Original-Cin Q&A: Star Rebecca Ferguson Talks Up Apple TV+'s New Dystopian Series Silo
Attention, fans of the post-apocalyptic thriller genre. The claustrophobic new Apple TV+ series, Silo is a 10-episode drama based on Hugh Howey’s bestselling trilogy of dystopian novels, and adapted by prolific screenwriter Graham Yost (Band of Brothers, Justified.).
The highly anticipated series stars an ensemble cast led by Rebecca Ferguson (who also serves as executive producer), Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, David Oyelowo, Rashida Jones and Tim Robbins.
It tells the story of the last 10,000 people on Earth, their mile-deep home protecting them from the toxic and deadly environment outside.
Rebecca Ferguson plays Juliette, an engineer seeking answers in Silo.
However, no one knows when or why the silo was built and all who try to find out face fatal consequences. Ferguson stars as Juliette, an engineer seeking answers about a loved one's murder. She stumbles onto a mystery that goes far deeper than she imagined, leading her to discover that if the lies don't kill you, the truth will.
Our Bonnie Laufer caught up with Rebecca Ferguson to talk about the show.
Silo will make its global debut on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 5.
Watch Bonnie’s interviews with other cast and creators of Silo: Common, Graham Yost and Hugh Howey, Avi Nash, Harriet Walter, and Cinaza Uche.
ORIGINAL-CIN: Not only did you take on the grueling lead role of Juliette, you also served as Executive Producer on the series. Did you not know the pain and suffering you were going to have to go through taking this on?
REBECCA FERGUSON: I know, and it is never happening again. (Laughs). No, you know what? For the role of an Executive Producer, I literally had to google it whilst I was offered it, because I didn't really understand what it was.
Obviously I've been in this world for a long time, but I haven't had to care. I just came on set, did my acting and left for the day.
So when Graham Yost said, we would like to offer this, I remember thinking all I care about is learning the business. So if I would like to produce myself, who better to walk behind then Graham Yost? He’s a phenomenal showrunner and writer.
I also think it was the feeling that if you're going to give your life to something for a bit of time, I'd like to have a bit more control of the narrative, the creative aspect, the cast and all of the departments.
It's hard to trust people, and if I am going to take on such a huge responsibility I need to know that it's going to be great! Now it turns out I can trust Graham with blind eyes. But yeah, it's a learning curve and I really did love every minute of it.
O-C: Setting aside all of the behind-the-scenes work, what you put yourself through on-screen was pretty darned impressive. So much action, the emotions and the trauma of this character. How did you even prepare to play her on that level?
FERGUSON: The preparation for that came before I started honing in on the producing aspect. I wanted to be on top of it. I read the script so many times and spent so many weeks in the writers room, getting a feel of how Graham does it.
The fact that when he does other shows, he's writing it every day in a room, then he has to run the show. Then there are people on the ground who help rewrite whilst the actors are actually doing their scenes. I found all of this so fascinating and quite helpful getting me into character.
So for me, I'm preparing everything that I think is needed and we work together. When it comes down to the physical aspect of it, the training, learning the accent, and understanding her, I do all of that months in advance. I put a lot of effort into it.
O-C: I think what blew me away most was the sets. As a viewer we really get that sense of claustrophobia, being in this Silo with no way out. Plus, continuously running up and down those stairs!
FERGUSON: Obviously we don't have as many stairs as you see but trust me, it was exhausting. After one take I was ready for a nap!
O-C: The series really makes you think about never being able to experience sunlight or fresh air. Could you ever imagine living in a world so immersive and so contained?
FERGUSON: No, and that's the fun part of this entire project, visualizing and imagining when it happened.
How did it happen? Why did it happen? We were the children of the children. So you have to imagine that the people we are playing have been in there for their entire lives. We don't know anything else and that's so interesting.
To back it up and think, “What were the first people like in there?” The fact that they created a working and sustainable life, creating agriculture it's an incredible salute to the human race of recycling and resources and the reuse of things.
I think that's what we would do, we have to survive. But there are always rebels, people who question and that’s the basis of the whole series.