In Apple TV’s new thriller series, “Nocturne,” Rory Culkin plays a nurse assigned to an infamous serial killer placed in solitary confinement. Offscreen, Culkin feels that his real-life upbringing equipped him for a life of such solace.
“Well, I'm the youngest of seven,” Culkin says, beside his costar, Stephen Graham. “So I was often locked in closets and because of this, I never get bored. I'm very happy with my own thoughts, and I could just sit for hours and think. So, a silver lining to being bullied as a child.”
“You do know that's going to be the meme that's taken from this whole thing,” Graham, 53, jokes, making his costar chuckle. “Rory Culkin says, ‘I was often locked in closets as a child.’”
“But I'm better because of it,” Culkin says.
Rory Culkin, 37, rounds out Christopher "Kit" Culkin and Patricia Brentrup's brood. During their decades-long relationship, they welcomed five sons and two daughters: Shane, 50; Dakota, who died in 2008 at 29 years old; Macaulay, 46; Kieran, 44; Quinn, 41 and Christian, 39.
When asked who trapped Rory Culkin in the closet, he says, "Mostly the sisters."
"The parents love the baby. The other siblings, when Mom leaves, you're going to…" Culkin trails off while raising his hand and laughing.
In "Nocturne" (Fridays on Apple TV), an adaptation of Lars Kepler’s novel “The Sandman,” Emmy Award-winning actor Graham portrays the murderous Jurek Walter, being investigated by retired detective Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber) and undercover FBI agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz). Meanwhile, Culkin plays Karl, the nurse assigned to watch over Walter in the mental institution.
Culkin says he took inspiration for his character from his younger self.
“My 10-year-old self was my reference, just to be honest,” he says, “heart on your sleeve and having a hard time showing the hurt on your face when someone hurts your feelings. So I just try to maintain this childlike purity, I suppose.”
As for Graham, he prepared for his role in the 10-episode series by watching dozens of documentaries about serial killers with his wife, actress Hannah Walters, “for about two weeks.”
“A lovely time,” Graham says of their documentary binge watch. “We do have popcorn occasionally, but it was mostly crisps and Maltesers, and we'd sit and watch all of these serial killers.”
Though Culkin is part of a famous family, he says he and his siblings have “never really discussed” their work.
"When we were younger, we were too busy just talking about X-Men or whatever," he says, noting that Macaulay has been "encouraging."
"If we ever did talk about our careers, it was my brother reassuring me like, 'No, you're good s---. You're onto something,'" Rory Culkin says.
"We're all busy and parents now,” he adds. (He and cinematographer Kate Arizmendi welcomed daughter Havoc Moon in May.) “And we don't even talk about parenthood all that much really… Their advice was, ‘You'll figure it out. We did.’ And it was actually great advice. Your instincts will kick in, and you'll know what to do.”
In contrast, Beetz, who debuted her baby bump in a midriff-baring two-piece at the series’ New York premiere on Oct. 20, says she’s soliciting the wisdom of others.
“I am asking for the advice,” she says beside Schreiber, father to Alexander aka "Sasha," 19; Kai, 17 and Hazel, 3.
“That experience is so profoundly personal,” Schreiber, 59, says. “The only thing I would ever say to anyone is block out the first three months after the baby is born. They're just for you. They're just for the three of you. It's so special. I'm so excited for her.”
“I know it's cliche, but it really is the blessing I've been hoping for for so long,” Beetz, 35, says, noting that she and her husband, actor David Rysdahl, have “been really cherishing every moment."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rory Culkin shares 'silver lining' of being 'locked in closets' by his siblings
