[Keri Russell] That big, physical fight we did in Season 1, we looked at each other. "We're gonna do this? Let's ******* do it." "Let's go and do it." And we did it.

[TITLE CARD: THE DIPLOMAT -  DEBRIEF: KERI RUSSELL]

[intense string music playing]

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Ambassador Wyler, aka Keri Russell. Keri, how are you?

[Keri Russell] Thank you very much. It's really good to be here. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Tell us a bit about where we leave Kate at the end of Season 1.

[Keri Russell] Personally, in Kate's relationship, she was ready to maybe make a different choice, and Hal has been incredibly injured, which affects every decision they've made about possibly splitting up or coming to that reality. They've lost someone in their team, which is incredibly tragic and part of the business. And now there's so many questions with the whole investigation of the country you're staying in and working for and with.

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] It's not just a physical bomb. It's almost like a metaphor for what happens in Kate's life.

[Keri Russell] A big part of her arc is about taking somebody who is very used to being the B person in order to support the star of the show. These episodes and seasons are about what happens when you take the person who's in that second in line position and put them in the first. Owning up to, "Can you do that?" And, "Do you want that job?" And what falls apart when you do get there? And what responsibilities do you have, especially with the explosion, what happened with Ronnie, I think Kate has always been judgmental [about] Hal's involvement in many things, and I think it's the first time with all of the responsibility that she's able to see people are just doing the best they can and mistakes get made. 

[CLIP] 

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] Hang up the ******* phone. 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] What the ****? 

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] Indulge me in a fantasy, Kate.

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler]  No.

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] Okay? You're vice president. You get to add one item to the agenda. What do you think?

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Give it back!

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] Nuclear talks for a cyber world? Visas for Afghans?

[Kate groans] 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] What the **** are you doing? 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Towards the end of Season 1, Kate is so annoyed with Hal. And as a viewer, you're kind of like, "Is this it? Is it over?" And then, of course, Hal gets caught up in this terrible explosion. And we see Kate in the hospital really worried about Hal. How do you think Kate's emotions and feelings for Hal change after the explosion? 

[Keri Russell] I think it's tricky. If she was my girlfriend, I would hope that she would leave him and go her own way. And I think it takes such courage and time and determination to do that in a really intimate relationship. 

[CLIP]

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] Building a war chest takes years. 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] We should not be throwing a party that costs $300,000. It's obscene. 

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler]  You're right. If you're married to a genuinely good man, he'd serve popcorn and tell everyone to get out. 

[Keri Russell] When a huge life event like that happens, you have to be there for each other. And I think for better or worse, they are on each other's side. 

[CLIP]

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] You don't have to stay just 'cause I got blown up. 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler]  That's not why. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] What was that like working with Rufus, and that amazing chemistry you have?

[Keri Russell]  I think Rufus is incredible, and he has a sort of, like, lightness on his feet. And I think our language with each other is kind of silliness.

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] And playful.

[Keri Russell] Yeah. And I think we don't explain a lot of things to each other. We just… We kind of know how to do it. That big physical fight we did in Season 1 was just the best example. We looked at each other. "We're gonna do this? Let's ******* do it." And we did it.

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] If you think of the journey you and Hal go on, you got to the point where at the end of Season 1, you're ready to ditch him. You're ready to have a lovely time with the hot foreign secretary.

[Keri Russell] Uh-huh.

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] You almost see… [laughs] 

[Keri Russell] She should still get a shot.

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] I agree.

[Keri] Right? 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] I think the women of the world agree. Just like, let Kate have one treat. But then in Season 2, it's like your and Hal's relationship is really interesting. It feels like you let him in more, and he's really useful to you. And he's very helpful in terms of getting key bits of information. And then, in the final episode, you know, you and Hal look very much back together, yet you still have this tortured relationship. 

[CLIP] 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler]  So if you weren't on my side, what would you say? If you were on Hal's side. I mean it. 

[Laurel Lefkow as Carole Langetti] You want him to behave. But when he does, you don't see it. You can't even detect it. I worry sometimes that you don't like it. You don't… like him when he's good. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE]  Does Kate like bad Hal? 

[Keri Russell] Well, I mean, I think that's what they were born out of. I mean, I think that's the nature of their relationship. It's sort of their dance they do. And I think a lot of people relate to that. 

[CLIP]

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] You’re right. You should sleep in the other room. 

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] No, you sleep in the other room. It has a ***** mattress.

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Really?

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] Yeah. Really. Go.

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] They loathe each other at times, but they also really need each other. And they also help each other be these great diplomats.They almost have this kind of tandem.

[Keri Russell] They do. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] How important is that element? 

[Keri Russell ]I think it's a part of their attraction, and it's their love language. Work is part of the turn-on. That's what's exciting and attractive about each of them. 

[CLIP]

[Atto Essandoh as Stuar] Getting Billie on the phone is near impossible. I talked to her an hour ago. 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] I can call her myself, if that's easier. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] When you are becoming Kate, were there any real-world characters that you modeled Kate on? 

[Keri Russell] I don't think it's based on one person, and I want to be really clear about that because we steal from everybody.

[both laugh]

[Keri Russell] Or whatever worked. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Kleptomania… She steals from… Magpies. 

[Keri Russell] Truly. It's a composite of many people, many stories we've heard. These ambassadors, the ones who really travel to the hard spots and speak languages and know their stuff… I mean, they're fascinating, fascinating people. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] What's interesting for Kate's character is that she's got so much going on. The emotional side of what's happening with Hal. But she's got this professional side. She's got to process a lot of information. She's got to make some decisions.

[CLIP] 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] [quietly] If they arrest this one, he will see who hired him. They don't want that if they hired him. 

[Keri Russell] That's what's fascinating about people in this line of work. They are managing so many balls in the air at one time. You're split up from family and your home base, and you're thrust into these… into these incredibly dramatic events. And luckily, I think that's what Kate is really good at. But I think dealing with moments in crisis and managing teams and people…

[CLIP]

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Our people are not safe here. 

[Ali Ahn as Eidra Graham] Kate, you think the British prime minister… 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Ordered a strike on his own warship, which may or may not be connected to the bomb that just went off in his own city. 

[Ali Ahn as Eidra Graham] You think he ordered that too? 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] I think the call is coming from inside the house. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] She's really good in a crisis. As you say, she's almost born for a crisis.

[Keri Russell] Yeah. Some people are.

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Yeah. Some people kind of come alive in a crisis, and they run towards danger, and they run towards the chaos of the crisis.

[Keri Russell] She makes mistakes. Everyone does. But she's a hard worker, and she's quick, and she's fast, and she has a messy personal life to throw into it all. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] What do you love about Kate, and what do you think her weaknesses are? 

[Keri Russell] Oh, I love… She’s such a fun character to play. My gosh. Because she's smart. She's good at what she does. Personally, she's a mess. 

[CLIP]

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Do these look OK?

[Ali Ahn as Eidra Graham] Uh, they look normal.

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Normal's great. I have a helicopter ride and a pee break to prep. 

[Ali Ahn as Eidra Graham]  There's a paper clip stuck to your pants. 

 [Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] It's holding them up. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Another characteristic about Kate is, particularly when she first arrives in London, she's literally dropped into London. She's quite reluctant to take advice from her aides. And sometimes she's quite brash. She's quite impulsive. Why do you think she really struggles in the beginning to kind of get counsel from people and get advice? 

[Keri Russell]  She's a know-it-all. I think she's bossy, and she's a know-it-all. She's, like, super controlling. I mean, she's a control freak. Yeah, I think she's a doer. She gets **** done. She thinks she knows better. She thinks she knows how. She doesn't like people bossing her around. And I think it's hard  to accept help. 

[CLIP]

[Allison Janney as Grace Penn] Ambassador, I intend to keep my job.

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] I understand that.

[Allison Janney as Grace Penn] That means you have to stop chasing it. 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] I'm not. Sure about that? 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Tell us about how you feel about Kate's journey in Season 2. 

[Keri Russell] Just the idea of the introduction of Grace Penn, and then Hal kind of attacking her, and Kate really standing up for her and being so upset at Hal, and then having it all switch is just genius. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE]  It's such a twist. I don't think my cortisol levels will ever be the same again.

[CLIP]

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] [whispering] Katie…

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] [both panting] Roylin hired Lenkov to shoot a British ship. But Roylin didn't come up with the idea. Grace Penn did. 

[Keri Russell] To go back to the idea of, "Do I really want to be this front-facing, more powerful job?" I think that dance is the really tricky thing for Kate. It's fun to watch her be so opposed to it and then kind of come into it. 

[CLIP]

[Allison Janney as Grace Penn] Is that a paper clip?

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Oh, yes, I had, uh, a zipper issue. 

[Allison Janney as Grace Penn] When you're a second-tier diplomat in a Third World war zone, that may read as scrappy. If you're representing the interests of 300 million Americans whose health care is failing, whose planet is burning, whose future might get a little bit better or a little bit worse based on what you do in the course of a day? It's best to look like the care of your trousers wasn't more than you could manage. 

[Keri Russell] And on top of it is doing… You know, physically trying to change to be more reputable in her… You know, changing her hair and trying to wear more professional clothing. So I think there's a lot being put on. 

[CLIP]

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Vice president?

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] "Vice president?"

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] I'm not running. The one thing everybody agrees on, this doesn't campaign. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE]  How much do you think Kate really wants to be the VP? And how much of it is Kate sort of stepping up because she knows Grace has done the terrible thing? 

[Keri Russell] I don't think she really has it in her. I think she is a worker at heart. "I'll step in because I have to." But I don't think she's in it for showmanship and glory. I don't. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] And from what you said there, do you think Kate would make a good vice president? 

[Keri Russell] I do, but I also think there's a reality to that job.

[CLIP]

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler]  The idea of being vice president. It was terrifying. But, Katie, you did it. It took a ******* feather to knock you off that box. 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] It's a big feather! 

[Keri Russell] I think she is desperate to find a reason to not have to do it. And she's like, "Well, here it is." I don't think she really wants to do it. I think it's uncomfortable. 

[CLIP]

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] We have a public profile we need to think about.

[hesitates] 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] You want to tell him we're not going? Tell him I'm the future vice president and he's a bad look on me. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Kate's gone through something really traumatic. Coming to terms with how she dealt with Roylin, some of the mistakes she made. Stewart, at one point, is scathing and brutal with Kate saying, "You know, you're kind of responsible for Ronnie's death." 

[CLIP] 

[Atto Essandoh as Stuart] You made a tactical error, and it was deadly. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Do you think that is a moment that kind of unifies Kate and Hal? Both of them have had careers where decisions and actions they have taken have had really devastating consequences with loss of life. Do you think that is bonding?

[Keri Russell] Of course. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] I mean, it's a dark bonding moment. 

[Keri Russell] Yeah. I mean, for Kate, feeling that from Stuart is a really sobering moment. And you're right, a unifier for her and Hal. And I think, for the first time, she has her eyes opened. And I don't know if she forgives Hal for some of his choices, but she understands it for the first time.

[dramatic string music playing] 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] Well, Keri, we've come to the end of our time. What an absolute pleasure it has been to sit down with you again. 

[Keri Russell] Thank you for having me! This is very kind. 

[Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE] I've loved it. It's been so good to get a little insight into the mind of fabulous Keri Russell.

[CLIP]

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler]  Kate.

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] I just told the VP I wanted her job. I should follow up. 

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler]  Kate, I did something.

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] What did you do?

[Russell Sewell as Hal Wyler] I thought it would be better. Because what if Ganon made it all about Ganon? 

[Keri Russell as Kate Wyler] Hal, what did you do?

[drum sound effect plays]  [music fades]