I think basically we’re looking at a young man who actually does aspire to those things. It’s for those people who are looking for that in their life, and they’re like asking, “When is it going to happen and where am I going to find it?”

It’s really just an examination of the internal life and our questions about, are we even worthy of that happy ever after? I don’t know if that’s ever true, but finding love and starting a family, and those things that people maybe desire, and we’re exploring it through a young man who might not necessarily believe he deserves it, and therefore uses dysfunctional relationships to mask and to comfort himself. Honestly, I’m having so much fun. I don’t think I ever saw myself co-writing or producing something and now, it’s, it’s so nice because the expectation is so low. I’m not really saying, “Yeah, we’re gonna go make it. It’s gonna definitely happen.” I’m just taking life one step at a time.