review | marina’s princess of power tour live in london

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earrings. MIRAKI

A month ago, Ella Bright may not have been on your radar. Now, the 19-year-old-actor has become one of the breakout stars of the summer thanks to her role as Hannah Wells in ‘Off Campus’, Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s beloved romance novel ‘The Deal’. Since the show’s debut, Bright has found herself at the center of a fan frenzy that continues to grow by the day.

The best way to describe Bright is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Despite a whirlwind week that included the show dropping, her Schön! shoot, a packed schedule of press appearances across New York, talk shows, a book discussion, and, finally, our interview, she remained just as enthusiastic about discussing ‘Off Campus’ and her role as Hannah Wells as she was about living this once-in-a-lifetime moment. “It’s really a dream come true for me in a lot of ways,” she laughs.

Bright got her on-screen start in ‘Malory Towers’, a whimsical children’s period drama about an all-girls’ boarding school in post-World War II England. As the lead character, she spent years and seasons immersed in a world of magic, school rivalries, lifelong friendships, and adventures. It was the type of role that allowed her to fully embrace the magic of make-believe at an age when imagination still felt limitless.

That sense of wonder hasn’t left her — clips from the series show the same wide-eyed enthusiasm and infectious energy that Bright still brings to conversations about her work today. Whether she’s discussing a beloved childhood book, her favourite films, or the challenges of bringing Hannah Wells to life, there’s a genuine excitement that makes it easy to understand why audiences have gravitated to her so easily. Even as her career enters a new chapter with ‘Off Campus’, Bright remains someone who clearly loves the simple joy of storytelling.

Fans of the ‘Off Campus’ books already know that Hannah Wells is not your stereotypical female YA lead. She is funny, witty, deeply loyal, and resilient in ways not often afforded to characters navigating trauma on screen. While her healing journey is central to ‘Off Campus’, Bright’s portrayal gives audiences a full 360-degree view of who Hannah is beyond her past. She is a songwriter, a best friend, a daughter, and a young woman experiencing first love as she learns to trust herself again. It’s a layered, emotionally complex role that allows Hannah to exist as a complete person rather than simply a survivor — the kind of character many actors spend years hoping to play.

Hannah has also become a character that Bright has already grown up alongside. “Hannah has changed my life in so many ways,” she says. “I was, in a lot of ways, very terrified to take on this opportunity. It’s the biggest job that I’ve ever had to take on in terms of the music, the content of the show, and just the overall weight and size of these sound stages. Everything just seemed really big, andd I am really proud of myself for doing it.”

Before jetting back to Vancouver to film the show’s second season, Ella Bright sat down with Schön!‘s Kelsey Barnes to discuss her role in the ‘Off Campus’ universe, depicting Hannah’s healing journey, and more.

dress. TIBI
shoes. Ferragamo
bracelet. MIRAKI
opposite
full look. Michael Kors
earrings. LADY GREY

Let’s start at the beginning — what books, films, shows, or stories resonated with you that made you want to pursue this career in make-believe?

Oh my gosh. I read the ‘Ruby Redfort’ book series when I was a kid, and that’s her being in two different worlds. She’s a spy, and she’s a normal teenager. I remember that when I was reading this. I was on ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’. I was a 10-year-old and I had the tiniest role ever, but I remember being like, “Oh my God.” I wouldn’t tell anybody. I was such a sneaky little kid, and I’d be leaving school early and being like, “I’m literally like the Hannah Montana of the West End.” 

A movie I’ve always loved and will always love, and it’s my favourite movie because my dad definitely shaped my music and film taste and made me fall in love with film in general, is ‘Good Will Hunting’. That’s my favourite movie. I will always refer back to that as a push toward understanding how films can really impact your life. I love movies and TV, and I’m so grateful to be in this position. It’s so cool.

You were thinking about going to university, and then you ended up getting this role. This was one of the last things you were throwing your hat into the ring for.

Yeah, I was definitely going to continue acting, but I just wanted to take some time to study because A-levels are the only thing you really work for in the UK in the last two years. I was like, “Okay, well, I need to really lock in here.” I did a couple of last auditions. ‘Off Campus’ was the last one. From there, I just started revising… And then I got a callback. I was like, “Okay, this is not the turn I was thinking it was going to take.”

I ended up getting it the next month, and it flipped my world upside down in the best way possible. I was going to uni — I had a place at Bristol University to do drama, and I thought, “Well, I would rather just do the actual drama. That would be really awesome.” I then took a whirlwind trip to Vancouver, and I’ve been pinching myself ever since. This is not how I imagined I’d be spending my time. It’s really a dream come true for me in a lot of ways.

I want to talk to you a little bit about your Canadian experience. Hockey is hardly a thing in the UK. I went to a hockey game at Ally Pally, and it was a little bit like a pee-wee league, with all due respect, when compared to hockey in Canada.

[Laughs] Oh my God, hockey at Ally Pally! That is hilarious. In terms of the ice hockey thing, I played field hockey in P.E. class growing up, and ice hockey was definitely not something I knew anything about. It’s really funny that ice hockey is having such a moment right now because, when we were filming, I was like, “This is quite literally the most niche subject possible.” I had my first hockey game on set — the fake one in one of the episodes — which was really fun.

In terms of Canada, weirdly, I was on a show that I grew up on called ‘Mallory Towers’, and we filmed part-time in Toronto, so I kind of grew up a lot in Canada. Vancouver, which we got to go to for season one, is quite literally the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. We had the greatest time. We went to Whistler as a group, just taking walks in Stanley Park. I was obsessed, and I can’t wait to go back very soon.

What I really love about Hannah is that she’s very confident despite everything that she’s gone through. When you first read for her, was that something that really surprised you when you were reading? 

Interestingly, it was never to do with Hannah’s backstory or anything. It was more of the character briefing. What I first gathered from ‘The Deal’ was that she’s the nerdy music character. I originally played her in my initial self-tape as quite shy and meek, and more insecure and quiet. I was told by our amazing casting directors that this isn’t Hannah. They saw something in me, which I’m so grateful for, but we worked on building this character of Hannah that is confident. She is quirky, and she’s bubbly, but she owns that, and she loves that about herself. She might only have Dexter and Allie, but those are the people that she trusts with her life, and she appreciates and loves spending time with them.

I just loved how comfortable she was in her own skin. Obviously, in terms of her backstory, she’s healed in a way that she thinks is done, which we get to see the holes in as the story progresses. We see how Garrett and Allie bring out different parts of her and growth she didn’t think she needed to still go on. It’s a really beautiful journey. I think she shuts down a lot of herself. In terms of her as a person, she’s not defined by anything that happened to her. She’s a survivor. It was always important to Louisa [Levy, show creator] and me that she never seemed afraid, timid or weak. She is very strong, and she is confident, and I just fell in love with her immediately.

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necklace + ring. MIRAKI
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It’s not often that you see a young adult series tackle such an important thing as sexual assault, but this really focuses on the healing journey, which is something that I really appreciated. What was most important for you when portraying her and this experience of trauma and recovery? 

I will also say how it incorporates Garrett and Hannah as a relationship, because they are both in very different places. They both have very difficult things that have happened to them, but they’re in very different spaces of the healing journey. Obviously, they both meet each other and go on this growth journey together in their own individual ways. For Hannah, what I really wanted to portray, in response to your question, is how she also helps Garrett get to the place that she might be in when we first meet her. 

Obviously, they have a break up in episode seven, but what I really loved is how they help each other get to a point. What really helps them feel like they’ve reached a very high point of healing is the fact that they confide in each of their individual friendships — Garrett and Logan, and Hannah and Allie — and that’s done separately from each other. That relationship was so impactful for each of them, but they were then able to take agency over their own lives and control it, and then see how it seeps into all of their relationships. Then they get back together, which I loved. I loved that they do the journey separately.

For Hannah, I just wanted to make sure that the story was as genuine and real as possible. I wanted to constantly be communicating with Louisa and with Elle [Kennedy], and really making sure that the people who might have sadly gone through what Hannah has gone through felt seen and felt represented accurately.

There’s a scene in the bedroom with Hannah and Garrett, and Hannah wants him to give her an orgasm. He’s more or less like, “Do it yourself. Let’s reclaim this,” which I thought was really, really beautiful. And the song “Back in My Body” by Maggie Rogers playing during it gave me chills. When you watched that scene back, what struck you most about it? 

Yeah, honestly, it was crazy because that was the first scene I had ever heard of from ‘Off Campus’. I searched for an online copy of ‘The Deal’ when I was auditioning and found the mutual masturbation scene. I was like, “Oh my goodness, great.” [laughs] Then, when I started to read more about what the scene meant for her and their relationship as a whole, I was genuinely so moved by this story and the way that it was done on screen. Louisa and Elle are just such incredible writers. 

I loved the dancing so much beforehand. I think that just shows how he gives her the space to be so comfortable and trust him, and I loved that. I loved filming that. I think that was one of the most beautiful moments of the show. It’s very unique to see an intimate scene where the two characters involved don’t touch. I thought that was really powerful. It was her reclaiming her autonomy and her body and feeling this pleasure. It’s not a taboo thing. It was really refreshing to have that on screen, and I feel very lucky to be able to portray that.

Honestly, we shot that scene for the entire day. It was done with so much care and integrity, and we made sure that every single plot point and every single moment was very much character and story-driven. Then, obviously, it ends up really sexy.

I wouldn’t say it’s an emotionally draining scene, but having to be on all day doing that is quite intense.

And you’ve got the moment in the middle where she kind of leaves her body, and she says, “This always happens to me.” Then it becomes a very emotional scene. It was more about really making sure that it was as genuine as possible. I loved it. I loved how that turned out. And with “Back in My Body” playing… All of the music across the whole show, I’m just in awe of them [music supervisors].

You sing quite a bit in this, so how did learning to sing and record help you connect to Hannah on a different level? It’s one thing to prep a character, but it’s another thing to give them an actual musical voice. It’s a different type of vulnerability.

Completely. I loved this whole journey because I felt that Hannah’s journey of this writer’s block that she goes on, and then how she finds her voice near the end — and at the very end, obviously, with the pop showcase — was very reflective of my own journey. I was very insecure and nervous to begin with when it came to the singing, and as Hannah is growing in her confidence and can sing and do the karaoke and the pop showcase, that was my moment of being like, “Okay, I can do this. I’ve got an amazing, supportive team who are helping me and guiding me with all of this.”

I really felt that in those moments. It was so cool to be able to take something from the books, where you read and imagine what the songs sound like, and then find the voice in real life, be able to hear that back, and now have this amazing soundtrack. It was so awesome and such a good process to be a part of.

Did you think you would ever have a song on Spotify?

Oh my goodness, no. I literally checked the Spotify count the other day, and I almost cried. I was like, “This is so insane.” If you told me I would have even been in a recording studio a year ago, I would have just laughed. I would have been in shock. It’s been really, really crazy. I love it.

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earrings. LADY GREY
opposite
full look. Ulla Johnson
bracelet. Jenny Bird
bangle. BOHEME BY VERO
ring. MIRAKI

There are different moments throughout the season where people are asking, “What song makes you feel bold?” “What song do you listen to when you’re sad?” What three songs would that be for you? 

Oh, that’s hard!

I know you’re a big Taylor Swift girl. I did see that you went to the Eras Tour. What were your surprise songs? 

I went to two shows at Wembley. I can’t remember which pairing was which, but altogether it was “King of My Heart”, “End Game”, “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys,” and “I Did Something Bad”, which was the first time she sang it that tour. 

I had full-body chills. It was so good.

I was the same. It was life-changing. I dressed as a 1989 seagull for one of the days [laughs]. A nostalgic song is “Welcome to New York” by Taylor Swift from ‘1989’ because, as a kid, I remember going to that concert and listening to that. I was born in New York, and I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I just went around telling everybody, “Welcome to New York, guys. I’m from there.” It was hilarious.

For sad, I’m going to go with “The Gold” by Phoebe Bridgers. That song always makes me cry. And for happy — this is so hard; it’s such a good question. I love a good hype song, so I’m going to say “Welcome to Atlanta”. My sisters and I know all the words. It’s a rap/hip-hop song. I don’t expect anyone to know this song, but it’s by Ludacris. The three of us know every lyric and have been singing it since childhood.

Costume really helps inform a character and helps you get into that mindset. Was there a specific item that you felt, when you put it on, you really felt like Hannah?

Before ‘Off Campus’, I had always been on shows that were period pieces, and I never got to wear jewelry, and jewelry is my life. I remember the first thing I got to wear was the little H necklace that Hannah wears, and that really resonated with me. I tried to take it home, and I wasn’t allowed to. I was very sad about it. But because you get to wear that in pretty much every scene, it really helped me enter into her headspace. I also loved her little moments of red because that’s in the books. She’s the girl who loves to wear red, so we had a red cardigan, we had red shoes in the very first episode, and that was definitely indicative of what the book series says.

For me, a personal story is something that is in the pop showcase, which is such a cathartic moment for her at the end of the season and for me, because the music was, like I said, such a cool thing for me to be able to do. My grandma was super supportive throughout my life. She’s passed away now, but I got to wear her silver bracelet in the scene. That was a really special moment for me. I didn’t tell my parents until they watched the screeners back. I wanted to wear it because it was my good luck charm, and it represents my friends, my family and everybody who’s been supporting me on this journey. Getting to wear that was really special.

So lovely. It must have been so nice for your parents to see that as well.

Yeah. It was emotional, for sure [laughs].

That lyric in her showcase song “I am the girl that I am because of the girl I used to be” feels incredibly defining for Hannah. I like to think actors grow alongside their characters a bit, so when you look back from the Ella that started filming the show to now, how would you say you’ve grown?

Being at the end of this press tour has been super emotional and very reflective. When the show came out, we were all in New York, and it was 3 a.m. our time when the show came out. Belmont, Jalen, and I put our phones away, and we just spoke about this incredible journey that we’ve all been on together. We talked until like five in the morning.  I was crying a lot, looking back on it. I was, in a lot of ways, very terrified to take on this opportunity. It’s the biggest job that I’ve ever had to take on in terms of the music, the content of the show, and just the overall weight and size of these sound stages. Everything just seemed really big, and I am really proud of myself for doing it. I love these people. I’m so proud and excited to watch everybody continue on the show. I’m so happy I met everybody.

Hannah’s changed my life in so many ways, and it’s been really awesome to get to go on this press tour and celebrate that, which is an opportunity I’ve never gotten to have before. I’ve never been able to do a press tour, so I’ve just loved every second. I’m feeling very nostalgic now!

Thankfully, we have season two in the works and another press tour to come!

I know! Which is so cool. That’s what’s so lovely. It’s such a privilege to have that comfort blanket of knowing that we get to do it again with these people, and we get to have fun and appreciate spending time together. That’s really lovely.

Knowing what you know about Hannah’s arc over the season, if you could give her a piece of advice from Ella, what would that advice be?

I’m going to say it’s not my advice — it’s the words that are said to Hannah — but it’s always going to resonate with me: “We need to cling to the people who see us and smile.” That is one of my favourite lines. I think it really helps her confide in Garrett and Allie. I love those words. I’ve definitely used that sentiment a lot in my own life, for sure.

I know this year has already been such a dream for you, but if you could manifest something for yourself this year, what would it be?

Oh my goodness. That’s such a good question. I hope to be working, but also finding time to spend with family and friends, and really appreciating when looking back and being proud and in the moment of what the first season has done for me. I want to be reflective and try not to get too caught up in everything, and just be present in the moment. I’m excited for season two and manifesting that it all goes well, that it’s fun, and that we can do it all again and again.

I can’t believe you’re heading into production again in a few days. That’s crazy.

It’s crazy, I know. I was saying goodbye to everybody because everyone’s flown home now. I’m pretty much the only one left in New York, but I’ll see them all again in three days.

It’s like going back to summer camp.

Yeah, it really does feel that way. It’s so cool. I love it.

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necklace + ring. MIRAKI

‘Off Campus‘ is streaming now on Prime Video.

photography. Julia Sariy
fashion. Laura Spriet
talent. Ella Bright
hair. Jacob Rozenberg
make up. Misha Shahzada
casting, production + interview. Kelsey Barnes
video. JP Blair
fashion assistants. Anisa Belle Ruiz + Gabby Garder
video assistant. Weston Flemmons

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When we speak with Sophie Nélisse, she’s back in Vancouver filming the critically acclaimed final season of Showtime’s ‘Yellowjackets,’ a role that thrust the Canadian actress into the mainstream in a big way. Like most goodbyes, it’s bittersweet. She grew up alongside teen Shauna for 4 seasons – for better or worse. And while there are facets of the character she admittedly won’t miss, there are others that she’ll cherish alongside a slew of memories. No one on set is taking any of the time they have left for granted, she tells us. Instead, she’s soaking it all in while she can with her castmates, bidding a fond farewell to an incredible series.

But beyond the wilderness, Nélisse has been busy. From press tours for ‘Whistle,’ interviews about her pivotal role as Rose Landry in ‘Heated Rivalry,’ to producing her own film, ‘Girl in Pieces,’ alongside ‘Yellowjackets’ castmate Courtney Eaton, lately it’s been go-go-go. When asked about keeping sane among the whirlwind, she credits coming home to Canada — specifically, Montréal. Away from the toxicity of Hollywood culture, the entertainment machine, and the insanity that can be fandom, it’s a pocket of peace in the storm. 

With ‘Heated Rivalry,’ shining a well-deserved light on Canadian film and television, Nélisse hopes that the show’s continued success will encourage artists to keep making art. If a show with a minimal budget and a smaller crew in comparison to Hollywood can defy expectations and rise to the top of the cultural zeitgeist within mere months, anything is possible. 

Now, with a Canadian Screen Award for best supporting performer in a drama series and the Radius Award for emerging Canadian talent breaking into significant international success under her belt, this is merely the beginning of a new chapter. In conversation with Schön!, Sophie Nélisse discusses closing the book on teen Shauna, navigating the success of being on two popular television shows, stepping into new creative endeavours and more.  

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full look. Vintage

I’d like to touch on an interview you did with the Hollywood Reporter recently. There was a bit in there that resonated with me. You were discussing how you remember seeing characters on screen who made you feel seen and less alone. Can you expand on that for us? Who were those characters? What shows do you go to for comfort?

That’s a good question. In the past few years, ‘Normal People’ was a good one. There was something that felt so real about their relationship — how complex they can be and how hard they can be, how difficult to navigate, that sometimes love isn’t enough, and how they can keep missing each other.

Growing up, ‘Gilmore Girls’ was one that felt really comforting to me because it was a sort of unusual mother-daughter relationship that I have with my mom, where she’s more so my best friend than my parent. That’s not necessarily depicted often. Sometimes it’s finding characters on screen that I feel like give me a voice. I recently watched ‘The Penguin.’ Cristin Milioti obviously takes the character to an extreme, but she is such a good example of a woman who has been oppressed, put down, and not valued enough, in a space that’s male-driven and where they should have equal rights. The way that she comes out on top and slowly plots her revenge? That was something that made me feel very empowered.

One that’s made me feel so seen, and it’s ironic because it’s an animation, is ‘Inside Out.’ The way they depict anxiety and how your brain works is so spot on. It’s so visually powerful. That made me feel so understood. I remember watching it a year or two ago. I was 24. Never in my lifetime had I felt so seen. Mental health is not a topic that’s been approached in the generations before us, so having more of a discussion around it now is amazing, and that movie is giving a voice to a lot of people.

How does it feel to know some fans feel seen and comforted by the characters you’ve portrayed? What does that mean to you?

It’s hard to grasp sometimes because I think I’m a little naïve about the role I play or the impact it can have. Obviously, I’m not chronically online. I don’t love to read reviews for my own mental health. But whenever there’s a moment I get to connect in person with a fan, and they look me in the eye and tell me how deeply my work has connected with them, I feel this overwhelming sense of love. It brings me a lot of joy, and it reminds me, especially in moments of doubt or self-reflection, or moments where I’m working a little less, that at least what I did has touched people. The work I’ve put out there matters. Sometimes it’s the pat on the back that I need to bring myself up or to keep moving.

I love that. You fell into the industry, and I’m fascinated by the idea of a non-linear path in entertainment. You didn’t go to acting school. What has been the most challenging aspect of the industry as an artist, finding your path and voice? What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?

The idea of rejection. The idea that there are so many factors that go into you getting a role, and it’s really the thing of: right place, right time, right people. It’s not necessarily the audition. Truthfully, oftentimes there are a handful of actresses that are as good and as talented, so it’s a matter of casting, it’s a matter of contacts. It’s hard when you care about a project to see it go to someone else. It’s dealing with that sense of rejection.

But in moments like that, I try to remind myself that I really do believe, in my core — and it doesn’t make it easier in the moment — that everything happens for a reason. If it’s not this one, it wasn’t meant to be. I really try to live by that. I’m not saying by any means that I have that way of thinking mastered, but it’s a rule that I try to live by.

As for the biggest challenge or risk, I guess you could say quitting gymnastics to pursue acting, because that was the most pivotal point in my career. I would also say giving a chance to new directors — the directors who have never really directed anything before. I do love working on indie films. It’s the background I’ve come from. It’s giving the opportunity to newcomers, and that can be a risk in itself. I’ve had great projects. There are other projects that I would take off my resume, but at the same time, I chose to take on that role for a specific reason, then, and I can’t say I regret that.

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You’ve said you’re constantly learning from your peers. What’s a lesson you’ve learned? And who has been that rock for you?

Different people give me different things. An example I often give is Sophie Thatcher. She’s beautiful to watch. She’s so comfortable in her body and the way she moves in space. I get quite stuck when I’m standing; I don’t know what to do with my arms and stuff like that. It’s been fun to watch her. It’s been fun to watch Liv because they are the comedic relief of the show. It’s fun to see how they tap into humour. I’ve never really done comedy, and they often pull faces or make a bold choice, which to me would seem very scary to do in the moment. It feels so big and unhabitual to what I’m used to in acting.

I’ve learned a lot from Courtney (Eaton), who I would say is the closest to how I tend to act. Sometimes I just watch her, and I’m in awe. She just has this stillness that’s so powerful, the way she’s so present in the moment. I honestly feel like I’m learning from everyone, but Courtney is my rock for so many different reasons. We’ve been through so many seasons together in life. We’ve really been there for each other in our worst and best times, and she knows me better than anyone else. She’s the one I gravitate to on set and in real life.

Ssince we’re touching a bit on ‘Yellowjackets’ here, what has been the general vibe on set, knowing this is the last season? How’re you feeling about it?

It’s very bizarre. I remember we were like, “Wow, this is the last time it will be our first day.” It’s weird. There’s this sense of not taking this season for granted. We’re making the most of it and enjoying every moment. This is not going to come as a surprise, and it’s not a spoiler, but we do get rescued this season. We get help. I’m very excited to see them (‘The Yellowjackets’) in these new surroundings and how they’ll adapt. It’s certainly very weird having scenes that aren’t in the wilderness anymore. That’s literally all we’ve ever known. It’s the only sets we’ve known, the only costumes, too. It’s going to feel very out of character to be back in reality.

How do you go about shedding one character and moving to the next? What are you tapping into when you take on a character like Shauna versus Rose versus Ellie, who are all so vastly different?

I’m not very method by any means. I think my only way to relate to a character is by finding pieces of myself within them. So, it’s not so much that I shed a character and I become a new one; it’s more so, what pieces of them do I identify with? And if there are none — because sometimes there can be none — what similar emotion have I gone through? At the end of the day, I realized emotions are universal. Pain is pain, and fear is fear. Then there are different facets to that pain, and there are different places where it stems from, different ways of dealing with that pain or that anger, that sadness in your body.

At the end of the day, I find a situation where I’ve been in pain, and then I find a situation where my character has been in pain and try to see how I can blend those. With each character, I find ways to identify with them.

You’ve lived inside Shauna’s skin for so long. What’s one thing you’re going to miss about her versus one thing you won’t?

Another good question. I won’t miss all the anger she has built up. I think that’s something that weighs heavily on her and me because I have to play that constantly. We’ve seen her grow, but she’s so resentful and still has a lot of that pent-up anger. That’s something I don’t like to live by. I’m not someone who’s very resentful or holds a lot of resentment or anger towards anyone. And so, I’m excited to be liberated from that.

Something I’ll miss is her sense of self-worth. I think, at the end of the day, she has this confidence that she’s found. I don’t think she really knows quite how to handle it or how to utilize it most healthily. But I do think she has found herself out there and knows her worth. That’s something I’m still in the process of figuring out in my own life. I will miss being able to grow alongside her.

You’ve been in two incredible shows, one obviously being ‘Yellowjackets’ and the second, now, ‘Heated Rivalry,’ both with very passionate fan bases. Can you talk a little about being on the other side of the coin and watching these things blow up in the way they have? How do you kind of navigate that as a person and as an artist?

Not being chronically online helps. Coming from Montreal, I’ve been able to see how much they’ve blown up and the repercussions that they’ve had, but I’m also able to watch from the sidelines as a bystander and not really be affected by it. There’s not really that big of a fandom culture in Montreal — anywhere in Canada, really, to be honest — which is why I want to keep living where I live. It gives me a break from the star system that can be so unhealthy and far removed from reality.

It’s fun to be able to watch it and be so happy for its success and to see how well it’s doing and how well it’s been resonating with people. But at the same time, I’m kind of sheltered from it by being back home. Having some sense of normalcy in my life comes from my surroundings, the people that I hang out with, my friends, my family, some of whom are completely unrelated to anything that has to do with the industry. They’re the ones I would say keep me sane and well-rounded.

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full look. Vintage

With ‘Heated Rivalry,’ one of my favourite things about the show is that while it centres on queer love, it also highlights other types of love: familial love and platonic love. Rose really goes out of her way to show how much she cares and solidifies herself as a safe space for Shane. Can you give us a hint as to Rose’s mindset going into that conversation at the restaurant?

You said it so well. The only thing she wants out of that conversation is for him to feel like he has a safe space. I think she’s someone who is just so caring. She’s had the opportunity in her life to be exactly who she is. She’s a famous actress, she’s successful, and that comes from people loving her the way she is, and she reaps the benefits of that. I think she’s — and this is maybe just the backstory that I’ve created for her — had that luck in her life to be completely herself. And that’s something so precious and so special.

She just wanted to make sure that he had that person who saw him for who he was and had this unconditional love for him. That’s not forcing him to come out or forcing anything on him. It’s being that comforting presence and saying, “Hey, I’m here no matter what. You can talk about it to me whenever you’re ready. And if it’s not now, that’s okay. But I’m just putting that out there for you to know.” Just to make him feel seen and validated. The scene is somewhat slow and tranquil and silent because sometimes support is eye contact, and it’s through a comforting smile, and it’s through a knowing look. That’s what we were trying to convey.

I read that you and Hudson (Williams) tended to go off script, which takes a certain level of trust. What did building that trust look like for you, and how much creative license did Jacob (Tierney) give you?

That’s what’s so special about Hudson. I don’t think we had to create anything. The trust was there immediately. I remember after our very first day, I was like, “I’ve never felt so comfortable and at ease and on the same page as anyone before.” There’s just something about him. He’s so comforting, and he’s so welcoming, and he’s so caring as well. We soon realized we had the exact same sense of humour, which is why we went off script in rehearsals because, from the few scenes we had together, we trusted that our chemistry was there. That’s what was going to speak first in the scene.

We didn’t want to ruin the moment by rehearsing it too much, which is why we were just fucking around. The cameras weren’t moving. There’s nothing really to rehearse, so we were like, “Let’s keep the emotion for the actual take.” We felt like we could do that because, as you said, Jacob gave us so much creative liberty. Not only did he give us the perfect mix of letting us interpret the scene, but he also had specific guidelines and notes. I’m someone who loves to be directed. I love a note.

I knew I had that freedom without any judgment on his side. I knew I would also be well taken care of when there were tweaks that needed to be made or when there were corrections or notes when it came to building that scene and bringing it to where it needed to be. I knew that I was in such good hands, and it would all be a very collaborative process. He came in with notes when needed, and it was all very fun.

As a fellow Canadian, to see the show take off has been incredible. It’s put a lot of eyes on Canadian media in a way I haven’t seen before. I don’t think we’ve really had anything this globally popular. As a Canadian actress, how does it feel to see our television and film ascending to the global stage? What do you hope that means for the future of Canadian entertainment?

I feel very proud. Canada is where a lot of my work is. I think we have amazing talent, amazing artists, that deserve to be seen and that deserve to be heard. It’s easy to celebrate them when they’re at a point or level like Denis Villeneuve, but they all started somewhere. And that’s by working with Canadian crews and other Canadian artisans. It’s important that we celebrate the early process as well as the actual success. This is just proof that a show that had basically no budget, a small crew compared to most shows — I mean, compared to ‘Yellowjackets,’ which has a crew three times the size — can make something so impactful that it reaches such a wide audience.

I hope that people will start taking Canadian art more seriously and that it will inspire other Canadian creators to keep going and to keep putting their work out there.

You’ve stepped into a producing role with Courtney for a film adaptation of the book ‘Girl in Pieces.’ What’s it been like to step into this new endeavour? What was it about the story that resonated with you so much that you wanted to see it adapted?

It’s been exciting. It’s been fun to have a little side quest where there’s no pressure. I mean, [laughs] I put pressure on myself, but I’m doing it for fun. No one knows me in that sphere or knows me as a producer. I feel like I have more freedom, and it’s not all eyes on me. It’s also been amazing to be in a place where I’m learning and out of my comfort zone. I feel like a fish out of water. It’s all very new to me, but so exciting.

To see things firsthand and be able to be in on the decision-making and bring my own vision to life feels very empowering. This story means so much to me because, to circle back to what we were saying at the beginning of the interview, I want to do work that resonates with people. That’s always what I go to look for in characters, or characters that make me feel seen and understood.

And again, similarly to ‘Inside Out,’ there’s this inner monologue that Charlie has that is just so powerful. And it’s exactly, word for word, what would sometimes go on in my brain. How she copes with her emotions is so similar to the way that I’ve dealt with a lot of my issues.  think it’s a character that a lot of young girls are going to feel connected to. At the same time, we want it to be very bright and helpful and hopeful, to show girls that there is a way out and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I was scrolling through your Instagram during research, and I noticed that you have an eye for photography. I love the behind-the-scenes candids and the more structured shots. They’re gorgeous. I dabble a little myself, so I selfishly have to ask: do you find yourself going for film or digital? Does photography kind of satiate another creative itch?

Both, honestly. I’ve been trying recently to get more into film. I have my little point-and-shoot, but I bought a beginner Canon AE. I learned how to get my own settings and to understand light metering and your shutter speed. I appreciate the compliment, but sometimes I feel like I’m an imposter because I’m like, “Most of these photos are nice because the camera does all the work for me.”

I mean, I like to use digital to be able to learn from my mistakes. I can kind of just pick it up and shoot and mess around with my settings and see what works best, and then apply them to my film camera. But I’ve been using them hand in hand to complement each other. As for the itch, I like having personal endeavours where I don’t feel any sort of pressure except for the pressure I put on myself. No one’s expecting me to be a good photographer. I find it fun. I like seeing my improvement from the photos I was taking years ago, but there’s no time frame for me to better myself. It’s another creative outlet for me to have fun with without feeling the need to be the best at it.

I pick it up when I have time. I also just love photography in general because I’m someone who’s very nostalgic, and I love to go back and look. I’m always scrolling through my phone and looking back at old photos when I’m on a plane. I love having a photo album. There’s just something about photography, especially film photography, that feels more like a moment in time. It’s left untouched, unedited. No one can modify it. It’s just that click, and it kind of lives now as is. And my camera roll on my phone — those will last forever. I cherish them. I love how spontaneous they are. I mean, I capture more candid moments. Maybe that’s why I love photography. I like people as they are. I’m not really trying to shoot in a studio. I don’t do portraits or anything like that. It’s just on the fly: what I see, what I love, what I want to remember.

Incredible!

Ironically, I’m on my walk right now to come drop off some film. I’m literally standing in front of the shop ready to drop off my roll to be developed. This is really ironic. [laughs] I literally have nothing on me aside from the roll from my last camera as we speak.

Before I let you go, I’d like to ask: as we look into the future, what is something you want to manifest for yourself this year or beyond?

Being more comfortable with the unknown. I’m someone who loves to live by an agenda. I love knowing. I love having plans. I also love being spontaneous, but I would say I’m quite regimented. And the unknown scares me. Whether that’s where I’m going to live in a few months, who I’m going to meet—there’s something really thrilling about not knowing. But it’s also something that makes me anxious. I’m learning to grow more at peace with that. I’m hoping to learn how to embrace it instead of trying to fight it and plan around it because, ultimately, it never goes according to plan.

full look. Vintage

photography. Oceane Auclair
fashion. Kimberly Genest
talent. Sophie Nélisse
hair + make up. Shannie Jung
nails. Mat Makes
assistants. Raphaele Sohier + Eustache
studio. Mercredi Studio
editor. Kelsey Barnes
interview. Dana Reboe

There’s a warmth to PawPaw Rod that feels increasingly rare. Maybe it’s the gratitude he cites as his definition of beauty, the daily ritual of a walk and a flat white, or the way he speaks about music as something that should help people understand themselves while still moving their feet. Whatever the source, his world feels guided by curiosity rather than convention.

That spirit runs through ‘Picture Day: A PawPaw Rod Album‘, his long-awaited debut and most complete statement to date. Inspired by the school picture days that offered rare moments of permanence amid a constantly shifting childhood as a military kid, the record unfolds like a collection of snapshots—capturing resilience, self-belief, vulnerability, and growth through a genre-defying lens. Blending soul, funk, hip-hop, and alternative influences, PawPaw Rod continues to occupy a lane entirely his own, one where timeless grooves meet deeply personal storytelling.

Fresh off the album’s release and ahead of his North American Picture Day tour, Schön! caught up with PawPaw Rod to talk about the films that shaped him, the songs that soundtrack his life, and the simple pleasures that keep him grounded.

What kind of mood are you in today?

Mellow but eager

What’s a moment that made you want to pursue the career you’re in now?

Watching The Jacksons: An American Dream and The Temptations a million times.

How would someone recognize your style without seeing you?

Love is in the room.

What’s something you’ve read or watched recently that stuck with you?

Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy and The Straight Story directed by David Lynch. I was extremely moved by both.

When do you feel most in sync with yourself?

When I’m hydrated, gotten a significant amount of steps in, had some protein, a smoke and a flat white, with a little conversation.

What’s a small luxury you never compromise on?

Going on a walk.

If your life were a genre, what would it be—and why?

It would probably be a Now That’s What I Call Music album, so every genre. I say that because I like to travel, explore and not be put in a box.

Ideal 3-course meal?

Tom Kha or lentil soup as the appetizer, lamb chops or salmon with sweet potatoes and asparagus as the entrée. A warm cookie for dessert—shortbread or chocolate chip will do just fine.

Who would play you in the story of your life?

Chet Hanks.

What is “Schön” (beautiful) to you?

Being grateful.

The song that feels like the opening track of a movie based on your life.

“I Got You (I Feel Good)” — James Brown

A track that reminds you of a good memory. The sound of your teenage years.

“The Race” — Wiz Khalifa

A song that feels timeless to you.

“Rock with You” — Michael Jackson

A lyric that hits harder every time you hear it.

“I knew the perc was fake but I still ate it because I’m a gremlin.” — Kodak Black

A track tied to a specific important place.

“Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)” — Ashanti reminds me of when I lived in Tacoma.

Something new you’ve been playing on repeat.

“The Danger” — Khal!l

The song that lifts you out of a low mood.

“It’s Changed” — Lonnie Smith

A track you keep coming back to lately.

“Love Sign (Shock G’s Silky Remix)” — Prince

A song that sums up where you are right now.

“I Care” — Turnstile

photography. Aris Chatman