Phoebe Waller-Bridge has explained why the Hot Priest broke the fourth wall in ‘Fleabag’.
The 35-year-old actress’s titular character in her show was the only one who spoke directly to the camera throughout the series until Andrew Scott’s alter-ego joined the series, leaving fans confused as to why he was breaking the fourth wall as well.
Now, Phoebe – who wrote the hit BBC comedy – has revealed how she used the performance convention to mirror their own private journeys.
Speaking during the BAFTA TV session ‘The Making of Fleabag’, she explained: "[Fleabag] has a relationship with the camera the whole way through, and it was interesting to have someone who has a similar thing, he’s mirrored [because] he has God.
"And in the end, the big question for her is whether or not she can let go of the camera – and he’s witnessed by God the whole time, and is always having to check into that the whole time.
"And in the end he has the same question, so I just felt like it would be a really good way to mirror each other’s journeys."
As the Priest is seen by God and Fleabag feels she is viewed by the camera, Phoebe felt the pair were both being "witnessed" the entire time, so she decided to make the fourth wall symbolic to tie in with the pressure put on their characters.
She continued: "I feel like it’s that pressure of being watched, and feeling watched, and feeling like if you’re not being witnessed, does what you’re doing count for anything, does it matter?
"She’s constantly grappling with this need for the audience to validate her. It’s a really fraught … relationship.
"For me it was more about that, and the same for him [The Priest], constantly questioning – there’s a pressure on him the whole time, asking him if he’s a good person."