The Morning Show star Billy Crudup reveals he hated playing Cory in this one scene: Find out details here

The Morning Show lead Cory Ellison, played by Billy Crudup, just came clean about having "hated" shooting a particular scene in Season 4. In an interview with Deadline, Crudup explained that a blackmail/betrayal sequence left him emotionally exhausted and difficult to get into. He said,

"I hated that experience of Corey desperately needing to be back in so bad that he was willing to undermine the corporate ambitions of a former colleague with personal, damning information.”

Even for a veteran actor like himself, stepping into Cory's desperate choice in the scene left him past his comfort zone and into dark emotional space.

Even though Crudup likes playing Cory overall, he explained that the particular run of scenes here, those based on betrayal and moral compromise, was challenging to perform in earnest. His statement speaks to the cerebral and affective work of the staging of such high-wire moments on The Morning Show.

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The scene that Crudup found difficult

The scene captures Cory deciding doom under compulsion, combined with betrayal and blackmail problems. Crudup stated the scene to be intricate and emotionally challenging, hence difficult to act. As per Deadline, he said,

"Cory reserves special admiration and affection for Chip, not the least of which, because I think, while you may not be able to distinguish where Cory’s moral ethical center is, I have an idea of what I think it is with the writers. With Chip, he wears it on his sleeve"

Deadline also stated that the actor had trouble playing out how desperate and morally complicated Cory was, illustrating how short scenes may be tension-reducing in the event that one must do a lot of emotional work.

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Cory Ellison's moral complexity

Cory Ellison is likely one of the more ethically questionable characters, usually between duty and desire. Crudup himself, in describing the scene, speaks to what it is to play this kind of complexity, not only technical proficiency but also emotional exposure.

This is in agreement with his other remarks in interviews, for example, at CBS News, regarding demanding roles challenging him both creatively and emotionally. He said,

"To have a part in a show that is quite complicated and asks a lot of me as an actor and is popular are things I was not expecting at all"

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Emotional labor behind The Morning Show

Working on The Morning Show is a question of accepting morally gritty and emotionally challenging scenes. Crudup's experience illustrates how seasoned actors get ground down to do heavy scenes.

Scenes like this illustrate the work that goes into being real, particularly on a show that does as much with betrayal, power dynamics, and internal conflict.

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Fan reactions and appreciation

Fans have loved Crudup's subtle acting of Cory because they get to experience the depth he gives to the character. Knowing that actors do not always have fun with specific scenes makes fans accord the show credit to the level of craftsmanship and work that goes into crafting The Morning Show.

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Billy Crudup's forthright comment about disliking one of the scenes of The Morning Show provides insight into the affective labor of acting. Rich and engaging as Cory Ellison is a character, Crudup's comments reveal the Herculean effort that is involved in acting out morally complex and emotionally charged scenes convincingly.

This realism contributes to the audience's appreciation of the character and craft invested in the show.

Also read: The Morning Show Season 4 release schedule: When does every episode drop and how to watch them?