David Oyelowo Talks Breaking New Ground as ‘The Girl Before’s’ Enigmatic Leading Man

variety.com:

Katcy Stephan “When you watch this show, you’re probably thinking, ‘Gosh, this is a bit crazy.’” So says David Oyelowo of his character in HBO Max’s twisty psychological thriller “The Girl Before.”In the four-episode series, Oyelowo stars as Edward Monkford, the brooding architect behind a one-of-a-kind ultra-minimalist home in London that comes with a daunting set of rules.

Viewers follow two women, Jane (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Emma (Jessica Plummer), during separate timelines in which they inhabit Edward’s house and subsequently enter relationships with the mysterious owner.In exchange for affordable rent, the women are expected to live according to Edward’s stipulations: no pictures, no ornaments, no children, no books—the list goes on, to the tune of 200 rules.

Oyelowo’s Edward is unfazed by the home’s unique setup: “All buildings are designed to have an effect on people: castles to intimidate; churches to inspire,” he says in the second episode. “Why shouldn’t a house be designed to give you a framework to live by?”As Edward’s parallel relationships with Emma and Jane play out, questions of his true intentions — and possible involvement in Emma’s death inside his house — rise to the surface. “It is a whodunnit in the true sense,” Oyelowo muses. “I just found my character to be genuinely intriguing.

A very complex guy, someone who is equal parts attractive and also questionable, in terms of his attitude to life, to art, to love, to a moral compass or the lack thereof.”In several instances, Edward has virtually identical conversations with Emma and Jane (who bear a striking resemblance to one another — and Edward’s late wife).