sweater. Toast
dress. Nili Lotan
jewellery. Mejuri
With a career spanning nearly two decades, Michaela McManus is stepping into a defining new chapter. In the multiverse-driven thriller ‘Redux Redux’, she delivers a gripping, emotionally charged performance as a mother propelled by grief and vengeance. The film, which premiered to strong acclaim at the SXSW Film Festival 2025, marks a bold evolution in her work, showcasing both physical intensity and nuanced restraint. At the same time, McManus is making waves on the small screen in ‘Memory of a Killer’ alongside Patrick Dempsey, further highlighting her range and presence across genres.
Schön! caught up with McManus to talk about stepping into complex, female-driven storytelling, balancing action with emotion, and why this moment feels like just the beginning.
opposite
dress. Nili Lotan
jewellery. Mejuri
‘Redux Redux’ explores grief through a multiverse lens. What drew you to this story, and how did you emotionally prepare for such an intense role?
What really drew me to ‘Redux Redux’ is that although this genre is typically male dominated, the story is very female driven. I hadn’t seen a story told like this told through a female lens and I was excited to be part of that. When it came to preparing for the role, I could draw from my own experience as a mother and that deep need to protect my children at all costs.
Your performance balances ferocity with restraint. How did you find that equilibrium while portraying a mother driven by loss and vengeance?
I think balancing ferocity and restraint is the core experience of being a mother. Childbirth is the perfect example of that. I was lucky enough to birth my kids without an epidural, and it required a level of physical demand while at the same time I had to channel my deepest patience and zen. It’s not too far off from what Irene has to access daily.
The film premiered at SXSW Film Festival 2025 to strong reactions. What was it like experiencing that first audience response?
There’s always some trepidation for me when sharing my performance with an audience. This performance felt particularly vulnerable because it was so different from anything I had ever had the chance to play. There were definitely some nerves. But ultimately, I felt so proud of this project, and everyone involved. Getting to screen it at such an impressive film festival, with my family in the audience was a career highlight.
Multiverse narratives can sometimes feel abstract. How did you keep your character grounded and relatable amid the high-concept elements?
My brothers Kevin and Matt McManus, who wrote and directed the film, really deserve the credit for building such an approachable and grounded setting for this sci-fi story. I think sometimes people can get lost in the details of high concept storylines. It’s a real gift for the audience to be able to sink into a story without being bogged down with excessive exposition.
blazer. Iro
dress. Reiss
shoes. Stuart Weitzman
earrings. Mejuri
opposite
sweater. Toast
jewellery. Mejuri
This role has been described as “career-defining.” Did it change how you see yourself as an actor or the types of roles you want moving forward?
Getting to sink my teeth into such a complex character was deeply fulfilling. I just want to continue on this path and take on more challenging roles. It sparked the passion I felt when I first started out in this business and made me excited for what’s to come.
Without giving too much away, were there particular scenes in ‘Redux Redux’ that pushed you further than anything you’ve done before?
Something new for me was jumping into the stunt and weapon work. I loved sharpening that skill set and working with such an incredible team to tackle those scenes.
You portray a mother navigating unimaginable grief. Did you draw from personal experiences, research, or imagination to shape that emotional depth?
There was a little bit of everything when preparing for this role. I have my own process of pulling from personal experience combined with imagination. I did as much prep as possible, but when you show up to set you have to be able to let all of that go and just be in the moment. That’s where the magic happens.
What conversations did you have with the director about tone, especially balancing the film’s action elements with its emotional core?
My brothers gave me a list of movies to watch in preparation that matched the desired tone. A film they introduced to me that I think was very successful in balancing action elements with the emotional core was BLUE RUIN. It left me thinking about it for days and weeks after watching which for me is always the mark of a good film.
In ‘Memory of a Killer’, you’re working alongside Patrick Dempsey. What has that collaboration been like?
Patrick is a true professional. It was clear from day one his committed investment in the show which I think raised the bar for everyone. I really enjoyed working with him and the entire cast and crew.
dress. Nili Lotan
jewellery. Mejuri
How does your role in ‘Memory of a Killer’ differ from ‘Redux Redux’ in terms of character mindset and performance style?
The characters are different for sure, but they’re both very layered. As an actor, I love getting to play strong, grounded women who have depth and vulnerability which these two roles definitely have in common.
With the series unfolding over several weeks, how do you approach character development differently in television versus film?
In television, the story is sometimes evolving and changing as you’re shooting which can be very challenging. You have to put a lot of trust in the show runner to help guide you through the process. So much of acting relies on trust. I often talk about how working on ‘Redux Redux’ was such a gift because I’ve frequently collaborated with my bothers so that trust was built-in and already established at the start of the shoot.
With both ‘Redux Redux’ and ‘Memory of a Killer’ releasing so close together, this feels like a major moment in your career. What excites you most about this chapter?
This chapter is thrilling because I’m being challenged in new ways. I got to try my hand in comedy with a really fun guest role on the newly released second season of TED. I just wrapped a really cool pilot for NBC — THE ROCKFORD FILES. I had such a blast working on that one too. I’m nearly twenty years into this career and I love that it still feels fresh, new, and exciting at every turn. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
jewellery. Mejuri
photography. Raul Romo
fashion. Emily Bogner
talent. Michaela McManus
hair. Michael Dueñas
make up. Caroline Hernandez
