James Le Gros Spent Two Years Figuring Out His Severance Character

From VULTURE by By Roxana Hadadi

For decades, Le Gros’s rugged handsomeness and quirky accent work brought lived-in texture to a number of cult classics (Near Dark, Point Break, Drugstore Cowboy), critically acclaimed TV series (Ally McBeal, Mildred Pierce, Justified), and indie films (Support the Girls, Showing Up, Good One). In “Sweet Vitriol,” his Hampton is a gravelly voiced, ether-dealing diner owner who has a long history with Harmony — they worked in the factory together, still spark with romantic chemistry, and newly share a burn-it-all-down ideology when it comes to anything Lumon. Harmony is the most human she’s ever seemed around Hampton, and Le Gros, who has known Arquette since 1989, says their dynamic came from a fair amount of improvisation encouraged by director Ben Stiller, as well as an extra-long gap between shooting scenes for the episode. “This guy was in my head for almost two years,” Le Gros says of his character. “It’s like traveling with a ghost. It doesn’t ever leave you, because you know you’re going to be called to task at some point.”

How did Hampton come to you? 
Casting director Rachel Tenner has been very kind over the years. I auditioned for Ben for Escape at Dannemora. I didn’t get that job, but Ben wrote me a really nice note saying, “It didn’t work out, but I hope to work together in the future.” I’ve received several of these kinds of notes over the years. However, I’ve never been hired. [Laughs.] So it was somewhat of a surprise when this offer came to my agents. I got a text from Ben saying, “We got this part, we thought of you. Give it a read. Not sure if you know about the series.” I’d heard of the series, but I hadn’t seen it. I read the script and it was fantastic, then I binge-watched so I could be familiar with the world, and I said “yes,” of course.

Hampton is very antagonistic with Harmony in a way that speaks to a lot of history.
I’ve known Patricia since 1989. I used to surf with this guy who was dating her at the time, and I had a pickup truck. He said, “I gotta move this stuff out of my girlfriend’s mom’s house.” That’s how we met. Patricia made us cookies. Patricia’s always had a very big, generous, giving heart.

Read full Interview at VULTURE

… and of course, you can see James Le Gros in many Glass Eye Pix productions including THE LAST WINTER, BITTER FEAST, STRAY BULLETS, FOXHOLE, BLACKOUT, several Tales from Beyond the Pale…