One could argue that no Ted Lasso character has evolved more than Phil Dunster‘s Jamie Tartt. While the internet’s been obsessing over his pronunciation of “poop-eh,” AFC Richmond’s well-coiffed striker has been putting in the work to become the best possible version of himself — on and off the pitch.
Much of that progress is evident in scenes opposite former teammate-turned-coach Roy Kent, who in Episode 3 offered to train Jamie to become an even greater footballer than Zava. Whereas the Jamie we first met would be doing this solely to outshine the club’s new star recruit — remember his response to Dani Rojas’ arrival in Season 1? — the Jamie of Season 3 is doing it because he’s determined to reach his full potential. Zava’s purely a motivator.
Ahead of Episode 4, TVLine hopped on the phone with Dunster to discuss Jamie’s evolution from narcissistic twit to caring and compassionate teammate, his burgeoning bromance with Roy and their lingering love triangle with Keeley.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV+ TVLINE | Jamie has shown significant growth this year. I imagine it must be a real thrill for you, seeing all the hard work that Jamie did in Seasons 1 and 2 pay off in Season 3.
Yeah, it’s one of those things where the the writers have laid the groundwork so impeccably for the last three seasons. There’s been such brilliant progress for all the characters throughout the three seasons, and seeing where Jamie’s at now…. In episode three of Season 3, there’s that moment when he says, you know, I know loads of loads of players like [Zava]. They’re selfish, self-involved, whatever the line is. And then they’re like, “Isn’t that just you?” You can see the moment where he would have turned around and gone, “Well, f–k you,” you know? “I’m not like that,” or “I’m better than him,” and [instead] he takes it on the chin. It’s those little moments.TVLINE | Yes! I love when Coach Beard tries to tell him that he’s being ironic, and Jamie points out that he’s actually being hypocritical. It tells the audience that Jamie’s smarter than he gets credit for, and he’s aware that, yes, he’s the pot calling the Zava-shaped kettle black.
Right. He’s getting more syllables into his words, which is a huge thing for him. In Season 2 [Episode 6], when he uses the word “philistines,” it’s the totally wrong use of the word and he’s standing in the same place, and it’s Beard who goes, “You’re going to want to look up ‘philistines.'” It’s a nice parallel.
TVLINE | All of these characters have been changed, in some way, by Ted. But I don’t think Ted deserves all the credit for Jamie’s growth. What else (or who else) do you credit for helping Jamie become a more well-rounded person?
I think Roy has been a huge influence on his football, and is now a strong male influence in his life, but I think it’s Keeley who has softened him. There are a lot of scenes where Jamie is listening [to] Keely, and he really hears what she has to say. Keely is incredibly emotionally intelligent — as is Juno Temple — and it’s nice that it comes from a female voice. I also think she just offers a different perspective from the machismo that’s flying around the locker room. -
Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV+ TVLINE | As we’ve seen Jamie mature, we’ve also seen his personal style change — most notably, his hair. This season, he’s rocking a mushroom cut and highlights. Is there a conversation that takes place between you and the producers before every season, about changing Jamie’s look to reflect his progression?
That’s led by our makeup designer Nicky Austin. She really liked the idea that any emotional shift that Jamie goes through is reflected in how he looks — how he dresses and how he styles. When he moved back to Manchester City in Season 1, his hair changed then, too.TVLINE | His current ‘do is giving ’90s boy band vibes.
I’ll take it! I really like the idea that they had done this NSYNC number in Season 2, and Jamie had to look up the lyrics. And when he looked up the lyrics, he saw what they looked like back in the day and was, like, “That looks like Beckham.” But also, I’m a follower of football culture, and footballers have different hairstyles every couple weeks, so it’s been really fun to emulate that part of [the culture].
TVLINE | Let’s talk a bit more about Zava. Do you think Jamie’s resentment of Zava stems from jealousy, or is he legitimately concerned about the club relying too heavily on its new star player? Or is it a bit of both?
I think there’s a bit of “a tiger can’t change its stripes,” and this tiger — Jamie — is finding it rather difficult to disperse what stripes [he had] before. In Episode 2, when Dani is losing his s–t over the fact that Zava is coming, Jamie’s like, “Whatever, I don’t care,” and he’s insecure about it to a certain extent. But also, the content of what he’s concerned about has changed. I imagine the audience sees the formation on the whiteboard [in Episode 3] and is, like, “It doesn’t seem like a particular Ted Lasso thing to do.” For the first time, we might actually be on Jamie’s side [when it comes to Zava]. -
Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV+ TVLINE | Have there been any other moments in Season 3 where Jamie does or says something and you thought to yourself, “the Jamie we met in Season 1 would never do or say that”?
When he goes to hug Roy and tries to shows him empathy. I also don’t think that Jamie has scored a goal yet. Instead, he’s been setting others up. There’s another moment where Roy says to him, “If you want to be as good as Zava, I’ll train you,” and Jamie says, “I want to be better than him.” It doesn’t feel like it comes from a place of arrogance; it feels like it’s from a place of ambition. I’m sure you have some other ones….TVLINE | You alluded to it already — how Jamie tried to show Roy empathy when he learned about Roy and Keeley’s breakup. The bigger surprise to me was that Jamie didn’t immediately try anything with Keeley. He’s been, for a lack of better word, a total “bro.” He hasn’t crossed that line because he doesn’t want to hurt Roy.
Yeah… I think there’s an element of humility. He’s seeing himself as a member of a team. I go back to Season 1 where Ted says to Jamie, “You’re so sure that you’re one in a million that you sometimes forget that you’re just one of 11,” and I think that extends to the friendships that he has [created], and the burgeoning friendship with Roy. He’s becoming a more conscientious person.
TVLINE | How would you describe Jamie’s individual relationships with Roy and Keeley as get further into Season 3?
Complicated. A non-linear progress…. It becomes a lot more opaque what the right thing to do is, and who should, if anyone should, end up with each other. It’s not as straightforward as one of them wants to be with the other; it’s far more complex, and all of the characters see it as a complex conundrum.TVLINE | There was a scene in the Season 3 trailer where it appears as though Roy and Keeley are seated in Jamie’s childhood bedroom. Can you provide any context for that scene?
They’re certainly seated, and Jamie’s certainly there. [Laughs] -
Image Credit: Apple TV+ screenshot TVLINE | On a much less serious note, I have to ask about the internet’s favorite thing right now: the way that Jamie says “poop-eh.” Did you have any idea that was going to blow up the way that it did?
No, but it did really, really, really make Brett [Goldstein] laugh. He normally giggles a bit, but that was the biggest joy of it for me.TVLINE | How did you land on that specific pronunciation?
It came between takes. I was just trying to piss Brett off by saying it as ridiculously as I could. My only qualm is that people write it “poop-ay,” and it’s “poop-eh,” but it’s no longer my thing. It belongs to other people now.TVLINE | I’m sure you’re sick of being asked if this is the final season, so I won’t ask it. Instead, I’ll ask you this: How do you feel about the culmination of Jamie’s story at the end of Season 3?
Really excited! Really great! Certainly, I have loved playing him and continue to love to play him. The writers have created such a brilliant, fully fleshed out character in Jamie.TVLINE | So, if this is the end, you’re happy?
Yeah. I mean, I’d love to continue to play him if there’s a chance, but if there’s not? C’est la vie, baby!How are you liking Jamie’s arc in Ted Lasso Season 3? Sound off in Comments.
