‘Ted Lasso’ star Phil Dunster doesn’t believe his own hype, even after an Emmy nomination

Phil Dunster had an ace of a day on July 12. Not only did he score his first Emmy nomination – a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work as cocky compassionate footballer Jamie Tartt on Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso – but the 31-year-old also toasted his luck by watching Grand Slam action at the All England Club.

“I’m looking over the courts now,” Dunster says as he surveys the scene at the Wimbledon men’s and women’s quarterfinals, his brain darting back and forth trying to digest the news on the eve of the SAG-AFTRA strike. process. , who was called two days after this chat. “It’s a great day — and quite a confusing day, too, in the land of all things acting and the industry.”

The third season of Ted Lasso followed Tartt’s journey from egotistical, self-centered star of the team to a locker room leader who wasn’t afraid to show vulnerability and genuine emotion (not to mention a surprise bromance of sorts with Brett Goldstein’s Roy Kent). Amid reports that an Emmy nomination is on the horizon for Dunster, he says he’s done his best to keep the chatter down.

“It is special to be a part of a show that has seen so much love over the past three seasons. I know it’s a cliché, but I’m just happy to be involved with the people who make it. It’s an incredible honor,” he explains. “I try to focus on just doing the job and telling the best story.”

In doing so, Dunster said he looked to his peers for inspiration, particularly star, co-creator, executive producer and Emmy champion Jason Sudeikis. “With Jason, this show lives in his bones and he knows what the arcs of the characters are and how to pace them,” says Dunster. “Maybe I have the idea in my head before we start a scene, but then you rely on your scene partners, like Brett, someone I had a lot of scenes with this season. Or (Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple), who are incredible. I just try to play what’s in the scene and not think about it too much, or play it like it’s going to be one of the most impressive moments. You have to be aware of the pace.”

Dunster admits there were times when he might have “put my foot a little too hard on the gas”. Then the feedback from his peers played a big part in trying to hit the right notes. When asked about his favorite scene of the season, Dunster pointed to a scene with Goldstein. “The bike scene with Brett in Amsterdam was a really nice, fun, silly scene,” he says, referring to episode six, which sees the pair go on an overnight excursion thanks to a coach’s mandate of a curfew-free night on the town. “We kind of became trusted to mess around and improve, and that turned out really nice.”

The series scored 21 overall Emmy nominations for its third (and possibly final) season, with Dunster recognized alongside fellow castmates Sudeikis, Goldstein, Waddingham and Temple, plus guest stars Harriet Walter, Sarah Niles, Becky Ann Baker and Sam Richardson. With his front row view of the race over the past few seasons, Dunster says, he has learned a very important lesson. “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid,” he says with a laugh. “And make sure you see your friends you had before.”

Though he has a friend in stylist Warren Alfie Baker, who has dressed him for red carpets and events during the show’s standout run, Dunster says it’s too early to say what his ensemble will be on Emmy night ( now scheduled for January 15). ). “Hopefully I’m wearing some clothes,” he suggests, nodding to Tartt’s sassy nude scene this season. “Warren is a genius, so I’ll do what he says.”

But with Wimbledon, he offers a much more definitive prediction: “I think Carlos Alcaraz is going to win everything. He’s just so powerful.” He was right.

This story first appeared in the Aug. 16 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.