Folie à Deux's costar's mother on FaceTime

It seems that Joaquin Phoenix is Joker: Foil for Two Name of the character on set.

When speaking with diversity Speaking about the upcoming comic book film sequel, actor Harry Lawtey said that during a rehearsal, 49-year-old Phoenix “jokingly suggested that we FaceTime my mum and scare her” – while the Oscar winner wore full clown make-up for the role.

“My mother was in England, so it was quite late and she was getting ready for bed. I said 'hello' and then held the phone in front of my face and Joaquin put his head on my shoulder,” recalls Lawtey, 27. “My mother screamed, ran away and woke up my father.”

Lawtey, known for his role in HBO’s industryplays Harvey Dent in the upcoming film, which also stars Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Zazie Beetz. The highly anticipated film comes exactly five years after filmmaker Todd Phillips' 2019 film jokerwho received eleven Oscar nominations and won two, including Best Actor for “Phoenix.”

In the new film, “Arthur Fleck awaits trial in Arkham for his crimes as the Joker,” an official synopsis for the film states. “While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that has always been within him.”

Lawtey also told the outlet that Phoenix's performance in the film was a “master class” every day on set.

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“Watching him laugh and seeing the effect it had on him – on everyone – blew me away,” he added of Phoenix's commitment to the role. “He was coughing after every take. It was educational to watch him move through the different facets and nuances of this performance.”

Lawtey's interpretation of Harvey Dent – the character portrayed by Aaron Eckhart, Billy Dee Williams and Tommy Lee Jones in the Batman live-action films over the years – appears to include courtroom shows with Phoenix' Arthur Fleck, he said diversityNevertheless, Lawtey does not sing in the quasi-musical sequel.

“I mean, not singing in front of Lady Gaga is fine with me,” he told the outlet. “If there's anyone in that room that should be singing, it's her. And to get a front row seat to do that was a goosebumps moment.”

Joker: Foil for Two will be in cinemas on October 4th.