Is it difficult for actors to play drunk? Aidan Turner explains

Very few bosses encourage employees to look drunk, but actors have a unique gig. So it makes sense Us Weekly reader Lori from Houston had to Ask us: “Is it hard for actors to play drunk characters and make it look believable?”

Viewers watching drunken escapades unfold on screen (think: Friends‘ Ross and Rachel’s boozy night in Las Vegas) might think it’s a convincingly good, effortless buzz. But for Rivals star Aidan Turnerwhose Declan O’Hara was spat on in episode 5 of the Hulu drama, playing drunk proved to be a challenge.

“Our director, Elliot Hegartywas saying, “You have to do more.” You’re on a seven and I need a nine and I’m like, ‘I can’t!'” Turner, 41, said exclusively. U.S. In the end, Turner increased his performance to 11 – and was surprised by the results. “I was like, ‘This is crazy. It will never work.’”

The Poldark alum said the key to creating a believable play is trusting his director. “When I look back at that scene, I have mixed feelings because he’s so very, very drunk,” Turner said. “I don’t think as a person (in real life) I wipe myself out or get crazy drunk that much, so it’s always felt really big to me.” But I guess, tonally, it fits the play and you have to trust your director at that stage. He or she will give you what you want and guide you through it.”

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Overall, Turner considers a solid drunken performance a pretty impressive feat. “There are a lot of great drunken performances. I like subtle drunkenness,” explained the Irish actor.

When he’s not being asked to turn his performance up to 11, Turner believes the key to playing drunk is for the actor to look like he wants to be sober.

“It’s almost like any drunk person you meet – they’re trying not to be drunk,” he noted. “You’re trying to straighten yourself out somehow.” You try not to belittle yourself and try to correct yourself. So that’s a moment there. You don’t lean drunk, you kind of try to lean far away from that. So, in the plays where I see that happen—where you can really see (the actor) really working not to (be) drunk—I always find (the play) the most interesting to watch.

If you have a burning entertainment question for our team of experts, email us at AskUs@usmagazine.com.

Iana Grebeniuk reports