Page 62 - Demo

Q: What is Hysteria! about?A: The story is set in 1989, during the height of the %u201cSatanic Panic.%u201d When a beloved varsity quarterback goes missing, a struggling high school heavy metal band seizes the opportunity to capitalize on the town%u2019s sudden obsession with the occult. They build a reputation as a Satanic metal band, but as events spiral out of control, the group becomes a prime suspect in the unfolding chaos.Q: What excited you most about this project?A: What excited me most about this project was the opportunity to play such a dynamic character. The different sides of Judith that emerge%u2014even in episode one%u2014were riveting to portray, not to mention her evolution throughout the season.Q: How did you get involved in this project?A: I got involved in this project by submitting a tape. A few months later, I had a lengthy Zoom call with the showrunners and director. They were wonderful and helped me perfect the scenes. Shortly afterward, I got a call from my team with the good news!Q: How would you describe your character?A: Judith, a student at Wallace High, is introduced as the object of Dylan%u2019s adoration. She%u2019s the %u201ctypical%u201d popular, preppy, cool girl, but we soon discover she%u2019s far from typical. She%u2019s also the Chief of Police%u2019s granddaughter, which creates an interesting dynamic between her trouble-making tendencies and her family%u2019s role in solving the town%u2019s mysteries. Judith is a perplexing, often cynical character, but (hopefully) viewers will find a semblance of humanity and normalcy lurking beneath the surface.Q: What was your favorite aspect of playing this character? Do you resonate with her?A: My favorite aspect of playing Judith, aside from grappling with all her complexities, was embodying her %u201980s style. The hair, makeup, and wardrobe told a different story in each scene, sometimes in ways even the most attentive viewers might miss! I do resonate with her softer side, which we glimpse throughout the series. That said, I can confidently say I don%u2019t share her conniving ways of manipulating Dylan. Personally, I would have taken a very different approach%u2014but where%u2019s the fun in that?Q: Did you do any preparation for this show and role?A: Preparing for this role was all about understanding Judith%u2014her motives and the reasons behind her actions. It was a tall task, especially given how much her influence shapes Dylan%u2019s story. One way I got into her mindset was by writing %u201cjournal entries%u201d from Judith%u2019s perspective for each scene. This exercise really helped me get into her head, especially in the early weeks of filming.Q: Is there one scene that stands out? What scene was the most challenging?A: The scene that stands out to me is the %u201ccat scene%u201d in the first episode. It%u2019s the first time we see a different side of Judith, and it also happened to coincide with my 20th birthday. At midnight, mid-scene, we paused for a little celebration before continuing. It was also a challenging scene because it%u2019s so pivotal to everything that follows. I wanted to make sure we got it just right.InterviewExclusiveMOSTMAGAZINE62 MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 66