Forget gadgets and car chases — the real key to being a top-notch spy is apparently having a knack for getting people to spill their secrets. At least, that’s what Naomie Harris discovered while prepping for her role in Steven Soderbergh‘s upcoming espionage thriller, Black Bag.
The Oscar-nominated actress, known for her roles in Moonlight and as Moneypenny in the recent James Bond films, took her research to the next level by working with an actual undercover operative. The verdict? She might have missed her true calling.
“[The spy] said, ‘You have the ability to be a spy,’” Harris revealed to PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“People often come up to me and tell me their life story and he said, ‘That’s exactly what you need as a spy.’”
This deep dive into the world of espionage wasn’t just for show. Black Bag, set to hit theatres on March 14, promises to be a nuanced exploration of trust, betrayal, and the psychological toll of living a double life. The film centres around top British intelligence agent George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) and his spy wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), as George is tasked with uncovering whether Kathryn has betrayed both her country and their marriage. Think Mr & Mrs Smith vibes but British.
For Regé-Jean Page, who shot to fame — and heartthrob status — as the Duke in Netflix’s smash hit Bridgerton, working with the star-studded cast Soderbergh assembled was a dream come true. “The way he cast this movie was insane,” the 37-year-old British actor told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“Between Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, Marisa Abela, myself — you have Pierce Brosnan — you have this cast that are bringing their A-game. And that is just such a great environment to go to work in. It became undeniable.”
Page plays an eager agent, James Stokes, who has risen up the ranks in his organisation, while Harris plays the staff psychiatrist Dr. Zoe Vaughan. I’m sure you can imagine she has a lot to unpack in her patients’ sessions.
Despite the intimidating roster of talent, both Page and Harris said it was a completely ego-free atmosphere on set. “What I think is so incredible as well is you have this amazing talent, which is phenomenal, but then that’s also matched by the level of humility and humanity,” Harris noted.
“There’s no ego. Everybody’s there in service of the material and just wanting to do the very best possible job.”
Soderbergh’s approach to filmmaking was another highlight for the cast. “He has this incredible eye for detail,” said Page.
“When something new does come up he is so ready to catch it, so ready to frame it, and so ready to support everyone around that table.”
For both actors, it was the depth of the story — along with Soderbergh’s vision — that made the project irresistible from the start. “There were so many twists and turns,” said Harris about reading the script for the first time.
“By the end of it, I had so many thoughts rushing through my head and so many questions… If this is doing that to me and it’s just words on a page, it’s going to make the most incredible film.”
With its stacked cast and Soderbergh’s signature style, Black Bag is shaping up to be more than just another spy flick. And who knows? You might even pick up a few tips on how to be a real-life spy along the way.
Black Bag opens in theatres on March 14, 2025.
Lead image: Supplied
