Rami Malek on Mr. Robot, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Dressing As Prince | Screen Tests | W Magazine

In this Screen Tests interview, actor Rami Malek recalls sharing a smoke with, and receiving some key advice from, the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman while they filmed 'The Master.' Plus, he recounts seeing 'The Shining' as a child and being terrified, but also kind of turned on.
Transcript
Two years ago, I was Prince for Halloween.
I mostly wore women's clothing,
and these purple velvet shoes I found
that were entirely too small for my feet,
which gave me a concept of what it's like
for women going out sometime.
I went there.
It didn't so much change my mood as the people around me.
I felt like I was more accessible to a number of people
that I wasn't in the past.
Oh, some of the best roles I've ever played have just been
in five minute auditions that no one's ever seen.
The amount of times I've gotten, you know,
into my car or on the train after an audition
and just like wanted to scream, or screamed,
or even cried at times, it was just like,
but it's good, I mean, hearing no that many times
really, it builds you a skin that puts you ready
to take on anything in the world.
You know what I loved about Mr. Robot is
that it read like a play.
From the beginning, I was immersed in it, and then,
there were so many layers to this character,
I was like, this guy's a gift for an actor.
It's that thing I call the joker in the hand.
You know, that's the card you want,
and yeah, that's what it was for me.
People definitely ask weird questions all the time.
Most people ask if it's really a show about robots,
and I say, yes, do you like robots,
'cause it's the show for you.
There is like a seminal moment in my life where my,
I was young, very young, and my dad showed me The Shining.
It was so weird 'cause at one point, I was so freaked out,
but I was aroused at the same time,
for like, one of the first times,
maybe the first time in my life,
and I was sitting next to my father.
That all happening at once is kind of etched in my mind
forever in not the best of ways, but it's there.
Don't know that I've seen The Shining since,
so maybe I'm scarred by that.
Who is a royal to me?
That is a great question.
I would say that a king in my book
is Philip Seymour Hoffman, for sure.
You know, there was a moment in The Master
where I was having a hard time,
and I went out, and we were sharing a smoke.
I got to ask Philip Seymour Hoffman for advice
on what to do in the scene, and he told me to
just make Joaquin as uncomfortable as possible,
and I was like, easier said than done, Phil.
My favorite birthday?
I have a twin brother so we've
had a lot of birthdays together.
We were on vacation when we were young, with family,
and he met this girl who was also on vacation
with her family, and she was really cute,
and he kind of started to make out with her one day,
and I got a little jealous.
I asked if that would be okay if I, you know,
got a piece of the action, as it were as well,
and we were really young.
I think we were like, I don't know, or .
So, I put on his clothes and went back
to where he left off with her,
and I started kissing, and somehow,
through the course of kissing her,
she noticed a difference, and I was like,
oh, this sucks, I'm a terrible kisser,
because she's noticing something,
but it was that I had gum in my mouth.
She said you weren't just chewing gum two minutes ago,
so where did that come from, and I just,
I started having a panic attack and ran away.
Yeah.
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Rami Malek on Mr. Robot, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Dressing As Prince | Screen Tests | W Magazine

[@ClarizMarielle]

I hope he never gets tired of interviews bc I love his interviews omfg

[@WheelyamEakaPEBBLES]

Rami Malek is the man.

[@vaishnavidasika5866]

I want to like this but this is perfect

[@nomoregunsinthevalley]

"Do you like robots? This is the show for you"

[@kaylavix]

How can you not love this talented man? Really hoping he gets that Emmy.

[@AndyMix22]

Amen! He did!

[@kaylavix]

Cameron Andy When I heard his name announced I was almost overwhelmed with excitement. Well deserved. It's been a long time coming. Honestly believe he will be one of the few defining actors of this generation in the future. (I called the Emmy now I am calling the impact he is going to have on the industry) Can't wait to see it all.

[@joaomarcelo742]

came here to say that

[@rosemargrit_27]

Hoping he gets the Oscar for BohRap😊

[@footyfan101ful]

Now he got nominated for a Golden Globe for BohRap. Now for an oscar!

[@smashcrookspranks]

I love this guy theres no lies in him

[@purpleshamrock17]

So I just Googled him...he's 35?? I thought he was late twenties at most. Wow!

[@katestrello1971]

purpleshamrock17 he’s super hot

[@hahahaley4256]

Omg little rami is a player

[@deaconx]

I love how incredibly sincere he is

[@IvanaandAyonna]

When you find out Rami Malek is a twin:) very cool!

[@katestrello1971]

Ivana & Ayonna and he’s just as hot too !

[@CherylLoke]

Phillip Seymour Hoffman

[@daniella6575]

His twins name is Sami and it’s a little funny.

[@loviedebiasio8864]

*you didnt have gum 2 minutes ago LMAO*

[@ludegio]

Rami is gold! So glad I started watching Mr Robot 😊

[@karina6048]

It is just me or Rami Malek's face is just so beautiful...💞. I did it again..I'm in love with him honestly.

[@Crystalbomb321]

He's hilarious, this was a great way of seeing a glimpse of his real personality haha.

[@ElizaMogha]

Amazing actor and really handsome guy! I hope he remains humble, he's such a star! Love him

[@n444t]

LMAO I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY TAG TEAMED THAT POOR GIRL ON VACATION

[@westie430]

Lucky girl😂😭

[@jennt7573]

I would say she was a lucky girl to kiss both Malek twins lol

[@Charlotte757]

I could listen to him talk for hours

[@kiwifruit138]

hahaha all of that laughing in the background. It's really hard for me not to fall in love with him more and more each time a watch a video of his

[@jackxiao9702]

Damn, that's his real voice? I thought Elliot's voice was made up for the character.

[@MyshaM]

He got me since the Pacific as Snafu )) there really is something special about him )

[@nondescriptbeing5944]

I loooved Snafu. That Cajun accent...

[@zaraeraesmith7510]

He's everything. I wanna see those auditions so badly

[@rjb77]

I loved working with Rami so much. There times I could hardly hear what he was saying but I still knew what and where he was going.

[@comradejosephstalin6886]

When'd you work with Rami? Do tell!

[@rjb77]

Last year at this time on a film shot in Kalispell, mt

[@twilightrhapsodist]

@@rjb77 Was it Buster's Mal Heart? That was such a interesting movie.

[@rjb77]

@@twilightrhapsodist Yes. Three week shoot in and around Kalispell, MT. Fun film to work on, fantastic crew and cast. And since then, Rami has done some fantastic work. Completely blew me away watching him in Rapsody.

[@twilightrhapsodist]

@@rjb77 That's awesome! Can I ask what you did on the movie? I found myself kind of blown away by that film. I got done with it and immediately felt like I needed to watch it again to really grasp what it was trying to say.

[@belindasm]

He got me since Night at The Museum hehe. I felt it was kinda weird and cheap that I was attracted to him. But when Mr. Robot came out, I did not see that he would get so many attention. But well, he deserves it.

[@racheldarmawangsa9589]

Belinda S Same lol. I was weirdly attracted to him as the mummy guy

[@veronicael8919]

Now he's Freddie Mercury 😎

[@valerianicole610]

LMAO I love him. "Yes. Do you like robots? Cuz it's the show for you."

[@amyjewell4456]

he's so freaking adorable. I love him!!

[@tallulah7935]

What an incredibly humble actor. I aspire to be like him. He is proud to share his faults and mistakes in which he has learned from, I think so many people lack that. Take notes. I know I will. :)

[@wendyacuna5865]

His twin is my teacher

[@ash-zf4bu]

what subject

[@hxneybee6968]

English I think

[@hxneybee6968]

or literature (I've heard from different people I'm not sure which one)

[@sksksk2940]

Wendy Espinoza damnn I'm jealous

[@wendyacuna5865]

his brother teaches english

[@dillimeinbilli]

I NEED to see a picture of Rami Malek in women's clothing.

[@arimax888]

Damn, I could listen to him talk all day!:)

[@expressivepets1]

Don't stop! I adore this guy. He's soooo humble, it hurts. Love u Rami.

[@karip6237]

He has Hoffman's deepness in his voice

[@bblillian]

So good looking and charming 😍😍

[@truegoal9853]

I laughed so hard when the bad-boys-kissing-part came on! Love this guy telling stories

[@29hurley]

He is so funny! And handsome (^-^)

[@livelifeforaliving]

He stood out in The Master. He's so talented. And handsome. :)

[@srushtimishra111]

respect him for the part where he said about being rejected many times and building a tough skin

[@ae5109]

He is beautiful! Really liked this video :)

[@kayann3]

He's so well-spoken

[@roce6296]

he could play the Joker

[@flawlessangela]

Ron Cerbito He is Freddy now

[@jessebond4280]

"So I just started having a panic attack and ran away... Huh."

[@jennt7573]

I love listening to his stories he should do audiobooks as his voice is gorgeous

[@cutieworldwideee]

what a babe

[@KayraR1221]

i love the way he talks

[@Anew3A3]

I could see him on the game of thrones

[@RayneDavila]

Oh my gosh I love him so much

[@yudithmolina7605]

OMG THE KISSING PART😂

[@EloiseBean]

hard to believe he heard no so many times.

[@ThirdEdit]

LOL that last story smh

[@kingcoal5934]

Aroused by the Shining lmao

[@Joukyo]

I loved him at "war at home". Loved that show.

[@alminath2]

he is so Sweetttttt

[@geminidreamatl26]

when he talks about trading places with his brother to share the girl, thats straight out of David Croneberg's Dead Ringers with Jeremy Irons

[@mookievmovies]

he's so fucking REAL, i love him.

[@zikriyahassani7907]

I love u Mr. Malek. You are gonna be the new legend

[@brittanylawless680]

This interview is how I know Rami and I would be best friends.

[@Codduct]

I'm not sure why it's kind of common brothers usually like sharing girls but that was hilarious 😂

[@ny9296]

omg, his voice 😍😍😍❤❤❤🙄❤❤❤❤

[@alishaj7369]

where are the photos of rami dressed as prince for halloween,,, i would like to see it

[@flawlessangela]

He is voice reminds of Harry Styles voice but more deeper 😘😎

[@huntermarie2232]

I like his voice

[@tabithaclarke-scholes6802]

This video started glitching and I thought it was on purpose and there was going to be a mr robot hint but I guess not :D also check out sam Esmail's website if you like the show it's pretty cool

[@roxyredrose1]

what part of the shining could possibly make someone aroused

[@WalterSobchak91]

the part when the woman gets out of the tub, but then we see she's all nasty and shit

[@theengineer9910]

stfu donny arousal to derousal in 5 seconds hahaha one of my fav movies

[@ashoozq]

OMG that story is so messed up! 🤔😬

[@colleensarmento9660]

i love him soo much

[@davedogge2280]

yay a Prince fan.

[@allistairphoenix]

Oh he is great

[@bobross3356]

He's so fucking cute!!!

[@g405t]

Josh!

[@angiekz9400]

He is perf

[@oscarclarke2653]

I feel attracted to him...

[@curvelinedot]

Why did they take down the video where he does kiss by prince

[@sheakillinit]

Jazmine Renée he recites Kiss as a sex phone operator lol

[@scrainbow1234]

He talks with like one half of his mouth, it's weirdly mesmerizing lol

[@Judabudda2010]

You NEED him to do the asmr video. His voice . 😍😍

[@XxSharmsxX]

love him

[@sarahmusa4775]

ngll 1:39 put me off a bit lolll TMI fam🤧🤧🤧🤧

[@igotcheesewannabemypeppero3762]

He doesn't f*ing blink, wtf? Lol.

[@heidiwarburton7736]

Im in Love. In Love!

[@sarahmusa4775]

this interview is great and everything but i still dk why he thought it was a good idea to share that detail w the world 😂😂😂 1:40

[@Br0th3r7]

He is SO cute

[@LaraTang]

Omg he hardly blinks in this. Like he literally blinks about 3 times properly in this whole thing

[@jasmineballard4248]

The Shining was a family movie growing up. Haha

[@pabc]

Awesome!

[@isabellamonroe69]

i love him omg

[@2babies1porsche]

his voice tho omg

[@TheWayofGrace89]

Reminds me of my buddy from high school

[@kociak1238]

His voice... I'm pregnant.

[@destiny1375]

do another one please

[@heyworldchannel]

panic attack and running away ahahah

[@taktak7353]

He was so perfect so God decided to double that beauty... Like a doppelganger but cute.

[@megancanney]

Little did he know he would play Freddie Mercury some day🤩

[@gorannikolic5973]

He looks like he's Michael Shannon's younger brother.

[@mimbis]

People are absolutely losing it in the back!

[@Racheldivaa]

cutie

[@teeniebeenie8774]

sincere to the point ot agony

[@voicenoteswithbrookewilliams]

my human 🖤

[@echolot]

he looks and sounds like a more "exotic" michael shannon.

[@user-lz2sh9fq6o]

Мне нужен переводчик

[@anaflores5995]

I love you !!

[@peterbynoe9457]

Love me meet him and twin brother.

[@rachaelferguson7046]

Where'd you meet him?

[@daniella7923]

oh the fun you could have as a twin 😂

[@missbumblebee8633]

Why would he get aroused by watching The Shining? And WHY on God's green earth does he feel the need to share that? Rami seems just so sweet and gentle. I don't even want to picture him as a sexual being.

[@snwia9i281]

well sorry he's a god damn 37 year old grown man-

[@missbumblebee8633]

@@snwia9i281 Yeah, but that The Shining story and him pretending to be his brother to make out with the girl are just really creepy.