An Interview with Jake McDorman from ‘Mrs. Davis’

MRS. DAVIS -- "A Baby with Wings, a Sad Boy with Wings and a Great Helmet" Episode 103 -- Pictured: Jake McDorman as Wiley -- (Photo by: Sophie Kohler/PEACOCK)

Jake McDorman is an accomplished actor that has popped up on our television screens often over the past few years. Courtesy of appearances in Watchmen, What We Do in the Shadows. Currently he is starring as Wiley in the new Peacock series, Mrs. Davis, and we here at NTG were fortunate enough to sit down with Jake to discuss his character. 
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John Betancourt: What was it that attracted you to the role of Wiley?

Jake McDorman: Oh my god. I mean, what wouldn't, honestly? I think I love the fact that he definitely thinks that he's the star of his own movie. He has a pretty grand entrance, he has a flashy red jacket, a pretty cool motorcycle, a pretty cool little rock hide-out. And within five seconds, his ex-girlfriend just tears him to pieces, as somebody who knows you as well as an ex, would be able to do. So, I liked the idea that he's got himself as this kind of macho Han Solo, you know, archetypal leading man in his head. And Simone can just cut him down to size over and over and over again. He's also a character that, and this is true for like all the characters on the show, really, that they allow him to be so embarrassing and funny and vulnerable. And like kind of oscillate into some pretty like borderline slapstick humor, and then turn back and lean into some drama, it's been a really… just rewarding as an actor kind of process to be able to acquaint yourself with a character in both of those worlds at the same time. And, you know, that was kind of evident from the first time I read the script.

I mean, the script was just bananas. I mean, you saw it, imagine reading it and all that being in your head and being like, “How the hell are we gonna do this?” So, reading it was surreal. And you know, it was clear from the first time I read the script and all the subsequent scripts after that we were really… Tara and Damon had kind of carved out this really unique line to walk where it's like, you can't be too silly that we don't care anymore, when it gets serious. You can't be so serious, that we don't want to laugh when something happens to them. Betty Gilpin is probably the best actor in the world, to put in charge of that responsibility because she can walk that line so well, but they really did let me, and Chris Diamantopoulos, and Beth Marvel, and Andy, all of the characters in the show, have an opportunity to kind of endear themselves to the audience. And definitely endeared themselves to me playing it through comedy and vulnerability, and drama and vulnerability in a way that I don't think I've ever, ever, ever gotten to do before.

John Betancourt: So, Wiley is hands down just a ball of energy. How did you as an actor get into the mind of playing someone so explosive?

Jake McDorman: When they write a scene for you to punch yourself in the face, you know, it really just gets it going. (Laughs) And it really lights a fire. I don't know man; every single episode was kind of more ambitious than the one before it. And you know, before we started shooting the first episode, I think I'd read the first three. So, the third one has a lot of the Simone/Wiley backstory. So, I can kind of go into the shooting the first episode with that information in mind knowing their history, both Betty and I, you know, and then Tara actually gave us an outline of where the entire season, kind of vaguely broken up into episodes, we're going to go even though the scripts weren't broken yet. So, you know, we had a good handle.

By the time I think we were in episode two, where the entire arc was going to be in it, it didn't change, some things changed around, the order moved around. But we had a good idea of the arc of it all so, you know, we knew we were getting into a heist episode, and like, we knew we were going to be on a desert island, and that we were gonna be separated in four, so we saw some of these major set pieces coming, which helped kind of, like dictate the energy that you should probably bring earlier to the season. But yeah, I mean, I'm telling you, man, being able to play the same character, Betty, and honestly, all the characters in the show, all of them get to be so funny. And then so heartbreaking. It's a real gift. It's all Tara, and Damon. And it was just… It was great to play, honestly.

John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to your work on this show?

Jake McDorman: Oh, man, my god… I… all of it, I'm really, it's a, it's a joy to talk to you guys about. And sometimes it gets so boring to hear actors be like, “It was great, everything was great.” but we really mean it this time! (Laughter) We really had a good time doing this. And you know, it's hard to say I'm proud of myself without really talking about how proud I am of really everyone because you read a script like the one Tara and Damon wrote, and it has every opportunity to go awry. I mean, it's so ambitious, but to actually get it on its feet elevated the way that their text deserves to be elevated, requires so many people all swinging for the fences and all being as ambitious as their writing was and from top to bottom, everybody really showed up and did that, so I'm proud of it. But I'm mostly proud to be a part of it. That might be a cop out answer but it's kind of the truth. It does feel like a family. And yeah, I really can't wait to share it, finally. Because trying to explain it to your friends, you sound like a psychopath.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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