The star of Amazon’s new series Fleabag shows us how to be a modern neurotic woman.
Adapted from her award-winning Edinburgh Fringe Festival play of the same name, Waller-BridgesFleabagis a series like no other.
What has the adaptation process been like and how have you seen this story changing?
PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE:I guess the main challenge was that it was originally constructed to be a one-woman show.
The audience is completely at the mercy of this one womans portrait of her own life.
Just in terms of the way you get information out and only show certain parts of other characters.
So I suddenly I was like: Woah!
Shes lost all that control the moment she hits the screen.
Or she describes a character one way and hes in fact totally different.
It also keeps her role as narrator strong without becoming diluted by the real world.
Its like youre one of Fleabags very best friends.
It was exactly that that was so important to us.
Its crucial that you feel like shes talking just to you.
That this is something between just you and her.
Shes not just playing to the gallery; shes playing directly to you.
What other television shows or characters are sort of inspirations or influences to you?
I mean there are so many… Jennifer Saunders andAbsolutely Fabuloushad a massive impact on me growing up.
They are these horribly behaved, yet hilarious women where its them against the world.
In some ways its more a love story between Edina and Patsy.
I always adored that show so much.
I found those characters so arresting and so unapologetic.
And then I suppose Ive been watching a lot ofLouieand I love that misanthropic, unapologetic character he plays.
Theres something always so beautiful at the core of all of his stories.
Were those more unconventional touches important to the show?
Again it comes down to having complete control over the story.
Its important for the audience to get these things about Boo and understand whats going on.
Being all, Oh, by the way, I had a very nice friend and then she died…
So that was the big leap there.
That was a big jump for me since I became so reliant on telling a story with words.
Even if it feels wrong, you could still try it out.
What do you think your show is saying about femininity and being a modern woman?
I suppose while writing that show that question was really in my heart.
At first I didnt really know.
Its just a really strong impulse that the character came out of.
Shes kind of a collection of the worst neuroses running through womens minds.
At the end though its kind of a cry of, Am I alone?
and the answer is, Not really.
I think thats sort of the best way I could answer that question.
Which of the series two extremes of comedy and drama do you enjoy playing with more?
I think I always feel that the balance is necessary.
What would you ideally like to say in a second season of the show?
Would you want to expand things in a big way, or continue down the same sort of path?
Im sort of mulling it around in my head.
But I dont want to leave her and still want her close to the audience.
Lastly, Phoebe, rank the following from best to worst: guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils.
But before I met Hillary who stars inFleabagI wouldnt have answered that way!
Beforehand I had no pre-existing relationship with guinea pigs.
When I was young, I had a hamster that I adored, so beforeFleabagI would have said that.
So yeah, guinea pigs first, then hamsters, and then gerbils creep me out.
Fleabag begins streaming on Amazon, September 16th
