Maya Erskine Talks Preparing for 'Mr & Mrs Smith' & Feeling Nervous Taking Over Role After Phoebe Waller-Bridge Exited

Maya Erskine and Donald Glover are all smiles at the premiere of their new series Mr. & Mrs. Smith held at The Curzon Mayfair on Wednesday (January 17) in London.

The 36-year-old actress and the 40-year-old entertainer take on the leading roles of Jane and John Smith in the upcoming action series, which is a reimagining of the 2005 film of the same name.

They were also seen posing with Francesca Sloane, who co-created and executive produces with Donald.

In a new magazine interview that was released that same day, Maya opened up about taking on the role after Phoebe Waller-Bridge left the project, and how she prepared for the role.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I felt pressure because of the pressure I put on myself, and I respect Phoebe Waller-Bridge immensely. But I had to look at it as this is a different version,” Maya told Marie Claire. “If I tried to meet some expectations that I made up, that wouldn’t be the right way to approach it. I had to tell myself that however she was going to do it, it’s going to be different, and that’s okay.”

On preparing for the role, she noted that “Having a multitude of references was helpful.”

“What was good for me to see is that I will never be able to be that. I’m not Angelina [Jolie]. I’m not even close. They’re [Angelina and Brad Pitt] superhuman beauties and movie stars, and Donald and I are just Donald and I,” Maya said.

She adds of their version, “People can watch and say, ‘Oh, I look like that. To see yourself reflected, that’s always a draw for me.”

Mr. & Mrs. Smith will debut on Prime Video on Friday, February 2nd. Check out the trailer here!

FYI: Donald is wearing Zegna. Maya is wearing Schiaparelli.

Browse through the gallery to see more photos of Maya Erskine and Donald Glover at the premiere…