What do you get when you combine a nun who’s lost her faith, a disgraced children’s TV show host, and a prodigious piano player who’s disconnected from her music? Would it surprise you to discover that the answer isNine Perfect StrangersSeason 2? The first season of the series saw Masha (Nicole Kidman), an eccentric health guru, use her controversial methods on a group of wealthy clients in sunny California, whilethe second takes the audience to the decidedly snowier Austrian Alps. We quickly learn that Masha is no stranger to the location — nor some of the enigmatic retreat attendees.
A trio of those attendees consists of the aforementioned characters. The nun, Agnes, is played byDolly de Leonin a beautifully nuanced performance, though that should come as no surprise, as she’s previously shown off her excellent dramedy chops in projects likeTriangle of Sadness, for which she was nominated for a BAFTA and Golden Globe.Murray Bartlett, who won an Emmy for his turn inThe White Lotusand was nominated for two more forWelcome to ChippendalesandThe Last of Us, takes on Brian, the puppeteer who has fallen from grace. Piano prodigy Tina is played by real-life musicianKing Princess, who’s known for hits like “1950,” “Holy,” and “Talia,” in her first acting role.
Collider got the chance to speak with the three about their characters. During the conversation, Bartlett revealed the challenges of acting alongside a puppet, King Princess broke down Masha and Tina’s complex relationship, and de Leon dissected the interesting choice for Agnes to refer to God as a “she.”
Murray Bartlett Discusses Acting With a Puppet in ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ Season 2
“I knew it was gonna probably get a bit crazy.”
COLLIDER: I want to start with you, Murray, because your scene partner for a lot of these scenes is a puppet, which I’m sure presents a pretty unique acting experience. What was the most challenging part of that, and then what was the most fun part of working with a puppet?
MURRAY BARTLETT: First of all, justthe prospect of working with a puppet seemed super fun, and on the page, it was written really beautifully. The fact that psychedelics are involved — I knew it was gonna probably get a bit crazy, as it does. Yeah, it does present some challenges, but we often had a puppeteer.
KING PRINCESS: Pinky.
BARTLETT: Pinky, that’s right — a guy called Pinky, who was amazing,in a totally green suit so he couldn’t be seen.
DOLLY DE LEON: Maisie [Richardson-Sellers] also did.
BARTLETT: I know. I was gonna say,Maisie, in some of the more emotional scenes, stepped in to operateand sort of play the scenes with me, which was incredible. That was something that I asked her to do, and we decided together to do it, and I’m grateful that they let us. Because it is tricky, especially when it’s kind of emotional stuff, to connect with an inanimate object, even though it’s being animated. But to work with another actor was really precious.
King Princess Is Lowkey Shipping Tina and Masha in ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ Season 2
“There’s something kind of sexy about it.”
The dynamic between Tina and Masha feels so loaded to me and almost maternal at times, so I’m curious, what was your read on their relationship, and then where could you sort of see them going after the show ends?
KING PRINCESS: To, like, Monaco.
I’m here for this.
KING PRINCESS: It’s a girls’ trip. Yeah, I mean, it was interesting because I thinkTina is just disoriented and confused most of the timeand on her own journey.
Relatable.
KING PRINCESS: Same. I think she’s confused why Masha is so in her face, and yet she’s also somehow drawn to Masha and wants to, like, yell at her. And there’s something going on there that, until the end, you won’t know. I can’t say. But there is something interesting and maternal happening. I think everyone can relate to wanting to scream at their mother at some point — at least I can — and I see that in how it’s written. Especially when I was doing it, it’s like, “Oh, I’m really laying it into her, and she’s kind of…” It was really interesting. It was kind of cray cray becauseit was my first role, and then, all of a sudden, you’re yelling at Nicole Kidman. It’s, like, a little much. I was, “Okay, guys — I’m new to this.” But it was a challenge, and I really hope I…
BARTLETT: You ate it up.
DE LEON: You killed it.
KING PRINCESS That’s really sweet. Butthere’s something kind of sexy about it, you know?
As a queer woman, I agree.
KING PRINCESS: I just saw your eyes! [Laughs] I was like, “You think it’s sexy.”
We’re connecting here. Layered things happening there.
KING PRINCESS: I mean,mommy or lover? Who knows? Tale as old as time.
Why not both?
KING PRINCESS: Yes. Okay, great.
Dolly de Leon Reveals Why Agnes Refers to God as a “She” in ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ Season 2
“Women, for Agnes, are more powerful than men.”
Anyway, now let’s go to the nun of it all. Great transition.
BARTLETT: [Laughs] Perfect segue.
I absolutely love Agnes because I feel like she, especially, is a character that I don’t think I’ve ever really seen before. One moment that really sticks out to me is in Episode 2 where she refers to God as a “she.” Can you talk about that moment and why you think she does that? That’s one I’ve been ruminating on for a while.
DE LEON: I was talking to Rachel Shukert, a writer, about that. Because, originally, it was “he,” and then she changed it to “she,” and I asked why, and she said, “Maybe Agnes has a broader worldview now. Maybe her view has changed.” Of course, that wasn’t enough for me, soI had to make my own story behind that pronoun. I had to convince myself that Agnes — because of all the questions that she’s had about God, about God’s existence — probably was thinking, in her head, “Maybe he’s not that omnipresent. Maybe he’s a woman. Maybe he’s a she.” Because women, for Agnes, are more powerful than men. So that’s why.
BARTLETT: Nice.
KING PRINCESS: Yum, Dolly. Yum.
Nine Perfect StrangersSeason 2 is now streaming, with new episodes premiering every Wednesday.
Nine Perfect Strangers
Watch on Hulu
