Evan Peters says he was 'hysterically sobbing' and thought about quitting after 'Mare of Easttown' drunk scene

• Evan Peters was left "hysterically sobbing" on the set of "Mare of Easttown."
• Peters said he crying because he thought he messed up his now-famous drunk scene from episode 3.
• Peters has since won huge acclaim for that scene and his performance on the show.

Evan Peters has won overall acclaim for his performance on HBO's limited series "Mare of Easttown." But the actor said he was left in tears after his scene-stealing performance in episode 3 because he didn't think he managed to pull it off.

The scene in question takes place at a bar at the end of episode three. Peters' character is severely drunk and for the first time reveals intimate details about his past to Kate Winslet's titular character Mare. Both critics and viewers praised Peters' performance in that particular scene, with many hailing it the best-drunk acting ever. After the episode, Esquire ran a story with the headline, "Hang Evan Peters' Drunk Scene From Mare of Easttown In the Louvre."

But during a new interview with writer Joanna Robinson on Vanity Fair's "Still Watching: Mare of Easttown" podcast, Peters said was left sobbing in director Craig Zobel's arms after they filmed the scene.

"The reason Craig and I were emotional and hugging was because I was hysterically sobbing. I thought we didn't get the scene," he said. "I was like, 'We didn't get, we didn't get it. I can't do this. I'm terrible. I'm going to shadow you, Craig, and be a director, because I can't do it anymore.' And he was like, 'It's OK. It's cool, man. I think we got it.'"

Peters continued to say that he only realized that his performance worked when the show's producer, Mark Roybal, informed him that "people were kinda liking that scene."

"It was such a huge relief," he said. "What's going on with my internal judgment? Where I don't even know if it's good."

After the episode began to receive huge acclaim on social media, Craig Zobel revealed the key trick to Peters' drunk performance.

In a tweet, he said: "[Peters was] sober, but drinking lil Dixie cups of apple cider vinegar every half hour or so from the on-set props master, to trigger sense memories."

Zobel also revealed that Peters came up with a funny line from that scene about his detective character's reaction to an ex-girlfriend breaking up with him during breakfast.

"'Let me put down my bagel' was an idea Evan had the night before and had me howling and crying in rehearsals, and I insisted we keep," Zobel added.

-craig zobel (@craigzobel) May 3, 2021