Caitlin Stasey Talks About Her Career, Her Passions and Her New Series 'Bridge and Tunnel'
Caitlin was virtually photographed in LA by Alison Engstrom
Hi Caitlin, it’s great to meet you! Thank you so much for taking the time for our virtual shoot. I’d love to get to know you more and start from the beginning. Would you say you were destined to be a performer?
My dad always tells this story about, when I was 4 or 5, I was ‘handpicked’ from my entire grade to play the Dove in the school musical No, No, Noah which meant I’d be running in a circle around a raised platform ‘The Ark’ while singing a song about, I think, peace? I don’t remember falling, or what followed, all I remember is crawling into my teachers lap and being fed tangerine flavored candies, the ones usually reserved for great achievements. But apparently, before wobbling off stage for sympathy sweets, I rose from my fall, and ascended the steps of the ark to finish my solo. I guess I was smart enough to know that if I gave up now, my stage time would be cut short, and that if I didn’t, everyone would talk about how brave I was for soldiering on. I also knew that I was going to get sympathy and cuddles no matter what, so I might as well milk my moment.
Since you are from Australia, when and why did you decide to move to the U.S. and put down roots?
I moved to LA in 2009 because I was convinced I couldn’t fail. I don’t like to admit that I’ve ever been wrong, but I was because I failed to get hired for a while. LA convinces you that you need her, and in truth you do, but I don’t know that I’ll stay here forever.
What’s been one surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself or the industry since you first started?
That the only path forward, to any true success or long-term fulfillment is becoming totally comfortable with completely humiliating yourself and often. I have had a real aversion to that all my life and it’s one of my biggest regrets. Fortune favors the brave and the brave have to look like dickheads sometimes.
Congratulations on Bridge and Tunnel! It’s a great series and a walk down memory lane since it takes place in the 80s. I know that Ed Burns, the creator, writer and director had you specifically in mind for the show. Can you share a bit more on how it all came to be?
Ed and I worked together in 2017 on his film Summertime, which he also wrote and directed. I was really good in that movie, maybe the best I’ve been in anything and so Ed and his producing partner Aaron Lubin offered me this gig. I have made them swear an oath of loyalty to me and so far they are upholding it!
How did you prepare for the role? How was it perfecting that distinct Long Island accent?
It was hard. It’s a really intimidating accent because you know everyone who speaks like that will probably talk so much shit about you if you fuck it up. New Yorkers are intimidating people. There’s no bullshit, which I think is cool and exciting, but I’m not like that. I’m full of BS, I’m an actor! I love to talk about clouds and intentions and that accent is not fucking around. It wants to get in and get out of your mouth fast and rudely. It’s not just funny sounds, it’s an accent that completely changes the way you interact with people.
You play Jill, an aspiring fashion designer looking to make it in Manhattan. Could you relate at all to your character and her desire to dream big?
Jill and I are similar in that, we’ve always gotten what we’ve wanted, but when Jill got her first job in fashion, just like when I first moved to LA, we both realized it’s really HARD to be a success. I think her and I were definitely both shaken by that revelation.
What can viewers expect from your character over the first season?
Jill’s pretty consistent. What you see is what you get. Two feet on the ground and also kind of an asshole sometimes, but in a way you’ll always forgive her for. You will want her to like you because you know she doesn’t need to like anyone. She’s an ultimate cool girl.
You mentioned you filmed on Long Island in November. How was it to film in such unprecedented circumstances?
Very surreal some days and totally business as usual on others. The crew were fucked over the most by the “unprecedented circumstances” as they had to wear PPE from sun up to sun down and often weren’t allowed on set in indoor locations. For them, I think the job was particularly grueling and complicated. We shot 6 episodes in 5 weeks which is just so fast, too fast to really get your feet underneath you, but Ed and the entire cast and crew were just incredible. I felt so inspired watching people just get on with it and watching people go above and beyond their job descriptions to ensure we got it done. Also, Ed is infamously a Good Guy with a capital ‘G’ and you want to work hard for him.
The costumes and the music are just incredible! You have also held period roles, like ‘Reign’, where you dressed in costumes. Does that help you as a performer to get more into character?
Honey, my nails did ALL the acting. The second I got those acrylics stuck on, I was using them to punctuate Every.Single.Word.I.Spoke. My castmates, Bella, Gigi and I would often just wave our hands at each other instead of speaking. Those nails really do have their language.
Outside of your acting pursuits, are you passionate about any causes we should know about?
I care about the planet deeply. What a lot of people don't realize is how climate change, racism and poverty intersect in a dramatic way. I care a lot about a lot of different things, but I will say, thinking about plastic in the ocean and whales eating it makes me sadder than literally anything else.
You are also a writer, is this something that’s more of a hobby or would you like to see your work translated into TV and film?
In my wildest dreams, I get all kinds of awards for my writing and directing. So yeah, I hope I can write well enough to get money and praise for it.
When reflecting on last year, which was quite difficult for so many people, did you walk away with any surprising silver linings?
Not enough to justify anything that’s happened. The deaths, the loneliness, the shuttering of small business, the rapid growth of isolating technology, the inability of most governments to look after and provide for their people and once again, the loneliness. BUT people are also more alerted to the truly fucked up nature of all things including capitalism and modern policing which is great, I never thought that ‘defunding the police’ would ever be as popular an idea as it is.
What’s next for you?
Hopefully a vaccine and a happy long life. I’ll also be directing a series of adult films for Afterglow this year. The porn world is a complicated one, but like any industry there are myriad experiences you can have. Mine have all been exceedingly positive, respectful and professional. My brilliant friend, producer and educator Allie Oops, has always prioritized creating safe and happy work environments, she made it her mission to give us an entirely queer crew and she succeeded. Traditional film sets are often dominated by men, and it may surprise people to know that porn sets are incredibly diverse, often captained by queer people all along the gender spectrum. Our film Lip Service has been accepted into Dan Savage's adult film festival "hump fest" which infamously really celebrates freaky queer content.
One book that I read that I think everyone should read is…
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. She’s a genius.
I feel the freest when I am…
laughing.
A secret talent I have…
have really good aim, I can usually throw something into an open bin from a few feet away. I don’t even really have to try most of the time I’m that naturally good at it.
A secret talent I wish I had…
honestly, if I was talented, it wouldn’t be a secret, I’d tell everyone. But if I could have a skill to brag about it would probably be being really good at math, because I’m currently unable to do very basic math.
The place I love to return over and over again is…
the memories of all the embarrassing things I’ve ever done.