Savannah Guthrie on her new ‘Night Agent’ cameo and ‘method acting’ strategy
Savannah Guthrie makes a cameo appearance in Season 2 of Netflix’s “The Night Agent,” playing none other than herself.
In the scene, Savannah interviews a presidential candidate and asks him a single hard-hitting question, one that sounds like it could have been heard on TODAY.
“In the most recent debate you criticized Gov. Hagen for what you deemed as a ‘neo-isolationist agenda.’ In your opinion, what role should the United States — what role should it play abroad?” Savannah asks.
Another character turns off the TV before we can see how the rest of the interview plays out.
Savannah let TODAY.com in on her acting strategy.
“I just act like Savannah Guthrie all day and all night. I even sleep as her. It’s extremely method. I go to work as her. That’s how I got into the role. I just was very method,” she says, with a laugh.
“The Night Agent” headed over to Studio 1A in Rockefeller Center to film the scene on the TODAY set, making it feel like a genuine slip into an alternate reality — one where FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) uncovers conspiracy after conspiracy.
Savannah says having the cast, crew and director Ana Lily Amirpour there was a blast.
“The crew and the director and the actor could not have been more gracious and happy to be there. They appreciate it because it’s a real news show. It’s really a place where you might sit down and do an interview just like that, about politics and news of the day,” she says.
She says she loved watching the final cut.
“Of course, it looked so real. It looked like the TODAY show. It looks like me. It was very realistic,” she says.
What impressed her most, though, was co-star Geoffrey Owens, whom she calls “incredible.” Owens is a veteran actor known for his role on “The Cosby Show.”
“He had this long dialogue that he had to remember. He was just such a pro. It was incredible to watch. I was pretty blown away,” she says. “I would say I was pretty much window dressing who spoke from time to time. He was, by far, the star of the show.”
That said, Savannah also received notes from the director.
“I followed directions. My kindergarten teacher might not think I was capable of that, but I did,” she jokes.
This isn’t her first time making a cameo in a fictional world. Savannah also appeared on “30 Rock” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” among other shows, as herself.
“Though I’ve done many cameos as myself over the years, the offers to really act in any role have not been flooding in yet, so apparently I need to stick to my day job,” she says.
Even though she works in the world of news, she says political thrillers like “Homeland” or “The Night Agent” are exactly the type of show she likes to unwind to.
“I don’t know why I find that relaxing, but I do,” she says.
“The Night Agent” Season 2 premieres on Netflix Jan. 23.
