Nick Clifford – Masters of Sex

By: Kelly Kearney

Q) You play Guy on the award winning series “Masters of Sex.” Tell us a little bit about your character.

Nick: When we first meet him he’s playing piano at a party thrown by two of the new cast members, Art (Jeremy Strong) and Nancy (Betty Gilpin). We learn pretty quickly that he’s in the closet. He was in the Vietnam War and was dishonorably discharged for essentially being gay. Although, at the time they weren’t telling soldiers that up front. He comes home and he’s not able to get a job anywhere so he plays piano and these little gigs where he can. He meets Betty (Annaleigh Ashford) at a swinger’s party. She lets him crash at the Masters and Johnson clinic because he doesn’t want to go back to his house where his father pretty much disowned him. Betty discovers he could actually be a pretty good assistant and that’s how he enters their world. He’s a sweet kid. He’s got this innocence about him. He’s seen some war and had people discriminate against him. I think he’s still in the throes of discovering himself so his innocence and his optimism is a really nice tone and contrast to some the heavier qualities of the show. I had watched some interviews from Stonewall because that was sort of the same time period we’re in this season and there wasn’t a lot of places for gays to go to understand what a gay lifestyle was even like. So much about being gay in that time period was a really an isolating experience and a pretty lonely experience. When Guy comes to the clinic, I think he finds a real sense of freedom to express himself because he is at a sex clinic. The clinic was one of the few places people could be open and discussing sexuality. Obviously, this is a huge part of his identity, keeping this secret, and now he can be more open with it and experience what it’s like to live out in the open rather than have to perform for people.

Q) What was your audition process like?

Nick: I didn’t have any scripts available to me I only had scenes from episode four. The character grew a lot from what I initially knew about him. We just rapped filming on the last episode and Guy is in the last scene of the season with Masters (Michael Sheen) and Johnson (Lizzy Caplan). Michelle Ashford [ the show’s creator] and I were laughing because here’s this kid they hired to be this innocent gay piano player and now here he is at the end in the finale. When I auditioned it was just a few scenes from when we initially see Guy at the swinger’s party where he was playing the piano and he meets Annaliegh Ashford’s character Betty who’s also gay on the show. There’s sort of this nice back and forth between them where they both discover they’re gay and at a swinger’s party where everyone’s hooking up so they decide to save each other, like go home with each other and save each other from an uncomfortable situation. It was a really sweet back and forth and the casting directors are incredible for actors. They create a space where you really get to play and it feels more like a performance than sort of a stale audition. I remember in the audition during the scene they told me to just make a connection with this person, that’s the most important thing. Don’t get hung up on the time period or the fact that he’s gay and in the closet we just want to see real human interaction. That’s been the driving force for this show. It’s so much about the human connection and between these characters. You can really explore the human component. There’s no shtick. There’s no sense in forming a [time] period. It’s really just about creating a relationship.

Q) The show features some incredible actors like Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen. Was there any piece of advice you received from either of them during filming that you took to heart?

Nick: I learned so much being in the presence of Lizzy and Michael and also some of the new cast like Jeremy Strong, Betty Gilpin and then also Annaliegh Ashford who’s sort of my first onscreen partner. What’s really wonderful about being in the presence of Michael and Lizzy is that you see how dedicated they are to every single scene. There’s nothing that’s too small to warrant 100% of their attention. The first scene I had to do with Michael, when it was just me and him, I remember thinking how nervous I was to perform with him. At the time we hadn’t really gotten to know each other yet. I think I had been on set about a week or so and I remember getting ready to do a scene and he was talking to the director and was trying to figure out a few things. We jumped into the scene and all of my nerves went away the second I made eye contact with him because his presence and availability to his other scene partners is just…you can just feel it when you’re in a scene with him. It makes a big difference too, how generous and nice they are off-screen. We’ve grown to be friends on set and it’s been a joy to come to work and get to know them as people. Once you actually get into a scene with them, there’s a real sense of comradery and partnership when you’re working together, there isn’t a distance that they create between you. They’ve been wonderful and they’ve really welcomed me into a family that has been around for a while and has gained people and lost people. By the end, it felt like this tight knit little family that we created over the course of the three months we were shooting.

Q) The show deals with some rather racy topics. Are there any funny behind the scenes stories from “Masters” that you can share with the fans?

Nick: Yeah, gosh let me think… I think the funniest part always comes down to the tension that always arises around sex scenes or doing anything that requires a racy component to it. I didn’t have any sex scenes on the show. I was, of course, nervous about not knowing if that was going to happen. I definitely was nervous whenever I got a new script. I thought, “Oh gosh! I wonder if this one has a sex scene.” I think the funniest moments come from breaking that tension. From having to be intimate. For me, it was always funny watching Michael and Lizzy in this really romantic and lusty relationship because when the camera isn’t rolling they’re just good friends, joking around and trying to break that tensions of having to be lustful and intimate. Being around the high jinx of those scenes was a lot of fun. I worked so many days, even if I didn’t have a scene, I was always in the office as the assistant. I was always around or in the background so I got to see a lot of that.

Q) I recently watched a round table interview with Lizzy Caplan where she talked about the pros and cons to having rotating directors for each episode. Do you find the new directors are helpful or does it hinder your performance?

Nick: I think there’s always a bit of a period of getting to know the director where you’re feeling out their process and what they’re looking for. Every director has their own language so you know you might find one director likes to let scenes run out as long as they can and let you discover the moments for yourself and another director can come in and say, “This is how I want to shoot the scene were going to block it like this and it is kind of up to you to make it feel genuine while we try to get these camera shots…” I think as an actor, it’s an incredible exercise to have to work with different directors because that’s our career, working with different people. You have to be malleable and maintain a consistent performance across directors so it gives you thought that you have to do on your own to sort of know your character well enough to transition between directors. Especially with some of the returning directors like Colin Bucksey who came back and directed multiple episodes, it was always so fun to work with them. Then, three episodes later they come back again and it feels like a nice little reunion. I think the challenge of the rotating director, in a nut shell, is that it comes down to you and your responsibility as an actor to create a consistent character because you’re the only person who’s with that character for the whole show. So, as a director comes in and then sort of pushes you on certain things it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re doing what you need to kind of create this character day in and day out and that it’s the same character every episode and not too influenced by a director’s particular take on something. You also have to standup for the things you feel are most important for the character. You get a real opportunity to play the role in different ways. We had a variety of directors from veteran British directors to young American directors, male and female directors and we even had our first A.D. direct an episode and it’s just a really amazing experience. You get to experience every twist and turn of the character because you’re jumping back and forth between so many different directors and styles, you learn so much because of it.

Q) The show has been a critical success. What would you say is it that appeals to both the fans and critics?

Nick: I think it really starts with the writing of the show. The characters and storylines that they’ve been able to explore given the material they have to work with. Masters and Johnson are this real and incredible story that’s influenced so much of what we know about sexuality today. It just really opens the door for different storylines. What I think is interesting or different about the show, from a performer standpoint and as fan of the show before I was on it, it is the way in which they can create a scene in every episode where they might be dealing with a particular sexual dysfunction but they manage to find a way to have it be resonant for the characters and the audience as a whole too. It becomes a discussion about a certain human condition and you walk away from an episode feeling a bit like you’ve undergone a sense of therapy in your own life and about what you understand to be true about sexuality and it hits home. Every episode isn’t just about a journey for the characters, but a journey for the audience to maybe look at themselves a little differently and maybe a little more critically about their understanding of their own sexuality or their own understanding of human relationships. Going on from that, I think the four main characters on the show are so well drawn and I think are so well acted. Everyone has a sense of loyalty to coming back to these characters every season and seeing what happens to them. It’s not lost on you, even when I’m onset, I can feel these incredibly well drawn and deep characters that we all love getting to know and seeing what happens to them is really extraordinary.

Q) Was there anyone on “Masters of Sex” that you didn’t get to work with that you would have liked to gotten to share scenes with?

Nick: Yeah you know, Caitlyn Fitzgerald (who plays Libby) because she has a separate storyline and she’s not with Masters or with the rest of the cast so I didn’t get to really work with her. I met her every time we had a table read and I met her a few times outside of shooting and she’s just a wonderful actress. I just love all of her work on the show and it would’ve been nice to get to the share the screen with her. Of course, as shows plow through their season it can be hard to keep the initial main cast together, storyline wise. Also, I have a lot of scenes with Annaleigh Ashford in the beginning and it was sad to see her go because she was pregnant and had a baby towards the end of the season which is kind of the reason they brought in my character to kind of take over her role. So, after episode six I think we didn’t see her again and I think everyone missed her presence because she’s just a joyful person to work with. For me, it was a joy because she was the first person I worked with and she really welcomed me into the family in a nice way.

Q) Besides “Masters of Sex” you’ve also done some sitcom work like “The Big Bang Theory” and “Super Fun Night.” What are some of the differences and similarities to working on a cable drama versus a half hour comedy?

Nick: I think that comedy and drama, of course the final product appears to be so different, but the work that goes into making them great is very similar. Crafting a joke takes the same amount of energy as crafting an emotional scene. I think the tone on set can be different between a comedy and a one-hour drama. There’s a sense of lightness that’s purveyed because you’re shooting a comedy and “Masters” can sometimes feel quite heavy. I think there are many actors who feel its maybe easier to jump right into a comedic role and jump out of it when they’re shooting and it doesn’t require as much concentration to stay in that zone with the characters. Whereas an emotional scene, we really need our concentration and focus to keep those emotions at the level we need them so sometimes the set can feel more somber or serious. I’ve been just as challenged by my sitcom work as I’ve been challenged with “Masters.” Ultimately, it often comes down to a preference of which character you like playing more or that speak more to you. I love the challenge of new and different characters so playing Guy was a stretch for me so being on that set and playing a character that doesn’t come naturally to me was actually fun. It took all my energy and concentration. Of course, being in the presence of such great writers and actors you’re forced to push yourself and be better than you think you can be.

Q) What are some other television shows you would most like to make an appearance on?

Nick: Honestly before I did “Masters of Sex,” I think my answer would’ve probably been “Masters of Sex.” Being on a prestigious drama like that is an incredibly rewarding experience. I think about shows that I feel push the envelope and have interesting characters and stories that take twists and turns that you don’t expect. Shows like “Mr. Robot” or “Stranger Things.” Comedies too, I did an episode of “Veep” and I would’ve loved to do more on that show. I think that show is absolutely brilliant. I think “Silicone Valley” is great. I like Science Fiction, something that has a lot of character but make up and special effects, that’s always a lot of fun. Gosh, it’s so hard because there’s just so much good television out right now so many options for actors. Really “Masters of Sex” was high on my list. Anytime you get to work with people like Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan you learn so much as an actor and at the end of the day, that’s really the best award you can have is learning and growing in your craft.

Q) Like most people on the planet, you’re on social media. What’s it like getting instant fan feedback about your work?

Nick: Yes, I’ve been lucky, I feel like the fans have really responded well to the work that I’ve done. I was on a show called “Hindsight” a little while ago that was on VH1 that had a pretty active fan base of young watchers. That was really fun and I live tweeted every episode. It’s strange because you almost get to know people on Twitter and see their tweets so much and you want to interact with them. It’s really nice and I also think there can be a sort of dark side to it too. To having this immediate connection and they can say whatever they feel, but I’ve been really lucky. I think I’ve had a pretty good relationship with my fans. I’m looking forward to being able to share Guy with them and seeing what they think. I love fan interaction and I welcome fans getting in touch with me and trying to get back to them in a way that’s good for the show. It’s the new world, being able to connect like that with fans. I think we all as actors are still trying to wrap their heads around how to deal with this immediate interaction but there’s a lot of real nice positives to it.

Q) Do you have any future projects in the works you can tell the readers to look out for?

Nick: Right now my focus is on promoting the show and hopefully it will lead to more opportunities. I’ve been lucky to jump on “Masters” right after being on another show before that and I’ve just been so grateful for this experience. I don’t have anything lined up right this second, but the thing about social media is the second people start to get interested I can spread the news as quickly as possible and let them know where they can find me next.

Q) Is there anything else about Guy and your upcoming appearance on Masters of Sex that you want to be sure the fans know?

Nick: I’ll just say that the first episode we meet Guy, he sings a little tune with Annaleigh Ashford and her being a famous Broadway singer it was a quite a fun scene to do. We played piano and sang and one of the funny things is that Betty, Annaleigh’s character, is not supposed to have a good voice. So, we would sing the duet with her using this terrible singing voice and then they’d do one take with her doing it in her good voice. We’d be jumping back and forth between the two and she’d say, “I do not want them to use the one where I’m singing well. That’s not the character, she’s supposed to have a terrible singing voice!” It was just so fun hearing her sing in this working class Jersey accent and then turning around and singing it in this pitch perfect Broadway singing voice. That was a really fun scene to do with her.