‘The Knick’s’ Eve Hewson: Wait an hour after eating to watch the show

Eve Hewson, the lovely star of Cinemax’s celebrated series “The Knick,” stopped by The Times recently to talk about her show, which is currently filming its second season.

The 23-year-old actress plays nurse Lucy Elkins, a West Virginia native who comes to New York City, circa 1900, looking for adventure and “someone to teach her to be bad.” She finds that special someone in Dr. John Thackery (Clive Owen), chief surgeon at the Knickerbocker hospital, a place where doctors strive to make medical advances under pretty brutal conditions.

Hewson said “Knick” director Steven Soderbergh promised her a character arc that would make her want to caution her parents to not watch the show. Every actor’s dream! Oh ... and you’re probably familiar with Hewson’s father. That would be rock star Paul Hewson (a.k.a. Bono). And yes, he did have to shield his eyes, Hewson says, more than once during some of the scenes in the series’ first 10-episode season.

Hewson also talked about the way “The Knick” deals with primitive societal thinking -- as well as archaic medical practices. The show’s operating room is a gruesome place. It’s not a program you want to watch while having dinner, Hewson says. But it is a series you do want to watch ... just maybe use the old axiom and wait an hour after eating.

Twitter: @glennwhipp