‘Bridge and Tunnel’ Stars Caitlin Stasey And Sam Vartholomeos Have A “Great Friendship”

Bridge and Tunnel creator Edward Burns has crafted an engaging dramedy about a group youths living out their dreams in 1980s Long Island. Season two debuts tonight, and Caitlin Stasey and Sam Vartholomeos talked to Deepest Dream about their show.

Season two of Bridge and Tunnel has Jimmy Farrell (Sam Vartholomeos) back from his internship with a celebrated photographer. His lifleong romance with Jill Shore (Caitlin Stasey) has changed course, as both of them start the season with newfound loves.

While season one established the close knit nature of these diverse group of friends, this season focuses on each character attempting to follow their own dreams while also realize home is just around the corner.

Getting to know Edward Burns and this project, how much more do you appreciate that era?

Stasey: I’ve always loved 80s music thanks to my mum and dad. Australia has always been stuck in the 80s. Even today, it’s still in the 80s so I feel like I’ve always known what the 80s was like because I’ve been trapped in it my whole life.

Yeah, just kind of the feeling of exhilaration and promise that anything could happen. That’s what I picked up from it.

What about you Sam?

Vartholomeos: Ed (Edward Burns) is an encyclopedia of the 80s and I know he wasn’t the age of the Bridge and Tunnel (characters) when the 80s were the 80s, but it sat with him so much. It’s such a part of who he is.

My dad grew up in the 70s so I had good knowledge of what that (era) was like. But thank God for Ed Burns.

I love how the world of Bridge and Tunnel opens up in the second season. Was that gratifying on your end as well?

Stasey: Due to COVID, the first season we had to keep things quite intimate and quite small. It was small scenes, with one or two characters in a room that we can isolate. Lucky for us, the world started to open back up again right around season two’s shooting. Ed got to flesh out everybody’s roles and everybody’s dreams.

We established season one. We know who they are and what they want. In season two, you get to see the first step of that journey forward for everyone.

How did you guys build that chemistry with each other, since both of your characters are very close.

Vartholomeos: I remember this so distinctly. We were in the parking lot for Rockville Center. The first time we met each other we had a double taking (and said), “Are you . . . ?”

That was where it started. Caitlin, and I don’t know why, but to this day she had so much anxiety around the accent. Sometimes I would look at her, looking at me talking, and think, is she just listening to my accent and trying to pick things up. Or are we having a conversation? What’s going on? It was really easy. It was like working with your best friend.

Being in that hotel for two months really helped all of us. Most of my scenes were with Caitlin. And it quickly developed into a great friendship.

Thank you guys so much for your time. I really appreciate it!

Vartholomeos: Thank you Greg.

Stasey. Thanks so much.

The six-episode second season of Bridge and Tunnel debuts tonight on EPIX (10 pm et/pt).

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