Gugu Mbatha-Raw discusses Season 2 of Surface and the scent she employs to embody her character.

      Gugu Mbatha-Raw has a unique method for immersing herself in a character, beginning with a specific perfume for each role. She carefully chooses a fragrance to wear exclusively while filming, which serves as an effective tool for her. With just a spritz, she's instantly able to connect with her character. For her role as Sophie Ellis in Surface, she chose Chloé's Nomade Eau de Parfum. This woody scent features a balance of fresh, earthy notes alongside sweet, fruity ones, making it an intriguing choice for a woman struggling to recover her lost memories and navigate the uncertainties of her past. "I hadn't smelled it for months, but when I sprayed it during press, I realized, 'Oh yeah.' Memories flooded back," Mbatha-Raw shared during a February Zoom call with Who What Wear. "When dealing with a character whose memory is in question, scent can evoke powerful emotions, reaching straight into our memory centers." The Chloé fragrance became an essential part of Mbatha-Raw's approach to reconnecting with her character after a significant hiatus of nearly two and a half years due to breaks in filming and the 2023 strike among writers and actors.

      While she didn’t require too much help in revitalizing her connection to Sophie, who is a character that holds great significance for her, Mbatha-Raw recalls first encountering the pilot script for the show in 2020 while working on Marvel's Loki, and it intrigued her right away. The storyline diverged sharply from the fierce, villainous role she had been playing, which was exactly what she was seeking. "It was refreshing to read a leading role in a psychological thriller from a woman's perspective," she mentioned. Moreover, with Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine producing, she was excited. "Having had a wonderful experience with them on The Morning Show, I was confident that the material would be compelling, particularly given their commitment to female-driven storytelling," Mbatha-Raw observed.

      Without a major studio attached initially, an exciting opportunity arose for her to step in as an executive producer for the first time. "My first pitch in 2020 was via Zoom with Reese and Lauren Neustadter from Hello Sunshine, along with Veronica West, our showrunner—I was pitching Surface to the Apple team. That was a significant moment!" she explained. Participating in the inception of the project and developing the show, especially during the pandemic, was an empowering experience for Mbatha-Raw that she would continue into the second season.

      The second season, which debuted on Apple TV+ on February 21, follows Sophie—now referred to as Tess—as she journeys to England to dig deeper into her past. As she navigates the complexities of elite British society, Sophie seeks to uncover the circumstances surrounding her childhood and her mother's enigmatic death.

      For Mbatha-Raw, filming in her hometown added a deeper level of engagement with the show. "Bringing season two to London allowed me to contribute more culturally and to explore the dynamics of a privileged dynasty that would have shaped Sophie’s upbringing and her mother’s influence," she reflected. "Building these layers with Veronica was a wonderful conversation to deepen the narrative… I certainly had more input and was able to lend authenticity to it."

      This season also provided opportunities to expand the Surface universe and its cast. Her excitement was apparent as she named new actors joining the ensemble, including Nina Sosanya, Joely Richardson, and Tara Fitzgerald—who were all talents she admired growing up. The cast also features Freida Pinto, Phil Dunster, and Millie Brady, who portrays Sophie’s mysterious childhood friend, Eliza.

      "What I appreciated about season one was Sophie's rich inner life and the psychological journey she undergoes through flashbacks and therapy as she grapples with her identity amidst the uncertainty of who to trust," Mbatha-Raw shared. "Now, with the setting expanding beyond the confines of her San Francisco home, we're exploring the wider cityscape. This shift has been exciting—especially working with a British crew here in the UK, where there's so much talent to showcase."

      Mbatha-Raw is still in awe of the opportunity to shoot at iconic London sites. From nighttime shoots at Tower Bridge and Waterloo Bridge to scenes on Bond Street and the South Bank of the River Thames, she relished the experience. "As a drama school student, I used to guide tours on a river cruise along the Thames, so filming a scene on a closed bridge where I could see my tour boat passing beneath was surreal. This journey isn't just about my career; it's also about my evolving relationship with the city," she shared. The show's Huntley estate in Hampshire also added to the experience, where she stayed in a cottage on the grounds. "It felt special to access that location, adding to the immersive journey Sophie was undergoing."

      Sophie's narrative has always been filled with unexpected twists, revealing more about her past and her aspirations. "This