Task: Tom Pelphrey explains why HBO’s dark drama felt like the right role at the right time

Tom Pelphrey, who is a part of HBO’s newest crime drama, Task, was definitely made for the role of Robbie. He perfectly captures the deeply resonant character. Robbie’s character is not just a one-dimensional villain. Rather, he is much more than that. He has a family and is not afraid to take any steps to protect them.

Robbie also cannot entirely be considered a villain. His circumstances become the driving force behind bringing him into the world of crime in Task. While discussing his character in an interview with Variety, Tom Pelphrey adds that he did not have to do “soul searching” for the character.

Task star Tom Pelphrey on his role as Robbie

In the interview, Tom Pelphrey opens up about how the character’s distinct nature was easy for him to understand. He says,

“I knew what it was pretty quickly.”

Robbie is a family man. He tries his best to take care of his family as much as is possible for him. However, his criminal activities push him into a cat-and-mouse chase with the FBI agent, Tom. It cannot be denied that Robbie does have a good heart.

Robbie's character needed Tom Pelphrey to navigate through the murky waters of moral ambiguity. He also has to retain the character’s humanity. Pelphrey undoubtedly has a track record of uniquely suiting his every character’s needs. Here in Task, he completely embodies Robbie’s role.

In the interview, Tom Pelphrey adds that during the FaceTime session with Task creator Brad Ingelsby, he had a huge beard. This look helped him lean into the role much more easily, as it perfectly captured the vision Ingelsby had for Robbie. He says,

“I came on FaceTime looking like I just got out of a f*cking hole somewhere — huge beard and my hair all down.”

His overall look perfectly catered to the requirement that the creators had for the role in Task. Tom Pelphrey has worked for years in the industry. His early works in the daytime soap operas honed his talent, giving him a clear sense of what he wanted to work with moving forward. He felt the need to “start from scratch.” The projects that he began to work on moving forward challenged him to grow as an actor.

While discussing Robbie’s nature in the Task, he says that he knew that his

“heart is in the right place; I think he has the right intentions.”

This aspect of his character helped him to completely transform Robbie’s role into a fresh perspective for us viewers. The series is character-driven. Through each episode, we get to see the reasons why the characters take on the path they are on. Robbie is a man pushed to his limits.

Though the series in no way glorifies the actions of Robbie, there is a distinct, impactful aspect to it. The internal conflicts of Robbie’s character as he navigates through the criminal world come to life through his performance. He adds that “it is hard and heavy, but there’s some real beauty in there too.”

This series is indeed a significant career milestone for Tom Pelphrey. The series is a testament to his artistic maturity as an actor. The commitment with which he handles the role is truly worth appreciating. There is an authentic storytelling that comes to light through Robbie’s character.

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