Jason appeared on the show to promote 'The State Within'
Video courtesy of Amanda, transcribed by Kim from Jason's FanZone
Interviewer Kate Silverton and Dermot Murnaghan
| KS: NOW HE MADE HIS NAME PLAYING BADDIES LIKE THE VILLAINOUS MALFOY IN HARRY POTTER MOVIES, NOW, AT LAST, THE ACTOR, JASON ISAACS HAS BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PLAY, THE GOOD GUY. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DM: WELL HE TAKES THE PIVOTAL ROLE AS THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR, SIR MARK BRYDON, IN THE HIT CONSPIRACY THRILLER, THE STATE WITHIN, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TONITE'S EPISODE PROMISES TO BE THE DARKEST ONE SO FAR, WE'LL BE TALKING
TO JASON ABOUT IT IN JUST A MOMENT OR TWO , GOOD MORNING TO YOU, JASON.. |
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| JI: GOOD MORNING.... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DM: BUT FIRST, LETS TAKE A LOOK ... CLIP SHOWN IS BETWEEN SIR MARK AND NICHOLAS DISCUSSING EPICHLOROHYDRIN.....FROM EPISODE #3 |
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| KS: WELL, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THEORIES AND CONSPIRACIES GOING ON, AREN'T THERE, JASON ISAACS IS WITH US NOW, GOOD MORNING TO YOU | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JI: GOOD MORNING, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OTHER THAN PEOPLE TALKING IN ROOMS, AS WELL...(overlapping dialogue here)...SEX AND RIPPING OUR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLOTHES OFF... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KS: YES (laughs) YES, EXACTLY...TALK TO US FIRST ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER, HE'S A MAN EMOTIONALLY AND MORALLY HAUNTED ISN'T HE? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HE'S TORN BY A DECISION HE MADE, QUITE SOME TIME AGO... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JI: HE IS, WELL I THINK, LIKE MOST, HE'S A DIPLOMAT, ACTUALLY DIPLOMATS
AND POLITICIANS, THERE'S ALOT OF COMPROMISES
YOU MAKE MORALLY AND WE ALL REMEMBER ROBIN COOK COMING INTO OFFICE AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ETHICAL FOREIGN POLICY ACROSS THE BOARD AND HOW HARD THAT WAS FOR HIM TO DO, HOW HE HAD TO QUICKLY TAKE SOME STEPS BACKWARD AND UH, MARKS A TOP DIPLOMAT, HE'S BRITAIN'S TOP DIPLOMAT. THE AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON AND HE'S DONE SOME THINGS THAT MAKE IT VERY HARD FOR HIM TO SLEEP AT NIGHT AND ALL THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST NOW... |
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| DM: IT IS FRIGHTENINGLY REALISTIC, ISN'T IT, I MEAN THERE'S AN AWFUL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LOT OF PARALLELS WITH CURRENT GOINGS ON.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JI: IT IS ACTUALLY, THERE'S AN ARTICLE TODAY IN THE GUARDIAN BY CRAIG
MURRAY, THE EX AMBASSADOR TO UZBEKESTAN , SAYING THAT HE THINKS ONE OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE SHOW IS CLOSELY BASED ON HIM, AND AH, HE'S NOT VERY UPSET ABOUT IT, HE THINKS THE SHOW IS FANTASTIC AND VERY REAL AND IT'S AH, ITS MADE US ALL QUITE PROUD... |
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DM: IT'S ONE OF THESE CASES, ISNT IT OF USING DRAMA, PERHAPS NOT
NECESSARILY DIRECTLY INTENTIONALLY, BUT TO ILLUSTRATE
THINGS THAT REALLY CANT BE REPORTED IN THE FLESH |
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JI: JEAH, I THINK, WELL, FOREVER DRAMA IS BEING USED TO EXPLORE THINGS
THAT, UH, THAT STIMULATE US AND THAT SCARE US AND THAT, UH, WE'RE DEALING WITH AND ITS JUST A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO DEAL WITH WHEN ONE REMOVED..YOU KNOW, IT'S EXCITING, IT'S MORE DRAMATIC THAN REAL LIFE, BUT I THINK YOU'RE HARD PRESSED TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEWS AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN OURSHOW, JUST THAT, AH, WE LOOK A LITTLE BETTER BECAUSE WE SHOT IT |
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| (overlapping dialogue here between ks, guy and JI).... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DM: YOU'VE CHANGED A BIT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KS: JEAH, NOW BRING US UP TO, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVENT JOINED IT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| THUS FAR, AH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JI: WELL, IT'S VERY UH, COMPLICATED, KINDA MYSTERY JIGSAW THRILLER BUT
YOU CAN DIP IN, TONIGHT'S EPISODE 3, AND IT'S PERFECTLY
POSSIBLE TO START WITH EPISODE 3, BUT, IT'S A, IF I START TELLING YOU THE PLOT, WE'LL BE HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT IT'S, IT'S AH, I'M THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON, THERE'S BEEEN A HUGH TERRORIST BOMB IN WASHINGTON, SET OFF BY A BRITISH MUSLIM, WHICH HAS CAUSED A LOT OF TROUBLE BETWEEN AMERICA AND ENGLAND, AND THERE WAS A BIG RUSH TO WAR, AH TO,INVADE THE PLACE THAT THIS GUY WAS TRAINED AND I BEGIN TO SUSPECT ALL IS NOT AS IT SEEMS AND SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE TELLING THE TRUTH, IN FACT EVERYBODY MAY NOT BE TELLING THE TRUTH AND AH, AND YET ALL THE PRESSURE IS ON ME TO TRYAND BRING THIS REBEL LEADER OUT OF HIDING SO HE CAN LEAD OUR INVASION AND AH, AND THEN PEOPLE JUST START POPPING OFF ALL AROUND ME... |
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| DM: YOU PLAY IT WITH A REMARKABLE DEGREE OF ABILITY, OF COURSE, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BUT CONVICTION, I MEAN, DO YOU PERSONALLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CURRENT AFFAIRS? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JI: OH YEAH, WELL I THINK, I'VE GOT TWO SMALL CHILDREN, SO WE'VE, I'VE
GOT AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE, IF NOT, WAKING UP IN A NUCLEAR WHITE OUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK ANYBODY HAS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE LIKE THAT, WOULD BE FOOLISH NOT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND US, YEAH... |
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| KS: HOW DID YOU PREPARE THEN FOR THE ROLE? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JI: WELL, I WAS LUCKY, DAN PERCIVAL AND LIZZIE MICKERY, WHO WROTE IT
SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN WASHINGTON WITH THE AMBASSADOR,
AND UM, AND THE EMBASSY STAFF, AND IT'S SUCH A MAGNIFICENTLY WRITTEN SCRIPT, THAT, |
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| ...........JASON COUGHS HERE........... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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EXCUSE ME, TAIL END OF THE _____, I'LL BE IN TERRIBLE TROUBLE FOR THAT
FROM MY GRANDMA, UM, AH, YOU KNOW, I READ THE THING
AND I WAS GRIPPED, START TO FINISH, AND THEN THEY HAD TRANSCRIPTS OF EVERY INTERVIEW THAT THEY'VE DONE WITH EVERYBODY, AND, AND YOU KNOW, THE WAY TO PREPARE FOR THE ROLE IS TO WATCH THE NEWS AND READ THE HEADLINES... |
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DM: TALKING ABOUT THE WRITING, THEY DID AN AWFUL LOT OF RESEARCH, DIDN'T
THEY, THEY TALKED TO ALOT OF OUR DIPLOMATS (JI: JEAH),
OVER THERE AND OF COURSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE US.... |
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| JI: AND OUR DIPLOMATS WERE BREAKING COVER AND WRITING AUTOBIOGRAPHIES, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NON STOP, YOU KNOW, WHICH THEY GOT THEIR HAND SLAPPED FOR BUT THEY'RE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GREAT READING FOR ACTORS, PLAYING AMBASSADORS.... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KS: YES, EXACTLY, WHAT ABOUT SHARON GLESS? WE DID HAVE HER ON THE SOFA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ACTUALLY, SHE WAS, I MEAN SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES.... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DM: YOU KNOW I FORGOTTEN ALREADY, WAS SHE CAGNEY OR LACEY?..YES, SHE WILL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BE VERY CROSS (both interviewers laugh) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JI: SHE WAS CAGNEY, SHE'S A TOUR DE FORCE, SHARON GLESS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DM: WELL DONE JASON | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JI: AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS OF HER, OBVIOUSLY SHE IS AN ICON FOR
ALL OF US, BUT SHE JUST ROLLED HER SLEEVES UP AND MUCKED IN. SHE'S BEEN DOING ANOTHER SERIES SINCE, IN AMERICA, SHE IS A FORMIDABLE PRESENCE ON THE SET, LET ME TELL YOU.... |
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| DM: I THINK WE'VE GOT A CLIP OF ONE OF YOUR SCENES WITH HER.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| clip shown is of Sir Mark and Lynne W discussing bringing the rebel leader to the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| US for talks, brokered by Sir Mark.…also from Episode 3… | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DM: JASON IS IT NICE TO BE PLAYING A DECENT MAN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FOR A CHANGE RATHER THAN .....(KS: A GOOD GUY)..... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DM: IN MY CHILDREN'S BOOK YOU RANK SECOND ONLY TO VOLDEMORT AS ONE OF THE NAUGHTIEST PEOPLE IN HARRY POTTER....LUCIUS MALFOY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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JI: WELL, I DON'T RANK SECOND, EVERYBODY RANKS SECOND TO VOLDEMORT, BUT
UH, IT IS NICE TO BE GETTING THE GIRL AND SAVING THE DAY AN AH, ALTHOUGH VERY SIMILARLY, PEOPLE KEEP DYING ALL AROUND ME, IN BOTH OF THE FILMS (ks laughs), IT MUST BE SOMETHING THRU ME..... |
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| (both interviewers laugh) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KS: AND VERY QUICKLY, YOU STUDIED LAW, DIDNT YOU? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JI: I DID….. A LONG TIME AGO | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KS: HOW DID YOU GET INTO ACTING? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JI: DO YOU KNOW ANY LAWYERS??? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KS: WHY? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JI: IT'S ALOT MORE FUN BEING AN ACTOR, I'LL TELL YOU, AND I STAY IN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BED ALOT LONGER... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DM: YES, WITH OUR APOLOGIES TO LAWYERS, HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KS: JEAH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JI: DIDNT SHAKESPEARE SAY KILL ALL THE LAWYERS FIRST, OR SOMEONE SAID THAT, SOMEONE SMARTER THAN ME | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KS: ENOUGH ALREADY, RIGHT, BLAME THE BAD GUY FOR THE LAWYERS... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (overlapping dialogue) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DM AND KS: JASON, NICE, LOVELY TO SEE YOU, ALL THE BEST | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JI: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
