Based on Thomas Harris' novels, CBS's new crime series Clarice aims to pick up Clarice Starling's story where The Silence of the Lambs left off. Set a year after her horrifying run-in with Buffalo Bill, Clarice has graduated from FBI trainee to a full-fledged agent. Due to legal rights, creators are prevented from even mentioning a significant part of Clarice's past -- Hannibal Lecter. As such, Clarice focuses on the heroine's pursuit of new serial killers and sexual predators while grappling with her past trauma caused by Bill.
Speaking to CBR, Lucca De Oliveira, who plays Tomas Esquivel, a combat sniper turned FBI agent and Clarice's new team member. De Oliveira discusses the pressure of working on a series with an extensive fandom and mastering intense interrogation scenes.
CBR: What attracted you to the part of Tomas Esquivel in Clarice?
Lucca De Oliveira: Well, it's Silence of The Lambs. There was no way I wasn't going to jump at that opportunity. This world, these stories, Harris, it's all so rich and heavy I was thrilled to be able to dive into it all. It's really just such an honor for me to be a part of this cast and now a part of the "crew" of actors who've been given the chance to bring it all to life.
Everything stems from Thomas Harris' books, but with The Silence of the Lambs film and the Hannibal series as iconic predecessors to Clarice, were you ever intimidated to jump into such a beloved fandom?
At first, no, I didn't think of that part. For me, it was a job I was grateful to get and just another character to play. But the more you see the fandom behind the movies and books, the more you start to realize what the stakes are. Especially with this cast, I definitely felt like I had to bring my "A" game and do the very best I could to match the talent here. Then again, I always feel like that. But now that the fans seem to be really liking the show, it's so exciting and rewarding to me because they're big shoes to fill. I don't take it lightly, and I'm really just trying every day to find the truth in these scenes with Esquivel.
Is there a trait that you think you share or maybe admire about your character Esquivel?
There's a lot about Esquivel that I can relate to. I've set up some "pillars" for him to have in the back of his mind that, honestly, I use in my own life. Things like responsibility, loyalty, respect, care and compassion are all things I, personally, try to stay true to in my own life. The parallels I've discovered with him are really fun to play.
You played a military figure in SEAL Team and now again in Clarice, where you're a former combat sniper. What kind of preparation do you undergo for these military characters, knowing that they've seen their fair share of combat?
Luckily, I've been able to use some of my past training for this role. If not all of it, actually. I've worked with some really incredible consultants over the past couple of years who have taught me so much. They've given me a glimpse at what it really looks like to do these things. I have the utmost respect for the military, law enforcement and our first responders, and I've come to the conclusion that no matter how much training you do, we can never really know what those experiences are like until you're really there. Taking a life, saving a life, sacrifice, all of it, all I can do is use the stories I've been told and try my best to interpret and pay homage to those who really do this. It's a privilege.
Do you want to talk a little about working with the cast of Clarice, particularly Rebecca Breeds, considering you spend a lot of time with her as sort of her secret "babysitter" on the show?
Well, I'll start by saying I definitely don't see myself as her babysitter on the show. I can understand why people would say that, but frankly, she's my partner and my teammate. We're equal. Well, at least that's how Esquivel sees it. As for Rebecca, well, she's incredible. Collaborative, passionate, smart and committed, caring and kind, I could go on forever. The second we met, I could tell we'd get along, we always have such a fun time in our scenes, and I'd like to think that we feel safe with one another to perform and take risks and push boundaries. The rest of the cast is also incredible. We all get along so well. There's always so much love floating around on set when we have scenes together that we're all in. It's something special and something that I will always hold close to my heart.
One of my favorite scenes of yours so far was the interrogation of Wellig. Was the interrogation as intense to shoot as it felt on the other side of the screen?
Absolutely, the content of what we're talking about is heavy. I mean, I'm talking about killing a kid. How do you not feel the weight of that? I try to make this stuff as real as I can while protecting myself. Sometimes if I dwell too much on it or forget to "leave it at work," it comes home with me, and I shut down. Anyone who knows me knows that when I work, when I tackle rolls like this, I get pretty dark. Quieter, more thoughtful, patient, isolated. It helps me get in the right mindset. And for me, I'll do whatever I have to do to make it all look and sound authentic. Sometimes, if not every time, that means just being in my own head and trying to picture what I'm talking about as vividly as I can.
Speaking of favorite scenes, do you have one you'd like to talk about without spoiling anything major?
Hmmm, it's tough to say! I've been such a fan of the scenes that I get to do, it's hard to pick a favorite. I guess what I can definitely say is that I'm really, really excited for the rest of the season -- specifically our 8th and 9th episodes. As the season progresses, we start to get a better sense of the team and how they work together.
Esquivel's relationship with Clarice, with Clarke and with Tripathi, I love the conversations we have and I think the audience will really enjoy it. Everyone's getting more comfortable, our baggage is coming out, and we're all figuring out how to do the job and manage our personal struggles at the same time, much like Clarice. It's what I love most about this show, like the books, we get to go into details. We have time to get to know these characters and their lives, Clarice's life, Ardelia's, Krendler's and also the new characters like Esquivel, Tripathi and Clarke. It's new and fresh, and I'm so pumped to see the rest of it.