In Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat, Lestat de Lioncourt has reinvented himself as The Vampire Lestat, a rock musician keen on telling his side of the story. While on tour and being haunted by the “muses” from his past, his band’s popularity grows and so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike. We sat down with Eric Bogosian (aka Daniel Molloy), Assad Zaman (aka Armand), and Delainey Hayles (aka Claudia/Regina) to discuss their characters' reinvention this season and the costuming & special effects make up that allow them to really sink into character. 

Well, we’re in a very different place this season. Daniel is somewhat into his job as documentarian, Armand is up to something of course because how could he not be, and Delainey... well we’re just skimming the surface of what’s going on with you. How did you all prep to re-enter this world with your signature characters in tow, but also with their evolution in mind? There was reinvention for you all to play with. 

Assad Zaman: Yeah. I mean, it's been two years since Dubai. Everyone's baseline has changed. They're all in very new places now. All of Armand’s status is gone and he's in a very, very exposed and vulnerable position now. That was really refreshing for me to explore. In Season 2, we had Dubai Armand and Paris Armand who were both held in high regard and showed a level of status that wasn’t necessarily reflective of who he actually was. He doesn't have to do any of that anymore, which can be a bit freeing and liberating. 

Eric Bogosian: I don't know if I'm lazy or what, but for me everything is on the page [in the script]. I use the page as my map of where to go and how it's all going to work. I just feel like anything that isn't there on the page, isn’t worth thinking about. Especially with these scripts that require deep study, learning, learning, learning, and of course going and finding these writers and asking them, "What do you mean by that and what is this?!" That's definitely what I had to do this season. I had to ask questions about, "What’s going on here now?" Because in my case, Daniel is uncharted territory. 

Delainey Hayles: I feel like it was kind of easy for me to get into Regina, because we were on location. I became a waitress. I was really living in that world. I had Claudia [Llosa] as director who let me scope out the set and go, "Be free, go waitress!" So, that was fun! I didn't think too much about it. I want to think how you think, Eric — to just focus on what's on the page — but I'm so anal that I’m always like, "No, I need to know their backstory! When they were born, their time of birth, their star sign." That helped when I was finding Regina. I just thought she was a Gemini from the start! [Laughs] 

Music is obviously such a huge part of this season, and I’m always so curious about the creative process for actors, especially when tackling such canonic characters. Assad, we’ve talked about physicality for you in making the transformation from Rashid to Armand, you really paid attention to movement. For some actors costuming really makes the character click and come alive. I know there are cast playlists that have been floating around since S1. How did you get into character this season? Was there specific music, pieces of costuming or even fragrances that helped you get there? 

AZ: I have a friend who has a scent for all the characters he's ever played, mainly in theater. He always finds a new fragrance, which I find really fascinating. I've never done that! It’s always the contact lenses for me. I think for all of us, they do instantly do something. For me, I see myself in the mirror and I'm kind of lost there. That's the first step and then suddenly Armand comes out from that. So yeah, those are crucial. Without those eyes, Armand doesn't have much power. 

EB: We have to have our fingernails done in gel, so they never come off. We get the lenses, and occasionally if you're going to be biting somebody, you get your teeth, which are specifically made for you. All of that helps, but that isn't what makes me my character. If anything, for me, with Daniel, the sunglasses and the black leather jacket of this aging boomer guy tell me the whole story. [Laughs] 

DH: I have to echo what Assad said about the contact lenses, because they heighten everything. I remember being on stage last season and the theater lights were so bright. When I finally caught a glimpse of myself as Claudia in the mirror it was jarring, I was like, "Ooh, rough day!" So, for me the contacts were a big part of the process. 

EB: You know, I don't smoke on set. I refuse to because I'm against cigarette smoking, but that would be the last part of it for Daniel. Unfiltered cigarettes with a silver bracelet jingling around. And we all know these guys! They all think they're Keith Richards or something. For me, that's a big part of his physical presence.

Hitch a ride on the tour bus and keep watching The Vampire Lestat on Sundays at 9/8c on AMC. Episodes are available to stream on amc.com (with a cable provider login), and the AMC apps for mobile and devices. You can also watch episodes via AMC+ at amcplus.com or through the new AMC+ app available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku plus Samsung and Vizio smart TVs. AMC+ can also be streamed through a variety of providers, including AppleTV, Prime Video Channels, DirectTV, Dish, Roku Channel, Sling, and Xfinity. Sign up for AMC+ now.