There is something nostalgic about watching Tate McRae perform at the Manchester Apollo, not least because of the demographic: it’s wall-to-wall teenage girls, many of whom are living out that first-gig magic in real time. She comes on stage to an explosion of screams and phone cameras primed to record. Dressed in an oversized hockey jersey, she launched straight into a high-energy set.
McRae started out as a dancer, and while there’s nothing particularly original about her moves on stage, the hair tosses and silhouette freezes are executed to perfection. Her Think Later world tour is first and foremost an opportunity to show off her great songs, and with two albums under her belt the 20-year-old Canadian certainly isn’t short of those. Although there are some pacing issues — an uninterrupted string of ballads early in the set deflates things a bit — the second half of her set keeps the bangers coming thick and fast. Cut My Hair, Exes and Run for the Hills all remind us of what McRae does best which is to repackage old pop tropes and make them sound fresh for a new generation.
This approach informs everything from the staging, which included a simple set-up of two large and illuminated cubes, to vocals that were a little too slick for comfort. It was refreshing to see McRae break free from choreography and hop excitedly across stage during Guilty Conscience. As the encore Greedy ends and McRae thanks the crowd, the genuine enjoyment in her voice makes it clear that the love between the star and her fans is mutual.
tank top + briefs. Calvin Klein
jeans. Levi’s
socks. Uniqlo
opposite
jacket. AMI Paris
jewellery. Acne Studios
tank top + briefs. Calvin Klein
jeans. Levi’s
socks. Uniqlo
opposite
jacket. AMI Paris
jewellery. Acne Studios
Credits
Shannon Beveridge’s must-listen weekly podcast, ‘Alphabet Club’, was initially introduced to listeners under a very different name. Originally titled ‘Exes and O’s’, the show features candid conversations with guests across a broad range of backgrounds, sexualities, professions, and experiences, from comedy legend Margaret Cho to indie-pop duo Tegan & Sara.
In May 2025, Beveridge rebranded the show to Alphabet Club in order to broaden both its scope and variety of guests. “It felt like that was narrowing the conversation to just being able to talk about sex and relationships,” Beveridge says of the original concept. “I wanted to talk to people who might have been more intimidated by it being called ‘Exes’s and O’s’ — politicians, younger people, older people — just broadening it to be able to talk to everyone instead of limiting it to two letters.”
Both iterations of Beveridge’s podcast feature wide-ranging, in-depth interviews about topics including gender identity to interpersonal relationships. The rebranded ‘Alphabet Club’ encapsulates Beveridge’s passion for inclusivity, approaching the podcast as an open-ended conversation for listeners to share their own experiences and perspectives.
At the top of each episode, Beveridge shares more personal updates with her audience, many of whom have been fans of her unique perspective for years. Before launching her podcast, Beveridge built a following on YouTube, where she became known as a passionate LGBTQ+ advocate and talented storyteller through her channel nowthisisliving.
Schön! spoke with Beveridge about ‘Alphabet Club’, working with other queer creators, and more.
What was the genesis of ‘Alphabet Club’ and the concept of the podcast as an all-inclusive club?
In the beginning, half of my podcast was called ‘Exes’s and O’s’ — just two letters. It felt like that was narrowing the conversation to just being able to talk about sex and relationships. When we changed it and rebranded to ‘Alphabet Club’, it was essentially to be more open and have different kinds of conversations, not just relationships and sex.
Ideally, I also wanted to talk to people who might have been more intimidated by it being called ‘Exes’s and O’s’ — politicians, younger people, older people — just broadening it to be able to talk to everyone instead of limiting it to two letters. So that’s how that came to be.
How do you approach each conversation with your guests?
That’s a great question. I think a lot of times I let them organically come to be the way that they are. I feel like everyone who’s ever been on my podcast has such unique stories or full lives; letting the conversation evolve naturally is more fun for me. I have bad ADHD, so going into anything with too much structure is kind of impossible for me. I feel like it’s just letting them lead the conversation where they want to go with it. It’s crazy.
I’ve been doing it for over a year and a half now, and it’s becoming more second nature than at the very beginning. I was very stressed going into each conversation, being like, “Oh my God, what are we going to talk about? What is it going to be?” But now I’ve got a better structure just because I’ve been doing it so much.
A big part of the structure of each episode is that you take the time to shout out other creators, as well.
I want to create a space that’s like that. I’ve been online now for over ten years, and so much of the beginning years of my channel and my social media presence were about myself and about my own personal life and so much self-disclosure. The podcast and my social media presence now, in general, I want it to be more about handing the microphone to other people instead of just being the one holding it.
Even shouting out other creators or shouting out athletes, I’m trying to uplift queer voices and take a step back. I even started doing that with getting more into photography instead of being in front of the camera. I’m like any other creator — you experience some kind of burnout, and talking about yourself gets exhausting at some point. That’s kind of the reframe that I’ve been trying to do in the last two years, which is just turn the conversation outwards instead of inward.
jacket. AMI Paris
jewellery. Acne Studios
jacket. AMI Paris
jewellery. Acne Studios
Credits
As your career has grown across different online spaces, who are the creators who have been alongside you and inspired you over the years?
The number of sentences or conversations, or stories that I start with, “I know that person from Tumblr,” is crazy. I’m the type of person who never really unfollows people on Instagram, either. There’ll be someone who shows up on my feed that I’ve literally followed for over ten years now. But there is this core group of people who were some of the first YouTubers that I still follow and keep up with, like Rose & Rosie. Stevie Boebi just made a really cool YouTube video called “What Happened to Stevie Boebi?,” and it just explains her journey of being one of the first YouTubers and one of the first queer sex-educating YouTubers.
What have been some of the most valuable pieces of insight you’ve picked up from your guests?
Every time I get asked this question, I’m like, “Why haven’t I thought of something I should say every time?” Because with every conversation, [I realise] everyone is so different from me. I think some of the most insightful conversations I’ve had have been about gender, or gender expression, because it’s not something that has directly impacted my life per se, as a cis white lesbian.
It’s really easy in the queer community to surround yourself with people who are just like you. We spend so much time in Texas or wherever we’re growing up, looking for people who are like you. Then one day you wake up and you’re like, “Wow, I have twenty white lesbian friends.” That was amazing for a period of time in my life, to feel seen by people and understood by people.
But the biggest thing the podcast has given me is the opportunity to talk to people who aren’t necessarily just like me, but they are part of the bigger community as a whole. I think anytime I was talking to someone on my podcast that wasn’t someone who had my experience, I think those are the conversations I enjoy having the most. It’s crazy because I’ve been doing it for a year and a half, so there are over a hundred episodes with just so many interesting people. To say one thing that stands out the most is kind of impossible, I feel.
full look. adidas Originals by Wales Bonner
opposite
tank top + briefs. Calvin Klein
jeans. Levi’s
socks. Uniqlo
full look. adidas Originals by Wales Bonner
opposite
tank top + briefs. Calvin Klein
jeans. Levi’s
socks. Uniqlo
Credits
As someone who is a multihyphenate herself and is talking to a lot of other people who have a variety of projects, what’s something you haven’t tackled yet that you’d like to in the future?
Oh my gosh, yes. Everything. Lots and lots and lots of things. Getting more into storytelling is something I’m really interested in, in short films or in films or TV. That’s something I would love to be doing, taking a culmination of all these conversations I’ve had with people and all these experiences and turning it into more of a story.
Right now, to be a person online, there’s endless opportunity, and there’s so much that you can do, but there’s also this exploitative thing that happens when you’re someone online sharing your life. I would love to get into something that’s more fiction and less nonfiction.
Do you find that it gets your creative energy flowing as well when you have a really interesting conversation?
I’m blown away by some of the people I’ve gotten to talk to. Margaret Cho, that was surreal. I talked to her for an hour, and her chihuahua was in my bed. That was such a crazy experience. So many of my guests are inspiring, whether it’s their real lives or their art, or they’re athletes. I’ve had Olympians on my podcast. How could you not be inspired by that kind of person?
What is one question that you think we should all be asking other people more?
Maybe, “How are you really doing?” We’ve gotten used to the niceties of small talk, but how often are we really checking in with people to see how they’re doing? I feel like, in 2025, we could all use a little more of that: real connection.
top. adidas Originals by Wales Bonner
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t-shirt. adidas Originals by Wales Bonner
long-sleeve shirt. Uniqlo
trousers. Max Mara
top. adidas Originals by Wales Bonner
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t-shirt. adidas Originals by Wales Bonner
long-sleeve shirt. Uniqlo
trousers. Max Mara
dress. ROKH
shoes. AQUZZURA
earrings + ring. LATELITA
tights. Swedish Stockings
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top, skirt + earrings. Louis Vuitton
shoes. GINA
gloves. T LABEL
dress. ROKH
shoes. AQUZZURA
earrings + ring. LATELITA
tights. Swedish Stockings
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top, skirt + earrings. Louis Vuitton
shoes. GINA
gloves. T LABEL
Credits
Years before stepping onto Marvel sets, Hannah John-Kamen was dipping into dressing up boxes and putting on plays after primary school. “I couldn’t switch my brain off from creating,” she said, leaving her hometown at eighteen for drama school in The Big Smoke. From a young age, Hannah’s path has been marked by a relentless curiosity for stories in every form, known for roles that stretch from the West End stage to Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One’, to her electrifying turn and return as Ghost in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest, ‘Thunderbolts*’.
In conversation with Schön!, John-Kamen reflects on the humanity that lives inside even the most superhuman characters, the magnetic pull of a good script, the set and crew being a character in and of itself, and the joy of fearlessly leaning into your creativity.
Hannah, you moved to London at 18 and have since been a part of household-name movies and TV shows. What drew you into acting?
I actually can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to do this. I was born with this very, very creative mind. I couldn’t switch my brain off from creating, making stories, storytelling, dressing up, singing, acting, and dancing. Even when I was a child, I remember that after school, you’d invite a friend round, I’d go straight to the dressing-up box and write a script. It was probably absolutely ridiculous, but it was something like, “You’re a pony, I’m this, this is a farm.” Then, when their parents came to pick them up, I’d charge £1.50 for tickets to watch our extravaganzas. I just can’t remember not wanting to perform and create.
I don’t think I can do anything else, nor want to. I grew up with incredible movies, and we’re a very movie-oriented family, so I grew up with so many beautiful genres. I used to be fascinated with going to see musicals, plays, all these things. In sixth form, all my friends would be driving off for lunch while I went to the baccarat room with my drama teacher and would go through speeches at my lunchtime for drama school. There was no other option in my mind to do this and get to London and be around people who are like-minded and bohemian like me.
It’s so nice that you stuck with it.
That’s the one thing I can guarantee: the fire in my belly for what I do, the fun, and I just feel so lucky. Every set I’m on, every stage I’m on, every rehearsal process, even just kind of sitting alone with my thoughts and writing stories, producing, and ideas coming from the most stupid things. I’ll just actually write a whole thing from it. If I ever lost this, it’d be devastating. It’s something I’ll always have.
dress. Georges Hobeika
earrings + bracelet. BULGARI
opposite
top, skirt + earrings. Louis Vuitton
shoes. GINA
gloves. T LABEL
dress. Georges Hobeika
earrings + bracelet. BULGARI
opposite
top, skirt + earrings. Louis Vuitton
shoes. GINA
gloves. T LABEL
Credits
You’ve done a mix of theatre, TV, and even voice work for ‘Dark Souls’. How did those beginnings influence the way you approach roles today?
I think after drama school, those three years, your repertoire is just so expansive, you know? We’re doing so many different things. We’re all guilty of this; I think we all came in because we just didn’t know what we were doing. We were like, “Oh my god, we’re just so lucky to be here,” because it’s so hard to get into drama school.
I think we limited ourselves, and I would pigeonhole myself a bit. “Okay, I think this is what I’ll do. I think I’m good at this. You’re good at this,” you know. I’m guilty of that. But then, we’re still kind of thrown into the deep end of all these different characters and different roles, just thinking, “Oh my god, I don’t think I could ever play that.” To be honest, we’re jumping into the deep end, into the abyss, and coming out the other end and going, “I think that was the most fun, scariest, tantalising moment of my life.” And that’s every role that I take.
Is that still happening now?
I’m definitely maturing in this other way where I’m now producing, so I’m storytelling in my way. Within the roles that I take and scripts I read, I’m trying to push more boundaries. What do I crave? Where am I now? It’s a very present mind of where I’m at, what I want to do, and what I want to get my hands on. At the end of the day, the roles that I’ve taken — Marvel, Spielberg, ‘Black Mirror’ — it’s just been insane. I’ve been extremely lucky to have the most incredible scripts and characters come my way, and obviously returning characters — as Ghost in the Marvel Universe. It’s an absolute honour when you get asked to come back and play roles.
Whenever you play a character, whether they are human or superhuman, you have to play the reality and the maturity. The Ghost that I played then is not the Ghost I’m playing now because time has moved, changed, and shifted. With each movie, it’s so important to always have an objective, a change, a realisation to add something that moves your character forward. I love playing things within the cinematic universe. I’ve done sci-fi. I’ve done dystopian, like ‘Brave New World’. I love playing reality, but I also love playing in the other different universes.
dress. Zimmermann
shoes. Roger Vivier
hat. Awon Golding
opposite
dress. Richard Quinn
hair bow. Maison Michel
earrings + rings. Jessica McCormack
dress. Zimmermann
shoes. Roger Vivier
hat. Awon Golding
opposite
dress. Richard Quinn
hair bow. Maison Michel
earrings + rings. Jessica McCormack
Credits
With all these different genres, is there one that feels closest to home for you, or is it more about chasing that new feeling every time?
Definitely, it’s been beautiful putting on the Marvel suits. The symmetry with all these different, major outer world movies and series — ‘Brave New World’, ‘Ready Player One’, ‘Killjoy’, Marvel — they all have humanistic themes. It’s about the politics, the mental health, and there’s a love story. The themes of a movie or storytelling will always remain what they are, and the world you’re living in is just the world that you’re living in to tell it. For me, it’s a good character and a good script.
I couldn’t agree more. ‘Thunderbolts*’ was written incredibly, like in high-stakes moments when things are being blown up, but then someone says something very real and human.
I think it’s that thing. Even though I’m a ghost and I can go through walls, and we’ve all got our different superhuman strengths. We all can feel depression and we can all cry. We’re all feeling a sense of feeling stuck and not good enough and insecure, chasing something that’s not real. It’s just very juxtaposing when you see this superhero visual of these characters, but actually the humanistic feelings and emotions that they’re feeling. That’s what I love. I love Shakespeare. It all comes from that; it’s all raw emotion. This is the beauty of this career: scripts, all these different characters, scenes, and directors. The directors I’ve worked with have that eye as well. I always say the whole mood and atmosphere of a movie is a character in itself.
That’s interesting. What makes you say that?
What the audience is going to see is the lens through which that director is giving you to look and view. It’s those binoculars, and that is down to the camera move. The editing is down to the director’s direction in his eye. It’s down to DOP’s lighting. It’s down to the costume team and the makeup team. So that whole crew is a character in itself. It’s not just us. That’s why I love the whole team whenever I do any series or movie, or even a play. Everybody is part of it, and that’s the beauty of it.
The group formed the Thunderbolts without ever wanting to or expecting that to happen, but they ended up having each other. What does that mean for you?
With Ghost especially, she felt like a ghost; she’s very much alone. At the beginning of the movie, she’s on her own; she doesn’t have her family anymore. She doesn’t rely on anybody but herself, and that’s got her through to where she is today. That’s what keeps her tough, and that’s what keeps her strong in survival. But what that has done is push everybody away who can get close to her.
In this movie, they’re all forced to be together and they’re forced to get themselves out of the situations that they have been in. It’s being forced together – the thing that was supposed to kill them was the thing that saved them in the end. They’ve created this beautiful, really messed-up family that gets each other. The whole message, I think, is that you don’t have to do it alone. You don’t have to go through anything alone. No matter what, there’ll always be someone who will get you. I think that was Ghost’s journey in the movie.
Amidst these heavy scenes within scripts you’ve had, is there anything light or unexpected that happens off camera to balance it all out?
Oh, yeah! I’ve been working with Spielberg — the Mr. Spielberg himself. He’s such a character, and his films are almost characters of their own. You know instantly when you’re watching a Spielberg movie—the music, the magic, the essence — it’s that Spielberg touch. On ‘Ready Player One,’ I played F’Nale Zandor, this extremely tough, no-nonsense boss. But off camera, Steven and I would be singing show tunes — “Singin’ in the Rain”, even “A Bushel and a Peck.” We’d be behind the monitors, laughing and singing together. Those moments were just wonderful.
And then on ‘Thunderbolts’, it really felt like a family. On screen, especially early on, we were supposed to be at each other’s throats, trying to kill one another. But off camera, we were constantly howling with laughter, and even the crew joined in. You spend such long hours together in this industry, really diving into your characters, so having that camaraderie — a beautiful bunch of teammates and fellow weirdos — was an absolute honour.
dress. Georges Hobeika
earrings + bracelet. BULGARI
opposite
dress. ROKH
shoes. AQUZZURA
earrings + ring. LATELITA
tights. Swedish Stockings
dress. Georges Hobeika
earrings + bracelet. BULGARI
opposite
dress. ROKH
shoes. AQUZZURA
earrings + ring. LATELITA
tights. Swedish Stockings
Credits
The way you put it with Spielberg and the cast and crew of ‘Thunderbolts*’, you’ve got your own little scenes behind there as well that I wish were filmed.
Totally. That’s the thing — those behind-the-scenes moments are magic. Whenever we do press tours for these films, you can really see it. The vibe on a press tour often reflects how the movie went. For ‘Ready Player One’, I was paired with Ben Mendelsohn, and what an absolute gentleman he is. I walked into that film already a huge fan of his, and came out an even bigger one.
I’ve had the honour of working with some of the funniest, most generous people. Of course, you always respect the art and the process — especially for those scenes that require real focus and stillness — but when you’ve got a group like ‘Thunderbolts*’, it’s just laughter and love. You could see it on our press tour; it was so evident. Jake, our director, deserves a lot of credit; he was incredibly attentive to all of us as actors, to our characters’ needs, while also orchestrating this massive film and crew. That kind of dedication is inspiring.
Speaking of your fellow cast of ‘Thunderbolts*’, if you could swap lives with any of the characters, who would it be, and what’s the first thing you’d do with their superhuman strengths?
I’d be Bob, the Sentry. He’s the most powerful of them all. I’ve said before, I’d only want to do it for a day, though, because with great power comes great responsibility — it’s a lot to carry. But for one day? I’d absolutely have some fun. I’d probably go out into the desert somewhere and just test the limits, see what I could do with all that power. It would be hilarious.
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shoes. Roger Vivier
hat. Awon Golding
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suit + shirt. AMIRI
earrings + ring. David Morris
dress. Zimmermann
shoes. Roger Vivier
hat. Awon Golding
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suit + shirt. AMIRI
earrings + ring. David Morris
Credits
Limitless in the desert sounds like a plan to me. Looking ahead, are there any roles or genres you haven’t tackled yet that you’d like to try?
I would love to do a period piece — something that takes me back in time. I haven’t had that opportunity yet. I’m always drawn to projects that challenge me, that push me into the deep end, and stepping into history would definitely do that. I’d love to play an incredible, complex figure—someone who left a mark on history. I’ve always been fascinated by both history and mythology, so whether it’s historical or biographical, going back in time would be a dream.
You know, when I was prepping for your interview, I don’t know why, but I thought you were in ‘Bridgerton’, too.
[Laughs] Oh my goodness! I’d love that — romance, a bit of drama — it would be lovely.
Yes! And if there was any advice you could give to young performers breaking into acting, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid of your own creativity. You are limitless. Like we said about being limitless in the desert — there’s no such thing as a “limit.” Believe in yourself, stay strong, and lean into your creativity, even when it feels scary. In fact, especially when it feels scary — that’s the moment to dive deeper, to take the leap. Trust me, you’re stronger than you think.
dress. Richard Quinn
hair bow. Maison Michel
earrings + rings. Jessica McCormack
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coat + hood. HUISHAN ZHANG
shoes. Christian Louboutin
dress. Richard Quinn
hair bow. Maison Michel
earrings + rings. Jessica McCormack
opposite
coat + hood. HUISHAN ZHANG
shoes. Christian Louboutin
coat. Ami Paris
shirt. Feng Chen Wang
shorts. Etro
trainers. Onitsuka Tiger
coat. Ami Paris
shirt. Feng Chen Wang
shorts. Etro
trainers. Onitsuka Tiger
Credits
From his very first scene at age seven to winning an International Emmy at just 13, Billy Barratt has always approached acting with an instinctive curiosity and intensity beyond his years. What began as a playful experiment has grown into a deep-seated passion: the ability to create fully realized characters and immerse himself in their worlds. He explores new depths of his acting skills in A24’s ‘Bring Her Back,’ where his commitment to his craft is unmistakable. Guided by intuition, collaboration, and the rare ability to channel vulnerability on screen, he continually seeks roles that move him and, in turn, move audiences.
Schön! chats with Billy Barratt about ‘Bring Her Back,’ his film and acting aspirations, and more.
shirt, trousers + scarf. Valentino
ring. Stephen Einhorn
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jacket, shirt + trousers. Tom Ford
shoes. Russell & Bromley
black square necklace. Giovanni Raspini
silver arrow necklace. Stephen Einhorn
belt. All Saints
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ring. Stephen Einhorn
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jacket, shirt + trousers. Tom Ford
shoes. Russell & Bromley
black square necklace. Giovanni Raspini
silver arrow necklace. Stephen Einhorn
belt. All Saints
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You started acting at a young age. What initially drew you to the craft, and how has your relationship with acting evolved as you’ve grown older?
So, my mum had a friend who was an up-and-coming director at the time. I was about seven years old, and she put me in this short film. No lines, just a quick scene where I’m walking in a field. I think my mum realised that I really enjoyed being in front of the camera and being on set, so she thought, “Why not? We’ll try him for an agency.” I auditioned for the Sylvia Young Agency, got in, and things started to progress because you do auditions and see what comes of them.
At that age, I don’t think I fully understood what I was doing. What really drew me to acting, though, was when I did Responsible Child. That experience had an impact on people; some even said it made them cry, and I realised that movies can actually affect people. That was when it first clicked for me; I was about 12 years old.
As for my relationship with acting, I’ve realised I don’t think I could do anything else. Honestly, that’s been proven by my grades at school. This is all I really want to do, alongside music, which I love. But the idea of creating a character and living as that character for months during a shoot. That’s what I love to do. I feel so lucky to do this for a living.
Winning an International Emmy at 13 was a huge milestone. Did that early recognition shift your perception of success or your goals as an actor?
When you’re acting, you’re always trying to do your best, to feel good about what you’ve created each day. I’m incredibly grateful for the International Emmy — it was insane and such an honour, but it hasn’t changed my goals. I still just want to do my best, and that’s it.
What’s a role from your past that challenged you in ways you didn’t expect, and what did you take away from that experience?
I did a film called Crater, and we spent three months on set in Louisiana. We all had to wear wires every day. The emotions of a character can be tough to live in, but honestly, the hardest part was wearing a harness every day, especially in an astronaut suit, in the scorching Louisiana heat. That was definitely challenging.
How do you choose your roles now? Are there particular themes, genres, or characters that speak to you more than others?
For me, it really comes down to whether I like the story and the character. The story has to move me. That said, I don’t think I’m really in a position right now to pick and choose. I want to try everything, explore everything. I do have specific themes or genres I’m drawn to, but there’s also something exciting about not knowing what’s coming next, and that keeps me motivated.
jumper. Geordie Campbell
trousers. Kenzo
black square necklace. Giovanni Raspini
silver arrow necklace + bracelets. Stephen Einhorn
socks. London Sock Co.
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jacket + trousers. Feng Chen Wang
vest. Pangaia
necklace + rings. Stephen Einhorn
jumper. Geordie Campbell
trousers. Kenzo
black square necklace. Giovanni Raspini
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jacket + trousers. Feng Chen Wang
vest. Pangaia
necklace + rings. Stephen Einhorn
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What does your ideal career look like in the next 5–10 years? Do you see yourself exploring behind-the-camera roles like writing or directing?
I’d love to work more behind the camera. I do write scripts now, mostly just in my spare time without any plan to release them — it’s just something I enjoy doing. I also really want to direct, though I’m definitely not ready yet. But then again, they say you’re never really ready to direct a film… so maybe I should just go for it.
What was your initial reaction when you first read the script for ‘Bring Her Back’, and what made you say yes to the role?
As I mentioned earlier, I like scripts that move me emotionally. I remember reading ‘Bring Her Back’ and crying by the end — and I don’t cry from reading scripts very often. That told me immediately that it had truly moved me. I was blown away by Danny and Bill’s writing, and I really wanted to work with Danny and Michael, too. I’d seen ‘Talk To Me’ and we’d even spoken about working together before. So there were a lot of reasons to say yes, and very few reasons not to.
A24 is known for its unconventional and often emotionally intense films. How did working on ‘Bring Her Back’ compare to your previous projects?
The on-set experience was completely different from anything I’ve done before. Danny and Michael create this incredible vibe where everyone feels welcome, and it’s a genuinely safe space to pitch ideas. If you have a suggestion, no matter who you are, they’ll listen and take it seriously. If it works, they try it; if it doesn’t, you come up with something else. You’re never obliged to pitch ideas, but if you want to, you can.
That kind of environment makes everyone happier, the work moves faster, and everyone’s on the same page. It’s rare to find that on a film set, and it made the whole experience really special.
Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about your character’s emotional arc in the film, and what did you find most challenging about portraying him?
Andy has always come second in his life; his parents gave more attention to Piper, and he’s grown up being a protector of his sister, often putting her before himself. Early on, you can see little moments of jealousy or feeling overlooked, like when he takes a selfie with Laura and isn’t even in it because her head is in the way. By the end of the film, his purpose is clear: he exists to look after Piper. The hardest part was portraying his vulnerability, because Andy keeps so much inside. Playing a reserved, introverted character for a few months and then having to open him up emotionally, especially with Laura, was really challenging.
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ring. Stephen Einhorn
opposite
jacket + shirt. Tom Ford
shirt, trousers, shoes + scarf. Valentino
ring. Stephen Einhorn
opposite
jacket + shirt. Tom Ford
Credits
Was there a particular moment on set, either in rehearsal or filming, that stuck with you as especially powerful or transformative?
There was one very emotional scene where Andy and Laura are back-to-back, having a difficult but necessary conversation. I couldn’t quite reach the emotional level needed, no matter how many times we tried. Danny and Michael pulled me aside and basically said, “It’s okay. Don’t overthink it, just let it happen.” That advice was incredibly helpful, and it’s something I’ll carry into future projects. Sometimes you just have to let the emotion flow instead of trying to force it.
How did you prepare for this role emotionally and physically? Did you work with a coach, dive into specific research, or rely on personal experiences?
We worked with Miranda Harcourt, an incredible acting coach I’d collaborated with on Responsible Child. She helped us build the brother-sister dynamic between Andy and Piper. Much of pre-production involved exercises to connect physically and emotionally — linking arms, describing what Andy was seeing for Piper, or tension-building exercises where we’d push against each other and escalate the intensity before a take. I also drew from observing real people whose mannerisms reminded me of Andy, which helped ground the performance.
Who are the actors, filmmakers, or mentors who have most shaped how you approach your work today?
There isn’t one person specifically. It’s more about being in this industry, observing experienced actors and filmmakers, and picking up lessons along the way. Being around talented people constantly shapes how I work as an actor and as a person too.
What message or feeling do you hope audiences walk away with after watching ‘Bring Her Back’?
I know what I walked away with, and that was a strong sense of appreciation for the people around you, the friends and family you’ve got, because some f****d up things like this could happen. I hope people really like the film. I’m more interested in hearing what other people have to say about the film rather than what I want people to feel, so to be honest with you, I couldn’t tell you; I just hope people like it.
Looking back at your younger self when you were just starting out, what advice would you give him now?
I think if I gave him any advice, he probably wouldn’t listen. But I’d probably say just try not to overthink things, and a bit like what Danny and Michael told me, just relax and let it happen because you know the character, you know the story and whatever you’re feeling in that moment, if you’re truly in the scene, the right emotion will show. Don’t overthink it, just let it happen.
If ‘Bring Her Back’ ends up being a defining moment in your career, what would you want it to say about you, not just as an actor, but as a storyteller?
Gosh, I guess, I don’t have any expectations of how this film portrays me as a storyteller. I guess if it did become a defining moment in my career, I’d probably just use it as a reminder to myself that I can be used to help tell a story. I guess that’s it, I don’t think about what I’d want it to say about me, but I just hope that I’ve done a good enough job to allow the story to be told correctly. But thanks for that question, because I haven’t really thought about that before.
coat. Ami Paris
shirt. Feng Chen Wang
shorts. Etro
trainers. Onitsuka Tiger
coat. Ami Paris
shirt. Feng Chen Wang
shorts. Etro
trainers. Onitsuka Tiger
