Exclusive Interview
‘Daisy Jones & The Six’s Sam Claflin Defends How Billy Handled His Love for Daisy & Camila
What To Know
- Sam Claflin played Billy Dunne in Prime Video’s Daisy Jones & The Six
- Claflin passionately defends his character, despite fan criticism.
- He suggests that Billy’s actions should be viewed with empathy, especially given the era’s different social norms.
Turns out, Sam Claflin didn’t just play Billy Dunne, he’d defend the character with his life.
Even though it’s been two years since the adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid‘s Fleetwood Mac-inspired novel, Daisy Jones & The Six, hit the small screen, fans are still incredibly invested in the love triangle between Billy Dunne (Claflin), his wife Camila Alvarez (Camila Morrone), and his new bandmate Daisy Jones (Riley Keough). Sure, many see Billy as the villain — having an emotional affair with Daisy while Camila waits by the phone isn’t cute — but Claflin does not subscribe to that narrative.
“Everyone hates Billy Dunne, and I’m here for him. I don’t think he did anything wrong…” Claflin passionately told Swooon before amending, “Yes, he made a mistake when he was high on drugs in his childhood, right? I feel like when you understand him and why he did what he did, especially when he was sober before sober was cool, and he really stuck to it, until the minute he didn’t, but then I just think, all he did was kiss Daisy and fell in love but didn’t act on it.”
Everett Collection
When it comes down to it, the Hunger Games: Catching Fire star made it clear that the reason Billy gets so much flak isn’t his fault at all. He claimed, “I think what it is more than anything is that everyone loved Camila in the book especially. She was such a strong and incredible mother and partner, and forgiving and everything.” In comparison to Camila, Billy and Daisy didn’t stand a chance. He explained, “I think it was more because it felt like he was doing her dirty, but I think he learnt from his previous mistakes when he was younger, and he really tried his best not to fall in love with someone else.”
We couldn’t help but agree with Claflin when he argued, “The heart wants what the heart wants. And I feel like, he still didn’t do it, you know?” After all, can we really pinpoint Billy Dunne’s crime? It’s not every day your new bandmate turns out to be your literal twin flame, but you can’t act on your immaculate chemistry because you love and respect your wife. (Except for those couple of kisses.)
Prime Video
“This was before therapy,” he added. “Times were different back then, you know, he didn’t have dating apps, and social media.” Looking at Billy’s narrative from a modern perspective, Claflin admitted, “I will defend him ’til the end of time. I hear people’s worries and concerns for Camila, I do. [But] of course, look, the rest of the story after that tour, he did [stay faithful]. He completely put [Daisy] aside, and was completely the husband and dad [Camila] wanted him to be.”
So, next time we rewatch Daisy Jones & The Six (or finally get a Season 2), we’ll take a leap of faith and see things through Claflin’s eyes when he says: “[Billy] gets a bad rap, but I don’t know that he should be blamed for having a heart.”
Daisy Jones & The Six, Season 1, Streaming Now, Prime Video
— Reporting by Kelli Boyle
