Lewis Pullman was just nominated for his first-ever Emmy, but he isn’t nervous about it. The actor — who received the best supporting actor in a limited series or movie made for television for his work opposite Brie Larson in Lessons in Chemistry — is now a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (he’s joined the cast of Thunderbolts). He also previously starred in Top Gun: Maverick and says that nothing can compare to the nerves he experienced on that set. “Nothing beats flying in an F-18,” Pullman laughs. “Everything feels easy after you’ve gone hundreds of miles an hour. It all feels sedentary after that.” Below, Pullman opens up to The Hollywood Reporter about what it’s like to be a first-time Emmy nominee, and what his dad (actor Bill Pullman) had to say about the nomination.
First, congratulations. Has it set in yet?
I’m currently in my office and still in my pajamas. I was on a Zoom for the last half hour, trying to pretend like my phone wasn’t exploding, so I’ve only had about 15 minutes to wrap my head around this whole thing. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I should be thankful they don’t do them super early in the morning anymore. I used to be an early riser, but now I’m all over the place. I would not have made it for the 5:30 a.m. announcement, that’s for sure.
Have you met anyone particularly cool or exciting on the trail?
I met Ayo Edebiri and was pretty starstruck. And Dakota Fanning. Things are happening so fast [during campaigning], it feels like you’re flying in for six hours or whatever, and then you’re back to set. I’m very honored to be in this category with Lamorne Morris, who just texted me. We didn’t have each other’s numbers, and he texted me like, “Lewis, it’s the other handsome guy in your category.” I was like, “God, this is a trap. They’re all handsome devils!” I took the leap and said, “If this isn’t Lamorne, then I don’t know who we’re talking about here.” I thought, “God, if it’s anybody else it’s going to be horrible.” Robert Downey, Jr. would probably never work with me if I said that to him. (Laughs)
Do you know how he got your number?
He got it from Glen Powell.
What did your parents have to say?
I got a text from my dad. Let me look and see what he said. We do quick texts in our family. He goes, “Yay — the nomination” with four exclamation points. And I said “Whoa, Nellie,” with an exclamation point. (Laughs)
When you met Ayo, were you able to talk about Thunderbolts at all? I’m not sure if you had any crossover as far as both being signed on at the same time.
They’re such brief interactions when you meet people at stuff like that, I’m sure she doesn’t even remember it. I just congratulated her on all of the amazing work she’s done and that I’m so excited to see what she does next.
What are you expecting for the coming months leading up to the Emmys? Are you good at shaking hands and kissing babies?
I love shaking hands and kissing babies. I don’t have many expectations other than to meet as many people as I can. I’m scrolling through this list [of nominees] here, and it’s all people who I respect so highly so it’ll be exciting to get to meet them, maybe talk to some of them and hopefully learn a couple things here or there.
Is there a performance you’re most enamored by this season? I’m not going to let you answer about your own show.
I thought Andrew Scott and Jon Hamm were phenomenal. Matt Bomer. God, Richard Gadd and Tom Hollander. It’s like, Cadillac problems right there. I don’t know how all that’s going to go down, there are some gladiators in the ring. I think the whole team from The Bear is so phenomenal and Ebon [Moss-Bachrach] is somebody who I’ve always been a fan of so it’s nice to see him get recognition. Walton Goggins is another favorite. I’ve worked with him and am always rooting for him.
Have you talked with the Lessons in Chemistry team about season two, and do you think that a nomination could help bolster the potential that it could happen?
I’m sure that’d be up to Lee Eisenberg and Brie [Larson]. I think with the book, it’s hard to try and elongate something that has such a final and finite kind of life. You’d have to get some real creatives sitting down around a table and spitballing to see where it would go. [Spoiler alert!] I’m sure I wouldn’t make an appearance if there was one what with the dying…
What about flashbacks? A Lost flash sideways?
You can flash up, down, left and right as long as you got a good team of writers. I’d be honored to live in the purgatory of flashbacks forever on this show.
Before I let you get on with your day, what are you going to do to celebrate?
I’m thinking I’m going to drive over to my folks’ place. I’m actually scheduled to meet with my mom for a little dance lesson at 10 because there’s a project I might be doing with some modern dance involved. My mom’s a modern dancer and choreographer, so I couldn’t have a better resource. So I’ll do that, maybe take my dog on a walk, maybe have a beer.
What’s your beer of choice?
Oh man, I like bad beers. I don’t know why or how that happened. I just don’t have an elegant palette, and I like Coors Light, Miller Lite, things like that.
