Ted Lasso's Phil Dunster on the evolution of soccer star Jamie Tartt
In a Q interview, the actor reflects on his portrayal of his Ted Lasso character
Ted Lasso has seen many of its characters evolve over its three-season run, but maybe none so much as the flamboyant soccer star Jamie Tartt, played by Phil Dunster.
In an interview on Q with Tom Power, Dunster spoke with guest host Talia Schlanger about how Ted Lasso explores male vulnerability, what his portrayal of Jamie has taught him as an actor and a man, and how he channeled Liam Gallagher from Oasis in the role.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Listen to the full conversation on our podcast, Q with Tom Power.
When we first met Jamie at the beginning of this series, he was this cocky, fashion-obsessed, sharp-tongued guy who was really good at soccer. None of that has changed, but what has evolved over the last three seasons is Jamie's inner life. So how would you describe where he is right now towards the end of Season 3?
At his core, he's still the same person that he was. You still see the same sort of character traits, personality traits that made him the sort of caustic individual that he was. But the lessons that he's learned through Season 1 and Season 2, he's put into practice. And he's learned to listen. I think that's been the biggest thing: to take responsibility and to listen. I think that that's come home to roost in Season 3.... He is using all of those traits, the directness and the honesty, for powers of good.
WATCH | Official Trailer for Ted Lasso Season 3:
That's interesting. I like how you're framing his traits in such a positive way, like direct rather than brash or cocky. When you start out playing a character like this, do you as an actor have to understand what made him that way so that you can empathize and humanize and round him out for us, even if those scenes haven't been written yet?
Yeah. I mean, if I won't defend him, then who will? Because it's not going to be Twitter, I'll tell you that for free. And that's kind of the fun thing, I guess. The challenge is finding the sort of ugliest version of him and giving justification for that through whatever you believe his story to have been, however you can paint that, be it his backstory with his parents or, you know, things that may have happened in his life. And there's no right or wrong answers, I suppose, when it comes to painting that picture for yourself as the actor.
There are all sorts of fabulous external aspects of Jamie that look like they're very fun to inhabit. You've got hairstyles, and outfits and a swagger. Is there anyone that you are channeling through all of this?
Well, yes, there are a few. And it's sort of changed as I have spent more time with Jamie, if that's not too pretentious a thing to say. I started off with Liam Gallagher. There's a swagger that comes from Mancunian energy that I really liked there, but you know, there's a lot. There's elements of Cristiano Ronaldo, elements of Paulo Dybala — the, you know, the sort of absolute self-belief — and, of course, the one and only Jack Grealish. And all of this is done with love, you know? I really respect these players and I just wanted to take a little bit of them, sprinkle their magic on Jamie.
The full interview with Phil Dunster is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Interview with Phil Dunster produced by Catherine Stockhausen.