full look. Jean Paul Gaultier jewellery. Sterling Forever
From a young age, Amirah J knew that her heart belonged to acting. This early passion blossomed into a dedicated pursuit of acting, a craft she has embraced wholeheartedly. “I was only eight or nine when I told my parents I wanted to move to LA and pursue acting, but I was dead set on it. I told everyone we were moving before I let my parents know. I was like, ‘We’re moving, I’m going to LA, I’m being an actress,’” she shares. Her breakout role as Xan Galvez in Shameless saw her working alongside Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jeremy Allen White, and she’s since starred in How Not to Be a Junkie and All That. Over nearly a decade, her unwavering resilience and vibrant confidence have illuminated her performances and captivated audiences.
She’s now juggling her senior year in high school with her latest role in High Potential – a crime drama created by Drew Goddard and based on the French show HPI. The American television series follows Morgan (played by Kaitlin Olson), a single mother of three with an exceptional mind, as she consults on major crime cases for the LAPD. Taking on the role of Ava, Morgan’s moody – and often rebellious – teenage daughter navigating growing up without her father, Amirah had to tap into raw emotions that she couldn’t relate to herself, saying, “I try to picture myself in certain situations, take a few moments to myself before we film, and think, ‘How would I feel during this?’ and, ‘How can I make it seem as real as possible?’”
In conversation with Schön!, Amirah chats all things High Potential, harnessing her emotions, and her goals for the future.
You’re currently starring as Ava in High Potential. What was the most exciting part about getting this role? Working with the cast that we have… Everyone is so incredible. Especially working with Kaitlin and her being my mom in the show. She’s such an incredible actress to work with, and the entire cast is all so talented, which makes it such a fun environment.
What is it about Ava’s character that initially made you want to play her? She’s very different from me. She has grown up a lot differently than I’ve grown up and I like tapping into a different character from myself, being that she doesn’t know where her dad is and she’s never really met him except for when she was younger. She also has these two younger siblings and she’s dealing with her family dynamic and trying to navigate that. I thought it was very interesting.
As you’ve mentioned, she’s a very complex character with a lot going on in her life. How did you want to portray that in a way that allows audiences to connect with her? I just tried to put myself in her shoes and really think about all that she has going on. I also took some of my friends’ experiences that they’ve had with similar situations and how they felt and tried to use them to play Ava as best as I could.
That’s a very beautiful way to see it, to find somebody else that you can talk to in a similar situation. I think that’s always a great way to be able to connect to a character that you don’t necessarily have a lot in common with. So, with that being said, were there any other ways you found to connect to her? The writers and showrunner have been very open with me, talking about Ava, where we want her to go, and which direction to take her in. That’s been super helpful. With each director for each episode, we always have a conversation about what’s going on in the episode, why certain things are happening, and how to play it and that’s definitely been a very important factor in how I’ve played Ava.
full look. The Mannei shoes. Jimmy Choo jewellery. Sterling Forever opposite full look. Alessandra Rich shoes. Melissa jewellery. Sterling Forever
The chemistry with your co-star Kaitlin Olson is so palpable. What was it like portraying that mother-daughter relationship onscreen? Honestly, since day one, I feel like Kaitlin and I have had the chemistry, even when we filmed the pilot. It’s very easy to work off of her. Being that she’s a mother in real life, she’s very nurturing and guiding naturally. As the episodes have progressed, and as we’ve filmed more and more, it’s been easier to act opposite her and I felt like I was actually her daughter on set.
That’s lovely. It’s definitely something that can be rare in these environments. Watching her work, what did you learn from her? I’ve learned so much from her, but her comedic timing is incredible. The show’s not necessarily a comedy, but her timing and her quick wit make it funny. Taking that and watching her on and off screen, too, she puts a lot into the show with production. Watching her really make the show come to life, I’ve learned so many incredible things from her.
Fans are anxiously awaiting episode seven, and waiting to hear more about Ava’s dad. What can you share – without spoiling anything – about the next episode and how your character will continue to develop? The upcoming episode is going to be a big one, for sure. It’s a very intense episode and I feel it’s very different from the rest of the episodes. It’s darker, I’d say, but it will definitely be a good one. And then, throughout the rest of the season, we learn a bit more about Ava’s dad and that gets brought up a lot more, so I think everyone will be very excited to see that journey and where it takes off to.
When you’re approaching those deeper, more meaningful scenes and that possibility of discovering what’s happened to Ava’s dad, how do you tap into those emotions? I remember a scene in episode seven. It was a very emotional scene between me and Kaitlin, and before we filmed it, she just grabbed my hands, stood with me for a second, and took deep breaths with me. That really helped me tap into the emotion of what was happening in that scene. I also think dramatic imagination helps. I try to picture myself in certain situations, take a few moments to myself before we film, and think, ‘How would I feel during this?’ and, ‘How can I make it seem as real as possible?’
From what we’ve seen so far, it definitely comes across that way. Being on set, is there a moment that sticks out to you where you were either watching someone act or acting alongside someone where you noticed something they’d done that you would want to bring into your own practice? Kaitlin does this really incredible thing where she almost knows where scenes are going to be cut and how they’re going to be edited, so if she messes up a line, she knows exactly where to take it back from and how far back to go. I’ve noticed it on many different occasions and it’s something that I have definitely taken and I’m going to apply to this project, as well as other projects. It’s very incredible what she does.
full look. Jean Paul Gaultier jewellery. Sterling Forever
Switching gears here… You’re still in high school and you’ve just attended Homecoming. What’s it like juggling your acting career with school? I’m not going to lie, it’s been very challenging. I’m a senior in high school and there’s a bunch of incredible, fun things happening this year with senior homecoming and senior night. I’m also a cheerleader, so balancing everything has been super tough. But, everyone has been very cooperative with me. The whole production team on the show has been very helpful and accommodating, and so have all my teachers, which I’m super grateful for.
You mentioned cheerleading, and obviously, you’ve got a lot going on. What does cheerleading mean to you and how does it shape you as a person? It separates my acting life and lets me tap into a completely different thing. I’ve been acting for almost ten years now, so having a life outside of that has always meant a lot to me. That’s why I wanted to go to a regular school – and not do homeschooling – and get into cheerleading. I wanted to build my life outside of acting and I’m thankful that I’ve been able to do that; and that it’s all working out in my favour.
Looking back on your childhood, was there a defining moment that made you want to pursue acting? I remember my childhood best friend and I – I used to live in Texas and she and I were neighbours – would write little scripts for our parents. We cut out this cardboard box in the shape of a TV and would sit inside of it and put on a performance essentially as if we were on TV. I was always doing stuff like that. We’d put on talent shows for Halloween and it was always something that I was interested in.
Making that move to LA when you were so young is such a defining moment in your career and your life. When you look back at that, are you surprised by how you were so sure of what you wanted to do? I mean, honestly, yes. I was only eight or nine when I told my parents I wanted to move to LA and pursue acting, but I was dead set on it. I told everyone that we were moving before I let my parents know. I was like, ‘We’re moving, I’m going to LA, I’m being an actress.’ My parents having faith in me and believing in me made it much easier, too, because they were going to support me no matter what. That was also really helpful for that transition.
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When you look back at your work on Shameless and the way you approached it, how do you feel your acting has developed? Getting older and learning more, my acting has progressed. Being on Shameless and working with Jeremy Allen White – I was always in scenes with him – was so amazing to do at such a young age because he’s such an incredible actor. Then it’s just the people that I’ve worked with over the years that have taught me more and more and have made me a better actress.
When you look to the future, what are you most excited about within your career? I’m excited for – hopefully – more seasons of High Potential. That would be so incredible, I would love to continue Ava’s story and that journey. Also, starring in movies would be incredible.
As you grow, how do you feel you’ll be able to continue juggling your career with your personal life? Does it seem to feel like a smooth transition? It’s been a smooth transition now that we’ve finished season one of the show, so I’ve gotten to relax a little bit. Not juggling a filming schedule, I get to just go to school and do that kind of thing, which has been a nice break… It was definitely much needed. I think that when things do start to pick up again, whether it’s with the show or another project, it will be very easy to transition back into it. I’ve gotten used to it now.
Do you see yourself entering any other roles within the film industry, whether that be directing or producing? Yes, I think that getting more into behind-the-scenes work and behind-the-camera would be incredible. I loved watching everyone work and do their jobs, and there’s so much that goes into making a show happen. It would be very cool to get behind the scenes at some point. Hopefully writing, producing, directing, whatever it may be. I’m definitely interested in taking that route as well.
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‘High Potential’ is now streaming on Hulu with episode 7 premiering tonight on ABC.
A Northern Star on the rise, ‘North of North’ actress Anna Lambe shines bright. When we think of the Arctic North, we think of vast, sweeping landscapes, bitter temperatures, nothingness for miles, mounds of snow, and dancing aurora borealis in the night sky. There are so few television shows that explore the Inuit communities that live there. Especially with a comedic spin and on a global scale, such as ‘North of North’, Anna Lambe is thrust right into the mainstream.
Lambe stars as Siaja, an Inuk woman who finds herself wanting more. Her story is a relatable one to many women; parentified from a young age, married to her high school sweetheart, and had a kid along the way. But Siaja is fed up, on a mission to become a modern Inuk woman, to stand on her own two feet and figure life out. Speaking with us about the character, Lambe’s eyes light up. She adores that Siaja is messy and embraces that messiness; it’s all part of her charm. She isn’t afraid to make mistakes and learns to adapt from the ones she does make.
While the show does deal with heavy topics, touching on the still very present aftereffects of residential schools in Canada, and the mistreatment of the Indigenous/Inuit community, ‘North of North’ doesn’t center on the dark; instead, it finds the light. Bringing indigenous humor to the masses, ‘North of North’ is gaining traction and notoriety, with Lambe being nominated for a Gotham TV Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series, to being renewed for a season 2, there’s so much to be proud of, and Lambe is just taking it all in. But beyond the accolades, the thing she prides herself on is bringing awareness to communities that have been overlooked and highlighting their vibrancy, their humour, their versatility, and their fashion.
In conversation with Schön! Magazine, Anna Lambe discusses ‘North of North’, what she loves about the character of Siaja, the show’s production taking over her hometown of Iqaluit, Nunavut, and what she hopes audiences take away from the series.
jacket. Falguni Shane Peacock
shirt. No Maintenance
ear cuff. Gabriella Artigas
opposite
blouse. Kaos
jacket + trousers. As by DF
hat. Stetson
earrings. Erkoos
necklace. Gabriella Artigas
So Anna, with full discretion, my mom and I started watching the show a few days ago. It’s been on my list for a while, and we fell in love with it. It is such a beautiful show. You and all involved should be so proud. Congratulations on season two being announced.
Thank you. Season two was such a surprise. I mean, it was always the hope and the dream. When I got the call, I burst into tears because I was anxiously pacing about like, “I don’t know if it’s going to happen. Are we going to beat the Netflix curse?”
We’re Canadian. So, does the Netflix curse really exist for us?
[laughs] I don’t think so. We’ve got to keep it going.
Definitely! In an interview you did with Cherry Picks a bit ago, you spoke about it taking some time to realize how empowering storytelling can be for advocacy with the film Grizzlies. Can you touch upon what storytelling means to you now and how it’s altered your worldview?
I think there’s been a lot of growth and understanding in the power of storytelling and the impact that film and television have on the conversations that we have. I guess I’ll speak specifically to indigeneity and our communities, and healing. What does indigenous futurism look like? What is our perception of the past? How do we reclaim it? How do we reclaim our past identities? Because how we’ve been portrayed in film and television has always been so skewed or inaccurate, or just completely wrong and harmful. There’s very much, as I’ve come to understand, a past, present future impact on how we tell stories now. I think with every project, I’ve become more conscious and more careful about the kind of stories I choose to be a part of.
When creating things, I do try and advocate as best I can to make things – I don’t want to necessarily say ‘positively’ impactful, because people think positive means good, positive means happy, positive means this, that, or the other. But when I say ‘positively’ impact or portray or represent, I just mean accurately.
In my career, I have always wanted everything I’ve done to be something I can look back on and be proud of, and know that I made a good decision. I think the impact of storytelling has grown as I’ve come to understand it more and more, but also learning to navigate it has changed. Also, finding my voice as a young Indigenous woman in film and television it’s difficult. It’s scary. I mean, you want to advocate for yourself.
But there is that little undertow of fear of like, “What happens if people think I’m a diva? What happens if they think I’m going to be hard to work with?” Having to take that fear and hold it and nurture it and go, “This is valid and this is real and this makes sense. But this can’t be what stops me from doing the right thing.”
jacket. Falguni Shane Peacock
shirt. No Maintenance
trousers. Theory
ear cuff + bracelet. Gabriella Artigas
ring. De Liguoro
opposite
suit. Bianca & Bridgett
shirt. Maison Tai
brooch. Talia Perla
Hard agree. I would say that, at some point, you have to stop caring what other people think. You know what you’re doing is right, and it feels right to you. That’s what matters. You just push forward. Adding on to the storytelling aspect, what are the stories that impacted you growing up? Whether it’s film, television, or even books, why did they resonate?
I was an angsty teenager [laughter]. I was reading The Hunger Games on the couch. I had Christmas dinner early to go read Mockingjay. Those kinds of fantasy stories and coming of age, teenage angst, I felt very seen by. But I was also aware that I was this kid growing up in the Canadian Arctic, I relate to these stories, but they’re faraway stories. Of course, they’re fantasy and dystopian universes. So, of course, they’re far away. But there was also the aspect of wanting to see something with people like me in it. That would be cool. There’s Indigenous film and television I grew up with. Like I spent a lot of time with my mom going and helping out my grandma, my great grandma, but we called her Anana, which means mom.
We’d spend a lot of time at her house, and in the background was APTN, the Aboriginal People’s Television Network. It was always a rerun of Atanatua or North of Sixty. Those also had a massive impact on my upbringing. So, of course, I never really felt represented in the mainstream, but there is stuff that exists about us and who we are and our stories. There was always that. But I love seeing now the bridging of both of those things and how we get to do both and be both and create and foster space to tell more stories that keep expanding the range of what Indigenous film and television looks like and is.
In past years, we’ve been seeing things like Taika Waititi’s Boy or Reservation Dogs, or Rutherford Falls, or Grizzlies and Trickster, and being part of the expansion of Indigenous film and television has been really exciting. It’s fun in many ways because getting to be part of development and beginnings is really cool.
dress. Onalaja
Speaking of beginnings, I was going to ask when ‘North of North’ first came across your desk, what were your initial thoughts?
My initial thought was, “I want to do this. 100 percent. Yes. Yep.” [laughs] I want an audition. I’m going to do everything for this audition. Then I’m going to be so annoying about making sure I’m constantly in the mix, that the role isn’t dead to me yet. You know what I mean? I’ve not been passed on yet. I had first heard about the role from Alethea (Arnaquq-Baril), one of the showrunners, a few years prior, when they were going to streamers and pitching the show. I ran into her at the airport, and she had just come back from L.A. We were both flying to Iqaluit, and she was explaining what the show was.
She’s like, “Have you ever seen Sex Education?” I was like, “Well, no.” And she said it’s the grounded elements of that with some other things. It’s really fun. It’s a comedy. “Well, if you ever want someone to come around and bring you coffee and stuff, you can call me.” And then, in the spring of 2023, I saw that they had gotten the green light. Everything was ready to go. They were about to start casting this untitled Arctic comedy.
I was on high alert, my eyes? Peeled. When the audition did come through, it ended up being a four-month audition process, multiple callbacks, chem reads, and a really long, long waiting game. But the entire time, I was being so dramatic about it. Bless my family and my partner, who all held my hand and consoled me very gently. Everything was going to be fine, whether I got it or not. Eventually, they called me and said, “Well, if you want it, it’s yours.” I was just like, “Well, yeah. I mean, I guess if it’s on the table, I’ll take a look at what I have going on.” [laughter]
Let me check my schedule.
I’ll see if I can fit it in.
What about Siaja jumped out at you from the page?
She’s so messy. I knew that from the audition. She’s also complicated. She’s so messy. She’s so imperfect. But really sweet and endearing and charming. It’s the best of both worlds, of everything you want to be able to do as an actor while being fun and silly and a little bit chaotic at times. It was all of those elements where she’s so layered, and she ticks the box of what a perfect Indigenous woman should be. She’s sometimes the problem, and she’s sometimes the solution. I love her. I want to be her. I know so many women in my personal life like her. She is such a reflection of so many Inuit women that I know and love, and am surrounded by. To be able to be a part of that representation is something that I was thrilled to even get a shot at doing.
Absolutely. Like you mentioned, when we first meet Siaja, she’s going through it. She’s married to the town’s golden boy, who, let’s be honest, isn’t so golden. It’s hinted at that she was parentified from a very young age in the first episode. So, she’s understandably fed up, her story is such a relatable one for a lot of women. What has it been like for you to see the response to her plight?
I think it’s been so humbling and so exciting and heartwarming and sometimes even scary at times how many women feel seen and represented by Siaja and her experience. Whether it’s being parentified from a young age, which I know so many indigenous women have the experience of having to go through or having to be raised to cater to men, be raised to cater to a family and your needs will always come second, or whether it’s being a single mom and, trying to understand how to navigate co-parenting or toxic relationships.
Then also just in general, people who feel so afraid about having to get it right all the time. It’s been nice to kind of share so much of Siaja with so many people, and that people relate to her on such different levels. It’s also been kind of unhinged and chaotic how many people relate to the wild parts of her as well. You know, the fact that she has wants and needs to date and that she wants to lose her second virginity, and she can want all of these things for herself without feeling guilty. Indigenous women, I think, are so often portrayed as victims of sexual experiences, victims of relationships, especially in television and media. I think to show an Indigenous woman who’s like, “No, I want this.” She has control and sovereignty over her body and wants to understand herself.
I think that’s so powerful. To be able to have that representation and to have people be like, “Sex isn’t a negative thing. Wanting things isn’t a negative thing. Wanting to put myself out there, those aren’t inherently negative things.” The fact that Indigenous women are constantly told that they’re victims and that they are commodified and fetishized and sexualized like that. Those are all true things and things that also need to be represented. Those are things that happen. But the fact that we can also want things is so important. Being able to have so many women and people in general feel represented by that as well, I think, shows the importance of having this kind of show told in this way, a comedy told in this way, to capture the breadth of the Indigenous woman’s experience.
At the end of the first episode, a lot of people would identify the crash out she has as cringe. I didn’t see it as cringe at all. I saw it as an act of rebellion, from a woman that has had enough and just wants to be given the opportunity to find herself and be given the opportunity to mess up. You’ve said in other interviews that the show was filmed in your hometown of Iqaluit, and you moved back in with your parents. Can you talk a little about that whole experience? Also, what was it like having the production basically take over the town? Do you have any memories from filming the first season that you can share with us?
I was so excited to go back home. I have dreamed about being able to live in Iqaluit as an adult. It’s really hard to get an apartment if you don’t have subsidized housing. It’s so difficult to pursue a career in the arts and acting in mainstream TV, if you live up north. So being able to have the opportunity to go back home was exciting to me and also getting the opportunity to live with my parents. I know for a lot of people they go, “Oh, no, no, no, no.” [laughter] The support system was really, really appreciated. It’s really freaking hard to make a TV show in the Arctic. It’s hard. There’s so little infrastructure. The production team were coming up on challenge after challenge after challenge, foreseen and unforeseen. The days were really long and difficult and sometimes complicated before we really managed to find our stride or before the snow managed to melt a little bit and it was less difficult.
But it was just nice after like a 14-hour day, coming home and my dad being like, “Hey, kid, there’s pasta for you in the fridge.” I would just have no words, nonverbal, eyes half closed, eating my pasta, shower, and going to bed. Then be up in eight hours for the next day. I was grateful for my family and my parents. It’s just nice to have a full house and all of these things at your fingertips, doing a shoot.
Then this production team comes in, and you get so close because you’re together every single day, all day. But then there were these weird moments where I would see people that I grew up with, and the production team together. I was like, “Oh, this is so interesting.” This is a crossover of two worlds that I never thought would happen. But it was really heartwarming. It was such a beautiful thing to see Iqaluit be so supportive of the show and welcome us with open arms. It was nerve-wracking to be leading a show and have your entire community as the audience. It was nice to have the production be so open to what life in the North is like. I was really excited to tell this story and go on this adventure, and to see their love for the North grow as the months went on was so beautiful.
Then, for Iqaluit to get the experience of filming a big budget series and be background and different positions in the crew was really, really cool. On the weekends, going out dancing and seeing this whole mishmash of worlds.
blouse. Kaos
hat. Stetson
I love that! What I adore about ‘North of North’ is just how vibrant and gorgeous the Inuk community is. What has been the most surprising thing about the response to the show and seeing your community in the spotlight?
I think it’s been really surprising how surprised people have been that the North is as vibrant as it is. We’re fun-loving communities. You know, of course, there’s hardship, of course, there’s darkness. We’ve seen it before. Been there, done that.
But we are very vibrant communities. We’re so full of colour, whether it’s our houses, whether it’s our clothing, we love a pop of colour. The love for the wardrobe has been so incredible because our team, our team is amazing. Debra Hanson, who was our head of costume, and Nooks Lindell, who was our Inuk designer, worked with Debra to really curate and make sure the wardrobe was as authentic as possible. The way they worked together to create such an incredible assortment of clothing was amazing. You go to the grocery store, and people are dressed to the nines. They look good. The parkas are colourful. The fur is big. That’s a real point of pride for a lot of people.
Whether it’s parkas that have been gifted, parkas that people have been made for them, I think it’s an important part of who we are, a real kind of combination of modern and traditional. To see all the love that that’s gotten and all the love the Indigenous designers who have contributed work to the production have gotten has been so exciting. For them to see their work on screen, I love seeing when people take a photo of their TV, and they’re like, “That’s my work!” That’s been so like heartwarming and fulfilling.
The response to the wardrobe has been shocking in all of the best ways, as well as the music. We have such an incredible music team that pulled together such great songs. And the fact that we were able to get clearance on some of these songs. What strings were pulled to get this? [laughs] Opening with Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’ (‘Ikiaqqik’) sung by Riit was so like, my heart burst and then came back together just so that it could burst again. It was the best feeling. To see Riit get her flowers, and so many other Inuit artists that did covers of pop songs and rock songs and songs that we all know and love, but then covered in Inuktitut has been so beautiful and amazing. The fact that people love that and come to the show just for that is really incredible. It’s beautiful to see that the community effort that it took to make this show is being appreciated so widely. It’s a beautiful thing.
It really is wonderful to see the whole community being given the flowers they deserve on such a global scale. On a slightly adjacent note, I have to ask about your mom’s parka, the one you wear in the first episode. I saw in another interview that she let you borrow it, but won’t let you have it. Any movement there? [Anna laughs] Did you end up adding it to your closet? Or is she still holding on to it?
She will very, very quickly let anyone know that it’s still hers. Her parka. It’s not mine. I’m allowed to wear it.
Dang it.
I know. I know. I’m like, “You know who it looks really nice on? You know who it fits perfectly?”
No dice, huh?
Nope!
suit. Bianca & Bridgett
shirt. Maison Tai
brooch. Talia Perla
opposite
top to bottom
faux fur coat. Anastasia Bull
tank top. CDLP
necklace. Veronica Tharmalingam
dress. Onalaja
I did want to touch a little more on the fashion of the show. How much of a say did you have in Siaja’s wardrobe? Did you have a favorite piece? What’s the story there?
I’m so lucky. As soon as they started getting wardrobe together for ‘North of North’, Nooks Lindell had messaged me and he was like, “Hey, I’m working with the team on wardrobe. Are there any specific designers that you want?” I immediately started typing out a list. I want Victoria’s Arctic Fashion, I want Winifred Designs. Can we get so-and-so-and-so-and-so-and-so-and-so. He was like, “That’s great because we already got all of them.” It’s Inuit design, Inuit craftsmanship, it’s not that it’s small, but it’s if you know, you know, kind of thing. Some people are so well known for their parkas and their designs. I could see a Victoria’s Arctic Fashion from a mile away and go like, “Yeah, that’s Vic.” If it’s not Vic, it’s inspired by Vic. Everyone’s got their own unique thing. It’s amazing that we have such a wide range from Greenland to Alaska of designers.
They were always very curious about what my thoughts were. We wanted Siaja to be very fun and colourful. She goes through this journey throughout the series with her clothing, where she becomes a bit more experimental. She’s got such a wide array of parkas and clothing. She’s a fashionable gal. Her husband may not be the coolest guy, but he takes care of her and he buys her stuff. Whether it’s as an apology or not, we don’t know. I have a crazy collection of earrings. I have a crazy collection of parkas that I’ve had for 10 years. It’s a collection, and people really take care of their things. It’s not too far from any version of reality that she has so much stuff.
In terms of favourite items, I would say Siaja’s kamiks were one of my favourite things in the show. They’re just so beautiful. The craftsmanship that goes into a pair of kamiks is crazy. From cleaning the seal skin to tanning it. The stitching that goes into them is just unbelievable. Then the designs vary from region to region. They take weeks to make. It’s so special wearing and showcasing these designers, because my art is, is acting and it’s the screen, but being able to wear their art is such a huge honour.
Absolutely. The series is made with so much care from fashion to acting to production, and everything behind the scenes. What do you hope audiences take away from the show that has been made with so much love?
I hope that audiences are open to the fact that our lives, our stories, and our experiences really aren’t that different from the rest of the world. People, I think, a lot of the time forget the Arctic exists, or they think there’s nothing up there. That, you know, Inuit were once upon a time a people that existed and no longer do, they went extinct. It’s like, no, we’re very real and very vibrant communities, we’re still very much alive. Of course, history hasn’t been the kindest to us. Colonialism, for many people, hasn’t been kind to us. But we have managed to survive and persevere.
Alot of that has happened through joy and comedy, through laughter, through community. Our show is very much a reflection of that. I hope people see that our communities exist in an array of ways, you know, of course, the darkness of cold winter, and the heaviness of that exists, but so does this vibrant, saturated, beautiful community. And that deserves just as much screen time, just as much representation, and attention as stories that are centred around trauma and hardship. It’s been exciting to finally feel like we have a show that represents our communities as they are in a bright way. This is us. I’m so tired of people saying, “Well, this isn’t like what I thought the Arctic was like.” Girl, who do you think knows better? Are the locals and the actors who are actually from here? Or people who have only ever heard about it through TV? This is who we are. I hope people can take that away and just be open to our self-representation. That would be cool.
Here’s hoping the series gets even more eyes on it come season 2. My last question, what is one thing you’ve learned from playing Siaja and from filming ‘North of North’ What is a lesson that you carry with you?
A lesson I’ve carried with me from Siaja and filming ‘North of North’ is that embarrassment passes. The cringe does pass, and it does go away eventually. I think it’s emboldened me to take more risks, to be more myself, and to not put myself into a box out of fear of how people might judge or perceive me. If I make a mistake, that embarrassment does go away, and your community more often than not want you to win. They want you to succeed. They want you to grow. And whether there’s a little bit of judgment that comes with that, it’s inevitable. You’ve got to keep pushing on if you really believe in what you want and what you’re moving towards.
jacket. Falguni Shane Peacock
shirt. No Maintenance
trousers. Theory
ear cuff + bracelet. Gabriella Artigas
ring. De Liguoro
While still relatively new on the scene, British actor and writer Leo Hatton has been building her rapport for years. Originally studying Fine Art and History of Art at Goldsmiths College, she went on to receive classical training under highly-regarded acting teachers Christopher Fettes and Giles Foreman. Alongside short films like Rate Me – winner of the Quinzaine Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015 – and Pink Palace (co-written by Hatton), her most notable work includes guest starring roles on Silent Witness and Death in Paradise, and Postcards from London.
Hatton delivers an outstanding performance in season two of No Man’s Land where she takes on the role of Ellie, a school counselor from Texas. Driven by unresolved feelings, she travels to Syria after discovering that her ex is there, having recognized his voice in an ISIS propaganda video. The role highlights Hatton’s unwavering commitment to her work, immersing the audience in the emotional depths of her character’s journey. “To have the opportunity to explore a person like this, to deal with real-world ‘socio-political stories’ has always been of importance to me as an actress,” she shares.
In conversation with Schön!, Hatton chats all things No Man’s Land, how she prepared for the emotional rollercoaster of playing Ellie, and her upcoming project.
top. Bevza
dress. Rat & Boa
earrings. Deve
opposite
full look. Toga
Congratulations on No Man’s Land! What was the most exciting part about getting a role like this, and equally, what scared you the most?
Firstly, thank you. It was so unbelievably exciting to land this role. It was very strange because when these events were unfolding in real-time, ten to twelve years ago, I was transfixed and horrified by what I was witnessing take place during the Syrian civil war and fascinated by the Western men and women who chose to join.
To have the opportunity to explore a person like this, to deal with real-world ‘socio-political stories’ has always been of importance to me as an actress – that the character was based on real people and the show itself is dealing with real-world political events – I felt naturally drawn to exploring these themes as an actress.
What scared me the most – I think that many of Ellie’s scenes were… Well, she finds herself in such extreme situations and exuding such extreme emotions – I was worried about conveying her with truth in the moment.
Ellie is a really complex character, and a lot of powerful moments are seen through her actions, not words. What was it like to delve into a character like that?
I found it truly exhilarating – the filming process itself was full of adrenaline. Probably, I would say satisfying as an actress, at least to me, to have such a meaty role with a clear arc. It was a full experience, one where I was able to use all of my capacity as an actress. Proper acting chops required!
She goes on such a journey throughout the season and is such a layered character. In what ways were you able to connect/relate to her and understand her motivations?
Wow. I am not sure I can fully connect to her journey – no spoilers! Although I think it is about ideology and love. And I connected not to the most politically extreme.
What was the process of developing Ellie’s Texan accent?
It was a process! Texan is very specific. I hope I did it justice. There are the references I was leaning on – Sissy Spacek from Badlands. But I had a fantastic accent and dialect coach, Peggy, whom I worked with almost every day after filming at like midnight in my hotel room! It was wild.
blazer. Malene Birger
earrings. COS
opposite
dress. Tod’s
boots. Neous
When filming some of the more powerful and emotional scenes, specifically in the latter half of the season, how did you prepare yourself and get into the right headspace?
Music helps me find a space separate from the chaos of the film set. I put on my headphones and really find a piece of music that relates to the character, scene, and moment.
How did the role challenge you and help you to evolve as an actor?
I think it was actually the filming process which was so great for evolution. It was like boot camp for an actor – we covered so many scenes and pages in one day – and with such high intensity, you had to bring your A-game. They were the best crew I’ve worked with… but hard to keep up with!
I also heard you just wrapped a project, Shadows, in Budapest. What more can you share about that project?
Shadows, I believe, is the working title. It is another project I have collaborated on with Rotem Shamir, director of Fauda and Rough Diamonds. This is a completely different world to No Man’s Land season two. It is an espionage thriller and more in the vein of John le Carré.
Going from such an incredible project like No Man’s Land, what do you continue to look for when selecting your next roles?
Characters with great fashion… [laughs] No, I’m joking. I don’t know. I really think it is project-dependent and, usually, it’s all to do with the writing and dialogue. I’m an arthouse girl, so auteur-led films would excite me.
full look. Toga
opposite
top. Bevza
dress. Rat & Boa
earrings. Deve
‘No Man’s Land’ season two is now streaming on Hulu in the US and ARTE or HBO Max in Europe.
Primavera Sound 2025 brought its usual mix of chaos and catharsis to the Parc del Fòrum, in Barcelona, with a lineup spanning the extremes of experimental electronics, millennial pop melodrama, and gritty live performance. With the Mediterranean sun as a backdrop and a crowd ready to sweat, scream, and self-reflect, Schön! was there to witness it all — and capture all the standout moments.
At the opening night, FKA twigs needed little more than minimal scenography to conjure an entire cosmos. Her Thursday night set on the Estrella Damm stage bent pop performance into something sinewy and spellbinding — and she only needed a pole, a sword, and some scaffolding. Across contortions (yes, including pole dance) and sparse-but-precise costume changes, FKA twigs danced her way through EUSEXUA, then dialled the energy down to deliver liquid intimacy with Home With You, Two Weeks, and a devastating Cellophane rendition. Her set followed lively and fun openers with Japanese duo YOASOBI and emerging star BEABADOOBEE, who initiated the day of music celebration.
On Friday, queer icons Charli XCX and Troye Sivan brought the heat with SWEAT, their only European joint show. A relentless club sprint through their respective eras, BRAT and Something to Give Each Other, with Sivan leaning into twink villainy as he marked his 30th birthday, and Charli XCX tearing through the brat club canon like a woman possessed. The set, however, hit its peak fan-fuelled delirium when Chappell Roan appeared on screen mid-routine, delivering her “Apple Girl choreo” in full drag-pageant mode. Camp? Of course.
Sabrina Carpenter followed, bringing her new-age Barbie energy and extra heat to the festival. On a stage somewhere between a TV studio and an oversized dollhouse, she leaned into ’80s tropes and bubblegum bravado, teasing the audience with one-liners and hits, from Espresso to the just-dropped Manchild.
But if anyone came to claim the crown, it was Chappell Roan. Dressed like a prom queen from a gothic fever dream, she turned the Estrella Damm stage into her own neon-lit fortress. She opened with Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, read out text messages from exes (for public shaming, naturally), paid tribute to the trailblazing women before her with a belting cover of Barracuda, and closed with the queer anthem Pink Pony Club.
And through all of this pop chaos and sonic euphoria, CUPRA returned as festival partner for the fourth year, bringing with it a new highlight: CUPRA Pulse. The mirrored installation became a hub for rave realness and sonic experimentation, with sets from Crystallmess, Lolahol, and LSDXOXO transforming the space into a chrome-lit playground. The CUPRA Stage hosted influential artists like Amelie Lens, TV On The Radio, and Amaia, while the brand’s digital platform, CUPRA Music Hub, streamed the action globally.
“Music has been a part of CUPRA since our foundation. It inspires us and enables us to convey the values we stand for: boldness, creativity, and celebrating the talent of the future,” said Patrick Sievers, CUPRA’s Global Head of Marketing. “We have designed the space to amplify the connection with the audience and turn each performance into something more immersive.”
From scaffold to strobe light, from mascara tears to euphoric drops, Primavera Sound 2025 was a fantasy you could dance inside. And this year, it had a heartbeat of chrome.
