Warning: contains spoilers forGothamseason 2.
Ad content continues below
I have not had spandex…
I may or may not have tried on different hats.
Im not exactly sure what our look is going to be, but there will be one.
And Im most interested in the spirit of the show.
I would like to have my own contribution to a Riddler look, you know?
So that when people cosplay, its like, oh, thats Corys Riddler.
Thats a dream, so, were gonna come up with something thats unique to the show.
Are you surprised that, two seasons in, it already feels like were quite close to that?
I started very far away from villainy.
And the descent has been quite maddening.
And I wouldnt have it any other way.
I still think we have a ways to go.
And thats his trademark.
Everyone thinks Im crazy…. Might as well be the best fucking criminal I can be!
This is my thing.
And then, were finding that the scale changes.
Penguin is someone who is from the organised crime world.
So he understands hierarchy.
So theres still so much.
Theres so far that we can go with him still.
And for a while you were playing it as hes a schizophrenic.
There was the two sides of him, glasses-on, glasses-off.
The glasses-on version… does he still exist?
Because were making a list of behavioural disorders now.
And, essentially, for me, it wasnt schizophrenia.
What else are you supposed to do?
And also, damn you for hurting this girl that I think I love, and damn everyone else.
Whoevers dismissed me and hurt me, and laughed at me.
And so in that very moment is horror and thrill and shame and terror and fear.
You manned up, you took care of the situation.
And part of him was like, oh my gosh, this is horrible.
So its just, its an embodiment of all of his traits, that he doesnt think is him.
He doesnt think thats him, and he doesnt see himself as a sexual person.
Hes not someone that, like, uses aggression or is incredibly sarcastic.
And so, he was battling this person, until learning to embrace himself.
So, it was essentially just our kind of comic book way of showing this person.
And he finally is aware of that, and somehow becomes a man in the process.
And has sex for the first time.
That scene with Dougherty, the audience very much feels that he had it coming.
But when Ed killed Kristen, it was tragic.
If you get I mean?
Yeah, I think through that whole process hes fighting this other version of himself.
Hes like, I actually dont want you.
I dont want you.
I got the very thing that I wanted.
I have this girl that, for some reason, likes me?
And were going on double dates with Jim Gordon and Leslie Thompkins?
I have a friend?
This is what I wanted, this is so great.
And its not until… you know…
I love Kristen, I trust her, and I want her to know what I did for her.
And I want her to know the truth.
Its a very human thing.
So I misgauge the situation, and I tell her.
And then, you know, I mess it all up.
So thats devastating for him.
It was very funny.
The director [Rob Bailey] was wanting me to be bigger.
He was like, we want the game show!
I dont want him to be brilliant at it yet.
Hes figuring out who he is.
Hes figuring out that, like, this is kind of fun.
Hes still figuring out who he is and how best to taunt people.
Hes gonna get so good at it.
Do you often feel like you have to hold a bit of him back?
Like, ifGothamruns for ten years…
Yeah, that is part of it.
We all wanna just get there and deliver that astonishing performance.
But if I did that, I dont think its appropriate.
I want to, but its not appropriate.
Thats not his journey.
His journey is that hes still figuring stuff out.
If he was just brilliant at it, it would be like, well… it doesnt make sense.
And thered be no Batman to stop him.
Yeah, he has to figure it out.
Back in the day, how did you end up auditioning for this?
Yeah, that was their experience, but I actually knew what it was.
I knew exactly what it was and I knew who the character was.
Get me an appointment.
So, I was at the very lowest level they had.
An assistant pre-screened me.
And then I had a really specifific idea of who this person was.
And they sent me directly to meet with Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon for a producer session.
And then they had like one note, on a tape.
One note, and I redid the tape, and then, Fox and Warner Brothers unanimously…
I think they sent three actors… and everyone unanimously agreed that I should be Edward.
What was the one note, if you dont mind me asking?
To not lean into the creepiness, because the creepiness will be in the content.
You know, forensics, and talking about the quality of the hair and whatever.
And he was talking to a really beautiful female cop.
Um, and so hes like flirting with her by talking about the science of the hair follicle.
So just have fun.
Let it be completely genuine, like you actually think this is actually a good idea.
And so that was the thing.
And so, going into season 3, youre pretty much the only person who hasnt escaped from Arkham.
Yeah, I know!
So do you have any clue about whats coming?
Yeah, I read it like, err, are you writing me out of the show?
Are you not letting me be in season 3, because Im stuck in a cell?
I dont know how long Ill be there, but I dont think Ill be there very long.
I dont know how I get out or exactly when.
Um, I will not be there long, for sure.
And I know that Oswald and I will be running into each other shortly into season 3.
And our relationship will be one of the centrepieces of the season.
Like a bromance kind of thing, or…
We shall see.
So, we shall see how much our alliance and bromance, if it overrides his instinct for retaliation.
Okay, I look forward to finding out!
Yeah, me too.
Cory Michael Smith, thank you very much!
Gotham Season 2 came out on Blu-ray and DVD on the 1st of August.
