Rebecca Hall Opens Up About Her Latest Role, the Hum That Haunts Her, and Why a Stealth Sequel Isn't Quite What It Seems

Rebecca Hall is having a moment—make that a whole era. The English actress, who first captivated audiences in films like Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The Town, has been remarkably prolific lately. Her latest project, the Starz miniseries The Listeners, premiered in the US on June 12 after a successful international run late last year. And while Hall's schedule is so packed she couldn't even make it to Cannes for two of her films, she sat down with us to discuss the hum that drives her character mad, the truth behind the rumored Guest sequel, and why she's officially entering her villain era.

The Hum That Haunts: Inside The Listeners

In The Listeners, adapted by Jordan Tannahill from his own novel, Hall plays Claire, an English teacher whose life begins to unravel when she starts hearing a persistent low-frequency hum no one else can perceive. The series, directed by Janicza Bravo across all five episodes, doesn't offer easy answers. Instead, it becomes a meditation on belief, isolation, and the fragility of reality.

To get into Claire's headspace, Hall went beyond traditional preparation. She asked the sound team to feed her an actual hum through an earpiece during filming. We had lots of different versions that Janicza would cycle through on the day, Hall explains. Sometimes, it was just impractical because I couldn't concentrate on anything else, which I guess was the point.

The hum itself is a real phenomenon—often called The Hum, reported by people around the world who hear a low-frequency noise with no apparent source. Hall recently read about data centers causing similar disturbances. People are posting these videos of what the data center sounds like two miles down the way from them, she says. So there's a very real version of it, and then there's also this, 'How am I trusting myself and my perception versus what I'm told I'm perceiving?'

Claire's journey is deeply physical. Hall describes some scenes as feeling almost like modern dance, but shot in rainy England. The physicality, combined with the unrelenting earworm of the hum, made for a uniquely intense shoot—yet Hall calls it one of the most enjoyable projects of her career, thanks largely to her collaboration with Bravo, who has become one of her closest friends.

A Blur of Projects: Cannes, Zombies, and Ghosts

Hall's work ethic is staggering. She had two films at this year's Cannes Film Festival: Ira Sachs' The Man I Love, set in 1980s New York, and the sci-fi dark comedy The End of It, where she plays a performance artist living in a world where death is optional. But she couldn't attend either premiere because she was filming Zero Protocol, a zombie horror movie shot in real time from her character's first-person perspective.

It was unusual because you can usually work it out in the schedule to take three days off to go to Cannes, Hall admits. But they literally couldn't let me out for any amount of time. She also shot A Head Full of Ghosts, a psychological horror film, earlier this year. Hall is clearly drawn to genre work that pushes boundaries.

Coming Up Next: Onslaught

Later this year, Hall will reunite with her Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire collaborators Dan Stevens, Simon Barrett, and Adam Wingard for the action-thriller Onslaught. The film's trailer, released by A24, immediately sparked speculation: Is it a stealth sequel to the 2014 cult hit The Guest? Both films involve a military experiment that turns soldiers into enhanced killing machines, and both were shot in New Mexico. Hall's answer is a masterclass in tease.

It's not really, I don't think, she says, then adds with a sly smile: It has elements. She also reveals she plays the German villain—complete with a German accent, which Stevens also adopts. It definitely opens a door for me to enter my villain era. I had a lot of fun.

When asked if she's seen a cut, Hall says no, but her excitement is palpable. Given the creative team's history—Wingard and Barrett also made You're Next, another genre standout—expectations are high.

Small Screen Highlights: The Studio and Directing Dreams

Hall also made a memorable guest appearance on Apple TV+'s The Studio, playing a pediatric oncologist dating Seth Rogen's studio head character. Unlike many other guests, she played a fictional character, not herself. I thought the storyline was conceptually a very funny idea, she says. The scene where Rogen's character argues that moviemaking is as important as medicine struck a chord. Hall recalls researching barristers for a film and realizing the overlap between performance and courtroom drama.

As for her directorial ambitions, Hall has three scripts in development, hoping to follow up her acclaimed debut Passing. Director Rebecca Hall has got three scripts that I'm trying to get made, she laughs. One is likely to go next year. Her taste is specific, but she's committed to seeing these stories through.

The Funny Coincidence of the Claires

One odd detail: The Listeners marks the fourth time Hall has played a character named Claire (or Clare, as in Passing). Bravo has taken notice, teasing Hall about it. If I was a young filmmaker trying to get a film made with you as the star, the only thing I'd have to do is write another character called Claire, Bravo told her. Hall, laughing, says she might have to put her foot down next time—or lean into the pattern.

What's Next for Rebecca Hall?

With The Listeners now streaming on Starz (new episodes air Fridays through July 10), Hall is focused on her upcoming films and the mystery of Onslaught. She's also enjoying the ride of a career that's as varied as it is relentless. Whether portraying a woman undone by an invisible sound, a German villain, or a 250-year-old performance artist, Hall brings a depth that keeps audiences riveted. As she puts it, Acting is more instinctive than I even realize. I just believe that what is happening to the character is happening to me.

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