Surface Interviews: Veronica West & Stephan James

A new mystery is set to entice viewers when Surface premieres on Apple TV+ on July 29, 2022. The show comes from Veronica West, and it’s precisely the kind of psychological thriller that will have people talking due to its many twists and turns. On top of this, it’s very well made, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it garnered Apple TV+ some awards attention down the road. But for now, we have an interview with West about Surface, as well as actor Stephan James.

The creative mind behind Surface is showrunner and executive producer Veronica West. She also serves as one of the series’ writers, which focuses on a woman trying to piece together her memories that led to a suicide attempt. West said she was intrigued by the idea that “other people know us, but they only know a version of us.” What part of Sophie’s past is real? Are the people currently in her life telling her the truth about who she was/is? These are themes Veronica West details flawlessly, and during our interview, we go deeper into what inspired her to tell this story and what it was like to watch the actors bring it all to life.

James plays Detective Baden in the series, described as “the outsider in Sophie’s life.” Baden is a character that isn’t tied to Sophie’s existence While the people she is supposed to trust are telling her what her life is, Baden gets involved in letting her know everything they’re telling her may not be true. In many ways, Baden is an escape for Sophie because he’s not connected to her past. She might be able to trust him because he seemingly has no agenda.

It was a pleasure to have this interview with Stephan James, who in Surface, adds another fine performance to his growing resume, which included turns on the Prime Video series Homecoming and Berry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk. During our interview, we talk about his motivations for the character and working with Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who describes as one hell of a scene partner.

Surface hits Apple TV+ on July 29, 2022.