Industry returns with a radically different season. In our exclusive interview with Myha’la Herrold, who plays Harper Stern, we discussed how we will see Harper evolve in the new season, Herrold’s perspective on the character, and Harper’s relationship with Yasmin Kara-Hanani, portrayed by Marisa Abela.
Premiering in 2020, Industry brought a fresh edge to the thriller genre by opening the doors to the high-stakes world of finance. The series returned with its fourth season on HBO Max on January 11. Alongside the central characters we’ve followed since the beginning, Harper, Yasmin, and Eric, Kit Harington joined the cast last season as Henry. This season also features a rich ensemble, with Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), Max Minghella (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) among the new additions.
We Spoke with ‘Industry’ Creators About the New Season – Exclusive Interview
In a series that constantly pushes the boundaries through its characters, we spoke with Myha’la Herrold, the lead of Industry, about Harper Stern, whose decisions frequently provoke strong reactions. We took turns asking our questions, aiming to uncover what lies behind the character and what’s ahead.
It is well known that the series unfolds through multiple storylines that often intersect toward the end of each season, making it essential to understand what the other characters are doing along the way. With this in mind, the first question posed to Myha’la Herrold focused on how she manages this complexity as an actor. Is simply following the script enough, or does it require being in constant communication with the writers?
Myha’la Herrold began by noting that the series is not filmed in chronological order. “I’m usually like, ‘So what was happening? When they’re doing this other thing? Where did I just come from?’ I’m usually asking the director or the script supervisor who is keeping track of all of those things. And also we don’t always have all the scripts, so some of those intersections that you’re talking about that come later in the season are not things we are aware of.”
She explained how she approaches this as an actor: “So I think it’s just a delicate balence and you just have to keep track of everyone’s dealings, which can just mean you just gotta be on your Ps and Qs.”
She also addressed a particularly striking scene in the new season in which Harper stands in front of a mirror. Without giving away any spoilers, Herrold was asked about the scene and the emotions it conveys.
Myha’la Herrold described it as both very cool and intriguing. “It was surprising to experience what is felt like for Harper to be able to hold her power in her hands literally. Like a tangible, visible representation of her power… Especially like a power you can compare to a man’s power. It’s really surprising what happens to the body. I was kind of in shock the whole time. Because she was going through it but like, so was I. It was really transforming. I was happy for Harper that she had a moment like that.”
When it was my turn to ask a question, I asked whether Harper’s confidence in Season 4 comes from finally understanding the system she operates within, or from realizing that she no longer needs anyone’s approval inside that system.
Herrold shared that she believes Harper’s confidence is built through trial and error. “I think she’s been through so many trials in which she’s trying to like show up confident or use her confidence to gain something. She finally reached this level of success where she has enough proof behind her. She has got a client roster, a really banging reputation, she’s been in Forbes 30 under 30. She has got employees, she’s got people running her business for her, so I think the confidence comes from proof in the pudding.”
The actor was also asked what she would recommend to viewers who are new to Industry: starting from the very first season, or jumping straight into Season 4 as an entirely new world.
Myha’la Herrold said that watching Industry from the beginning and witnessing that transformation is a rewarding experience. “This show changes so much season to season. We grow exponentially; we sort of broken out and escaped the bank. I think it is important for people to know where these characters come from. You can absolutely jump in and watch Season 4 and be like, ‘Dang, this is a cool show,’ but you won’t have the connection, you won’t necessarily be rooting as hard as you like any of these people, loving them or hating them as much as you might if you start from Season 1.”
She also added that, according to her husband, audiences tend to become fully hooked on Industry by the fourth episode of the first season and stated, “I feel like Season 4 is what Industry is at its core, but you have to be patient. Industry Season 1 feels sort of like documentary-style. It is not nearly as flashy as Season 4. You kind of have to hang in there, but if you make it through Season 1 and you are invested, you’ll feel so gratified when you get to Season 4.”
Since the very first season, the relationship between Yasmin and Harper, both central characters, has been one of the elements that most captivates audiences. There is a genuine bond between them, marked by constant tension and competition. This season, Herrold was asked how the balance between friendship and rivalry plays out between the two characters.
Myha’la Herrold explained that after working on the same series for so long, these dynamics no longer require conscious calculation, they have become instinctive. “We have the benefit of three seasons behind us, of history, of rivalry, of acts of true love. All those memories exist in our minds and exist in our bodies. So will they-won’t they, frenemies, lovers, enemies thing just exist in us all the time. And the cool thing about Harper and Yasmin to me is they always have one foot off of a cliff, threatening to jump or push the other person.It’s like full-blown ‘I love you so much, you’re my best friend’ to ‘I’ll kill you.'”
“I think you have to care deeply about a thing to love it or to hate it. So they have to love each other and they have to hate each other, or else their relationship doesn’t exist.
Finally, touching on the moments where Harper provokes strong reactions from viewers, I asked Herrold whether she feels protective of the character or whether she clearly sees Harper’s flaws as well.
Myha’la Herrold said that she is fully aware of those flaws, adding that: “I am also fiercely protective of her. I have to be, that’s my alter ego, that’s my twin in so many ways. I sort of feel like I always have one foot in Harper’s shoes just because to be able to play her authentically I have to care and I also have to understand her with no judgement. I have to appreciate the reasons she does things with no judgement or else it would come out I think inauthentic.”
“I believe for everything Harper’s ever done, there was no malice in her heart, she didn’t mean to hurt anybody. If somebody said, ‘You’re gonna do this, but you’re gonna hurt somebody beyond repair,’ I think she would question it. The thing that people still seem to get twisted is that Harper in business is as lethal and as ruthless as all the other players in the business. She just happens to be a young woman of color who I think people put different standards on . They don’t expect a woman to behave like a man. That’s what makes her cool.”
We conclude our conversation on these striking words. A truly different Harper Stern awaits us in the new season. Industry Season 4 is now streaming on HBO Max, with its first episode currently available.
