Ambreen Razia On The Agency Series 2, Playing Blair Khan & The Psychological Cost Of Deception

The second season of The Agency – Jez Butterworth’s spy thriller starring Richard Gere and Michael Fassbender – is streaming now on Paramount+. Where the first season examined the moral ambiguity of espionage, the new run deepens the psychological unravelling of its characters, particularly Blair Khan (Ambreen Razia), a CIA operative caught between shifting pressures and crumbling certainties.

Ahead of the new series, C&TH sat down with Ted Lasso and Black Mirror star Razia to dig into Blair’s pressures, the generosity of the set, and why she is drawn to characters built from contradictions.

Q&A: Ambreen Razia On The Agency

Ambreen Razia: ‘My process is disappointingly unglamorous.’

How’s life going at the moment?

Life’s good, thank you for asking. The Agency is about to come out, which is exciting, and I’m reading for some really interesting things at the moment. I’ve also been writing a lot recently, which basically means moving between moments of inspiration and staring out of the window. My agency kindly hosted a reading of my latest play, which was a real highlight.

You’re about to return to our screens in The Agency for series 2 – can you give us an elevator pitch for the show?

On paper it’s a spy thriller, but spying is such an unnatural way to live. These characters are operating from deception all the time. At a certain point, you start to wonder what that does to a person’s character. The espionage is exciting, but the psychological cost of it all is where the excitement lives as an actor. I think that’s what separates this show from the others.

Ambreen Razia: ‘Spying is such an unnatural way to live.’ (Paramount+)

You play Blair – how would you describe her?

She’s ambitious, sharp, quietly ruthless when she needs to be. What’s interesting is the gap between the version of herself she presents to the world and what’s really going on underneath, which is very messy and human. It’s fun to meditate between those two things.

What’s in store for her this time around?

Blair doesn’t have the easiest season. The writers thought she’s coping far too well – let’s sort that out. We see her under a very different kind of pressure this year. A lot of the things she’s relied on suddenly become much less certain. Great fun for me and considerably less fun for her.

Did you do anything special to prepare for the role?

My process is disappointingly unglamorous. I read everything repeatedly and spend a few weeks convincing myself I’m wildly underprepared. It’s a tedious ritual for both me and anyone unfortunate enough to be near me. I’ll usually check in with my acting coach and do some Meisner work. Mostly it’s about getting out of my own way and trusting the scene.

There’s a stellar cast. What was the vibe like on set?

You’re surrounded by people who are very, very good at what they do. There was a huge amount of generosity on set. Everybody came to play and do their best work, and there were plenty of laughs despite the seriousness of the show. Everyone worked so differently – no two approaches were the same. It was inspiring not just to watch but to work alongside.

Ambreen Razia on The Agency: ‘There was a huge amount of generosity on set.’ (Paramount+)

Any standout moments from rehearsals or filming?

When the work disappears – you’ve done all the prep, everyone knows the scene, and then something unexpected happens – nobody’s pushing and nobody’s trying. It just comes alive.

Anything you can tease about the possibility of a third season?

If I tell you, I’d have to kill you. Honestly, I know as much as everybody else, which is to say absolutely nothing. Welcome to television.

What has been your favourite project to date?

The Diary of a Hounslow Girl changed everything for me. A one-woman show is an incredible education. Not everyone is going to like your work. People walked out, fell asleep, some people loved it, some didn’t – and there’s nowhere to hide. It gave me such resilience. In many ways it was a metaphor for the career itself. A one-woman show also does wonders for expanding your imagination, which you need tons of as an actor.

Any roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about?

I’m reading for some really cool things. I feel like there are some exciting scripts out there at the moment. I’ve also adapted my play Favour into a feature film, and I’m working on the next draft of the play following the recent reading. I’m not very good at sitting still – there’s always something on the go.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past?

I’ve been lucky enough to work with some truly amazing actors on this job. What always strikes me is how curious the best ones are. You’d think experience would make people more certain – often it’s the opposite. They’re questioning things all the time and stay open to discovery. I think that’s why they remain so interesting.

Which co-star did you learn the most from?

One piece of advice that’s stayed with me came from Geoff Bell, when we worked together on The Curse. He said we don’t get much time on set, but when they call action, it’s all yours. Take your time, trust yourself, breathe. It was very simple and empowering.

What’s your dream role?

As time goes on, the less interested I am in heroes and villains, and the more interested in contradictions. It’s all about the script, although I recently found out Gaddafi had an all-female bodyguard unit and thought that would be fun.

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of?

Maybe a slow-burn psychological drama. Festen is a film I come back to a lot. I did it at university and I remember loving that sense of doom quietly brewing underneath everything. Someone once said to me there always has to be “blood in the water” in a script.

Do you get to spend much time at home?

I always romanticise the idea of disappearing off to a writers’ retreat. I went to Barcelona to write my last play, which was incredible, but home is really my place. I have a new kitten who keeps me endlessly entertained as well.

Do you live in the town or the country? Which do you prefer?

I’m a city girl. I grew up in South West London, in Colliers Wood. It’s not the flashiest part of London, but the people feel grounded, and so do my memories of it. My grandmother’s house was the centre of our family. My mum would finish a shift, pick my sister up from there, and my nan would have a pot of something on the stove with a fresh roti waiting before they headed home, followed by a cigarette and a catch-up.

I’ve spent time in parts of London where identity feels like a project. Where I grew up, most people aren’t searching for an identity – there’s a slightly immovable quality to people’s characters. I find the certainty and consistency quite comforting. I like knowing I might bump into an old school friend and we’ll talk about a party we went to 15 years ago.

What’s your interior design style?

A little Parisian, a little Moroccan – Tiffany lamps next to some old film posters, warm lighting, a collection of books, family photographs. I need the people I love around me. Then there’s my white British Shorthair draped across my emerald green sofa. It’s probably the strongest visual statement in the house.

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives?

Very badly at times. I’ll spend weeks telling myself I need more balance and then immediately start another project. I’m a work in progress.

How can we all live a little bit better?

Be kind. Be curious. Be generous. Pay attention.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally?

Outside of the projects on the go, trying to stay healthy and spend time with people I love.

Ambreen Razia: ‘I’m a work in progress.’

What Ambreen Razia Is Loving Right Now

I’m currently watching… Scenes from a Marriage. It’s uncomfortably brilliant.

What I’m reading… Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey.

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… The Secret Agent. Extraordinary.

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… The next thing that catches me completely off guard.

Favourite film of all time… Polisse by Maïwenn.

Favourite song of all time… ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ by Roberta Flack.

Band/singer I always have on repeat… SAULT.

My ultimate cultural recommendation… If your grandparents are still around, talk to them as much as possible.

Cultural guilty pleasure… Old episodes of The Royle Family. Genius.

All episodes of The Agency are streaming now on Paramount+.

Credits

–Photographer: Jemima Marriott
–Styling: Harriet Nicolson
–HMU: Rebecca Richards