Jimmi Simpson
stars in
APPLE TV
series
DARK MATTER
Photography Christian Anwander
Fashion Editor Deborah Ferguson
Interview by Laasya Gadiyaram
In his new show, Dark Matter, Jimmi Simpson warps reality. Simpson dives deeper into science fiction starring as Ryan, a time-shifting physicist, in the new Apple TV program. Having previously earned a BAFTA nomination for Black Mirror and Emmy nomination for Westworld, Simpson brings this character to life.
Jacket, Shirt, Pants: Officine Générale, Vintage Brogues, Yellow socks: stylist’s own
Congratulations on Dark Matter! How has the process been so far?
Dark Matter is easily one of the best stories I’ve been lucky to be a part of… it’s also filled with some of the sweetest people I’ve ever made some art with. The show came out so stunning, I hope we all work together forever.
How did you approach developing Ryan as a character?
Ryan’s a bit of a physical barometer for the audience to see how different life experiences could affect the disposition, confidence, and even physiology of a human… but maybe not their soul.
Denim Suit: Kenzo, Vintage Brogues, socks: stylist’s own, Glasses: talent’s own
How did the book inform your approach to your role?
It gave me a more textured understanding of Blake and his worlds at the beginning… but by the end of the shoot, Blake had revealed even more in the show than in the book!
Your career has spanned over genres and mediums. What narratives do you find yourself gravitating towards?
Aw, mostly, because I’ve never had a lot of overhead or expensive tastes, I get to pick the projects that tell a story I’d really love or have a perspective to share that I think would be cool for people to know about.
What genres do you enjoy working with the most? Are there any new genres you would like to explore?
I work in predictive sci-fi a lot… Dark Matter, Black Mirror, Westworld, It’s Always Sunny, so you’d probably think I’ve had enough. Never. It’s my favorite space… anything is possible. I’m writing again and just finished co-writing a horror script with Kyra Gardner that we’ll shoot in June. I’m psyched to get deeper into horror because it’s been a lifelong fave genre and is currently longing for some new life. And deaths.
Denim Jacket: Camperlab, Vintage Salmon Sweater: stylist’s own, sunglasses, hat: talent’s own
Your previous works range from comedic sitcoms to dramatic serials. How do you see your comedic work informing your dramatic work? And vice versa?
All the performance arts I’m into… dramatic film, comedic film, theater—whatever it is, it’s all coming from the same place- a desire to humanize the words. But mostly they require a willingness to look like an asshole. So I just act naturally. #BuckOwens
The show focuses on different versions of existence across different universes. What do you think different versions of yourself are doing in different worlds?
One version of me is teaching English and doing community theater. Another guy is a short-order cook who chain-smokes. A third lives in a shack on a Fijian beach and makes ends meet through odd jobs and whittling weed pipes to sell to tourists. All three fellas are pretty stoked about where they landed and they’re all BFFs with James Rodriguez.
Denim Jacket: Camperlab, Vintage Salmon Sweater: stylist’s own, sunglasses, hat: talent’s own
Dark Matter looks at distortions in reality. How do you think this is enhanced by technology and social media?
I’m not sure if this is what you meant, but here’s how I think technology and social media distort reality. Tech distorts our reality by pulling us further and further from the natural course of our planet. I’m not saying it’s all bad… just that it mostly is. Almost all positive tech (in terms of the planet’s life) was developed to combat a problem caused initially by human tech. Then, social media distorts reality by claiming to be a mirror of ourselves or our society, when it’s mostly just a funhouse of lies. Thanks for coming to my sermon, please drop a penny in the velvet bag.
Jacket, shorts, shirt: Kenzo, Vintage Brogues, socks, tie: stylist’s own, sunglasses: talent’s own
Jacket, Shirt, Pants: Officine Générale, Vintage Brogues, Yellow socks: stylist’s own
While the show looks at struggles between man and self, family remains a central theme. How do you see this expressed throughout this season?
Blake nailed so many universal themes in Dark Matter, family being my favorite. The idea of family as something you choose, not something you’re saddled with, lands home with me. You must choose to have a relationship with your family (whether by blood or friendship)… and the longer you last in this world the more obvious it is that choosing family is the surest way to joy.
Jacket, Shirt, Pants: Officine Générale, Vintage Brogues, Yellow socks: stylist’s own
Jacket, Shirt, Pants: Officine Générale, Vintage Brogues, Yellow socks: stylist’s own
Your character, Ryan, supports a physicist as he explores time grapples with internal conflict. How is Ryan defined by his empathy?
Ryan’s empathy was cleanly laid out for me by Blake’s writing in episode one. The first version of Ryan we meet is confident, maybe a little cocky and undoubtedly more successful than Jason. And yet, when Ryan holds power… he includes Jason. He begs him to team up and take the next leg of life together. I carried that care-giving quality to all forms of Ryan. It’s what made them all the same man despite huge shifts in disposition and physical appearance.
What similarities do you see Ryan’s life and your own? What differences do you notice?
We both are into sharing highlights of our lives with family and knocking back a box of Fruity Pebbles in one sitting.
Jacket, Shirt, Pants: Officine Générale, Vintage Brogues, Yellow socks: stylist’s own
Jacket, Shirt, Pants: Officine Générale, Vintage Brogues, Yellow socks: stylist’s own
In what ways do you think the show succeeds as an adaptation of the original book? How do you think the show maintains or enhances the book’s themes and storylines?
The book transcends itself in series form because we were lucky enough to have Blake Crouch, the novelist, adapt his own work and mine his own brain for the whole story… the one his readers haven’t seen in its full brilliance. I think they will be frickin’ thrilled.
Jacket, shorts, shirt: Kenzo, Vintage Brogues, socks, tie: stylist’s own, sunglasses: talent’s own
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