‘Industry’ Creators Break Down How Harry Lawtey Grew His Character From a ‘Two-Dimensional F—boy’ to the Show’s ‘Emotional Heartbeat’ at SXSW London

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At SXSW London on Thursday, the makers behind “Industry” shared insights in a comprehensive discussion about the conception and growth of HBO’s successful financial drama series. During this talk, they revealed their strategies for selecting the young cast, several members of whom have experienced a meteoric rise in global popularity due to the show.

Konrad Kay, along with his long-time colleague Mickey Down, remarked that we’ve truly managed to capture the essence of lightning with our youthful actors,” or simply,

“Konrad Kay and Mickey Down commented that we’ve effectively bottled up some real lightning with our young cast.

The choice to feature fresh talents such as Marisa Abela (recent BAFTA TV award winner for her role as Yasmin), Myha’la Herrold playing Harper, and Harry Lawtey depicting Robert was likely driven by budget considerations, but also aimed at actors who genuinely appeared young, fit the age range, and were unfamiliar faces. This, in turn, contributed to a more authentic feel.

Or, more concisely:

The casting of newcomers like Marisa Abela, Myha’la Herrold, and Harry Lawtey was both budget-conscious and strategic, as they brought a fresh, realistic touch to the production.

However, although they were relatively green, the actors expanded their roles significantly, surpassing the initial character portrayals as scripted.

He referenced Lawtey as an illustration, explaining that the character Robert was initially portrayed as a “ruler among the Jack the Lad group,” dealing with troubles in his personal life and grappling with social anxieties, yet, in essence, he’s all about having a good time.

As Down succinctly described him, Robert was originally a “two-dimensional fuckboy.”

Later on, Harry entered and played it in a way that didn’t seem fitting to us, being quite monotonous according to Kay. So we advised him to discard his character. To our surprise, he transformed, showing genuine emotions and vulnerability instead. We asked him to step out, leaving behind everything he had learned prior to this audition, and then return. He complied, and when he came back, he performed the same audition again but with a newfound freedom and exceptional skill. Harry’s performances carry an inherent vulnerability that we began to explore further in our writing. And let me tell you, Robert truly became the emotional core of the show.

In a similar sense, Kay said they started writing towards “Marisa’s ability to do humor.”

Abela and Herrold were referred to as “twin powerhouses,” yet they’ve consistently grown their characters with each new season. He expressed his admiration by stating, “While reviewing the daily footage for the fourth season, it’s astounding how they’ve both evolved, offering us a wider range of options during the editing process. I’m continually amazed by their exceptional talent.

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2025-06-05 15:46