We should start at the beginning, which was the two of you meeting at NYU.
What were those very first impressions of each other?
SUSAN KELECHI WATSON:We didnt really know each other that well.
Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC
I remember… so little.
You know what I remember a lot of, Sterling?
STERLING K. BROWN:Of course.
So that makes sense to me.
I remember Sue before she even got to school was dating a guy in the class above my class.
And so Im all, Whos this little cute girl who Dre is going out with?
Theyre like, Yeah, thats Susan Kelechi Watson.
I was like, Oh.
I saw you doA Lie of the Mind.
Susan, you better step up right now.
WATSON:I know!
What I remember of Sterling is seeing him outside of school, ironically.
First of all, I just think very highly of NYU actors.
BROWN:Me too.
Hes doing very specific, nuanced work, you know?
WATSON:I felt relief.
I was like, Oh, good!
Somebody who reads from the same handbook.
He was already in that space of being very dropped into the character.
I could just meet him where he was.
And so it was a relief, you know?
He was very relaxed, and it felt good.
[To Brown] How did it feel for you?
And I knew the three women that were testing for Beth.
But with Sue, in particular, theres a sense of play.
Its always a joy.
I come home and I tell Ryan, I love me some Susan Kelechi Watson!
We have so much fun.
It makes work a joy.
WATSON:It does.
Nothing is ever written in stone when working with Sterling.
Its never like hes this way, and now we have to stick to it.
One little thing can change and its like, Oh wait, were going in this direction now.
Lets just do it and see what happens.
Whats unique or interesting about your rehearsal process together?
WATSON:What rehearsal?
[They laugh.]
Thats good, thats good!
And she came up with this improv.
She said, You got me out here sweating like Biggie Smalls!
Why are we talking about this?
Dont ever change it.
Dont give them an alt.
Just keep it at Biggie.
[They laugh.]
WATSON:We cracked up every single time.
We thought it washysterical.
I feel like I should be sweating like somebody.
So we were brainstorming, Who sweats a lot?
WATSON:I keep loving that they choose each other.
Im a romantic that way.
It never occurs to Beth and Randall that anything is a deal-breaker, especially from Beths part.
Its just something that we need to work through and figure out.
We enjoy each others company.
Were 17 years into the relationship.
But it never occurs as if were just enduring one another.
It feels as if we are always enjoying each others company.
I love that about our relationship.
To your point, Sterling, dont you feel that the couple is reflective as opposed to just aspirational?
BROWN:I think it is both.
I feel like both Sue and I are parts of couples that are emblematic of this.
Im getting on your nerves.
But still, we choose each other day in and day out.
People will cite us on social media and say, You guys are goals.
[Watson laughs.]
And I was like, You know what?
I need to get this star, I need to figure it out, and put this tree together.
And across the board they all said, Sadly and admittedly, yes.
I just feel like this is not shocking to black people.
But thanks for showing up.
As a whole, people really dont think thats a regular thing?
Its really that foreign?
So its this dual thing that happens.
But I feel so thankful that we get to portray this couple.
Because I think its a big deal.
Im curious what you hear from fans on the street about that.
And no two marriages are the same, and they are all what those two individuals make of them.
When Sue deals with Brown as Randall, I know Im being dumb, but I feel loved anyway.
I think for every corny husband out there, they all want a Beth.
Is itsexyin the same way?
When you think of them, its about rock-solid stability.
We know what happens with Jack and Rebecca their marriage has rocky points and they even had that split.
WATSON:Theres something about unconditional love thats attractive.
And I was so tickled by that because I was like, Yeah, who would have thought?
[Brown laughs.]
And thats really cool.
So I echo what Sterling said.
BROWN:May I also just throw Toby and Kate into the mix?
I think they are lovely.
Some of the gestures that Toby will do Im relating to it as my sister.
Who do you consider the gold standard of TV couples?
Sterling, I know you gave a shout-out to Martin and Gina in your Emmy speech.
BROWN:Ill go old-school: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore onThe Dick Van Dyke Show.
I thought they were the most adorable thing on earth handsome and sophisticated and attractive but playful.
I love that sense of play.
I know thats a comedy so its built into it, but I love people enjoying each others company.
People have [compared us with] Coach T and his wife fromFriday Night Lights.
WATSON:I was binge-watching two things before we started the show, and that wasUnsungon TV One andMartin.
It was this ride-or-die thing that they had going on.
It was this electric thing that they had going on.
Susan, what is Sterlings greatest strength as an actor?
And Sterling, the same about Susan.
Hell just jump in and do whatever he feels he needs to do to find it and get it.
Thats just being a dope-ass actor.
BROWN:Thank you, Susan.
WATSON:De nada.
BROWN:Everything that Sue does comes from her soul.
Its going to be investigated and thoughtful.
Sue just mines this quality of coming from the earth.
Chaka Khan sang a song about Sue back in the day that said, Im every woman.
Theres nothing inauthentic about her.
So when I bounce something off of truth, I cant help but get truth reflected back to me.
So, in the beginning, I tried to beopposite.
If he was super buttoned-up, I tried to be a little looser and a little artsier.
So that was my modification to Beth.
Im like, I know, Im sorry.
And youre like, Okay.
you’ve got the option to lose it.
Were going to make it.
But this still isnt cool.
I feel like thats been there from the beginning.
What were your initial thoughts when you found out that they would experience big tension in their relationship?
BROWN:I think that we both relished the opportunity to see what they can come back from.
WATSON:I was looking forward to it.
But what is it to see them be on two different sides of the fence?
Im always interested in the conflict.
BROWN:Yeah, thehowis interesting.
It was Randalls idea to adopt but obviously, Beth ultimately steered the conversation to a foster-child situation.
Why was that so important?
WATSON:I explained it by it was her way of also honoring William.
Maybe this is the compromise.
You dont encounter 12, 13-year-old children who know how to justbe.
She was just sopresentandeasyin her work….
So first theres just the work that Lyric Ross brought to Deja.
WATSON:Lyric had a quality to her that was just kind of undeniable.
She was, like, in the pocket.
It just makes for such a great character, an authentic character.
I think so many people identify with her, so I think its been a really amazing addition.
How intense are things about to get in this second half of the season emotionally or otherwise?
WATSON:I would just say capital very.
This Is Usairs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
