Recently, Harris Dickinson and Drew Starkey talked candidly about their experiences collaborating on their most recent projects with Hollywood heavyweights Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. The 31-year-old Outer Banks actor has a passionate relationship with Daniel in Queer, and the 28-year-old Where the Crawdads Sing actor plays opposite Nicole in Babygirl. These movies have swiftly emerged as some of the season’s most talked-about productions thanks to their dramatic plots and nuanced characters.
Harris Dickinson and Drew Starkey discussed their individual paths and the lessons they have learnt from their renowned co-stars as part of Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series.
Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman: Handling Conflict and Mysteries
When Harris initially got the script for Babygirl, he acknowledged that he had some reservations. You often find yourself thinking, ‘I don’t think I’m right.’ Perhaps you do this to protect yourself. However, I had a lengthy conversation with the film’s director, Halina [Reijn], and I was aware that Nicole was on board, which was frightening,” he disclosed.
His decision to join was impacted by Nicole’s prior confirmation for the project. Harris remarked, “It’s always nice to read [the script] with that in mind.”
Harris felt the distance between him and Nicole to be advantageous, even though he had little time to get to know her before filming started. “I believe that was really beneficial in a manner. to not fully comprehend one another—the plot benefited from a certain amount of mystery.
According to him, their method is experimental and cooperative: “It’s really two people playing and trying things out.” The movie has a lot of tension, a lot of restriction, and a lack of freedom. To counter it and find a genuine path in, you need comedy.
Drew Starkey: Discovering Genuineness in Daniel Craig
In certain aspects, Drew’s experience on Queer was similar to Harris’. It wasn’t until a month before to the start of filming that he met Daniel Craig at a table read in New York. “We got together, went over the script, and got right into it,” Drew said.
Like Harris, Drew and Daniel didn’t take the time to analyze their on-screen relationship. “We didn’t talk much about the nasty word, chemistry, or how we wanted it to feel. He stated, “It was just about working out and going for it.”
“It’s amazing how inviting he is,” said Drew, praising Daniel’s candor and sense of cooperation. He views you as an equal and is willing to confide in you about his anxieties and insecurities. It gives you the impression that he is on your side.
Journeys Together: Juggling Anxiety and Power Relations
Both Babygirl and Queer explore the power relationships between their main characters, provoking discussions about vulnerability and control. As they deal with growing prominence and creative obstacles off-screen, Harris and Drew find themselves thinking about comparable themes in their own lives.
During their conversation, Drew made a joke to Harris, “I’m discovering that we’re the same person—long-lost cousins.” The actors are aware of their similar career paths even if they had only recently met.
Drew portrayed a reserved soldier being chased by a heroin-addicted lover in 1950s Mexico City in Luca Guadagnino’s bizarre romance Queer, after leaving Netflix’s adolescent drama Outer Banks. Harris, meanwhile, struggled with themes of self-discovery and subordination while working as an intern for a strong CEO in Babygirl.
“The question of who actually holds the power is so intriguing in both films,” Harris said. Drew agreed, stressing the value of maintaining perspective in the face of professional demands.
Their thoughts provide a window into the skill and friendship that go into making some of the most compelling movies of the year, as these two gifted performers continue to establish themselves in Hollywood.
