Today, we’re pleased to bring you a conversation with Skyler Gisondo and Sara Sampaio from the Cleveland set of Superman, as they talk about bringing to life the iconic roles of Jimmy Olsen and Eve Teschmacher!

Jimmy Olsen was always Superman’s pal! An iconic part of Superman lore and a core member of The Daily Planet, Jimmy has always been both a confidante to Clark Kent, and a loyal buddy to The Man of Steel. Jimmy first appeared in the iconic radio serial The Adventures of Superman back in 1940 and was introduced to the comics mythology in 1941. Eve Teschmacher, on the other hand, was an original creation from Richard Donner’s iconic 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve. Originally played by Valerie Perrine in a hilariously amusing role, the character has occasionally popped up in various Superman media over the years, including The CW’s Supergirl, where she was played by Andrea Brooks, and in comics such as JLA: Earth 2.

Here’s what Gisondo and Sampaio had to say about bringing these iconic roles to life in the new DC Universe:

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How was the experience of filming Superman?

Gisondo: It’s been awesome! This is the most inclusive cast I’ve been a part of. James curates this vibe on set at work and beyond of togetherness. It feels like we’re at summer camp. We got to work together, we all go to dinner together, we hang out all the time… It’s been a ball!

How are you guys approaching Jimmy’s role as a journalist?

Gisondo: I don’t know. I hope well. You know, I think it’s on the page. It’s cool what James has done. It does feel a little ’60s, but tonally it feels super modern in terms of the words on the page.

Sampaio: It’s very timeless.

Gisondo: Yes! That’s what I would have said if I was any good. We’re doing it in a timeless way. With the writing, sometimes when it’s on the page, there’s only one version of it.

Did you pull from the Donner films or any other inspirations for your performances?

Sampaio: Yes and no. Eve is a character that was created by Donner. So there’s not much about her. But I did watch the original movies. And she’s so fun. She’s innocent, but lively in a way. Yeah, but you know, this version of Eve is slightly different. Definitely more modern. But she has the same essence of wanting to be loved and liked.

Gisondo: I’m kind of like — not holding off — but I find that it can sometimes be a bit of a roadblock if you do too much of an awareness of what people have done. So maybe it’s just a justification for me being lazy. But I did think this was something new. So let’s just kind of see how it goes. Then I’ll watch everything after and see how I messed up.

Sampaio: I was like, looking for Eve in all the comics we got sent. I was like, “where is Eve?” Then realized she wasn’t in the comics. But it was also fun because I have more freedom to create this new character in a way, because there’s not much material on her. So it’ll feel fresh.

How was the audition process? Did you know you were auditioning for Superman?

Sampaio: I did. But [Skyler] didn’t. Please tell that story!

Gisondo: I thought — because I didn’t know — I thought that I was auditioning for Superman. Because usually with these things that are a big important movie, you get dummy sides for the film. So it said “Jimmy” but in my head (I really should have read it better) I was just like “I wouldn’t be my first choice for Superman, but James does things outside the box. An everyday Superman would be kind of cool.” Then at the audition, I sent a tape in, and my rep called and said “They want you to come back in.” I was like “Oh great. Just to clarify, I know they’re dummy sides, but it’s for Superman, right?” And the phone went silent. And then one of them was just like “No. Why would it be Superman? It said Jimmy… You didn’t know what you were auditioning for?” I don’t know. But it worked out. And James loved it. And I remember telling, which I shouldn’t have done, I told my mom I was auditioning for Superman. And my mom was like, “I totally see it.”

Sampaio: I totally see it! I knew I was auditioning for Eve. I thought they were dummy sides, but I realized they weren’t. I auditioned. I didn’t hear back for two to three weeks, and I was back home in Portugal. And I had to come back for a screen test. I came in and I was so nervous… at the audition I thought I wasn’t going to get this. I thought it would go to someone way more experienced… but it helped with the character. And yeah. I came in and I guess it went well.

Gisondo: I remember that day I read with you and a few others. And that day they knew it was you… I thought it would be a private conversation, and they told me to stay and they [cast] Sara.

Sampaio: It was so funny because after me, there was a girl who was quite big, and doing a lot of stuff. She just got out of doing this big TV show, and I was like, “F**k! I’m totally not going to get it! But at least it’s great experience…” It was just so much fun.

Can you talk about Jimmy and Lois’s relationship in this movie?

Gisondo: Totally. It’s such a privilege to be able to work with Rachel so closely. It’s kind of a masterclass watching her work. They have this really… they’re so passionate about what they do. And the nature of that relationship in this movie, is that they’re always in work mode. No matter how crazy things are, they’re getting the job done. And those scenes have been really fun. And Rachel has been helping me a lot, because in Mrs. Maisel she’s so used to big walk-and-talks. And we’re shooting scenes where there’s a lot of important information, because we’re reporters. And the entire thing is getting unraveled. And I think I mumble a lot and talk too quickly. And James was like, “I think this is the first time I’ve given an actor this note, but can you talk more slowly?” And I was like, “No, totally!” And Rachel has been really helpful because she just gets that. Getting the info out really clearly. With her you kind of forget, since she’s so natural, it seems like you’re just having a conversation. You forget how important it is to the plot and all that information. But those scenes with Rachel are great. And The Daily Planet set is epic.

Can you share what your characters think of Clark Kent/Superman?

Sampaio: I don’t think Eve thinks much about other people. She’s just looking out for herself because she has to. Without getting into too much.

Gisondo: Jimmy and Clark are like buddies in The Daily Planet. He does love Superman and thinks he’s doing things right. I think Jimmy would be the last person in the world who thinks Clark is Superman. It’s been great watching David do both. Watching him find who Clark is, and it’s very subtle but very funny. Watching him in “Clark Mode” has been a real treat.

Sara were most of your scenes with Nicholas Hoult, and what was that like? Was it scary at all?

Sampaio: Well I got yelled at a lot. But I’m very lucky I knew Nic before. So when I heard he got casted as Lex I was very happy. There was someone I knew. And he’s amazing. He’s the perfect Lex Luthor. Yes he was very scary sometimes. One particular scene he was yelling at me, and I was like “whoa, calm down.” But it was amazing. The same as Skyler working with Rachel. He’s such an incredible actor, and doing a scene with him was just a wild dream. He’s so incredible. He’s so bubbly, but as soon as they yell “Action” he becomes Lex Luthor. It’s amazing.

How do you balance the excitement of taking on a project like this, with the reality that this is not just a big movie — it’s step one of a gigantic universe?

Sampaio: I mean, with my self-tape I thought there was no way I was getting it. I was just going to have fun, because I thought it was such a big thing, I wasn’t going to get it. I just did my best, and if I didn’t get it, there would be something else. But we both got cast, and then the SAG strike happened, and we had to keep it a secret for 8 months. And I only kind of realized the grandiose nature of it when they announced us. And then my first day on set, it was like “Wow that’s a big budget.” There’s not been much blue screen at all. They have the most insane sets, and when you see it, it’s like “Wow this is happening…I hope I don’t mess this up.”

Gisondo: It’s funny you ask that, because everyone in my life, in a sweet way, is like, “Wow Superman is a big deal.” And historically I’ve always allowed myself to become neurotic about work and over-prepare. And as a response to that, I let the pendulum swing all the way the other way, and went “loosey goosey” to see how it’d go. And then it all got up to me. We shot a lot of my scenes in one day, and I was prepared and knew what I wanted to do. But I hadn’t allowed myself to freak out. But after we shot everything, it all caught up. And there was a moment where I was like, “Oh that was it. I blew it. I sucked! This was the first movie and I just blew it! That’s it they’re done!” And at dinner, I joked that night to James, “Yeah man, I think I kind of blew it right?” He’s the best, but in this way he assured me, “I’d never move on if I didn’t think it was good. And if you think it wasn’t good, that means I didn’t do my job. And I know I did my job, so you did your job.” And I was like “Right. Yeah.” And then I thought, “I just told the director that I blew it. That wasn’t smart. That was a mistake.” But it’s hard not to be aware of the amount of effort and detail in set design and costume design… To be part of a massively collaborative process is overwhelming and so exciting.

Sampaio: I think it’s a big actor fear as well. Like in self-tapes, you spend three hours doing the same scene to try and get it perfect. You ask actors if you think you got it, and they’ll be like, “Oh no, just one more.” And it can be “one more” for three days. So I feel like we always feel like this. So as long as James is happy, I’m happy. Because he knows what he’s doing, And I haven’t been fired yet, so…

Given that James is not only a writer/director, but the head of DC Studios, does that come into play at all? Do you think about it?

Sampaio: He doesn’t really play that card. It’s just kind of cool because there’s no one more knowledgeable about this world than him. He’s a fan, and he’s making these movies as a fan. So it’s just incredible to hear him talk about it. And I just trust him completely. He knows what he’s doing and knows every single detail about the world. It’s not just this movie that we’re doing. He’s already thinking of this and that. And it’s kind of fascinating. But he’s such a normal, fun guy, that even though he’s the big boss, it doesn’t feel like that. It feels collaborative in a way.

Gisondo: Sara said it perfectly. Usually on sets you see a lot of people looking stressed out. And you think a director is probably thinking about a million things so you don’t want to bother them. But James, for sure, there’s a million things he’s thinking about. But the combination of him being prepared and being so excited and knowing the world so well, allows him to exude a calm confidence. And that permeates throughout the entire production. So everything feels so easy. It really does. It allows you to forget the scale of what we’re doing and have fun.

Sampaio: It almost feels like a small movie, even though it’s a big production. But it just feels very familial and connected. And there’s a lot of bonding experiences. As someone so new to acting and this world, it’s been so, so amazing that the cast is just incredible. Obviously they’re so talented, but as people everyone’s such a good person. And they’ve all been welcoming and helpful towards each other. There’s been no egos or anything like that. Just so amazing!

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We have more interviews coming your way from our set visit to Superman, including interviews with stars Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, and David Corenswet, as we count down to the premiere of DC Studios’ Superman! Stay tuned to The Nerds of Color for much more to come!

Superman hits theaters July 11!