Showtime’s ‘Billions,’ which pits a District Attorney against a billionaire hedge fund manager, held its second season premiere on Monday night in a fitting venue opposite the Wall Street Bull.
I was fortunate enough to chat with some of the ‘Billions’ stars and guest stars on the red carpet.
David Constabile
What can fans of the show expect from season two?
DC: I will tell you this: The promise that was made in season one is now boldly delivered in season two. If you felt like you really dug season one, and you just wanted more in even bolder print, you will get that this season.
Do you relate at all to your character?
DC: Yea! Why not? It’s so much fun, are you kidding? If you got to yell at people all day and tell them they’re fucking idiots—wouldn’t you love to do that? It’s fucking fantastic.
I worked in retail, so…
DC: Yea, wouldn’t you love to do that and be like, “Fuck you, you don’t get this. How ‘bout that? You’re an asshole; I don’t like you, turn around.” Don’t you relate to that? There you go. You relate to Wags too.
What do you like about filming in New York?
DC: Well it’s home. It’s where my family is—which is fantastic—and it’s a great place to be. It’s a great place to be because there’s never a moment when—no matter how fancy you get, like when you get to come to places like this, which are incredibly fancy, you still got to go back home and ride the subway. There’s the high and the low, and there’s nothing like New York City for that.
Do any current political trends or events work their way into this season of the show?
DC: No, you know those guys don’t really chase headlines that way. They’re more interested in those colliding worlds, and those happen to be the worlds now that are on everybody’s tongue. But for us, that’s just happenstance and good luck, good fortune. It is not the reason that drives the show, it’s not the reason that drives the characters. It’s not a one to one connection in that way. It’s how we make the connection seeing the worlds play out in the fictional world, and the non-fiction.
Stephen Kunken
What do you like about filming in New York City.
SK: New York is the most amazing backdrop to film in because you have the vitality and the energy of this city. This story unfolds in the city—it’s unlike some other times that you work in shows where you have to presuppose that you’re working where you are. You’re here; you’re in the energy of this world every time you start rolling—and that’s unique, that’s a great thing. You also have amazing New York actors that you don’t always have elsewhere; you have people who are great theater actors, great film actors, and human beings who have to exist out on the street and in the subway in a different way than maybe Los Angeles.
Kelly AuCoin
Can you tell me about the character you play?
KA: ‘Dollar’ Bill Stearn? ‘Dollar’ Bill is sort of a—someone actually just described him as a blunt instrument, and that rang true for me. He’s very loyal to his people, and he doesn’t quite believe that laws of everyday man should apply to him. He thinks he’s smarter, he thinks he’s better than just about anybody, and he loves team Axe.
Do you relate to that at all, aside from being a blunt instrument?
KA: Most of my friends find it really amusing that I’m playing a character like this. But the loyalty? Yes. Loyalty to my people and my friends, definitely. I’m a little better to my wife, I believe, than ‘Dollar’ Bill is to his wife and his mistress.
What do you like about filming in New York?
KA: Oh, I live here; this is my thing. I’ve lived in New York for twenty years, I do a lot of theater. So much of the best TV is shooting here right now. And I love the fact that there are theater actors, theater writers, theater directors all going back and forth between TV and theater, it’s a perfect mix. It’s my home. And Brooklyn reminds me of Portland, Oregon, which is actually my home.
Toby Leonard Moore
What can fans of the show expect from season two?
TLM: There’s a lot of tension, there’re a lot of surprises. We’ve established who everybody is now; I think the audience knows who everyone is, and they have their favorites. Everyone’s got some big choices to make this season.
Do you find that you relate to your character?
TLM: Absolutely. If you don’t relate in some way then you’re doing your job wrong I think. Brian is very relatable, he’s doing this for the right reasons, and so it’s easier to relate to him than some characters I’ve played in the past.
Like in ‘Daredevil’?
TLM: Sure. But even Wesley you relate to as well, in a funny way.
What do you like about filming in New York?
TLM: God, I love everything about New York. I’ve been fortunate enough that the last three projects that I’ve worked on have filmed here, so—I said it earlier today—when you shoot in New York—there’s a magic about the city—it sort of acts as a character, it’s not just a backdrop. That magic sort of comes through on screen. I love everything about it.
Do you find that this season touches upon any political trends or events?
TLM: It always will, but in terms of pure timing? We were shooting the last episode in December, so we had most of this in the can before a lot of stuff changed, but viewers are going to see echoes and mirrors for sure.
Marc Kudisch
What do you like about filming in New York?
MK: Dude who doesn’t love filming in New York? I’m a New Yorker, man. I get to be home, in my apartment, and I get to cruise up to the set where we shoot, I get to work with other incredible actors, like David and Paul and Damian, who are part of the theater community as much as the film and television community. I’ve got friends on the show. It’s in New York City, there’s no place better to shoot a film. It’s awesome man, and it’s a New York Show.
Malachi Weir
What do you like most about the show?
MW: Watching it? Engaging. It’s a good story, well told, well acted. Even if the material isn’t the most exciting thing for you, you’ll get wrapped up. I’ve gotten more interested in the stuff I talk about on the show having watched the show. And then being on it is fantastic; the people are smart and kind, and you cant really do wrong when you’ve got smart and kind together.
Shaunette Renée Wilson
Can you tell me about the character you play?
SRW: I play Stephanie Reed, a new addition to Axe Capital. She plays the chief of staff, here to draw the line between things that might get Bobby and the company in trouble. She’s there as the border to say, “Maybe you shouldn’t make this move,” or “Maybe you shouldn’t go down this road or do this thing.” So she’s more of the bodyguard, in a sense.
Do you relate at all to your character?
SRW: I like her power, her strength, the way she’s able to tackle and talk to Bobby—he’s the boss. She’s definitely holding her own in a company of men; I think I’m trying to do the same thing as well.
Asia Kate Dillon
Can you tell me about the character you play?
AKD: So I play a character named Taylor Mason, and Taylor is an intern at Axe Capital who learns pretty quickly that there’s a lot to gain by watching Bobby Axelrod work really closely.
Do you relate to her at all?
AKD: As an actor, certainly. I’m always learning from people who either have been in the business longer than I have, or have had a different experience than I have. In that sense, my experience is similar to Taylor’s—entering a world where they’re meeting new people and learning something new.
Ilfenesh Hadera
What do you like about filming in New York?
IH: I’m from here; I’m from Harlem, so any work in New York City is wonderful. To be a part of a show like this and not have to leave home is kind of a dream.
Can you tell me about ‘Baywatch’?
IH: It’s going to be ‘Baywatch’ the series times one hundred: R rated and action packed.
Christopher Denham
What do you like most about the show?
CD: I love how topical it is, the relevancy to what’s happening in the world now. And the writing is just—every character is not a stereotype, everybody exists in a world of gray, nothing is black and white, which I think is wonderful as an actor.
What do you like about filming in New York?
CD: Well I get to see my kid every night, so that’s a good thing. I think it adds a level of authenticity to the show; if we were doing this on a lot in L. A. somewhere you wouldn’t get that granular grit of being around Wall Street.
Malin Akerman
Do you find that you relate to your character at all?
MA: You know, funnily enough I do. Not in her cut throat ways and how she deals with things and how she goes about things, I’m more of a kill ‘em with kindness kind of girl. But there are two things that I feel are parallel between us, one is that she comes from humble beginnings, as do I, and she’s come into this new world, navigating this world of billionaires and hedge funds and very different people than who she grew up with. For me, coming into Hollywood and navigating that world, there was some sort of similarity there, as well as her core family values. I would kill for my family, and she definitely would, so we connect on that topic.
What do you like about filming in New York?
MA: I love this city so much. It’s just a city that is alive and inspiring and has so much history and so much heart. You walk out the door and there’s something to see; it’s just titillating, I love it.
‘Billions’ season two premieres on Showtime Sunday, February 19th at 10 p.m.
