Mayor of Kingstown Star reveals her loyalties

Iris is back in the hot seat in Mayor of Kingstown Season 3 – and this time it’s a voluntary choice. The enigmatic Iris has always been on both sides of the line. Introduced in season 1 as Milo Sunter’s weapon against Mike McLusky, she became one of Mike’s allies and someone he has a complex relationship with. In season 3, she finds herself in a similar bind, caught between Mike and the new Russian mob boss Konstantin, a figure from her past.

But in Season 3, Episode 5, “Iris,” the outcome was entirely different. This time, it was Iris’ decision to throw herself into the fray and work for Konstantin in the hopes of neutralizing any threat he posed to Mike. And it was Iris who revealed to Mike what the audience already knew: that the Russians had formed an alliance with the Aryan Brotherhood. CBR spoke to Emma Laird about the big revelations “Iris” made about her character, and whether it’s possible Iris could switch sides again.

CBR: “Iris” is the first major episode of your character in Mayor of Kingstown Season 3. How did you react when you got the script and saw how much was revealed about Iris and how much you were allowed to do yourself?

Emma Laird:
It’s quite nice because I feel
To put it in the nicest way possible, it was difficult to figure out what to do with my character.
I don’t mean that in a bad way. She just doesn’t fit into this world. After season 1, you wondered: what is she still doing in this place? What is this relationship with Mike? And, you know, the world of Kingstown doesn’t really revolve around Iris. So I’m going to do an episode about me.

She kind of takes control in this episode, which is nice. But I felt like I was able to go back to what I did in Season 1 from an acting perspective, which felt really good.

This is your first season without Aidan Gillen, who was one of your two main scene partners until Milo in Mayor of Kingstown Finale of the second season. But now Iris has this new relationship with Konstantin. How was this change for you?

Related

Creator of the Mayor of Kingstown makes us curious about the psychotic villain of the third season

A psychopathic villain is expected for the third season of Mayor of Kingstown.

I was always very afraid of working with Aidan.
(Laughs.) Just because I was a huge fan… I miss him and I love him and we stay in touch. But I have to say, my new scene partner, who sort of replaced Milo, Constantine – me and him were like we were the same person. I love working with new actors. I love, love, love Jeremy (Renner) and I love Aidan, but I think that’s where you can grow as an actor.

Yorick (van Wageningen), the guy who plays (Konstantin), brought something to the table… We had a really nice chemistry. I think he brought out the best version of me as an actor.

Season 3, Episode 5, “Iris,” bombards the viewer with all the information about Iris’ past with Konstantin, like when she says he called her Iris. Did anyone tell you that? Mayor of Kingstown‘s creatives before the season, or did you figure it out when you came to this episode?

Oh no. We’re basically waiting for the scripts while we’re shooting. (Laughs.) It’s crazy, I think to myself: what happens at the end? I have to know. I want to know. But that’s the problem with television: you get the next episode a few weeks before. So you’re basically in free fall.

But it does make it clear how far behind Iris is with Konstantin. And she already turned her back on Mike in season 2. So is it even possible that she will leave him and go back to Konstantin like she did with Milo?

Related

“Time is Life”: Mayor of Kingstown, actor Tobi Bamtefa, on Bunny’s threat in season 3

Kingstown Mayor Tobi Bamfeta tells CBR whether fans should be worried about Bunny surviving season three—and whether Jeremy Renner’s Mike could become an enemy.

I never realized that! (Laughs.) I thought (Iris’) love for Mike was obvious until I started listening to podcasts about the show and everyone was saying Iris meant who knows? It’s really interesting how that was perceived, because I came to the show in general and thought:
(she is) unconditionally in love with Mike. Iris is in love with Mike.

But at the same time, she has no idea what she wants to do in this world. She’s so lost as a person in this man’s world and she’s had a very difficult life. And I think there’s a risk of her leaving Mike and the loyalty that comes with that – that risk is always there because she’s trying to find her safest and best path for herself. I think she’s a bit of a spider; you never really know what she’s going to do.

What do you think would make Iris happy? Because there was this moment in season 3, episode 3, “Barbarians at the Gate,” where she and Mike talked about her not leaving Kingstown.

I think she needs a time without men in her life. That’s usually always a good answer for a woman. That usually solves a lot of our problems. (Laughs.) She’s lived in a world full of men. She was controlled by men, even with Mike. I think her happy ending is freedom from them all. As much as she loves Mike,
I think the best thing for her would be to leave this city.

What was the experience like for you personally, filming “Iris”? Because it’s an episode where she has more freedom to act and tells Mike what she wants, and in one scene she even gets shot at.

Related

Creator of The Mayor of Kingstown announces goal for the duration of the series

Since the development of “Mayor of Kingstown,” its creators Hugh Dillon and Taylor Sheridan knew how and when the series would end.

I like having more to do on set. I don’t like being in two scenes of an episode because then I have a lot of breaks, and I like being in the flow of any kind of work… But it was really nice to have more scenes with all those core members (of the cast) like Taylor Handley, who plays Mike’s brother, and Hugh (Dillon).

It’s been a tough and wonderful journey being a part of this show. Season 1 was my first acting job and season 3 was tough. When I got back into the role after doing other things, I almost forgot who she was. But I hope I did her justice somehow… For me it was always about just trying to do a good job.
This season we respectfully talk a lot about human trafficking, and that’s what happened to Iris. So I’m really proud to play Iris. I’m very grateful for this role.

Season 3 of “Mayor of Kingstown” streams Sundays on Paramount+.

Mayor of Kingstown

In the crime-ridden town of Kingstown, the McLusky family holds a lot of power and acts as a mediator between the law, criminals, inmates and residents. After the death of his brother, Mike McLusky takes on the key role and must navigate the complex web of corruption, violence and systemic problems. As he tries to bring order and justice to the community, Mike faces moral dilemmas and constant threats from all sides that test his resolve and the fragile balance of power.

Release date

14 November 2021

Creator

Hugh Dillon, Taylor Sheridan

Pour

Jeremy Renner, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Derek Webster, Hamish Allan-Headley, Aidan Gillen

Seasons

3

Streaming service(s)

Paramount+, Prime Video, Apple TV+

Expand