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Kelly brings her signature understated style to the role, which makes Laurie even more inscrutable and menacing.
How did theEuphoriarole come to you?I didnt audition.
Before everything shut down, I met with Sam and they offered the part and I accepted very gratefully.
Then things shut down, so we ended up shooting much later.
When you met with Sam, how did he describe Laurie?
Was the word villain brought up in your initial conversations?No.
I would imagine one of the reasons he was interested in you is your deadpan delivery.
That works in a different context in comedy, but bringing it to this character makes her more unsettling.
If someone is aggressive up front, everybody knows to be on guard.
But sometimes, really manipulative sociopaths are very, not just mild-mannered, but charming.
They can project that they are the victim, which Laurie does toward the end ofthe last episode.
Part of me was like,I hope theres a way I dont have to go full monster.
But its also scarier.
Some of the people had a relationship with him and were fooled by him.
Then youre confused, like,Were they trying to do this terrible thing?
Then you start second-guessing everyone around you.
Theres at least that mitigating factor that shes on her guard.
In episode five, Laurie says, I dont think Ive ever been angry.
Im always so nervous acting because its so different from stand-up.
I showed up on time.
Im friendly to everybody.
I just hope the director will tell me what they want and that I can do it.
Do you remember going to set your first day?
It was pretty obvious I was nervous.
Probably I also said, Im really nervous.
But they were so nice.
Zendaya was like, Its totally fine.
But they made it as easy as it could have been.
Were you watching the show before you got the call to be on it?Yes.
But its such a beautiful show.
Why do you think Laurie agrees to the partnership with Rue?
Then Rue would owe her.
But Im not sure how Sam pictures that.
When Rue comes to her in withdrawal, Laurie tells a story about her first encounter with opioids.
Its clear by the end of that episode that shes a really calculating, destructive person.
What is her long game?
Shes a pretty bad person.
Its similar to what appeared to me to be the case with Adam Driver.
Then when its action, theyre immediately this other character and fully in it.
Those scenes between Rue and Laurie are tough because you might tell Lauries taking advantage of her.
Was that hard for you to play?I found it very disturbing.
That would be my assumption about any sociopath like that.
