Greg Kinnear & Rafe Spall interview on Smoke: Crime drama, moral ambiguity & true events
Greg Kinnear discusses his role as Harvey Inglehart, a fire chief in a small north-west town, and describes the intrigue of portraying a morally complex character at the centre of a series of mysterious arson attacks. Spall talks about joining the cast and working with acclaimed writer Dennis Lehane, whose scripts, he says, feature morally ambiguous figures and unexpected twists. Kinnear highlights the challenge of embodying a character whose outward authority conceals deeper vulnerabilities, while Spall explains the process of building his role, from perfecting his accent to embracing a transformative spray tan. Both actors reflect on the pleasure of working with a talented ensemble and explain how the show’s layered storytelling keeps audiences guessing. Ultimately, they regard Smoke as a gripping, character-driven thriller that explores power, secrecy and human frailty.
Interviewer: Sarah Bradbury
Editing: Olivia Barker
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