The latest season of HBO's gritty finance drama Industry has delivered one of its most talked-about moments yet, and it left star Marisa Abela in tears. Her co-star and real-life best friend, Myha'la, who plays Harper Stern, has revealed Abela's emotional reaction to a pivotal bedroom scene where Harper wears a strap-on.
A Scene of Power and Vulnerability
In an interview, Myha'la reflected on the intense sequence, which occurs at the request of Max Minghella's character, CFO Whitney Halberstram. She shared that Abela, who plays Yasmin Kara-Hanani, was deeply moved upon viewing it. "It's actually so funny, Marisa told me the first time she watched that scene that she cried," Myha'la said. "She was so happy for Harper, I guess? Like in awe of this beautiful, physical representation of Harper's power."
The actor described the scene as a visual metaphor for her character's evolution. "Holding her power in her hand, feeling the weight of it, the gravity of it, and understanding that she could do whatever she wanted with it," she explained, noting that "it sets us up for the season." Despite the powerful symbolism, Myha'la admitted the practical experience was one of vulnerability. "I felt vulnerable with the dildo on," she confessed, contrasting it with feeling more empowered in a different scenario wearing a Chanel bag.
Trusting the Vision of Industry's Writers
Myha'la stated she "was not surprised" that showrunners Mickey Down and Konrad Kay wrote such an audacious scene. "I don't think there's any place Industry won't go," the 29-year-old actor admitted. She expressed complete faith in the writing team, praising their integrity and taste even when tackling difficult subjects.
"They have so much integrity with the way that they write. They don't shy away from difficult or controversial topics, but they do everything that they do with taste, so there's probably nothing they could write that I wouldn't do," she said, before joking she hoped they wouldn't take that as a challenge.
A Bond Forged in Shared Experience
The interview also highlighted the profound off-screen friendship between Myha'la and Marisa Abela, which fuels their on-screen dynamic. "We are best friends, I was a bridesmaid at her wedding. She does feel like a sister to me," Myha'la revealed.
She pointed to their parallel life and career journeys, including getting engaged within a week of each other, as the foundation of a unique understanding. "There's no one else in the world who will understand our very unique point of view on things," she said, suggesting this authenticity is key to the show's compelling relationships.
Myha'la also defended the complex morality of the show's characters, stating, "I don't think that they're inherently bad people. I think they're people who have trauma and baggage, and people who make choices."
Industry Season 4 began airing on HBO in the US on 11th January and became available on BBC iPlayer from the 12th. The series continues to air on BBC television.
