‘The Perfect Couple’ Killer Confesses! [SPOILER] Spills on Playing the Villain, the Show’s ‘Surreal’ Tone and Joining the Rebellion Against That Dance

As I sat there, watching Dakota Fanning effortlessly transform into the chilling character of Abby Birkland, I couldn’t help but marvel at her versatility as an actress. Her ability to convey raw emotions authentically, even during the most challenging scenes, is truly awe-inspiring.

Caution Ahead: The following insights delve into the concluding twists of the Netflix miniseries, “The Perfect Couple,” a screen adaptation from Elin Hilderbrand’s novel.

Move over, Agatha: In Netflix’s new murder mystery “The Perfect Couple,” it was Abby all along.

As a keen admirer, let me share my thoughts on this intriguing limited series. It’s set amidst the opulence of a Fourth of July weekend in Nantucket, and it kicks off with an unexpected event – the demise of Merritt (played by Meghann Fahy), who was serving as the maid of honor for Amelia (Eve Hewson). Now, you might wonder, who would have a motive to take the life of the maid of honor? That’s precisely what we, the viewers, are here to unravel.

Indeed, money plays a crucial role in shaping the world, particularly for affluent families like the Winburys, including those who marry into their ranks, such as Abby (Dakota Fanning). In the series, it’s unveiled that Merritt was carrying Tag Winbury’s (Liev Schreiber) child from an affair, a fact that his wife Greer (Nicole Kidman) swiftly discovered. However, it wasn’t until the climax that viewers found out that this unexpected arrival to the Winbury family would impede Tag’s older sons from claiming their trust funds. This revelation would undoubtedly trouble Thomas (Jack Reynor), who is already deeply in debt due to his own mistress, Isabel (Isabelle Adjani). In the end, it’s Abby who emerges as the one ready to commit murder to prevent this obstacle from arising, as investigators discover she had drugged Merritt before drowning her during a clandestine swim.

The plot development significantly alters the course of Elin Hilderbrand’s series, as it deviates from the original book’s narrative. In this revised storyline, Abby mistakenly drugs a drink she believes belongs to Thomas’ mistress (previously known as Featherleigh Dale). However, the drink is accidentally given to Merritt, leading her to become confused and ultimately drown unintentionally.

In a conversation with EbMaster, Fanning revealed that she discovered she was set to portray the antagonist before even glancing at the script. Director Susanne Bier personally contacted her to offer this uncommon role. Although roles like Jane in “Twilight,” where she plays a significant member of the Volturi vampire council, are exceptions, Fanning doesn’t consider that one among her usual parts.

In ‘Twilight,’ she admits with a chuckle that Jane the vampire wasn’t fantastic. However, remember, she is a vampire, not a human. This role marked my first experience portraying an antagonist, and I absolutely adored it! I was thrilled to embody the eccentric character.

Unyielding might be another way to describe it, as Abby clings to her advantages despite being apprehended by the police and protesting vehemently that they cannot imprison a pregnant woman.

Following the exciting conclusion, Fanning discussed with EbMaster about perfectly capturing the show’s quirky atmosphere, participating in the “open rebellion” against the series’ now-famous dance routine, and if she believes Abby feels any regret for drowning another expectant mother.

In essence, the series can be seen as a murder mystery on one aspect. Yet, it carries an authentic wit and humor that resonates throughout. Were these elements consciously acknowledged and emphasized during production?

Absolutely! I was genuinely thrilled about that unique facet of it since it presented an entirely new experience for me. The peculiar, slightly dreamlike yet authentic ambiance captivated me. It was a distinct flavor that piqued my curiosity. Moreover, I was incredibly fortunate to portray a character who embodied this tone. In this world, I wasn’t the conventional straight man; instead, I was one of the eccentric characters. In fact, Jack and I affectionately referred to ourselves as “The Worst Couple.” We even imagined we had our own spin-off series, where we lived in a reality separate from the show. To summarize, everyone embraced this tone wholeheartedly, particularly Jack and me – we fondly called it our secret side project.

Abby doesn’t conceal her advantage; instead, she proudly displays it like a symbol of achievement in the society of Nantucket.

She’s quite fond of it! Her insights are captivating, and as the actress portraying her, certain dialogue wasn’t frequently used. It was a delightful surprise to have the opportunity to deliver those particular lines.

Do you have a favorite Abby-ism, if you will?

She had been romantically involved with the manager at her friend’s workplace, Sotheby’s. He’s quite wealthy and stands at five feet six inches tall. They seem to be deeply in love. What a fascinating piece of information!

Collaborating with Susanne Bier again, who I’ve worked with before, is why I’m involved in this project. She contacted me, outlined the character, and requested my participation. I would take on any role she assigns me, as I have complete faith in her as both a person and a director. When you have that sense of security and camaraderie, it allows you to relax and enjoy the process. Essentially, we just gave our all!

Susanne shared the credit for the lively opening dance number with EbMaster, but during the show’s premiere on the red carpet, some of your fellow actors hinted at initial resistance to the idea. Even a WhatsApp group chat was created to discuss potential ways out of it. Can you confirm if you were one of those who had doubts about this idea initially?

To start, we’ve always had our WhatsApp group, but it wasn’t intended for open defiance against the dance. However, I was part of that rebellion, not because I didn’t comprehend it, quite the contrary, I would do anything for Susanne. My apprehension stemmed from fear of looking foolish and struggling with the moves. But once we rehearsed it, and I found my footing, it became comfortable. Talking to Susanne and grasping the purpose behind it certainly helped. Initially, we were unsure where it would lead in the show. It felt like which episode was this? Eventually, understanding that it marked the beginning of the series and aimed to immerse viewers into an intense world, preparing them for an unexpected journey, made perfect sense. Now, watching it brings immense enjoyment, just as much fun as participating in it.

How long did it take to film it? Were there a lot of takes?

Among the final scenes we captured during filming was this particular one. Beforehand, we had a trial run and prepared diligently, yet everyone grasped it swiftly. To our surprise, even the skeptics among us ended up enjoying it immensely by the conclusion!

From where I can see, you’re right in the thick of things with the crowd, giving an impression that you’ve mastered your steps and maintaining a cheerful grin throughout.

It’s truly difficult to mimic such a genuine smile of yours. In the realm of acting, expressing smiles and laughter authentically proves to be quite challenging. It requires great effort to feign emotions, so rest assured, the joy you witnessed during that dance performance was undoubtedly sincere.

What did you first learn about who Abby was, and when did you find out she was the killer?

Immediately upon Susanne’s call, she shared several details such as: “I’m working on a show with Nicole Kidman, it’s set on Nantucket during a wedding weekend over Fourth of July, my character is pregnant, and I’m also the murderer.” These were more like brief facts, and the final one was a surprise. She asked me to read the scripts and get back to her, all this before I had any information or even knew the title of the show. Since I couldn’t look up the book either, I realized instantly that her character was the murderer, and I was excited about it.

Is your version of Abby much more violent than the one portrayed in the novel? How did you approach filming the scene where Abby kills Merritt, as played by Megann, in the water?

When filming the scene on the small beach near the house, it was so chilly that we could only attempt it a few times. Subsequently, there was a day spent in a large swimming pool. Meghann faced a more challenging task compared to me as she had to keep her eyes open, scream, and convincingly drown underwater. My role was primarily to assist her and give the illusion of drowning her without actually gripping her too tightly. I made sure not to hold her submerged for an extended period. Despite its challenges, we also found enjoyment in this part of the production.

Across your career, you haven’t played the bad guy very often. Was this fun?

In “Twilight,” it’s true that Jane, the vampire character, wasn’t particularly likeable. However, let’s remember she’s a supernatural creature, not a human being. This role marked my first foray into playing an antagonist, and I must say, I found it utterly thrilling! The opportunity to portray a character on the edge was incredibly exciting for me.

As Abby is apprehended by the police, she gives Amelia a significant glance. Can you describe that look for me? Was it filled with regret or perhaps fury?

It seems as though you’re saying something like, “If it weren’t for you and your friend being involved, this wouldn’t be my current predicament!” I get the sense she doesn’t feel remorseful in the least. Instead, she appears to be pondering how to resolve this situation now. She remains trapped in her illusion. Indeed, that expression seems to be conveying to Amelia that Abby finds herself in this dire state due to her actions, showing just how manipulative she can be.

How do you think Abby will fare if she is convicted and goes to prison?

It’s likely that she’ll be in charge, or at least have a significant role, if we’re still in the heightened reality of “The Perfect Couple.” She’s resourceful and adaptable enough to navigate whatever challenges come her way.

It appears that you enjoy taking on the role of the villain. Should we then begin questioning your actions more closely from now on?

Of course! I can’t do it frequently as it might make people suspect me as the culprit all the time. Therefore, I must take some time. However, when you’re not anticipating, I will reappear.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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2024-09-09 16:18