Eddie is–though I’m sure he’d have some strong words to say about this–the “baby” of the Harrigan family. He’s reckless and entitled, and lives a life of luxury. He is incredibly detached from reality, but is simultaneously surrounded by danger and violence. How, as an actor, do you portray a character that–on the surface–seems very difficult to relate to?

Eddie is a total product of his environment. The words were already there on the page for me, the subject matter. It was important to recognize that, whereas the conversation around the dinner table in my real life home is usually about the weather, the Harrigans’ meal talk is guns, drugs and racketeering. Once you realize that, you play your character so that discussing those illegal enterprises is just the same as discussing the weather. My very first day of working on MobLand was going shopping in Harrods with our formidable costume designer, Rebecca Hale. This felt very much like a regular activity for Eddie (needless to say it is not for Anson!). We tried on and bought some incredibly luxurious and expensive clothes. Wearing things of that caliber immediately taught me how it must feel to be someone like Eddie. It was an invaluable day of character preparation!