Ebon Moss-Bachrach on the emotion of ‘Bear’: ‘I look Jeremy Allen White in the eye and he feels pain’

If 2022 can claim the “show of the summer”, it will likely be FX on Hulu for them. created by material Executive produced by Christopher Storer, the hilarious food drama takes place at The Original Beef of Chicagoland, a debt-ridden diner left behind by James Beard Award-winning chef Carmi Berzato.ShamelessJeremy Allen White) from his late brother Michael (Jon Bernthal).

Into this high-stress environment, with all the sophistication of a grease fire, walks Michael’s belligerent best friend, Richie Jerimovich. It stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, 45, who also played the sensitive troubadour Desi. girls (You may remember some blatant sex acts you performed with Allison Williams) and who will appear next. girls An independent film created by Lena Dunham a sharp stick (Releases on July 29).

but now it’s for them That people are talking – and more are starving. Reached Mos-Bakhrakh the hollywood reporter From a family vacation in Europe to talking about the perfect sandwich, getting the cooking details right and the chemistry you share with your co-star.

hi ebo. I understand that you are on vacation in Europe. Is there good food there?

I just had a really good shrimp. We were in France now, and the ham and cheese, “jambon beurre” sandwiches they have here, I was thinking of them as opposed to these meat sandwiches. And boy, are they so good. They are so easy and delicious.

I think you’re far from the US now, but everyone is talking about the show and of course they’re talking about you on the show. Do you feel it all?

I am not, but I am also an ego-driven, sensitive and needy actor. So I check and feel that acceptance. for them – which is quite impressive and really impressive. I love this show and I loved every part of its creation. I loved everyone involved in such a clean and simple way. It’s such a collaborative medium that there’s usually something wrong with it. I’m still a complainer and a child. So I always find something to complain about, but strangely it wasn’t one of those things and I felt easy from start to finish.

It’s funny to hear you say how cool you were backstage, because of course in the scenes, there’s nothing but conflict and scary, fuck. It’s very stressful to watch, but you say the production went very smoothly.

We arrived earlier than expected. I think we were within budget. Most of this material is actually proof of Chris Storer and Joanna Calo, who wrote and produced everything. All scenarios were completely delivered from the start. They were all in the room. And FX was really reliable and great with us and gave us a lot of freedom. So we were able to get together and do that during the two coldest months of winter in Chicago when you really don’t want to do anything anyway. So being with these great people on this little stage, in this simulated restaurant, was a really warm and welcoming experience.

for them It was praised for its authentic representation of the restaurant industry. Did they warn you that things on this show would be very real?

There were a lot of people on board who really knew about it, it basically existed [consulting producers] Courtney [“Coco” Storer, chef and sister of Christopher Storer] and mate [Matheson, a pro chef who also plays handyman Neil on the series]. Details were very important to them. This came as a surprise to me, because I’ve never really been in the food industry. But they really wanted to respect the inherent complexities of this job and the complex, challenging and really unique nature of just being in this kitchen.

I understand that some chefs are very excited about the show. Have you ever heard anything like this? Back home PTSD?

Not. Oh man, no, I haven’t heard anything about that. It doesn’t surprise me. I mean, it’s hard. Hard to see, a lot. So I’m not surprised.

And in terms of his character, Richie is a very powerful guy. Did you have a hard time finding him and staying on the right level with him?

It was strangely very easy. I don’t know. I stayed with this guy for a reason. I had a lot of sympathy for Richie from the start. I suffer a lot for my art, my craft, and I never feel good unless I’m having a bad day. And as I’ve aged, I think it can be useful in some parts, but also to be relaxed and free. That’s what I’m stuck with. I think Richie’s real performative element is when he’s in the world of The Beef, and that’s his stage, and that’s where he’s most comfortable. And you can draw attention to yourself.

The final episode is truly a tour de force. It gets very emotional between you and Karmi, Jeremy Allen White’s character. What kind of relationship do you have with Jeremy where you were able to tap into those deep wells of pain that the two of you shared over the loss of Karma’s brother Mike?

I think you have a wonderful partner. I look Jeremy in the eye and it hurts. And seeing her pain, seeing it all in her eyes, makes the reality of that moment stronger for me and just shuts me up. he cares about them [of itself]. Besides, it was the last time I spent two months with Jeremy. And when you’re acting with someone, you have to really trust them and be open and vulnerable with them. So it’s like a very quick intimacy that happens between people. He’s so good. And his eyes are very expressive, and also being in that prison, we were in this horrible prison in Cicero, Illinois. I don’t know. It just enters you. This is not a place you want to go anytime.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.