CONOR MERRIGAN TURNER ON CRAFTING HIS CHARACTER IN “APPLES NEVER FALL”

BY IRVIN RIVERA

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In this recent conversation, AUSTRALIAN ACTOR Conor Merrigan Turner provided a detailed glimpse into his role as Logan Delaney in "Apples Never Fall," showcasing a deep commitment to character authenticity and a reflective approach to acting. His preparation was rooted in an immersive study of Liane Moriarty’s work, aiming to fully embody Logan’s complex emotional landscape. Conor’s experiences on set, especially his interactions with seasoned actors Annette Bening and Sam Neill, underscored the importance of humility and adaptability in his craft. The chemistry developed with his on-screen family through shared off-screen experiences added a layer of realism to their portrayal, illustrating the significance of genuine connections in narrative depth.

As he contemplates future roles, Conor’s enthusiasm for exploring diverse genres, particularly sci-fi, indicates a versatile actor keen on challenging the conventions of storytelling. His reflections on the adaptation process from book to screen reveal a thoughtful engagement with the creative aspects of filmmaking, highlighting the collaborative effort required to bring a story to life while respecting its original essence. Conor’s journey, marked by a balance between serious dedication and a light-hearted approach to his work, positions him as a distinctive voice in the evolving landscape of contemporary entertainment.

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Conor, how are you? What’s keeping you busy recently?

I’m extremely well, I’ve just spent a little time up in the Redwood Forest, searching for BigFoot. No luck, but maybe I’ll have better luck next time. It's my first time as an adult having the chance to tick off a few bucket list items here in America, so I’ve been soaking up every opportunity I have here. It’s been a real blessing for this opportunity.

Congrats on “Apples Never Fall.” Conor, stepping into the world of your character Logan Delaney, how did you prepare for your role, and what aspects of your character resonated with you the most?

Thank you so much, it was a pleasure. In terms of preparation, a lot of my initial time was dedicated to diving into this incredible resource we had access to, the wonderful world of Liane Moriarty. For me, it was doing everything I could to understand what Liane had laid out in the book and commit myself to her world. There were a lot of aspects of Logan that I dug into. His sensitivity and loyalty to his family I was drawn to, but that in tandem with his desire to venture out and forge his path created an internal conflict that was extremely engaging to me. I’m sure we all have those conflicts in our lives, and going through them is the most exciting part of the journey.

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The series features a mix of drama and mystery. What was your favorite scene to shoot, and why?

Ahhh, so maaaany fantastic memories. Each day was an emotional rollercoaster, oftentimes we were handling delicate and tense work but due to the fact the cast got along so well together, there was ample opportunity for us all to joke around and have a laugh, this is what made the whole experience feel so authentic. One of our early scenes in the schedule had the whole family sitting around the dinner table. Each sibling had to take the family lashings on where their life had gone wrong or right. There were so many jibs, jabs, and jokes flying around it felt as though we had formed a little family of our own.

"Apples Never Fall" explores the disappearance of Joy Delaney. Without giving too much away, how did this central mystery impact your portrayal of the family dynamics?

We certainly found our baseline early on, in terms of how we were as a family before the disappearance; there were alliances, and familial bonds running from person to person, this gave each character a new layer as the mystery proceeds, as some alliances shift and retract, new ones form. The evolution of these familial bonds shifting so rapidly in crisis, was another feature of the project that I found so juicy to meddle with. Especially when it was the four siblings together.

The dynamic within the Delaney family is complex and nuanced. How did you and your on-screen family members build chemistry to portray these relationships authentically?

It certainly didn’t need to be manufactured, it followed the usual trajectory of creating new friendships. You spend enough time with one another, you learn to love the different attributes that each person offers. Considering we were all out-of-towners, living nearby we spent a lot of time going out for dinners, playing tennis, and being tourists together. Our family chemistry I suppose developed instinctively regardless of the work.

The adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s work into a series is a thrilling process. How did you feel about bringing such a beloved book to life, and were there any pressures associated with it?

We all felt so positively connected to Liane’s work, but equally as excited by Melanie Marnich's adaptation, they grew and were mutually well-balanced and nuanced. It felt like a happy marination of two brilliant minds working together to make something great. I’m almost certain fans of the book will be equally as excited about what the team had envisioned for the TV adaptation.

Working alongside an incredible cast including Annette Bening and Sam Neill, what was one piece of advice or insight you received from them that has stuck with you?

I was moved by how they both create such ease in their confidence when bringing themselves the work and with such deep-rooted humility. Entering the work was so freeing as you were watching them be malleable and effervescent. It was truly contagious and I hope I’m riddled with that illness.

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The ensemble cast brings together a mix of seasoned actors and fresh faces. How did this diversity enhance the storytelling process?

I can’t speak for the experience of the audience or the seasoned actors, though the seasoned actors do have fresh faces. They’re still doing well for themselves. I will say being able to collaborate with the best of the best, as a doe of the industry, was just an exercise in observation, and in that, the story follows a family dynamic in whom parents, for Logan, are true role models and idols, I certainly didn’t have to simulate a feeling too far from the truth and if that comes across, well I guess that’s one step closer to serving up an authentic experience for the audience.

The adaptation process can often lead to changes from the source material. Was there anything about your character or the storyline that surprised you in its transition to screen?

There were a few jumps, set on the other side of the pond, and provided some necessary adjustments to life trajectories, but not so far that these characters' internal characteristics had shifted too far. All of the internal narratives and makeup of the characters were intact, but some delicate shifts that any environmental transplant would create cause for. This being a testament to Melanie, having the structure of all these alive beings, and shifting that to a newfoundland is a difficult balancing act but one Melanie did tremendously well. Logan was no longer a professor at a community college and instead found his way to the Marina and practiced yoga, but the content of his soul was the same it just needed that Floridian sheen.

Working with directors like Chris Sweeney and Dawn Shadforth, how did their styles influence the portrayal of your character and the overall narrative?

Chris and Dawn both provided such immense detail to the overall narrative, but beautifully had such beautiful reflections on each of the storylines that were unfolding, in a way it was a fortune to have fresh eyes on developing moments, as the characters found new direction in their lives, so to did the directors.

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Transitioning from your previous roles to a major production like "Apples Never Fall," how has your approach to acting evolved?

This was such a meaty text, seven episodes, multiple timelines, continuous days of shooting, evolving dynamics, and unpacking crises on the same day as a happy family. My approach had to take a more administrative approach this time around. My apartment wall was covered in Post-it notes and strings. Think of the Charlie ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, freak-out meme and you’ll get a visual on how that occurred, but that being said. I loved it.

Australian actors have a reputation for bringing a unique presence to Hollywood. In what ways do you think your Australian identity contributes to your acting style or choices?

I mean, I like to think we’re a pleasant contribution. I find the Australian Identity remarkably charming in that our country is vastly evolving year by year. We have such a remarkably diverse culture 30% of our country is made up of new Australians, so the way our community often welcomes new generations is beautiful I come from a migrant family, so there’s a real hopefulness that is embedded in the culture and because of this, I do think the hunger to search for something outside of the box is familiar in the zeitgeist. So when wanting to become an actor it was not so estranged. There’s a wonderment in new experiences, and our temperament is entrenched in a grounded nature that is bonded to lightheartedness, I think that allows us to not take things too seriously.

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Looking beyond "Apples Never Fall," are there any genres or roles you are particularly eager to explore in the future?

I mean, I can't go past a good sci-fi, eventually if ever so lucky I'd love to be a part of a project like that, experiencing a world outside of our own would be hard to pass on. It’s not as if they are too far apart, but something so eager to allow the performers to breathe into a moment is something I’ll continue to search for. There is an undeniable euphoria that it evokes, I’m hungry to experience that again.

What’s a valuable lesson that you’ve learned that you always carry with you?

Take it easy, we’re just telling fibs.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

My god, these questions. Why are you trying to know my core? if I was a book... I wouldn’t tell you about it because I’m still writing it and I’m worried you might steal my IP and I’ll be left with nothing. So ha, eat that.