If you quickly look at her IMDb, her credits really speak for themselves.
Like, I still think about Olivia Crain fromThe Haunting of Hill Houseat least once a week.
Now, she’s adding another compelling and strong female character to her resume withThe Girls on the Bus.
She shared how she joined the project, her favorite Grace scene in Episode 4, and more.
And, we even found time to look back at some of her othericonic movieand TV roles.
How has it been building the relationship with Mike over the years sinceGerald’s Gamein 2017?
That’s very kind of you to say.
I’ve never gravitated toward horror, per se.
Meaning, I love any genre done well.
So I’m in for all of it.
Also, someone was attached to play the role before.
You know what I mean?
There’s no middle ground here.
I’m so thankful that it was the former.
But really, it was me talking to him when he was scouting in Atlanta via FaceTime.
It made perfect sense to me.
So that was the beginning of that relationship with Mike.
And since then, it has just continued to be a really easy and inspiring collaboration.
I love to come in and help him tell his stories.
He’s such a wonderful writer and director, and editor.
I always find the most confident people in their art are actually collaborative, you know?
So I love what we get to create together.
There’s not one that I haven’t REALLY enjoyed.
To do that combination of elements in one piece was something I will always thank Mike for.
How did you first get involved in the project?
And Melissa Benoist was attached as Sadie at that point.
I knew Amy Chozick’s book, so it all sort of came together.
It was an exciting idea.
To me, that’s something I believe in the world.
I was really compelled by that.
Also, I’m always so interested in understanding a world I don’t know.
All of those things sounded like a really fun opportunity to come and play.
How was it finally getting that recognition for a project that was so special?
I appreciate that you say that.
And he was like, “No, no.
There’s no way.
There’s no way?
“[Laughing]And I was like, “Yeah, there is.”
So, I appreciate that.
Wow, I appreciate you saying that.Hill Households a VERY special place in my heart.
I love that character so much, too.
Was she the most challenging?
So I always wanted Verna to be right underneath the surface.
The accents weren’t written in initially.
Okay, this one, not.”
So that was also a really interesting process in that coming to life.
Just the fact that I got to play a patient who needs a heart transplant and then a chimpanzee.
[Laughing]I mean, it was extraordinary.
NOW: Was Grace always the character you were going to play inThe Girls on the Bus?
Did she change at all between the casting process to filming?
It’s interesting because I think Grace was initially written a little bit older than me.
That was something really important for me with Grace.
I think that’s what made her a great journalist.
I think that was an aspect I wanted to confirm we ensured that Grace had.
I was really happy to have the support in that.
That was maybe a part of her that sort of came together with me playing the part.
I know, I was so sad about that.
And I really wanted that opportunity for everybody involved.
Like, we were reciting Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry in that show.
Again, just rare, rare creative opportunities.
It’s been a fun time and people have been so responsive to the show and to Verna.
So that’s been cool.
How was it working so closely with Melissa Benoist?
Well, Melissa is just a total joy and such a professional.
So it was such a gift.
Melissa has a huge amount of humility and also beautiful playfulness, and real integrity.
I think all of those things also come across in Sadie.
She’s also really funny.
What I love about Sadie and Grace’s relationship is they are very good friends.
And yet, Sadie’s been sort of in awe of Grace as she was coming up.
It’s a really fun relationship.
And again, all the complexities that go along with that.
THEN:Spy Kidscame out 23 years ago and is still beloved by so many.
You were also so young playing a wife and mother in the movie.
How has it been to look back on that experience and see the impact the film still has?
[Laughing]It was a really beautiful kind of double-edged sword because I love that movie so much.
And the whole experience was incredible, and the movies continue.
Like, every generation gets to watch it and love it so much.
I love Ingrid Cortes.
[Laughing]So it was physically totally impossible.
Do you remember how you got cast as Ingrid?
So, I wasn’t even on the initial casting lists.
He was like, “I feel like I’m looking for a mother for my kids.”
And it’s so funny like you said, nobody did.
You, my dear, are the last,” which just knocked me over.
How was it bringing a character to life that’s juggling work and motherhood in such an honest way?
We’re not used to a parent saying that, certainly not a mother to a daughter.
To actually say your life is your own, you don’t have to live in reaction to mine.
I also think that Grace did come from a different generation.
Like, the only way to be successful with this is to be 100% focused on this.
And a lot of things in my life were sacrificed for that.
A lot of relationships and family.
And now she’s really looking at it straight in the face.
And I was like, “No, no.
I’m only 27!”
[Laughing]Like, I already messed that one up.
But I’m so grateful for that whole experience.
How was it working with Natasha Behnam, who plays Lola?
I really love the relationship with Grace and Lola, and Natasha, I think, is just fantastic.
She’s very much of an old soul, too, in a young body.
She’s astute.Grace knows that’s an instinct thing; you could’t teach it.
So as much as Grace is seemingly resistant initially, she’s also like,You know what?
And finally, THEN: Have you ever taken a prop from a set after filming wrapped?
If so, what have you taken?
Wow, that is a good question.
I have over the years, grabbed a few things.
That was really extraordinary.
I have the handcuffs fromGerald’s Game.
I always take a piece of clothing.
I always have at least one outfit.
I do have an outfit, at least, from every character.
Oh, and by the way, wigs.
Like, fromElektra LuxxandWomen In Trouble.
So, I do have some blonde wigs, too.
Like, I have an Ingrid Cortes fromSpy Kids,and I do have my character fromBly Manor.
I have Sally Jupiter [fromWatchmen], too.
Those are fun and those have become a little collection.
