Eager to change that, she makes the uncharacteristic decision to hire a male escort.

Enter McCormacks Leo Grande.

The film really just falls on our two performances, the actor notes.

Daryl McCormack of ‘Good Luck To You, Leo Grande’

Theres not many moving parts, so you do have to feel really anchored in who you are portraying.

We felt very naked, open, and exposed.

This film undoubtedly marks a significant moment in McCormacks career.

Daryl McCormack in ‘Good Luck To You, Leo Grande’

But well get to that later.

However, McCormack and Thompsons journey to the screen was a little different.

In fact, McCormacks first audition with his future co-star was nothing like youd expect.

Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack in ‘Good Luck To You, Leo Grande’

It was actually really sweet.

We just walked around a park and chatted.

you oughta feel safe and that you’re able to trust them.

Daryl McCormack in ‘Peaky Blinders’

As such, he went straight to the source and met with sex workers.

My main thing was to listen to them.

I just wanted to hear their own experiences.

Its such a vast and widely different experience for each person.

I really wanted to take the essence of the people I was meeting and place them in Leo.

Instead, they mapped out the scenes among themselves.

We felt like it was something we could do together, so we did, the actor remarks.

It feels that little bit more special because it’s our own unique thing.

It started with simple things.

Just talking about our body: the things we like and dont like, says McCormack.

That gives you access to step into the intimate nature of the film.

It didnt feel awkward, giddy, or anything like that.

We enjoyed what we were doing and felt safe doing it.

We were such a team, notes McCormack.

In reality, McCormack and Thompson worked with a choreographer to nail down this liberating encounter.

Nancy isnt someone who would be out breakdancing in the club.

Shes not popping and locking, laughs McCormack.

It got us naturally moving, the actor remembers, fondly.

In promoting this project, both McCormack and Thompson have partaken in unflinchingly open conversations about intimacy and sex.

And its something that McCormack hopes people will take away from the film.

We have to get away from intimacy being something we should hide or be shameful about.

Lets bring it to the surface and talk about it.

I really felt I could embody the character as my own, he says.

It was an amazing show to be involved in.

Im sad that its done, but Im so grateful that I got to be a Peaky Blinder.

The rising star tells me hes excited for the project to get underway.

And with that, its goodbye and good luck to Daryl McCormack.

This article was originally published onJune 22, 2022