Ripley’s Eliot Sumner Talks Exclusively for DSCENE

In Netflix’s new miniseries Ripley, Eliot Sumner delivers a standout performance as Freddie Miles, bringing a fresh and nuanced take to a character steeped in privilege and arrogance. Directed by Steven Zaillian, this adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel explores the themes of envy, obsession, and fantasy that define Tom Ripley’s world. Sumner’s portrayal of Freddie, a foil to Andrew Scott’s Tom Ripley, is marked by a quiet menace and sophisticated arrogance, offering a stark contrast to previous iterations of the character.

Sumner, who comes from a renowned musical lineage as the child of Sting and Trudie Styler, approached the role with a unique perspective. He reinvented Freddie from the loud American seen in earlier adaptations to an observant, arrogant Englishman, a choice that set him apart in the audition process and earned the approval of both casting director Avy Kauffman and Zaillian himself. “I still can’t believe I got the part,” Sumner admits, reflecting on the personal message from Zaillian confirming the role.

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Filming in Rome, particularly in the Trastevere neighborhood, added a personal layer to Sumner’s experience, given his Italian birthplace. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the setting infused the production with a unique energy and sense of homecoming for Sumner. The initial days of filming were daunting, especially with the pivotal confrontation scenes between Freddie and Tom Ripley being shot early on. However, these challenges allowed Sumner to explore the space between his own identity and performance, bringing authenticity to his portrayal.

In this exclusive DSCENE interview with editor Katarina Doric, Eliot Sumner discusses his journey from music to acting, the creative process behind bringing Freddie Miles to life, and the professional and personal revelations encountered along the way. With an album ready for release and future projects like the Swedish action thriller Cry Wolf on the horizon, Sumner’s artistic trajectory continues to evolve.

First off, congratulations on your role in “Ripley”! What was your initial reaction when you found out you had landed the role of Freddie Miles? – Thank you, and I still can’t believe that I got that part. I am still pinching myself. Steve Zaillian wrote to me personally to tell me that I had the job.

Coming to Rome and staying in an apartment in Trastevere felt like the first time I had arrived anywhere and felt like home. I am a different animal in Italy. I am so grateful I got to have that experience.

Can you walk us through the audition process? – I auditioned with a self-tape for casting director Avy Kauffman, who is responsible for making some of my favorite films come to life. The audition sides were from the apartment scene in Rome, where Freddie hunts down Dickie only to find Tom Ripley. I auditioned Freddie how I heard him in my head. I didn’t hear a loud American as he was described in the script. I decided to play him differently. Avy had let me know I had been shortlisted, and a week after that, I received the news from Steve.

How did you approach bringing this character to life? – From what I knew about the fictional character Freddie Miles, he comes from extraordinary wealth. His family owns hotels and probably has access to every 5-star hotel worldwide. Highsmith describes Freddie as ‘hideous.’ I auditioned Freddie with an English accent even though he was written as an American. I knew that what I would do with the space in the apartment scene was important. Freddie barges in regardless of whose territory he is walking into. I knew with his entitlement and arrogance he probably didn’t have the courtesy to respect space in general.

Working alongside a star-studded cast including Andrew Scott and Dakota Fanning, what were some key takeaways or memorable experiences from collaborating with such seasoned actors?- We all had a lot of fun together. We were filming at the same time as the World Cup 2021. Johnny and I actually got to watch England vs. Ukraine in the stadium.

Was there a particular scene where you felt most powerful in portraying Freddie? – The apartment scene in Rome with Andrew will always be my favorite. I could have done that forever.

You mentioned that acting allows you to explore different personality types. Can you share an instance from filming where you discovered something unexpected about yourself through Freddie? – Yes. Don’t be an asshole. You’ll get your head caved in.

I am attracted to playing characters with an ugliness and a heaviness to them.

Being born in Italy and returning there to shoot “Ripley” must have felt somewhat full circle. How did this personal connection to the location influence your experience during production? – Coming to Rome and staying in an apartment in Trastevere felt like the first time I had arrived anywhere and felt like home. I am a different animal in Italy. I am so grateful I got to have that experience. You can’t make Ripley anywhere else in the world. Italy is the most vital component to the entirety of the work.

Do you have any plans to return to music, or are there upcoming musical projects we can look forward to? – I have an album that has been finished for some years now. I would like to put it out soon.

Where do you feel most at peace with the world? – Rome, Central Park, on stage, and on set.

What’s the most recent movie that made you cry? – “All of Us Strangers”.

What are you reading right now? – I am very late to the party reading Shantaram.

You have $20 in your pocket. What do you spend it on? – A roll of Kodak Tri-X 400, a snack, and a pair of socks.

With Ripley now released, what are your next steps? Are there specific roles or projects you are pursuing that excite you? – I am attracted to playing characters with an ugliness and a heaviness to them. I have a Swedish Western coming out called Cry Wolf, directed by Jesper Ganslandt. I really had to disappear and allow the role to swallow me up.

View Gallery 5 images

Talent Eliot Sumner @eliotsumner
Photographer Ice Pong @icepong
Stylist Suthee Ritthaworn @sutheeritt
Hair Stylist Rebekah Calo using R+Co @rebekahcalo @randco
Makeup Artist Lindsay Kastuk @lindsaykastuk
Photo assistant Atiwat Mondee and Aida Araya Bua @atiwat.fm @whokilled_araya
Fashion assistants Cyril Marion and Siwawatch Chaipipat @cyrilmarion @siwa.watch
Location Weinberg Modern @weinbergmodern
Interview by Katarina Doric @katarina.djoric

Originally published in DSCENE Magazine’s “Line, Form, Space” Design Issue.

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