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Velma Daimon
Shannon Phelps
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editorial contributors Soukena Jean-Jacques, Tamieka Gardner, SouKenya Diouf, Dai Le @ om1 Studio, Jean Chin, Marine de Vachon @ Wild Models, Ionut Bibire, Oxana Ogneva, Olga Gregor, Hello Decor, Nina Borisova, Andrianov Ivan, Daria Lokhouzova, Mariya Ergasheva, Polina Zanorina, Varvara Ogneva, Alia Niaz @ UNN Model Management, Agnieszka Hoscilo, Mariam El Kholy, Edward Tran, Leah Taylor, Sophie Whitmore, Lily Guthrie @ Priscillas Models, Arvin Pagala, Tiana Chang, Edu Hyde @ Vitrine MGT, Monique Bourscheid, Hyun Ser Park, Jae Sung Lee, Jun Seo Lee, Svetlana Dudinova, Olga Shafranova & Renatova Raevskaya, Anastasia Vereina & Ilya Vlasenko, Vintage Shop Antresol, Yal Keenan, Daria Chez, Maria Comparetto, Sara Cester, lucy @ Milk Model Management, Special Thanks to Battersea Flower Station, Maddison Woollard, Satoru Takamatsu, Carmen Chan, Vaida Juozapavice, Kukuwa Assan @ Bella Management, Isabelle Beeton, Clarisse Sawtell, Renae Nagorcka, Ana Costa, Laura Dennis, Julia Vinha, Rachel Barboza, Ben York @ York Automotive, Martina Breitruck, Daniel Blechman, Aurelia Braga de Matos, Andreas Günther, Roland Marx, Niina Rätsep @ M4 Models, Lauren Adriana Di Leva, Millie Rose Loggie @ Select Model Management, Levi-Jade Taylor, Jordanna Cobella, Kate Sutton, Josie Musgrave @ IMG, Verity Gershenson, Scott Sheehy, Martea, Julia Verheichyk, Inga Makedonskaya, Kulikova Evgeniya @ Modus Vivendis, Ekaterina Shaplavskaya, Deonna Iris @ Tricia Brink Management, Joaquin Aristides Flores, Yuma Bastet, Ruth B Medrano
contact information Mailing Address: 1266 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Suite #591, Atlanta, GA 30327 submissions: submit@mod-mag.com | advertising: advertise@mod-mag.com | editor: sphelps@mod-mag.com general inquiries: info@mod-mag.com | telephone: (678)-744-5663 © 2021 MOD Media, LLC. All rights reserved. All content presented in MOD Magazine is the exclusive property of MOD Media, LLC. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. MOD Magazine is a registered trademark of mod media, llc.
Editor’s
letter
welcome to the otherworldly issue: This issue is dedicated to those who brazenly push beyond the boundaries of what we know. Through art and expression, I believe we have the ability to unlock hidden dimensions of the world and transcend to a different realm, entirely—one in which the unimaginable is suddenly possible. MOD Magazine is fortunate to work with creatives who boldly reject the typical approach to fashion and are consistently making waves with uniquely innovative ideas.
abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world. Also featured in this issue are two brilliant actresses currently starring in works that depict entirely different worlds—Zaria Simone’s latest project, Oscar-winning short film, Two Distant Strangers, reflects the unpleasant realities of our own world, while Danielle Galligan’s series, the popular Netflix offering, Shadow and Bone, gives us a glimpse into yet another gritty fantasy world.
Additionally, our Otherworldly cover star, rising actress, Viola Prettejohn, transports us all into a new world, with her role in HBO’s latest dark fantasy series, The Nevers. The show, which is currently streaming on HBO Max, follows a gang of Victorian men and women with unusual
I truly hope you enjoy the Otherworldly Issue, and that you take from it a wealth of creative inspiration.
- Shannon Phelps, Editor-in-Chief
contents otherworldly issue
Volume 10. Issue 2. spring 2021
24
desert rose
beauty 88
fleur
94
blossom
fashion 24
desert rose
44
close(d) quarters
56
aquarium
70
serpentine
80
lily in wonderland
104
just like home
114
great garden escape
130
rising tide
148
modern sentiment
158
lost in nowhere
182
dark romance
192
red through me
202
the secret door
214
full bloom
features 98
zaria simone
124
danielle galligan
170
viola prettejohn
on the cOVER Photographer: Dametreus Ward, Creative Director/ Stylist: Soukena JeanJacques, Makeup Artist: Tamieka Gardner, Model: SouKenya Diouf SouKenya wears: Black Dress by Now PR LA, Necklaces by FANMDJANM, Cuffs by JEWELRY BAR
visually striking & cutting-edge presenting the most trailblazing talent of the emerging fashion community
available in print & digital For More Information Visit www.mod-mag.com
Photos by Stephanie Girard
zaria This multi-talented LA-native stars as Perri in Academy Award-winning Live Action Short Film, Two Distant Strangers. Written by Travon Free and Executive Produced by stars like Sean Combs and Kevin Durant, the film examines the killing of Black Americans during encounters with the police.
OD: Tell us a little about your life, growing up. Zaria: I was born in Los Angeles but when I was younger, my mom remarried and we moved to Chicago—and I’ve always had a foot in Georgia because my dad lived there. My first play that I did was in middle school, and I performed in hundreds of acting competitions in high school. When I went to San Diego State with an International Business major, with an emphasis in French, acting still found me. I loved it so much, I got a café job so I could pay for acting classes on the side. MOD: At what point did you realize you wanted to be an actress? How did you get your start? Zaria: I always knew from a very young age that I wanted to be in entertainment. I thought I would be the next Beyonce, but I found that I breathed, ate, and slept acting. From the moment I realized that, there wasn’t anything else in the world I would want to do. I was doing dramatic interpretation for a speech competition and I was so
enthralled in it—finding the beat and learning about it. I was so interested, I forgot the most primal things like eating and sleeping. MOD: Who or what inspires you most and why? Zaria: I find inspiration from everything—it’s a bit absurd. If I am listening to a song, I get inspiration for another song or poem. But really, just living in the world is my inspiration, as I take the time to see what’s around me. MOD: In what ways has being a Black woman in the industry shaped your experience? Zaria: Being a Black woman shapes everything for me, as perception is the prism that each one of us receives from the world. I have strong black women as my mom and stepmom, who shape how I learn to love my curly hair and skin tone and everything that goes with it. There is the challenge to unlearn what the world teaches you at a very young age—that who you are is not necessarily favored in this society. MOD: Tell us about Two Distant Strangers. What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
Zaria: It’s a movie about a man trying to get home to his dog—a simple concept but at the reality of it, for Black people, something that simple is so much more complicated. There are barriers in our way, this cop who finds reasons to execute Carter. The experience played out in the film is not fiction; every scenario is taken from an actual Black person’s experience in America. This film is a resource; it serves different purposes for other people. I see it as a resource for others to learn—a resource to say, “I don’t have to explain how this works, you can tune in to this film and learn how it is for Black people in America every single day.” It can be helpful to show that this is exactly how we feel as a community, for those who don’t experience this reality that Carter goes through—this reality that is so familiar it hurts. If audiences are open to be inspired by empathy, then they can learn from the film. MOD: What was it like playing the role of Perri, particularly in the midst of the recent Black Lives Matter protests? Zaria: It was a beautiful, twisted fantasy. It was amazing to use my art to serve a story I believe in. It was beautiful to see the cast and crew band together as much as an Indie film would allow. It was also going through the trauma that we all went through at that time, in the summer of 2020; it was heartbreaking at times, but also it was very hopeful. It reminded me that we are so much stronger together. MOD: You star alongside rapper, Joey Bada$$ in the film. What was it like working with him? Zaria: He is just a peach. It is so funny because, first of all, his name is Joey Bada$$ but he is so kind and funny and easy to work with. While filming, he really wanted to workshop the scenes, both as an actor and as a person. Under the circumstances of Covid, we only had five days to film it and those days were much shorter than usual. Joey got in there and did the work and was a great scene partner. He is not the persona that is his rapper image, and to see him fall into the role in such a short amount of time was amazing. MOD: Two Distant Strangers is now an Oscar-winning short film, with high levels of critical acclaim. How has the positive reception of the project affected your experience? Zaria: Sometimes, when the director yells cut and it’s a wrap on a shoot, you kiss that experience goodbye and
part ways with everyone you worked with. But with this, we were able to go an extra 300 miles to champion this project, and that in itself is beautiful. I don’t think I have wrapped my head around it, and it is a joy and privilege to speak about this story to those who want to understand the experience. It’s really amazing to think people I respect in the Academy are watching me for 30 minutes. MOD: What are your thoughts on the recent Derek Chauvin guilty verdict? And how do you think George Floyd’s killing will affect the issues of racism and police brutality in this country, long term? Zaria: I wrote a poem after I heard the news of the verdict and it’s called “This Moment.” It basically portrays the emotion that I felt when the verdict was announced. For me, as a Black woman who is well-versed in the history of Emmett Till and mourns Breonna Taylor, there was no doubt that this was the verdict that should have been called and this person should be held accountable; but there was a sadness still. I struggle with calling it justice because we have not served justice to the living. I was filled with fear that maybe people would think that the problem is now solved, but I also hope that maybe, just maybe, we won’t forget again. MOD: You also appear in the new Netflix series Dad Stop Embarrassing Me, opposite Oscar-winning actor, Jamie Foxx. What was it like working with him? Zaria: However cool you think Jaime Foxx is, multiply it by a thousand. He was so welcoming and so friendly and so humble. While on set, if it weren’t for his phenomenal acting, you would almost forget that he is “Ray,” or every character he has played that has wowed the world. He is so funny and ready to take on the scene, take in the moment, and to encourage everyone around him. He is so magnetic that watching him be himself is incredible; it’s like a crowd gathers around him with his energy. MOD: In addition to acting, you’re also a published writer and poet. Tell us about your latest release, We Got A Lot To Be Mad About. Zaria: It is a book that kind of narrates the 2020 Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of a young Black woman. It stems from the Ahmaud Arbery killing, basically to the date that the book was published. I was very inspired
mentored me in this space of songwriting. MOD: What songs are on your current playlist? Zaria: I love a range of songs. It mostly depends on my mood. If I’m trying to vibe, it’s Giveon, Alice Aera (who I also write with), Alex Isely, or Michael Kiwanuka. When I need to work out or get motivated, I love Meg Thee Stallion, Bia, Flo Milli, Sech, Bad Bunny, and Nathy Peluso. And if I’m trying to listen to throwbacks, I listen to Marvin Gaye, Roots, Stevie Wonder, Isley Brothers, Earth Wind and Fire, Sam Cooke, and Prince. I could go on for hours. MOD: What’s your favorite travel destination and why? Zaria: France! I lived there for quite a while and I speak French and I adore the food and the culture. MOD: Describe your perfect day. Zaria: I don’t have to drive anywhere, I get driven around instead, and I am spending the day with the people I love and laughing a lot. Then I go in and do some scenes, and end the day by eating some really great food, then go to sleep by 9. MOD: What are you most proud of? Zaria: I am most proud of the people that contact me and tell me a story of something I did when I was younger that stuck with them. I’ve had people reach out and say, “one time in middle school, you stuck up for me,” or something like that, and that is the best thing anyone could say to me. It reminds me that being a good person changes people’s lives and affects them years later. by the movement and I marched in the largest collective worldwide protest in history. I am a writer at heart and started writing in my notes app on my phone at a young age. When I posted the poems I wrote on Instagram, my friend Dena Smith—creator of Leo Oil, who is a total girl boss and cancer survivor, who owns a beauty company called Astrologiens—suggested I publish it myself and that I didn’t need to wait for someone to publish it for me. MOD: You also have a passion for songwriting and often work with Grammy nominee, Benny Cassette. Tell us a bit more about your journey as a songwriter. How did you and Benny come to collaborate? Zaria: I met Benny when I worked as a receptionist. He followed me on Instagram and would see me post poems on my stories and would comment, “hey, you are really good at this.” I didn’t know that he had been signed by Kanye West and that he was a producer by trade, but we sat down at the Urth Café and he told me, “I believe in you and would like to work with you,” with some new artists that are starting out. I have been working with him for a year now and it’s been really inspiring. He has kind of
MOD: What are your guilty pleasures? Zaria: I don’t believe in guilty pleasures—if it brings you joy and doesn’t hurt anyone else, then it isn’t guilty. MOD: How would you describe your personal style? Zaria: I would say effortlessly beautiful. On busy days, it is effortlessly not matching! Effortlessly beautiful lies in things I am comfortable in and make me feel confident. Things that make me feel confident are my favorite things to wear. MOD: What are 3 beauty products you cannot go without? Zaria: My Leo oil, my Lashify, and Ivan Pol’s Beauty Sandwich! MOD: What’s a fun fact people would be surprised to know about you? Zaria: I designed and sewed my own prom dress. Follow Zaria on Instagram for updates: @zariazariazaria.
d
Danielle galligan
Photos by joseph sinclair
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danielle galligan “You have to listen to fear and then lean in and move past it because without fear then you can never be brave.” According to Dublin-native actress, Danielle Galligan, this is the best advice she has ever received. In Shadow and Bone, Netflix’s latest dark-magicdrama, Galligan certainly embraces this advice as the “unapologetic” orphan-turned-solider, Nina Zenik. “I learned what it was like to live with no shame… it was a very freeing feeling,” elaborates Galligan about her experience playing the character. The actress gave MOD all the details about her experience on Shadow and Bone, as well as what she is working on next. Interview by Sandy Aziz
andy: Tell us where you are from and where you consider to be home. Danielle: I’m from Dublin, born and bred. I believe home is where the heart is. I know that’s a massive cliché but my heart is always with my family, so wherever they are will be home for me. But most likely always Dublin. Dublin is class. Sandy: What is your favorite place on Earth and why? Danielle: Tough one! I’m not sure I’ve found it yet, as I think I have a lot more traveling I want to do, but generally when I’m swimming in the sea I’m at my happiest. Over lockdown, I started doing it more regularly in Dublin. I think it’s so great for your mental health. And I would always go with a friend or two, or my Auntie and her friends, so there was always a lovely sisterhood around me whenever I’d go. Sandy: Describe your perfect day. Danielle: It’d probably have to include acting in some way. There’s nothing better than the feeling of working on something you care about with other creatives. So, something creative for sure. A good hit of Vitamin D at some stage as well is essential. Definitely moving my body in some way to get the endorphins going. And if it could finish off with a pint of Guinness with someone I care about then that’d be perfect. And maybe an episode of the Sopranos! Sandy: What is the most bizarre thing you have seen or heard lately? Danielle: To call this bizarre is an understatement, but I saw something on BBC about a supplement called Dangerous Curves that promised to give women something called a “slim/thick” body, and I just thought this was the most bizarre thing ever. Apparently, by taking the supplement you only gain weight around your bum, boobs and thighs. No science to back it up of course, and social media is promoting the hell out of it while women are experiencing horrible side effects. It’s absolutely toxic and just another way of giving women complexes about their bodies and then exploiting these insecurities for monetary gain. I’m so exhausted with it all. Leave us alone. Let us be beautiful the way we are. Sandy: How would you describe yourself in three words? Danielle: Well tactless, reckless and confused has been my tagline for years now. But lately, I feel like a well-meaning disaster is more accurate! Sandy: If you weren’t an actress and writer, what would you be doing instead? Danielle: I would very much like to be a psychotherapist and counselor. I have this idea that it’s similar to acting in ways—it involves empathy, compassion, non-judgmental understanding of a person and their history, and why they do what they do. Trying to solve a character’s arc and get them to a place of resolution could be similar to trying to help a person heal and move on in their life. I could be way off though!
Sandy: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Danielle: My mom has always told me to “feel the fear and do it anyway” and that’s something that I’ve always held onto. I think it moved fear from a negative emotion to a necessary one. You can’t ignore fear because it keeps you safe, like, “oh that’s a bus.” You have to listen to fear and then lean in and move past it because without fear then you can never be brave. I’m not condoning taking on a bus, but like going on stage or a first date! Sandy: Did you read Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows Grishaverse fantasy novels? Danielle: I’ve often said I didn’t read them, but I inhaled them. I couldn’t stop. I mean, I am biased though, but I did love them. I loved Nina. Again, biased. But for me, it was the characters that hooked me rather than the fantasy. They were all battling something internal and defying preconceived expectations of themselves and I thought it was so compelling. Sandy: What was the casting process like for Shadow and Bone? Danielle: Suzanne Smith is a boss. It was quite simple. I did a tape, I got a call back but couldn’t fly over as I was in a show in Dublin, so they did a skype interview with me. Eric and Lee were sitting on my ironing board in my living room. Pre-pandemic also, so my zoom-literacy was non-existent. But they made me feel very calm and like what I had to offer was worthwhile, so I actually really enjoyed it. And I never thought I’d say that about an audition. But that has very much been the vibe ever since! Sandy: Tell us about Shadow and Bone in your own words. Danielle: Shadow and Bone, for me, is about a young girl’s fight to step into her power. Alina Starkov is a bit of a misfit, an orphan and soldier who is pretty much treated like cannon fodder. We find her in the fictional country of Ravka that is on the brink of civil war, as it is being plagued by ancient dark magic. One day, Alina discovers that she has the power to save her country. No pressure. But thus, ensues a battle between Alina and those that would control her, capture her, betray her and love her. So, we meet criminals, soldiers, Grisha, royalty and runts of the litter—all trying to survive in this world. Sandy: What is your favorite thing about this show? And least favorite thing? Danielle: I think my favorite thing is the wealth of varied experience that we see portrayed through each character. All the characters are so different, coming from different backgrounds and living different lives but they’re all tied together thematically by these inner demons they’re battling. I think that’s a nice message over all. Everyone’s got their own shit to deal with and no matter how polar opposite you may feel to someone else, you’re probably overcoming similar inner struggles. My least favorite thing is that I’m in it, so I can’t enjoy it in the same way as everyone else because I know what happens! Sandy: You are Nina Zenik on Shadow and Bone. Tell us about Nina. Danielle: Nina Zenik is an orphan who was trained to be a soldier from the age of 8. She’s a deadly Heartrender who can kill you without ever laying a finger on you. But she has so many facets to her personality in direct conflict with that training, which is
Photos by joseph sinclair
Photos by joseph sinclair
why I love her so much. She’s really taught me how to live more freely. She is a hedonist at heart and loves to indulge in everything life has to offer. She has literally no filter, no shame and is very in touch with her emotions. Too in touch sometimes! But, fundamentally she values human connection over all else so I think she is able to find the good in everyone. Sandy: How is Nina similar or different to you in real life? Danielle: I think Nina is really well connected to her feelings and emotions. She’s almost ruled by them and acts on them without thinking. I’d say this is where we differ. I find it really hard to suss out how I’m feeling sometimes! Even when I do work out how I’m feeling, it’s usually a week or so after the fact and the moment is passed to do anything about it! Ssndy: Did you learn anything new by playing Nina? Danielle: I think I learned what it was like to live with no shame. I think Nina is very unapologetically herself and doesn’t worry about what people think about her. It was a very freeing feeling and something I’ve tried to incorporate into my day-to-day for sure! Sandy: We understand the cast did a lot of their own stunts. Can you share any behind-the-scenes moments from filming Shadow and Bone? Danielle: Yes! We did! The stunt team were incredible. I remember day one when they showed me what I would be doing. I had to flip a 6-foot lad over my shoulder onto the floor and I told them they were mad. But, I did it. Many times. They also taught me the difference between fighting and then fighting for your life, which elevates the stakes scene from choreography to life and death. Sandy: What was it like filming in Hungary? Danielle: I mean, being flown somewhere to do your job is literally the dream. Budapest is a really unique city. There’s such rich history and it’s full of varied architecture, which I really love. I spent my first few days off just walking the length and breadth of the place with a crick in my neck and drool on my shirt. Also, Palinka is dangerous, but brilliant. And I really miss chimney cake. Sandy: You were on Game of Thrones as Sarra. How different was your experience to playing Nina in relation to your experience as Sarra? Danielle: Completely different. Every character is different, as is every process. But I was literally only on set for one day on Game of Thrones, so I didn’t really get the same opportunity to experiment and explore an arc as I did with Nina. Sandy: Tell us about your creative process for writing. Do you have a go-to place when you feel like you need some inspiration? Danielle: I don’t think I’ve really done enough writing to claim that I have a process. Sometimes, I’ll have an idea sparked by something random, I’ll write it down somewhere and forget about it for a while. Then, I’ll go for a walk and literally talk to myself out loud and record my mad ramblings. Starting out loud feels better because all poetry is written to be spoken I think. Then, I’ll listen back and write down what works. I do
have some god awful recordings of a very drunk me thinking I’ve had a brilliant idea which is then quickly deleted the following morning! Sandy: We understand you like writing—how do you feel that translates or intersects with your acting and roles you take (if at all)? Danielle: I like writing. I like acting. I like anything that keeps me creatively satisfied really. I don’t know how they intersect or how one translates into the other, I’m afraid. I don’t think I’ve been doing either long enough to have really worked that out yet! I’ll work on that! Sandy: Where do you see yourself in a few years? Danielle: Still acting definitely! I don’t mind where, as long as I have access to home and family and my friends I’ll be happy! Hopefully not wearing a mask anymore! Sandy: Tell us about a goal you have. Danielle: I’ve always had a goal of buying a house. My Nana was a bit ahead of her time and got on the property ladder early and I’ve always respected that. She’s bred it into me to own my own property, so I’ve been saving up and hopefully it’ll become a reality sooner rather than later! Sandy: What is something your fans may not know about you? Danielle: I’m currently learning how to cycle. Pathetic, I know. I can’t tell if me learning to cycle at this age is part of me finally growing up or trying to stay young. Sandy: You have already worked with so many amazing people in the industry. More generally, is there someone in the industry that you really want to work with? If so, who and why? Danielle: I have a lot of love and respect by the work that A24 produce. The films that have affected me or meant something to me in the past few years all seem to be A24. I think, industry wise, they’re bravely occupying a risky space above the really low budget films and they refuse to go up to blockbuster level, like so much of what we watch these days. I read somewhere that these two pay brackets are the only way to ensure return on your film, I’m no expert on this though! But I feel the stories they choose to tell have such heart and emotion, no matter where on the spectrum of genre they sit. I think they’re courageous in the stories they choose to tell and the styles they experiment with. I’m always invigorated and moved by their work. I often feel I’ve been given a window into someone’s life experience that I wouldn’t have had had I not watched this film. Sandy: What are you working on next? Danielle: Feeling very blessed to be able to say I’m working on Season 2 of The Great. I binge watched Season 1 a few times in 2020, so to think that I’m there now is a real pinch-me moment. I also just love Tony McNamara’s writing—he’s an evil genius! ‘Shadow and Bone’ is currently streaming on Netflix. Follow Danielle on Instagram for updates: @daniellegallian_
Viola
prettejohn Envision a world full of “steampunk design elements, exciting action sequences and an incredible, complex bunch of characters to win you over.” According to London actress, Viola Prettejohn, this world already exists—it is HBO’s latest fantasy drama, The Nevers. Prettejohn plays the “bright-eyed quasi-ingenue” Myrtle Haplisch in the series, and hopes the show inspires us all to “embrace our imperfections.” Prettejohn gave MOD the inside scoop about The Nevers, as well as how her life has been lately, and what roles she hopes to pursue next. Interview by Sandy Aziz | Photos by Aaron Crossman
Sandy: What is your favorite place on Earth and why? Viola: Wow, that’s a tough one! There is a place on the Costa Brava in Catalunya that my family has been to every summer since I was born, which is very much a home away from home for me. Walking along the coastal path in the mid-morning, overlooking the bright blue sea would probably be when I’m at my happiest. It also holds such fond memories for me from when I was a child, and the food is to die for!
Sandy: Describe your perfect day. Viola: Go to a mid-morning screening at either the Curzon Mayfair or Bloomsbury on a weekday. I find this is the time when there are the fewest people around and often you can have a whole screen to yourself. Once the film has finished, I would wander around the area to find a new café to try then settle down with my book, a cappuccino and some brunch. After that, I’d go to the nearest gallery or one of my favorites (either the Wallace Collection or the Courthauld). I love perusing their permanent collections, but I’m looking forward to going to a new exhibition when I can! Then, I might pick up a snack from another café or just make my way home to get ready for a night out with my friends. Sandy: What is the most bizarre thing you have seen or heard lately? Viola: There’s a man that I see on my walk to school at
viola wears: top by zimmerman, earrings by chanel
andy: Tell us where you are from and where you consider to be home. Viola: I’m from London and was brought up in London, but I spent quite a bit of my childhood in Somerset—so I’ve had the best of both worlds.
creative director: catherine schmid, Stylist: emily tighe using cats archive assisted by nasar mohamad, Makeup: Sarah Reygate, Hair: Davide barbieri @ caren agency using leonor greyl
skirt by burberry, top by self portrait, shoes by gucci, earrings by chanel
around 8:30 AM who roller-skates down the middle of the road, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, a swimming cap and a pair of goggles. Sometimes, rarely, he will be pushing his children, who are in some kind of sidecar-esque thing in front of him. I kind of wish I had the same comfort and confidence in eccentricity, so I applaud him! Sandy: How would you describe yourself in three words? Viola: Never learnt to count. Sandy: If you weren’t an actress, what do you think you would be doing instead? Viola: I would be doing my A-levels and preparing to go to university, probably! But career-wise, I have no idea. My start in acting was so unexpected and quick that I haven’t really had time to look around and think about what else I would be doing…maybe a film critic? Sandy: How do you think the times have changed for Victorian women to now? Or have they? Viola: So much has changed for women since the Victorian era. We have a vote—which is possibly our greatest advancement. You can even see it in the clothes we wear nowadays; we’re not forcibly constricted and confined by our clothing anymore, quite literally we have gained freedom. Of course, there are areas where we are still treated with a lack of respect; just the recent events surrounding the murder of Sarah Everard show precisely how much there is to be done to achieve true equality. But we are certainly moving in the right direction. Sandy: Describe The Nevers in your own words. Viola: The Nevers is a crazy, fantastical, eccentric, explosive, but ultimately heart-warming show about outsiders who band together to fight those who do not understand them and wish for their existence to be wiped out. It’s got amazing steampunk design elements, exciting action sequences and an incredible, complex bunch of characters to win you over. I truly think there is something for everyone. Sandy: The show is considered action, drama and fantasy. If you had to add another genre, what would it be and why? Viola: Epic. I think it’s the perfect addition because the storylines all converge and intertwine to serve one overarching thread that is huge in scope. Purely the wide-ranging nature of the show qualifies it for epic status. Sandy: Do you have any funny or interesting behindthe-scenes moments from working on The Nevers set? Viola: Hmmm…well there is one involving Anna that comes to mind. We were called in to rehearse for episode 2 at the West Wycombe estate, which was serving as the location for the tea party scenes. I arrived at around
11:30, assuming that I’d be rehearsing after I’d had my lunch… four hours went by and I was still in the catering tent, happily chatting away to Olivia and Tom, but slightly confused as to why I was there. Finally, we got called into the house to do a walk-through and rehearsal, but I realized that I really needed the loo, so I enlisted Anna to come with me to find it. Now this was a HUGE house, MASSIVE. So, what we thought would be a relatively easy task turned into a 20-minute voyage of us desperately trying to find this bathroom. We did eventually find it but then, to my absolute horror, once we returned, I was told that they just rehearsed my scene with my stand-in and that I could go home. So essentially, I went to work for 6 hours just to go to a fancy bathroom. Sandy: Is there a particular message from the show that you hope viewers will take away? Viola: The show is all about people dealing with what they initially believe to be flaws and turning them into their greatest assets and powers. I just hope that this can connect with viewers and perhaps inspire us all to embrace our imperfections and what we may deem ourselves to be flaws, and turn them into what makes us interesting and unique. Sandy: “Connection gives rise to creation” and “a revolution begins with a spark” are two taglines associated with the show. How do you feel about each of these, and do you agree? Viola: Without human connection, we cannot get anywhere; all of our achievements as a species have been born out of teamwork and the sharing of ideas. This is part of the reason why I love Myrtle’s turn so much, as it enables her to potentially communicate with anyone in the world, which I think is beautiful. And yes, revolution may begin with the individual spark, but it is the collective that it ignites and catalyses change. Sandy: If you had a supernatural or unusual ability, what would you want it to be and why? Viola: I always used to say omni-lingualism but now that just seems all too convenient, considering Myrtle! Telepathy seems like the obvious choice to me; I’d be able to sort out the liars and not waste my time with people who didn’t actually care about what I had to offer. I’m also naturally very nosey so all-in-all, it would be pretty ideal. Sandy: How do you relate to Myrtle Haplisch in real life
(if at all)? Viola: I always have thought of myself as very different to Myrtle. She has an unbridled joy and optimism that I, sadly, lack. But I genuinely think playing her has changed my outlook a bit; I find myself much more uninhibited and willing to just jump right into new situations, which is exactly what she does when she finds herself in her new home at the orphanage. I’d like to think I have a better taste in fashion, however… Sandy: Is there anything we should know about Myrtle before watching the show? Viola: She’s a bit of a weird one! She’s the bright-eyed quasiingenue of the series, but she’s gutsy and has an immense strength to her that the viewers will discover. Sandy: How was playing Myrtle different to your previous roles on The Witcher and Counterpart? Viola: My previous roles were both very small and were both completed in a couple of days, so the prospect of potentially playing Myrtle for years was certainly something new to get used to. Even in comparison to the roles I had played in school plays, Myrtle is so much more joyful, so it was fun to be able to explore a more positive character. Actually, I found that, for me, it was much harder to pretend to be happy or fake a smile than to pretend to be scared or sad. I don’t know what that says about me…
seriously… I need it.
Sandy: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Viola: Honestly, people don’t really give me advice very much! I’d love some though,
Sandy: Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? Viola: I’m not a very superstitious person—so no? But personally, I do believe I’ve been very lucky with a lot of what has happened in my life and sometimes I do think that there’s some external reason why. I don’t really know, I just kind of let things run along and see what happens. Sandy: Let’s talk about social media. What are your thoughts about its influence on society? Viola: I don’t mind it, overall. I definitely find myself overly worried about what I post and what people will think of me if I post one thing and not the other sometimes. So, it concerns me that perhaps people of a younger age will
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have these kinds of worries too, and far too early in life. I think it’s amazing that we can connect with people from all across the globe and it has been made so easy for us. I think the dangers lie in what we have done with it by becoming curators of our images, and how we can control all the minutia of what we present to the outside world. There should be an element of abandonment in how we can be viewed so that it doesn’t become obsessive. Sandy: What is your favorite or go-to brand? Viola: On a day-to-day basis, I wear Weekday almost exclusively. I particularly love their denim and the simplicity of their styles. In my dream world, I would spend my days in some Miu Miu and Bottega Veneta— both I’ve been loving recently. Sandy: Where do you see yourself in a few years? Viola: I have no idea. Seeing what has happened in my life and the entire world the past two years, I have learned to take everything one week at a time. Being an actor, you face so much uncertainty and insecurity anyway, so I try to embrace that and stop myself from planning anything in too much detail. Sandy: Tell us about a goal you have. Viola: I want to be able to speak French or Italian fluently. Once I have finished my A-levels and I have all the spare time in the world, I think I’m going to get a tutor and properly set my mind to it. I adore both cultures and think it’s such a wonderful skill to have. Sandy: You have already worked with so many amazing people in the industry. More generally, is there someone in the industry that you really want to work with? If so, who and why? Viola: My ultimate dream is to work with Paul Thomas Anderson. It’s been my goal ever since I started acting and I love his work—particularly Phantom Thread— which is one of my favorite films of all time. It was actually the first film I ever saw in the cinema by myself, so it holds a lot of sentimentality for me. Sandy: What type of acting role would you want to pursue next? Viola: Something equally weird and crazy. I’m open to anything, but I would love to speak in English. I don’t mind a different accent, but it would be a bit of a bonus for the audience to actually understand what I’m talking about! Sandy: What are you working on next? Viola: We’re having some discussions behind-thescenes, but COVID has made some projects difficult, and we’ve had to admit defeat a couple of times. We’ll see, but I’m excited to get back working on The Nevers again to shoot the second half of the first season. ‘The Nevers’ is currently streaming on HBO Max. Follow Viola on Instagram @violamjprettejohn
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