In the edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold – until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.
Leading up to the release of Anyone But You in Australian cinemas on Boxing Day, Nick L’Barrow had the chance to chat with one of the film’s Aussie stars, Joe Davidson (Sons of Summer, Neighbours) about his first time meeting Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, his insane audition story, and what his serenity song is!
Nick: With all sincerity, the two biggest laughs at my screening were both scenes involving you! There was that scene, and the “full titanic” scene! I just lost it both times, and the crowd loved it. I had so much fun with this film, and I loved the Aussie larrikin energy you brought along to it. Which is an artform in itself – if you’re too over the top, Australian’s cringe. But, if it’s not larrikin enough, it won’t translate to the American audience. What were the conversations like with Will Gluck [director of Anyone But You] about finding the right balance of Aussie larrikin?
Joe Davidson: Well, I didn’t really ask him about it. I just kind of turned up and acted like my girlfriend’s dad and got the job! But originally, it was more of a serious character. I played it more serious. But things changed as they went along. They developed and it started like that. And then we finished with more of… he’s just an easy guy.
But originally, I was thinking who I could base this off, and I was like maybe I can base it off my old girlfriend’s dad. Because when I was in drama school, I played him in a verbatim theatre peace. So, you know, you record them, you listen to them, and you basically work in reverse. So, instead of trying to get to the character through your experience, you use them, and they inform everything word for word, exactly the same by listening to the voice. It’s very, like, robotic. But then from there it’s really interesting.
So, I would say 30% was based on that work I’ve done in drama school when I was playing him. I messaged him as well and I said, “Hey, I based a lot of this character on you, your voice is great!” But I think he’s excited for it. He’s been sharing stuff on it!
Nick: That’s amazing! And the larrikin nature is a big part of the comedic side of Beau, but there is the physicality to him as well! I read that when Will was looking for Beau, he wanted someone who was in that peak physical shape, and that when you got the call to audition, you didn’t feel like you were 100% there yet. So, can you please tell me about the Kmart workouts on the way to your audition?
Joe Davidson: Yeah, that was really interesting because I was on holiday with my new old girlfriend. I’m just surrounded by old girlfriends [laughs]! But, we were going around Tassie, having a good time seeing animals, the nature. And I’d just done two auditions for this film and I thought it was gone. It’s done. Because you usually do that, you just tell yourself to forget about it, and you hope that you get it, but you try not to hold on to that.
And we were travelling around Tassie and then I get this message from my agent saying that the director, Will [Gluck], wants to meet. And I had to go back and find out which movie it was for because I had just been sending all of these tapes, not really reading anything about the audition. I had to have a little brush up because I had done all of these auditions, and I saw that it was the rom-com, sweet. Then I looked at the top and it said, ‘We can not stress enough how fit he needs to be. An incredible swimmer, in peak shape.’ And I had just been around Tassie for three weeks and I hadn’t done any exercise! You might go for a swim or do some push ups on the sand. I don’t usually use a gym anyway. You know, I hadn’t been eating much food. And it said he has to be in peak physical shape, and that just wasn’t me at that point.
So, I kept wondering what I could do to get in shape. So, I grabbed two water jugs that we had on our trip, and I started using them. But, because they were in cardboard containers, the water started to leak through and next minute they just crumble in my hands and water starts falling to the ground. And I didn’t want to join a gym for like a month, and I like outdoor gyms anyway. Then I was looking at dumbbells and things, and I was like I could go buy some. I found a 24 hour Kmart because it was 9pm at this point, and there were no matching dumbbells. I had like a 12kg and 8kg. And I just started using them and would switch sides! Then I had a back roller to do sit-ups. People used to walk past and I’d just be like, “I’m testing the equipment!” And that’s what I ended up doing! I also went and bought a $5 singlet that said, ‘ROAD TRIP’, because I thought it looked cool and was a bit like the character, you know. He’s just an Australian guy on a road trip!
So, I turn up, you know, my plane lands, and they’ve said we have a really quick turnaround and they’ve gotta get me back to Tassie. I landed at 11 and I was leaving again at 12. And, you know, my planes running late, so I ran to the car, and I hopped in and who’s in the car but the other guy that I’m up against! Nice shirt, jeans, he’s looking schmick! He’s basically like, the more handsome version of myself. And I was sweating because I had just run to the car from the airport, and now I’ve only got 45 minutes to see the director and the fly back. And I thought this other guy was just going to nail it.
However, I was wearing a pair of shorts… underneath my pair of shorts. So, you know, for that scene, I thought, “I’m just gonna whip my pants off in the audition room. I’ve got pants underneath anyway!” I’m just gonna give it a good shake of the sauce bottle! And that’s when he [Will] goes, “That’s our guy.” But before I left he asked if have any other skills, and I said that I could run on the bottom of the water without a rock! And he [Will] was like, “Hmm, send me that video.” When he introduced me to Sydney [Sweeney] and Glen [Powell], they were like, “Are you the guy who can run on the bottom of the water without a rock? [laughs]
But I finally got the job! It was fun!
Nick: That’s an unreal audition story! And look how it paid off because now you’re in a Hollywood rom-com. And I find it interesting looking back at your work so far, whether it’s playing Fred at Movie World, or your episodes of Neighbours. I’m curious to find out whether there is anything from those experiences that you found essential to carry over on to the set of this Hollywood rom-com?
Joe Davidson: I feel like… I think Movie World helped with working around people and the live show aspects. Drama school too because of that component of live theatre. I mean, that was a lot of fun. I think as well, drama school really helped me to be ‘big’ and create these energies. This character [Beau] is not a natural character. I mean, you might meet people like this, there are exceptions. But I had to find the energy that he was and I think that might’ve been harder to access this role if I hadn’t of gone to drama school in North Queensland.
I think Neighbours is really good because anything after Neighbours feels easy. There’s just so much dialogue getting pumped at you. You know, you’ve got two days to try and sell it, and you know it’s not going to be your best performance, ever, at all. But, I’m really going to try and sell this conversation I’m having with my girlfriend about going to jail, or whatever. You try and connect with it as best as you can. But, they’re all good experiences and they all help it add up.
Nick: I read that you’re a big movie fan too! What were the formative movie experiences you had growing up?
Joe Davidson: I think Lord of the Rings. They’ve always been my favourite. The Lord of the Rings would definitely be right up there. I’ve always wanted to be in like, a medieval things, swinging the sword around. Yeah, I just love those stories. Vikings, Game of Thrones. Anything like that.
I also like Austin Powers. Maybe that’s where I get my joy! Austin Powers is an absolute cracker. A classic! And I just saw Ghost the other day! I’m trying to watch movies that the critics say are incredible just because I don’t have that much time, so I try and get as many good ones in as I can.
Nick: Were there any films or performances that were formative in you wanting to pursue acting? Was there a role you saw where you thought, “I can do that!”?
Joe Davidson: I think when I watch movies, and I don’t know about other actors, but whenever I saw a role, I go, “Yeah, I can do that.” And it’s not like in a cocky way. But when I see someone else do it, if they can do it, I can do it. I remember at film school back on the Gold Coast, there was an audition tape where this girl turns around in the tape in a certain way, a famous actress, and I did the same thing and they were like, “No, you can’t do that.” And I was like, “No, I can do that.”
I think when I watch performances, I try to take on board those things. If they can do it, I could do it, I just need to work really hard. It may be natural and easy for them, but I could definitely do it, I just need to work harder to get there.
Nick: That’s awesome, man. I’m going to wrap up on this question, and it’s about serenity songs, which play a pretty big part in Anyone But You! What is your serenity song? What’s the song that centres you and calms you?
Joe Davidson: Listening to The Greatest Showman. I always listen to The Greatest Showman on the way to an audition. I’ll drive there and I listen to that and sing along, and it’s a really good vocal warmup because all the songs are so different. Like, that song with Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron – I forget that name – but it’s very, very fast paced and really good for alliteration!
Nick: Joe, I really appreciate you taking the time to chat today! Like I said, the two biggest laughs were both scenes involving you, so congratulations on the film! And I hope we can chat again soon!
Joe Davidson: I’ll see you soon in Queensland!
Thank you so much to Joe Davidson for his time, and to Sony Pictures for organising our chat! Anyone But You is in Australian cinemas Boxing Day.
You can also watch an EXTENDED and uncut version of the interview on the Novastream YouTube channel here:
