Whereas Brittany Snow may have by no means predicted the huge success of The Looking Wives, she does normally have a hunch about this stuff. Her project-picking meter is normally by no means mistaken. The proof is in her work, a collection of culture-defining cinematic moments that transcend generations—just like the early aughts teen comedy John Tucker Should Die; the socially related musical Hairspray; the aca-amazing Pitch Good franchise, which spawned two sequels (and, fingers crossed, perhaps a third?); and the Ti West horror cult hit X. During the last twenty years, Snow has introduced us a few of our most beloved on-screen characters, however the true spectacular feat is within the actress’s capability to constantly reinvent herself and her profession at each flip.
The Looking Wives was only the start of what continues to be a banner 12 months for Snow, who’s at the moment starring in Hulu’s true crime drama Murdaugh: Demise within the Household and can return to Netflix this month at nighttime psychological thriller The Beast in Me. With back-to-back-to-back initiatives on her arms, the actress is proving herself a dynamic pressure in Hollywood. Name it a 2025 Snow renaissance. The actress is making thrilling strikes each professionally and sartorially (her Barbie pink Wiederhoeft robe on the Emmys and customized Lein costume with pearl detailing are current faves) as she subverts expectations and reclaims her energy. The place many zig, Snow zags, and it is paying off.
Within the midst of all of the welcome chaos of the previous couple of months, we sat down with Snow, who was outfitted in a classy archive Jil Sander swimsuit, for our Portrait Periods collection to speak about lastly getting out of her personal means, true crime podcasts, performing together with her idol Claire Danes, and assembly the present second with perspective and presence.
(Picture credit score: Elliott Morgan; Wardrobe: archive Jil Sander swimsuit; Fiametta jewellery)
What a number of months you’re having! First The Looking Wives, then Murdaugh: Demise within the Household, and now The Beast in Me. How does it really feel to have all of those superb initiatives popping out back-to-back-to-back?
It is humorous as a result of we did not do them as succinctfully because it appears. They had been kind of one after one other and over the previous 12 months and a half, however they’re popping out on the similar time, which appears somewhat psychological. I am simply so grateful. There was a time in my life after I did not know if I used to be ever going to work once more, and I simply felt like perhaps I used to be getting in my very own means. I used to be too in my head about issues and was so analytical about it, and I simply let that go, and that felt like that opened the door for me to maintain working. Now, I get to do all these enjoyable initiatives, and I am simply so humbled.
Let’s speak about The Beast in Me. I feel I completed it in two sittings—it was so good. I think about studying the script was comparable for you. What actually you about this explicit story and the character Nina?
The Beast in Me was a really fascinating and particular venture as a result of there was just one or two scripts accessible, and it was kind of the promise of what the story may turn into. I knew it was the identical group behind Homeland, which is my favourite present. Claire Danes is one among my favourite actresses. I’ve seen each single episode of Homeland. And never solely that, I grew up with Claire Danes. I am of the age the place that was my idol, so I actually needed to work together with her, after which Matthew [Rhys], in fact, I liked him on The People. I really feel like the entire items had been there by way of why I would need to be part of it.
After I auditioned for it, I solely had a lot to go on, which was what the character was described as, after which there was just one episode to learn, which my character’s probably not in that a lot. Individuals do not know this, however I feel we’re being fairly open about this, which is that the scripts had been creating and being written as we went. So it wasn’t like Looking Wives, the place there have been all eight scripts written. They had been writing them as we had been capturing them.
Inform me about stepping on to set along with your idol Claire Danes.
The night time earlier than, I bear in mind simply being so nervous and excited, however I had heard from those that she was very actual and really beautiful and regular. Our first scene collectively was the “strolling within the park” scene, and he or she’s simply so current and curious and real and open, and he or she simply needed to get to know me straight away. It was so beautiful to know that there was an actress that I admired who was as invested in me as I used to be in her. I look as much as her much more so now due to who she is as an individual. She instantly put me comfortable, which I feel was an enormous assist with my nerves by way of going right into a venture that I actually revered.
(Picture credit score: Elliott Morgan; Wardrobe: archive Jil Sander swimsuit; Fiametta jewellery)
Let’s pivot to the opposite present you are starring in proper now, Murdaugh: Demise within the Household. The collection is concerning the real-life Murdaugh household murders and is predicated on the reporting of Mandy Matney, who you play. Matney is a producer on the present, so I think about you had been in a position to get fairly shut together with her. What struck you about her involvement within the case?
Earlier than I began engaged on the present, I used to be already very conversant in the case, and I used to be already very conversant in her as a result of I had listened to the podcast. I used to be very conversant in her sort of journalism, which was scrappy, and he or she had this dogged willpower with this case and an intuition that was so intrinsic to fixing the case. She was doubted at each flip, however with out her, this case would not have gotten solved and came upon in the best way that it was. So I used to be very focused on what made her tick and the adversity that she had gone via and the way that affected her emotionally and mentally. I learn her guide twice. I known as her up. We went out for drinks and dinner and acquired to know one another straight away, after which we grew to become buddies. It was actually such an asset and invaluable to me to get to play a personality that I felt like I may really study from in actual time versus having to analysis in books or movies and stuff like that. I may simply hang around together with her and ask her questions. That usually does not occur.
Is there additionally a novel stress that comes with enjoying a real-life one that is current on set and watching your efficiency?
It was solely nerve-racking and intimidating as a result of I did not need to disappoint her. I did not need to let her down. I knew how essential this story was for her, and I knew there needed to be a sure high quality about her that was an essence about her that I could not imitate however I needed to turn into. That was what I used to be frightened about essentially the most. [It’s] not essentially the voice or that we glance completely, precisely alike, however there’s an essence about her that is very cool and tomboy and pesky and perky and all this stuff which might be a fruits of who she is, and that is what was essential to me.
You talked about listening to Matney’s podcast earlier than being forged within the present. Are you somebody who’s into true crime podcasts and/or documentaries?
I am in that camp 100%. Ever since Serial got here out nevertheless way back (Was that 2016? It was virtually 10 years in the past now), I’ve simply been obsessive about true crime. I feel I kind of liken it to a psychological train as a result of I do just like the psychological gymnastics that my mind does whereas I am preparing or cleansing the home. I am attempting to determine it out. I am additionally attempting to maintain the characters secure, so I am considering forward. It’s vital considering in a means, or perhaps I am simply telling myself that so I do not really feel so dangerous. However I do actually prefer it as a result of I actually like puzzles.
Are you listening to any new ones proper now?
The brand new season of Culpable proper now. I like Tenderfoot TV, all of their podcasts, and Payne Lindsey. Up and Vanished was an OG of mine. The brand new season of Culpable is about this child who was present in a cornfield in 1988, and I am deep in that thriller proper now. I am gonna clear up it.
(Picture credit score: Elliott Morgan; Wardrobe: archive Jil Sander swimsuit; Fiametta jewellery)
We won’t not speak about The Looking Wives, too, as a result of it was such a large cultural hit. It was not too long ago parodied on SNL by Amy Poehler and Aubrey Plaza. Did you see that?
In fact! I do not know if I am going to ever recover from it. I am going to by no means be capable to perceive or comprehend how my life is doing this proper now. I simply was laughing my ass off. It was so nice.
Did you could have an inkling the present would blow up in the best way it did or under no circumstances?
Completely not. When doing Pitch Good, I actually knew that it was going to explode. I bear in mind studying the script and being like, “You guys, persons are gonna love this!” Some individuals believed me, and a few individuals did not, however I knew. This one [was] completely the alternative. I had no thought. I believed nobody was gonna watch it. I bear in mind speaking about that on a regular basis with the women. I am like, “No person is gonna see it anyway” as a result of we had been initially doing the present for Starz, and the present was very geared towards a Starz viewers. It was very salacious and splashy and plenty of intercourse and grownup themes, so once we went into it, that was very a lot the mindset. We did not know it could be seen by a much bigger viewers, and we did not even know if a much bigger viewers would even prefer it as a result of it is breaking plenty of guidelines. I used to be very glad that individuals have now seen it, and also you by no means know.
What concerning the venture or character felt like the correct transfer for you at the moment in your profession?
Effectively, it was very completely different from The Beast in Me as a result of we acquired all eight scripts without delay. I used to be in Thailand on the time capturing an episode of Night time Agent, and I bear in mind studying the entire eight scripts in in the future. It was the most effective. I used to be by the pool simply studying scripts, which sounds so douchy, however I could not put it down. I simply thought, “That is a kind of varieties of reveals that I’d watch, that I’d binge, that I need to know what’s going to occur.” I felt actually related to the position of Sophie by way of feeling like a lady who has put herself on this feeling like perhaps she’s underestimated by individuals. She’s underestimated by herself, and he or she’s eager to take the following step and taking over house and turning into who she actually is. I actually did really feel like I used to be on the precipice of that in my very own life, taking my energy again and strolling right into a room and never being afraid. I felt like that was only a good mirror to one thing I needed to discover, and it all the time occurs like that. The elements that I find yourself doing all the time are going via some themes that I wanted to discover in my life.
I like that. You’re studying from every of your roles. What’s nice concerning the present, too, is it is an all-woman group, which will be uncommon on this trade. How was that for you as an actress?
It was so essential to taking up the position and to feeling secure. Our showrunner—Rebecca Cutter, who I simply love and I feel she’s essentially the most clever lady—she was completely on the helm of not solely shaping this tone and this story that is very particular but additionally ensuring that all of us felt actually secure and that we had been doing this to have enjoyable and have company over our our bodies, and we could possibly be ladies after the age of 30 which might be nonetheless having intercourse and doing all this stuff that you do not actually see on TV anymore. … With that theme being explored, she needed to verify that there have been all ladies administrators. We had a lady digital camera operator. There have been solely ladies on the video village. We had an incredible intimacy coordinator who was a lady, clearly, and it was achieved for ladies and underneath the feminine gaze as a result of we knew how essential it was to be very true to an expertise of what ladies have already gone via on this means.
Is it true you’re about to begin filming season 2?
I feel I go away on [November] 8 or 9?
What do you hope to see for Sophie’s story going into the following season?
I all the time clarify it to individuals, and Rebecca and I speak about this so much. [Sophie’s] kind of this caged animal that has been stored in a cage, self-induced in a means, the place she is afraid of herself, so she actually chooses this marriage and life and this fashion she decorates her home and the best way she attire on this contained means, not realizing that Margo goes to open up the cage and let her out. I really feel like season 2 would be the fruits of what occurs if you let a caged animal out of a cage. As a result of she’s a assassin, I feel all hell breaks free.
(Picture credit score: Elliott Morgan; Wardrobe: archive Jil Sander swimsuit; Fiametta jewellery)
Can we discuss concerning the magic you and your stylist Yael Quint have been creating these days? How has working together with her modified your perspective on model, and do you could have a favourite look you’ve got achieved collectively?
The minute that I met Yael, I knew that one thing was going to be particular as a result of we actually do have an awesome shorthand with the those that we glance as much as and that encourage us and the seems that we actually reply to. It was all synergistic, and we had been very a lot on the identical web page. I’ve all the time actually been drawn towards timeless and traditional photos. Being an actor, it is our job to invoke a sense of understanding of different characters, of different instances. I’ve all the time actually responded to that, so we, from the very starting, have all the time responded to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Michelle Pfeiffer, and with a touch of throwbacks to Grace Kelly, and I feel that that is actually what I’ve all the time needed to emulate.
I do not know if I’ve a favourite look not too long ago. All the things has actually felt true to who I’m, which I’ve to dare say that is not all the time been the case. I additionally suppose I have been actually trusting to individuals and actually loyal, and that is the primary time that I do converse up much more than I ever have.
I do know psychological well being is a vital matter to you. You began September Letters in 2020 and wrote, directed, and produced the film Parachute about dependancy in 2023. Throughout such a busy time like now, how do you keep grounded and optimistic mentally?
I feel I attempt to meet it with plenty of perspective. It is a little heavy, however I have been fairly vocal about it. My dad is fairly far progressed in his Alzheimer’s, and I have been considering these days as I have been taking walks [that] we’re so on our telephones and never current, and all of this stuff actually make plenty of sense to me now that I’ve somebody that I like that is not taking a stroll the identical means, and the little issues are fleeting in a means. In these instances the place issues are getting actually busy, I wish to do not forget that that is all ephemeral, and this all does go away on the finish of the day. I may do one thing tomorrow, and this might all go away, so I attempt to be actually current with how grateful I’m but additionally being attentive to the little issues that basically matter.
That is so silly, however this morning, I used to be attempting to prepare, and my canine rolled over and needed the stomach rubs. I am like, “I am going to rub your stomach for like 5 minutes, and I am not gonna transfer, and I am gonna simply actually attempt to be current as an alternative of attempting to hurry to the following factor.” I do really feel like that has been serving to, even with being grateful in all that is taking place. It is identical to taking within the current second.
Photographer: Elliott Morgan
Hairstylist: Takuya Yamaguchi
Make-up Artist: Charlie Riddle
Producer: Nick De Bellis
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