Discussing their new Netflix series 3 Body Problem, Alex Sharp, Jess Hong, and John Bradley talked characters, the dynamic of The Oxford 5, learning just the right amount of physics lingo, and what it was like to shoot all those virtual reality scenes during a recent conversation with Audacy.

No spoilers, but just for context —the basic 3 Body Problem synopsis reads — “Across continents and decades, five brilliant friends make earth-shattering discoveries as the laws of science unravel and an existential threat emerges.” In the series, inspired by the internationally celebrated novel The Three-Body Problem, and from creators David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Alexander Woo, “a young woman’s fateful decision in 1960s China reverberates across space and time into the present day. When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel before their eyes, a close-knit group of brilliant scientists join forces with an unorthodox detective to confront the greatest threat in humanity’s history.”

During their interview with Audacy’s Megan Holiday, 3 out of the Oxford 5, Alex, Jess and John, who play Will Downing, Jin Cheng and Jack Rooney, respectively were asked who they think is the most like their character, and they all agreed, that title definitely goes to John.

Noting that when shows creators' David and Dan first told him about the part, “they said that the character that I’m gonna play is the most like myself that I’ll ever play.”

"They wrote the part for me,” John continued, “and having known them for 10 years through shooting 'Game of Thrones' they kind of got a good handle on what I’m like as a person. So yeah, they they basically gave me license to pretty much play myself and bring a lot of my own personally into that role.”

Adding his thoughts on who he thinks out of the three is least like their character, John said, “Alex… because I think Will is so downtrodden and so downbeat and downcast and Alex is much more positive and much more outgoing and much more confident person.”

Talking about her incredible, genius, super-driven, caring character Jin, Jess said, “I think, even though she is super ambitious, highly intellectual genius of her generation, she wears her heart on her sleeve and she just loves her friends, cares about them so much. So even though she’s a hard science snob, like ‘we’re gonna get to the bottom of this, we’re gonna get the answers,’ she actually goes through the world leading from her heart and from her gut, she follows her instincts.” Jen went on to note that because of that, Jin “sometimes acts before she thinks,” making sure to note, and “then she backs up the facts, of course. I wish I had an ounce of her bravery.”

The trio also chatted about learning physics lingo, and what it was like shoot all those VR scenes. To get all the scoop, check out the entire interview above.

To hear the whole conversation, press play on the interview above.

3 Body Problem is available to stream now on Netflix.

Words by Maia Kedem Interview by Megan Holiday