Industry season 4 cast talk “testing the limits” of character likability – as The Handmaid’s Tale and Ted Lasso favourites join “Industry 2.0”

by

The fourth season of Industry shows a lot of changes for the original group of young recruits. When the show first aired during pandemic lockdowns, viewers met Harper Stern, Yasmin Kara-Hanani, Gus Sackey, Hari Dhar, and Robert Spearing – all new hires at the London trading firm, Pierpoint & Co. Now, five years later, only Harper and Yasmin remain at the company.

The popular drama, created by former bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, is still strong in both acting and storytelling. Season four introduces exciting new characters, including Max Minghella (known from The Handmaid’s Tale) as an American who’s shaking up the banking world, and Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso) as a trader who’s working very closely with Harper.

TopMob spoke to some of the stars of Industry ahead of the new episodes.

Myha’la plays Harper and Marisa Abela plays Yasmin

Harper and Yas are kind of “toxic frenemies” — what do they get from being in each other’s orbit?

Myha’la observes that Yas and Harper have a deeply connected relationship, offering each other significant support. Given all they’ve experienced and how well they know each other, it’s hard to imagine them being apart. Their connection is especially valuable because honesty is rare in their line of work, making them rely on each other for genuine connection.

How does your on-screen and off-screen relationship compare?

Marisa: Well, we haven’t slapped each other – yet!

Myha’la: There’s still time!

You and your colleague were both at similar points in your careers when the show began, and as the show’s popularity has increased, so have your professional lives. How has being on the show affected your careers?

This show is how I became known! It really launched the careers of many of us, including mine. Marisa and I, in particular, have seen our careers develop in very similar ways.

Want to see this content?

This YouTube video isn’t available while you’re signed in to Contentpass. Please sign out of Contentpass to watch it.

Considering how often movies and TV shows portray women through a traditional, male-centered lens, it’s really exciting to be able to play female characters who are complicated and aren’t necessarily always easy to root for.

It’s incredibly rewarding to be at the center of a TV show that focuses on women, especially given how male-dominated the industry is – both on screen and behind it. We’re demonstrating how powerful and engaging stories can be when women’s voices are heard. That’s what truly excites me, and I hope it inspires writers to create more complex and interesting female characters. I think studios often make a mistake by being afraid to portray flawed or even unlikeable women. Our characters, Yasmin and Harper, have definitely made mistakes, and we’re constantly pushing boundaries. The fact that the show continues to resonate proves that audiences are ready for that – so don’t be afraid to take risks!

Marisa, now that you’ve won a BAFTA for Best Actress, did that success impact how you approached filming the fourth season?

I wasn’t surprised to win, I was just thrilled the show was getting the recognition it deserved – not just for me, but for the whole team, like Mickey and Konrad. It’s important to remember that a show is a team effort, and we all work hard to create something people enjoy. I’m hoping my BAFTA win will encourage more people to watch the season and discover all the great things it has to offer.

Max and Toheeb join this new series. How helpful is that new injection of energy?

Honestly, being on this show is a dream! Every guest who comes on is a genuine fan, and their energy is infectious. I feel the same way – I absolutely love the show! I’m a viewer first, and I actually enjoy watching the episodes I’m not even in. That makes going to work every day feel less like a job and more like pure fun – there’s just a really positive vibe all around.

Max Minghella plays Whitney

Who is Whitney Halberstram?

Whitney is a mysterious and driven individual. We’re introduced to him with Jay Atterbury (Kal Penn), a close friend and business partner. Together, they run Tender, a digital payment company. Whitney envisions transforming Tender into a complete mobile banking solution and is pushing hard to make that happen, while Jonah is more cautious about the direction.

Industry brilliantly reinvents itself every series. Did it feel like you were joining a new show?

As a big fan of the show, Pierpoint, and its characters, I was worried about season four feeling like a completely new beginning. We really wanted to keep the spirit of the original series alive. But season four is also very accessible – new viewers can jump right in. It feels like a fresh take on Industry, almost a second version of the show.

As a Londoner, how meaningful is it coming back from America and working on a British series?

I haven’t spent a lot of time working in England, but I did two projects there back-to-back: a TV series called Industry and a movie, Clayface. That meant I got to be in the UK for almost ten months, which was great, even though I really missed my dog!

People keep asking if I got the directing itch from my dad, Anthony Minghella. It’s funny, because growing up around his sets definitely sparked something in me, but it wasn’t a direct ‘like father, like son’ thing. It was more about witnessing his passion and storytelling, and realizing I wanted to explore that world myself. So, yeah, he was a huge influence, though I think I’ve found my own way of doing things.

I’ve always loved movies, and it started with my parents. My mother, Carolyn Choa, introduced me to them when I was around three, and I was instantly captivated.

Toheeb Jimoh plays Kwabena

Tell us about Kwabena Bannerman?

Kwabena is a trader who went to private school, and that education has given him a strong sense of self-assurance. The world of high finance is incredibly competitive, where people often feel their worth is tied to their money and position. However, Kwabena approaches his job with a relaxed attitude – he comes in, does his work, and leaves – a stark contrast to the more driven traders we’ve seen before.

Why do you think a show all about financial wheeler-dealing has been such a huge hit?

Many people, particularly my generation, connect with the idea of constantly being busy and working hard. It feels like everyone is focused on figuring out who they are, and for a lot of us, that happens mostly through our jobs. This leads to a lot of stress and people making big sacrifices, all in an effort to feel valuable through their work, which is something a lot of us can understand.

We often think of finance as being white-dominated. How important is representation in the show?

For working-class characters, changing how they speak can sometimes help them blend in and be accepted. But for Black characters, that’s never really an option – they always remain noticeable. The show explores the question of how much someone will give up just to get by, and throughout the season, we see Kwabena questioning whether the compromises he’s making are worth it.

Apparently you were filming in a river this afternoon. What are you shooting?

I can’t share details about it just yet, but it’s a really exciting project – a film that means a lot to me. Just to clarify, though, it’s not the next season of Ted Lasso!

Authors

Craig McLean

Read More

2026-01-05 21:26