The third season of Industry is already more than halfway over, and aside from it being its most successful season to date (attracting more viewers than ever after moving to the prime HBO Sunday-night spot), it’s propelling its younger cast deeper and deeper into stardom. Included is Marisa Abela, who portrays literary nepo baby turned investment banker Yasmin and who has taken over this season as the main character.
But Abela hopes that the original fans aren’t put off by the recent mainstream success. “It’s still the show they love,” she says, sitting at her dining-room table in London, freshly back from the Venice Film Festival, which she attended with Miu Miu. “I love that Industry fans are as vocal as they are. I know that nowadays everyone goes crazy online, but I just think that Industry fans are really funny and smart people.”
Below, Abela discusses her time in Venice and her recent engagement, plus dishes on what iconic Housewife has been messaging her about the HBO series.
Was this your first time at the Venice Film Festival?
It was my first time in Venice, period. I’ve traveled a lot in Italy, and I’ve never done Venice, because I’ve always felt overwhelmed by how to do it properly, and this is the most insane way to go. But it was incredible. And being around such talented filmmakers, going with Miu Miu, and listening to people talk about their careers was amazing. The brand is giving voice to many female filmmakers and actresses, and it was cool to be a part of it. And it was low stakes because I didn’t have a movie to promote, but it was more enriching than I realized it would be. It wasn’t just about wearing a really cute handbag.
Which you did. Did you see any good films?
I didn’t get to see any movies because the schedule was difficult. But my partner, who came with me, went to see The Brutalist, which he loved. But just being there and seeing the titans of the industry just getting on and off of boats, it’s kind of incredible. There’s a lot of pretense of glamor in our industry, then when you get behind the scenes, it’s messy and intense and everyone’s all over the place, whereas this wasn’t like that. It was just plain glamorous.
Speaking of your partner, you recently got engaged. How did it happen?
He planned a fake event with an artist friend of mine who he doesn’t really know. So I was completely thrown off the scent. My friend runs a gallery in Marylebone and he said he was throwing a big event for everyone he knows in Primrose Hill, which is where my fiancé and I met. I was all ready to go, which was well planned, because I was all dressed up and I was walking through Primrose Hill with my friend and then I looked to the side, and there was a blanket with a rose and a bottle of Champagne on it. I see Jamie, and I turn around and my friend, like, runs away. And then I kind of knew what was going down. Jamie said a bunch of very nice things and proposed, and it was amazing. Then he said he would take me to dinner, just the two of us. Then we get there and we walk downstairs, he opens the door, and it’s a private dining room and all my friends and family are there. And then we flew to Greece the next day. I couldn’t believe how long he planned it because I usually do that stuff. I’m quite type A about stuff like that, but it was very nice to have a very important moment just completely taken care of with so much love.
And your co-star Myha’la just got engaged too.
The same week! I texted Myha’la and I was like, “I’m engaged,” then three days later she was like, “Me too.” Our relationships started at a similar time, and we talked about them a lot. We both have known that these are our people so it’s not surprising to me that she’s engaged to Armando, and it’s not surprising to her that I’m engaged to Jamie. A total surprise. It’s funny, though, because the whole thing has happened in very different ways. It’s quite Yasmin and quite Harper.
Who is a better kisser, Rob or Henry?
What it means to kiss both of them is so different to Yasmin. With Henry, I think Yasmin feels more pressure to be a good girlfriend and to get it right. It also depends on the setting as well. When it’s at his big house, she’s like, Oh, this is fun. Whereas with Robert, I think her heart is pounding before they kiss in a way that it’s not with Henry. The relationship with Henry is more meaningful in a calculated sense, whereas it’s more meaningful in an emotional sense with Robert.
Do you have a specific song or playlist you listen to before filming?
For Industry, I always ask Mickey Down and Konrad Kay what song they’re hoping to get for the end of each episode, and I’ll listen to that. I mean, they’re so good with the music and Industry is so about the vibe that it’s a good picture of what an audience is going to be feeling, but it’s very different for each job. I had a playlist for the character that I played in the Soderbergh film that I just finished, and that ended up being useful because Steven sent me a message saying, “She should be listening to music while she’s doing this. What do you think it is?” And I just sent him the playlist, and he was like “Great.” But it’s less about getting myself into an emotional state with the music and more about thinking What does this person listen to?
Where do you get your best culture recommendations from?
I’m in a book club with a few of my friends, which is fun. In terms of what to wear, I’ve got my wish lists on Net-a-Porter but I don’t necessarily follow a person who I’m like, I should be doing what they’re doing.
What book are you reading right now for Book Club?
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel. They did a TV series with Mark Rylance a long time ago and it’s about Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII. It won the Booker Prize twice, but it’s very long and it’s very different from what we normally read. We just finished Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, so it’s taking a second to adjust to something that’s not relationship-based and very plot-driven. Whenever you come into a world that’s slightly more serious, it does take a second to make your brain focus again. When I was reading Fourth Wing, I was dreaming about dragons; those books get in your head more and become all-consuming.
You said a lot of what you watch is for work. What’s the last thing you remember watching just for fun?
I love watching shows about travel or food. I watched all of the Anthony Bourdain shows. I love Somebody Feed Phil or MasterChef Australia. I love a show that makes me feel like I’m gonna escape, like reality-based. I love and watch most of the Housewives franchises, which is really fun because Dorinda Medley is watching Industry right now and DM-ing me live updates. It’s the biggest thing ever. It was so funny because she was messaging me about it while I was in Venice with very important and impressive people in my industry, and I screamed because I got a DM from Dorinda Medley.
What’s your comfort re-watch?
My comfort show is Grace and Frankie. I’ve probably watched it through three times because I watch it to go to sleep at night.
Do you sleep with the TV on?
When my fiancé is there no, but we’re both actors, so if I’m away filming or he is, I’ll watch it.
What’s something you’ll never watch?
I’m not a horror girl. I get very affected by the things that I watch and I will have to sleep with the light on and the doors bolted.
Let’s go back to food. What was the best thing you ate in Venice?
I love Italian food, but Venice has really great sweet treats. We went to Harry’s Bar, which is iconic, and we got a Bellini and lots of cakes and vanilla gelato, and that was like wow.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.