In Ted Lasso Season 2, AFC Richmond gains a major team member. I May Destroy You's Sarah Niles will star as the team's new sports psychologist, Sharon. Utterly professional and expertly thorough in her assessment of the team, and its head coach Ted Lasso, Sharon challenges Ted while her worldview is similarly influenced by the goodnatured football coach.
In an exclusive interview with CBR, Niles shares her experiences joining the cast of Ted Lasso, having Sharon be the voice of reason on the team, and how she is able to maintain her character's stoic professionalism in the face of the Apple TV+ series's outlandish elements.
Just like your character Sharon, Season 2 already has all the other main characters' interpersonal dynamics already established. How was it joining production on Season 2 with everyone already gelled together?
Sarah Niles: It's a little bit scary joining the show, particularly when you're dealing with someone like Jason [Sudeikis] who is just a brilliantly amazing comedian. He's just so funny! You see the success of the first season and everyone loves his character and then you come in as this psychologist who is more observant and a bit more reserved and up against this character Ted Lasso. It was really thrilling to be a part of it and also a little bit tricky and I was nervous about it but I just had a ball. I had the best time.
Your character has a unique perspective in what can be a theater of the absurd. How is it finding that sense of being reserved amidst all the wackiness in the football club?
For me, Sarah, it was hard to get on and join in with them but, for the character and the show, I think it's what is needed because, in the first season, we start to see Ted take a different journey. And you want to see that continue in the second [season]. You want to get a bit further in and see the depth of these characters and I think someone like Sharon coming in is really interesting. It's really interesting for us to start looking at the mental mindset of the players, how that influences the players. It's a really interesting journey to take.
Your character's dynamic with Ted isn't necessarily combative but she challenges Ted in ways he isn't used to. How was it forming that rapport with Jason in those sequences?
It was great because I feel like Jason kind of knew a bit more. You have an idea where it might go and obviously when you get to play with another actor, things change and you find new things... He was always supportive and, if I had any questions, I could come to him and ask what he thought about this and he'd be like, "Let's try this, trust your instincts." I feel like as much as Ted is challenged, Sharon is challenged too. That's the nature of this show: Everybody starts off one way and comes out another way.
With Sharon able to deliver a major observation in a single phrase, was there a specific line or stage direction that helped inform how you approached the character?
I think one of the things that were a really good source of insight for me and a good measuring point was when they said Sharon's always very kind. She's very kind and extremely good at her job. Jason always said to me that she's like an assassin, she wants to come in and do the job, remember that's what you're there for. And there's power in, instead of having loads of words to say, in little.
With the character being a bit of a minimalist in the face of the more colorful things around her, were there any nonverbal ticks you wanted to retain?
It's hard for me because I kept thinking, "I'm not doing anything!" And they just kept encouraging me at the beginning of it because then you get into the role a bit while everyone is doing this [waves arms.]. And me, as Sarah, I got a little bit of joy watching Jason play Ted and get him to go, "Something's not right, something's not working out." It was fun!
Season 2 of Ted Lasso premieres July 23 on Apple TV+, with subsequent episodes debuting weekly.