Violett wears
coat + gloves. Charles & Ron
earrings. Maria Tash
necklace. Nissa
opposite
Violett wears
blazer. Karl Lagerfeld
t-shirt. Levi’s
trousers. LAPOINTE
shoes. Stuart Weitzman
earrings. Maria Tash + Melinda Maria
necklace. Nissa
rings. Sterling Forever, Nadri, KBH Jelelry
+ Grazielia Gems
Violett Beane knows a thing or two about picking apart the details of a project or character. The actress, known for her diverse range of roles in both television and film, has donned a superhero suit as Jesse Quick in the DC Universe in The Flash and a journalist in God Friended Me. And just as she did with those roles — fleshing them out and uncovering the details and facts that make them interesting — she approached her intriguing new character Imogene Scott from Death and Other Details in the same way.
Beane chats with Schön! about her acting journey, the invaluable advice she offers to aspiring actors looking to make their mark in Hollywood, and more.
Violett wears
dress. Charles & Ron
shoes. 3.1 Philip Lim
earrings. Cast, Charles & Ron + Maria Tash
rings. Cast
tights. Calzedonia
fishnets tights. Leg Avenue
opposite
Violett wears
top. 3.1 Philip Lim
shorts. Calvin Klein
heels. Saint Laurent
earrings. Maria Tash
rings. Eriness, Nadri, Bondeye Jewelry + Melinda Maria
belt. Charles & Ron
tights. Clazedonia
Can you tell us a bit about your character, Imogene Scott, in the series Death and Other Details and what drew you to this role?
Imogene is like most 20-somethings–on a journey to find herself, and looking in a lot of the wrong places. That’s what I found so fascinating about her, how relatable she is. She’s messy and it’s okay. It’s the most honest character I have read in a really long time. Heidi McAdams and Mike Weiss created a plethora of real and honest characters with secrets living in an insanely glamorous and couture world that had me hooked from the first page of the script.
What was it like working with Mandy Patinkin and director Marc Webb on the show? Any memorable experiences from the set you can share?
What legends! Mandy’s been doing this his entire life and has covered such a wide range of characters, so the amount of gravitas he brings is incomparable. I learned a lot just from watching him. And Marc is just an absolute angel. He’s so kind and giving and adores collaboration which I feel is very important for directors. I remember during the scene in the pilot where Imogene and Rufus are in the bar cart storage room–it’s really quite emotional, and we did a take and I walked out to video village and Marc was wiping a tear away and I hugged him and he said: “Damn, you got me.” That was just really sweet and endearing and I thought, “What a kind and thoughtful leader.”
You’ve had a diverse range of roles in your career, from superhero Jesse Quick to your character Cara Bloom in God Friended Me. How do you approach each character differently, and what challenges did Imogene Scott present?
Each character an actor plays is inherently different based on their backstory and their motivation. I tend to work inside out, finding the parts of them that resonate with me, that I understand on a deep level. And when their circumstances are wildly different, I find my comparables or I go the complete opposite direction, which can be extremely fun and new. Imogene could be a really unlikeable character. She’s a loudmouth, cold sometimes, and obviously freeloading. Finding her heart and her compassion and the nuance of what makes her real was very fun. As the season unfolds, we start to dive deeper into memories of past events and Imogene takes them on, reliving them. Which required a lot of preparation and understanding of other individual characters. It was challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Death and Other Details seems to explore complex themes. Can you give us some insights into the themes and messages the series conveys to the audience?
A huge topic of our show is Capitol T Truth. Getting to the bottom of it but more so if that’s even possible. They say there are three realities to every situation. Mine, yours, and what really happened. And throughout this season we show that in every character. We dive into the malleability of memory, and how often it’s unreliable. And we ask the question: Is truth or justice more important?
Violett wears
coat + gloves. Charles & Ron
knit set. Michael Kors
boots. Karl Lagerfeld + Dolce Vita
earrings. Maria Tash
necklace. Nissa
fishnets tights. Urban Outfitters
opposite
Violett wears
suit. Lanvin
vest. Karl Lagerfeld
Can you tease any upcoming developments or surprises that viewers can look forward to in the series without giving away too many spoilers?
Nobody is who they say they are. The cracks are planted early on but more and more secrets unfold so make sure you’re paying attention to everything. I dare you to guess what happens before the ending!
Are there any memorable moments from filming Death and Other Details that stand out to you? Any behind-the-scenes anecdotes or challenges you faced during production?
Oh man, we had a wild week about 3/4 of the way into shooting. Myself, Rahul, and our hair/makeup/wardrobe team flew to Malta to shoot for five days. Between the jet lag and the lost luggage (yes 6/7 bags got stuck in London Heathrow for four days), it was insane. But we all banded together and had the best time. We truly could of pointed the camera in any direction and gotten a gorgeous shot. It added so much to the show but also bonded us all together in a very real way.
Can you share your thoughts on how you believe Death and Other Details will impact your career and contribute to your artistic growth as an actress?
Every project grows you in some way, but this has easily been my biggest undertaking. I’m so grateful for the depth in our scripts that has allowed me to grow myself as an actor, challenging me in new and exciting ways. It was also a huge undertaking to lead a show, and I’d never done that before. I’ve had years of watching people who have done it wonderfully and people who haven’t, and that absolutely prepared me for this show. I look forward to leading more projects with gratitude and respect for everyone there.
You have a background in theatre and transitioned to film and television. How has your theatre training influenced your acting career, and do you have any favourite stage experiences?
I was in theater and choir classes all throughout middle and high school and it definitely gave me the itch for performing. Near the end of my junior year, our theater teacher retired and was replaced by a younger guy and we really did not hit it off. He stopped casting my friend and I in the plays and musicals, and so I turned to whatever else I could to scratch the itch–that happened to be film and television. So you could say my theater experience pushed me in that direction in an unexpected way. Theater is something I want to return to though.
Violett wears
blazer. Karl Lagerfeld
t-shirt. Levi’s
trousers. LAPOINTE
shoes. Stuart Weitzman
earrings. Maria Tash + Melinda Maria
necklace. Nissa
rings. Sterling Forever, Nadri, KBH Jewelry
+ Grazielia Gems
opposite
Violett wears
dress. Charles & Ron
earrings. Cast, Charles & Ron + Maria Tash
rings. Cast
tights. Calzedonia
fishnets tights. Leg Avenue
Your role as Jesse Quick in The Flash garnered a lot of attention from fans. What did you enjoy most about playing a superhero character in the DC universe?
That was my first big project and what a way to start. I obviously enjoyed playing a hero with superpowers because well duh, who wouldn’t? I remember the day I finally got my super suit, I was so giddy. I thought I was going to start with powers and it was over a year later that I finally gained them, so needless to say, I was ready. But what I enjoyed most was the fanbase. Comic fans are so welcoming and I just remember how many sweet messages I received from people while I was on that show.
With the ever-evolving landscape of television and film, are there any specific types of projects or roles you’re eager to explore in the future?
I’d love to sink my teeth into a stripped-down and raw dramatic film. Something like The Florida Project or Call Me By Your Name. Where there are only a handful of characters and they share so much depth in just a couple of hours. Alternatively, I love all kinds of period pieces–they feel like a true form of escapism and there’s so much you can talk about thematically when you remove the setting of the present day. I’m currently co-writing a feature that I would direct, that rides the line between these two genres and I’m excited to start pre-production this year.
Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring actors looking to make their mark in the industry, considering your own journey from Austin, TX to your current success in Hollywood?
There’s a more obvious answer I would give here which is to practice, practice, practice. Take whatever classes you can find, make shorts with your friends, read books, etc. All of these things are wildly important, but the less obvious one, and the one that has really worked for me, is don’t make it so precious. I’ve seen many people cling to this industry or their career as an actor and make it their whole lives, but to me, that’s a mistake. Getting out and experiencing life, meeting new people, trying new foods, and participating in new cultures, those are the things that give you the experience necessary to be “successful”. Those are the things that shape your character, and how do you expect to play someone else if you can’t play yourself?
Violett wears
top. 3.1 Philip Lim
shorts. Calvin Klein
earrings. Maria Tash
tights. Clazedonia
opposite
Violett wears
suit. Lanvin
vest. Karl Lagerfeld
skirt + shoes. 3.1 Philip Lim
earrings. Maria Tash
bracelets. Melinda Maria
rings. Cast + Ettika
Death and Other Details is out now.
photography. Phil Chester + Sara Byrne
fashion. Tracy Shapoff @ Forward Artists
talent. Violett Beane
hair. Joseph Chase for Exclusive Artists using UNITE Hair Care
make up. Stacey Tan @ Forward Artists using Isamaya + Milk
fashion + make up assistant. Cassidy Mamula
location. FIG & OAK
interview. Alper Kurtel
