The Netflix drama famously filmed each episode in one take, but Owen Cooper and Faye Marsay told This Morning that some mistakes happened.
What did you miss?
Adolescence has been a hit with Netflix viewers for many reasons, but one of the most impressive parts of the drama is that each of the four hour-long episodes was filmed in one take.
However, stars of the series Owen Cooper and Faye Marsay revealed to This Morning on Thursday that there had been some big things that went wrong during takes.
Cooper, who was in his first ever acting role as teen murderer Jamie Miller in Adolescence, also spoke about how he has been adjusting to his overnight fame, while Marsay said she had never been involved in anything that had come close to the series’ impact.
What, how and why?
Faye Marsay revealed a mistake she made in episode one. (Netflix)
Marsay and Cooper told This Morning of the stress involved in making a one-take shoot work as they revealed some of the things that had gone wrong.
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Talking about working with Cooper, Marsay who plays Detective Misha Frank said: “The attention to detail this young man has is astounding. I went wrong in one of my takes. In the interview scene in episode one, I put the photo down of (murder victim) Katie and said ‘do you know Katie Miller’ – which is Jamie’s name.
“He fired back ‘her name’s Katie Leonard by the way’ just straight into my eyes. I was bright red and going, ‘I’ve ruined this take for everybody,’ but I was also amazed by this kid’s presence. He had my back, he was capable of that.”
Ashley Walters and Faye Marsay both had to sprint at the end of episode two. (Netflix)
She added of episode two where she and Detective Bascombe, played by Ashley Walters, interview pupils at Jamie’s school: “There’s a chase scene at the end of episode two where Ashley’s running. While that’s happening I’m getting into a car and driving up so I can be behind the camera to do my next bit.
“I get in the car – the car doesn’t start, so I have to get out of the car and run up after them, like asthma attack vibes going on.”
However, the cast have said Cooper didn’t put a foot wrong in filming despite being in his first job. The young star told This Morning that episode three, which is an hour of dialogue between his character and a psychologist played by Erin Doherty, was “40-odd pages” of script that he had memorised for his first day on set.
Owen Cooper’s first day on Adolescence was ’40-odd pages’ of dialogue with Erin Doherty. (Netflix)
Cooper added that a moment where he yawns during the interview, showing Jamie’s disconnect with his crime, was not actually planned: “The bits where it went wrong were in the rehearsal. I was tired so I just yawned, but then Erin secured it and it just worked.”
Asked whether she was used to being in shows that made such an impact, Marsay replied: “No. Never in I think it’s 14 years I’ve been doing this now. I’ve been in some lovely things but it’s never made an impact in the way that this has made an impact and the conversations it’s started and that’s what we wanted.
Adolescence star Faye Marsay revealed the mistakes she made while filming one-take episodes. (ITV screengrab)
“When I read the script I knew from the first page it was going to be amazing. I knew I was part of something very, very special and I knew it was going to start conversations we all need to have. But I didn’t for the life of me know that it was going to break records and be mentioned in Parliament and potentially be used in schools. It’s a crazy response.”
She added: “To witness Owen do his first job and see this talent, he comes from a similar background to most of us who were in the show, to have him blow up like this is an amazing thing to watch. We’re very lucky.”
Owen Cooper opens up on adjusting to fame
Owen Cooper makes his screen debut in Adolescence. (Netflix)
Cooper was an unknown actor before Adolescence dropped on Netflix earlier in March, but has become a star around the world since the drama’s release and is currently filming Wuthering Heights with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, directed by Emerald Fennell.
Asked about his introduction to fame, Cooper said: “It’s gone well so far, I’ve not had any bad things said about me, so I’m doing well.”
On whether he had been recognised much, he said: “It’s not even been that bad, when I’ve been working I’ve been in Yorkshire.”
The young actor is being tipped for stardom. (Getty Images)
Cooper is filming the role of Young Heathcliff for Wuthering Heights and said of working with Robbie: “I see her all the time and speak to her all the time, but I don’t have any scenes with her. She’s really nice. It’s going really well.”
He is due back at school next week and said of catching up with his friends: “I haven’t seen them yet, I’m back on Monday. I want to see my mates but it’ll either be a really good day or a really bad day.”
This Morning airs on ITV1 at 10am on weekdays.