Azusena’s lyrical command is balanced, tranquil and smooth — mirroring her artful stance. Her latest single, ‘In The Water’, off her upcoming EP ‘Ether’, is a perfect reflection of this. Infused with southerly warmth, the track seamlessly fuses alternative pop curling beats and hooks with soft-touch electro offbeat synths. The 24-year-old British-American starlet is enthralling, unfurling love stories and exploring the harmonies and contradictions of the human condition in a narrative characterized by dichotomy and juxtaposition.
The daughter of supermodel Cameron Alborzian and popstar Jill Jones, Azusena’s seductive spell is one that’s natural, carefree and innate. As the mesmerizing visuals for ‘In The Water’ premiere exclusively on Schön!, we catch up with her to talk about the elements of space, her songwriting process and what we can expect from ‘Ether’.
You said that “‘In the water’ is about finding harmony in the wrong situation and moving forward”. Did you draw on a particular experience to write the track?
I was just going through the motions. I started looking for all this escape in a new person and situations that were totally different from my vibe, to get away from this sadness I had been feeling from someone I lost touch with.
What inspired the visuals for video?
Nono Ayuso, the director, and I shared the same vision and I trusted all of his ideas. He is so smart and passionate. He changed his whole life to be a director and that free energy he had inspired me throughout the shoot. Lakes have this stillness and transparency that I relate to. The uncertainty of them can be very emotional. I thought that it supported what I experienced in the song. The reflection and cleansing of your spirit and running through a current and getting to the other side.
What can people expect from you forthcoming EP, ‘Ether’? Could you tell us the inspiration behind the name?
Definitely a journey. Hopefully, it makes people feel strong. The name made it all come full circle — all of the songs encompassed by the fifth element: Ether.
What made you take the five elements of space as a standpoint for this project?
The theme of the elements developed naturally and had a lot to do with the connection my moods had to my astrological birth charts and its elements.
If you had to, how would you describe your sound?
Sensitive, free, strong
How would you say this new music takes on from your previous tracks?
It feels like an evolution. This music is about getting back up after you’ve been knocked down and deciding whether to see the glass half full or empty. I wrote music almost every single day last year and the year before and I didn’t have anything left to say afterwards. Everything went into this music.
Your mom was also in the music business, has she influenced you musically in any way?
My mom is a musical genius — she knows everything about music and the industry and, subconsciously, I learned everything about music and taste through her growing up. She knows my heart and has always encouraged any talent I have. Musically, we have the same ear and hear all of the same things in music, which feels like a blessing because I intuitively know exactly what I need or hear for a song.
Did you always know you ultimately wanted to pursue music as a career?
I went through a phase of not thinking it was worth pursuing because the process felt like shit all of the time; but not doing it felt worse.
Sadly, a rare occurrence in the music scene right now is artists actually writing their songs. How important is songwriting for you as a performer?
Just as important as making the music and playing instruments. Lyrics especially, for me.
Independent artists notoriously have a hard time stepping into the limelight but, on the contrary, can also control the trajectory of their sound without external influence. Is remaining independent something you value when it comes to making your music?
So long as I’m always authentic and true to my sound and myself, I’m open to the kind of artist I am supposed to be.
Being British-American, how do you think the pop British scene has evolved in the last years and how are you hoping to contribute to it?
Dance music in the UK has this dope sound right now and there’s more soul on it. [I want] to continue to be involved in the creation of my sound in every aspect of the mixes: [from] production to the mastering. It might drive people crazy sometimes but I trust my ears and I follow my gut and want to just bring my style and sound out there.
What are your main influences when it comes to music?
It changes all the time! But mostly love.
With your EP on the pipeline and once it’s out, where will people be able to see more from you?
Shows around London and Europe, I do some jams on my Instagram page with my band sometimes…
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Initially quiet and reserved, Devon Ross gradually reveals her vast artistic world. We connect with her via video call. Ross seems serene, vaping and surrounded by guitars in what looks like a music studio. She embodies a laid-back coolness that seems to flow in her veins—after all, she is the daughter of Crag David Ross, Lenny Kravitz’s lead guitarist, and former model Anna Bauer. Furthermore, her upbringing split between the shores of The Bahamas, the artistic vibe of Woodstock, and the never-ending energy of Los Angeles, has undoubtedly played a role in shaping her unique style. The more we talk, the more it is clear that her artistic journey has only just begun.
As a model, Ross has graced the catwalk of Valentino, landed a Gucci campaign, and more recently became a “friend of the house” of Louis Vuitton. Beyond modelling, Ross is a talented musician and actress. Last year, she launched her debut EP, Oxford Gardens and starred in the thriller Depravity, where she plays the role of Aria. We have also seen her alongside Alicia Vikander in the drama mini-series Irma Vep, and more recently in My First Film by Zia Anger. Presented as a film within a film, it’s an honest and insightful perspective of a young filmmaker struggling to create her first feature. Definitely not her first role, Ross plays Dina, the newly starring actress.
Speaking with Schon!, she discusses her recent role in My First Film and the challenges that come with starting in the industry, as well as the reality and struggles of any beginning.
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Let’s go back to where it all started, to your beginnings. So tell me, what is your earliest acting-related memory?
Probably when my sister and I were around eight and ten years old. We got these little video cameras and we immediately started writing and making our own movies. She would shoot and put me in them, so that was probably my first acting memory. I remember we made a mockumentary, so a fake documentary, about being a pop star. We were pretending to be those pop stars in the studio or getting ready… Just super casual, kids at home making movies.
This is not too far from your actual day-to-day. So now that you are older, how do you choose the projects you want to work on?
I think it’s super important to understand your director and get along with them before the process. You kind of have to know what you’re diving into. For example for My First Film, Zia Anger, the director, and I got on so quickly. It’s kind of nice to get to know the director beforehand. We were always on the same page with Zia. By the time you get the job, you’ve hung out a few times already. But also I would say, just taking risks and doing things I’m not the most comfortable with, that’s the best way to learn things in life.
There’s a real honesty about My First Film, where you play the role of Dina. How was it portraying being a newly starting actress?
I could relate to her so much, the scene where she is like, “Cause I’m an actor now,” that’s literally how I felt. So preparing for that was just getting to know the story, and trying to understand the motives. I could definitely relate to her, I loved her. It really was all in the pages, it wasn’t too hard to get into it. Also, even though we never really spoke about it, “by the way, you’re not supposed to be good.” I feel like it’s something I just understood. It was kind of a mutually untold thing, that was just how it was going to be played. This girl (Dina) has never acted before; she’s just kind of a watcher, an observer which I can relate to. I’m like that as well; half introvert, half extrovert. There’s a side to me that is kind of quieter, more inquisitive.
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What advice do you have for someone making their first movie or acting for the first time?
I just feel like you just have to go for it. It’s such a nerve-racking thing; it’s such a self-conscious experience. Obviously, your first time doing anything, you’re constantly asking yourself: “Am I doing this right? Am I good enough? Does anyone hate me?” But I think you just have to go through everything! You are there for a reason, you have to try your best to throw out your insecurities and get where you want to get. That’s the most important. I mean, my first job, I’ve spent weeks losing sleep. Why did they pick me? I’ve never even acted before. You just have to put trust in the people who chose you, have gratitude, and just do the best that you can.
My First Film is a movie within a movie. Wasn’t that too confusing to play?
It’s so funny because my first job ever was a show about making a film, and then the next one was a film about making a film, which is so funny to me. I mean, you’re around a fake film crew, with cameras, with mics and then there’s an actual crew with mics and cameras… It didn’t get confusing this time because we were all so close, so we obviously knew who everyone was. It was so fun to make something like that. It was a fun ride for sure!
What was your favourite scene to play?
The dancing scene was probably my favourite. Monica Mirabelle choreographed it. I used to be a dancer when I was younger. We filmed it on a night shoot, it was just me and Odessa (Young) on the scene and that was really fun. Also, the scene where I was trying to scream, was great! We were all so close when we filmed that, because we spent so much time together everything was fun, that scene in particular. It was all really cool to make, I can’t think of one scene that I didn’t enjoy.
There’s a real female perspective to the film. It talks about abortion and its struggles… Is that something that drew you to this project?
The script deals with things that people don’t talk about, which is so important to me. Now when my friends watch it, they’re like, “Oh my god! I’ve never seen people talk about that, or I can relate to that so much, or this happened to me.” When you write a script that’s the reaction you want from a film like this. I think films should always have real subjects, you know. It was female-directed; the DP was a female, the costume, and the make-up artist were all women… We were surrounded by females; so obviously as a woman, it’s the most comfortable environment you can be in. It wasn’t hard to take risks or try new things.
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In which movie did you have to get out of your comfort zone and take risks?
Just recently, with the movie Vindicta, which is not out yet. It’s a period piece and it was very dialogue-heavy. I was in every scene, which I’ve never done before. There was a lot of physical work as well. I would have loved to do every stunt but wasn’t allowed to, because obviously, I would hurt myself. But it was a great new experience; it took everything to the next level. I’ve learned so much!
I know you can’t talk much about Vindicta, as it’s not out yet, but tell me more about Depravity.
That was also a pretty crazy experience! We filmed it in Bangkok, Thailand for two months. I’ve never been there before, so it was really cool. Same with the film, I was in a lot of scenes and it was a lot of physical stunts but also choreography. We even had a stunt coordinator. They would teach us how to “kill” someone, how to make it look real… You never think about that part when you are watching a movie. You think everyone goes on and does it, but actually, you have to learn how to do these specific movements and where the camera is… It’s a bit confusing at first but it was really interesting to learn.
Is there a genre or film director you would like to work with?
Oh yeah! I have a list actually, I can tell you some… I love Annie Baker, she did the film Janet Planet this year, which I thought was amazing. I’ve watched it like 4 times! Wim Wenders is one of my favourite directors of all time. I love Sean Baker, I love Jim Jarmusch and India Donaldson just did this film called Good One… I’m obsessed with movies! I can just go on and on and on.
What you would be doing if you were not an actor? What about modelling?
I thought about this the other day, I feel like I’ll still do music. Or maybe casting, it sounds like a really cool experience, but I’ll definitely still be in the creative umbrella of things for sure. I loved modelling, it came out at such a great time in my life, I was the perfect age. It was so fun; it took me to so many places and met so many people. But modelling and acting are so different. When modelling you are there for someone to show their work, your purpose is to help someone make their vision come alive, but they’re in control of it. You are a mannequin, which is fun and you have some freedom in that… But with acting, it’s much more of a collaborative experience. You are constantly being asked, “What about this? What do you think about this? What if we try this?”, especially with indie films, everyone needs to have the same amount of passion around. Everyone is so in love with what they’re doing. It’s a little piece of art that everyone needs to put passion in to come alive at the end. I enjoy both, and it’s really cool that acting comes with that and I still get to do some modelling.
What is your relationship with fashion?
I love fashion! I grew up loving fashion, forever and I still love it. I always loved vintage clothes, my parents would take me vintage shopping, finding something special and irreplaceable pieces. So I love searching for things, but you know, I also love going to an LV store and getting beautiful things. I think that modelling fortunately goes along with acting so hopefully I won’t have to stop doing it. I recently became a ‘friend of the house’ of LOUIS VUITTON, which means I can participate in all of the events and go to the fashion weeks. I get to do all the fun stuff!
What are some exciting projects you are looking forward to in 2025?
None that I can talk about really… I can tell you that I’m shooting a film called The Deputy, it’s starring Julia Fox, William H. Macy and Stephen Dorff, which I’m really looking forward to. I’m also working on Vindicta, which is a Croatian film where I play the lead role. But overall, I’m always keeping myself busy, usually with music. I wanna do everything! I would love to direct one day, I just love everything about this business.
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Singer Mereba keeps the spark of poetry alive through music. With the American South and Ethiopia in her heritage, it makes perfect sense that the artist is so comfortable painting emotion with sound. When she speaks to Schön!, Los Angeles is still in the midst of some of the fiercest fires it’s faced in decades. Mereba is safe but reflective under the cloud of uncertainty that covers the city. Taking a moment to talk about her new music is as healing for the artist as it will be for fans who take their first listen to her latest album The Breeze Grew a Fire. Its soothing melodies and whimsical vocals explore human themes like childhood, nostalgia and personal relationships. Released on Valentine’s day, the album is Mereba’s love letter to all versions of herself with its meditative calmness. The project has a worldly rhythm to it, pulling from the likes of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, Brazilian Bossa Nova and Ethiopian Jazz. In her interview with Schön!, Mereba delves into everything from maintaining a sense of self in motherhood to freeing herself from a rigid career timeline.
How did you first get into poetry?
I tried to ask my mum because I’m having trouble remembering at this point. I wouldn’t say I was a shy child. I’ve always been pretty social but I was a very reflective. I guess you could say melancholy, I think is the word that she used to describe it. So, I think that poetry just gave me this space of my own to process the world through. That kind of deep lens that I would always take things through as a child. And I’ve just always kept it with me, like I always would move around the world with a journal and write about my feelings from this more poetic place. And I think it also created a space where I could make something beautiful out of a lot of the more painful revelations that I had throughout my life about the world, about people, about family.
Is there anything you wish your younger self would have known?
There’s not a rigid timeline on life. I always felt like I was running behind with my purpose. When I was 10, I was like, I’m getting old. When I was 15, I was like, I have all these songs I should have released them to the world. I always felt like an alarm was going off and I needed to turn it off. Life is so beautiful, that if you focus too much on feeling like you’re not where you’re supposed to be, you really do miss out on what’s around you. I would tell her that all the things that make her uncool to the people around her at that current time will eventually make her pretty cool.
What else would you tell her?
The most important thing to focus on is being the kind of person that you’re proud to be. We do gravitate towards being our best, fullest, most expressive selves as children without being as critical of ourselves. I would tell her that she’s doing a great job in that area and she’s living in her truth and is helping other people just by her being herself.
They say that sometimes the name that you’re given at birth can predict what you become when you’re older. Your name is related to sunrise which is what many would say your music sounds like. So, what does your music feel like to you?
This album in particular really comforts me. Maybe you just cleaned your house, the wind comes through and you feel that breeze and it just feels like this calm feeling of OK, I’m here in this moment and I’m doing good. I’m loved and I love very deeply. It feels warm. It does feel like a mother’s love. It’s hard to listen to it from an objective place because I was going through becoming a mother for the first time while writing.
How did creating new life influence the sound of your new album?
It changed the way that I relate to the spark in me around music, my passions my work and my life. A lot of my work has nature themes infused in it. I love the connection between nature and all of the universal lessons you can learn. If you just observe something in nature and its cycle long enough, it can apply to getting through life.
What did you learn most about yourself when you transitioned from being just a girl to being a mum?
The balance between wanting to give your child an amazing life and still tending to the child within yourself. That person inside of me that still has something to say and still has something to show my son. Like, this is who your mum is as an autonomous person and then this is who she is as your mother. The most important part has been sacrificing parts of life that I normally would have given to myself and making sure that my son has everything he needs. And then balancing that with bringing him into my life and not losing sight of who I am as a person.
It’s great that you’ve made that intention. I’m sure we all know women who had all these dreams that they let go after motherhood.
There are not a ton of road maps. [For those] who don’t necessarily want to live the reality of suppressing those dreams and desires and then waking up 30 years later like, my kids are gone and I have to live for myself again. How do I do it? There’s something so beautiful about that but I do think in the end that everyone — the child, the mother and your village — benefits more from all of us being true to ourselves, you know? And I’ve learned a lot of lessons about that from the women around me.
Why did you decide to call the album The Breeze Grew a Fire?
These songs are in large part about friendship, family and those relationships in life that make you really strong, but that you almost take for granted. It feels a lot like what a breeze is. Like those gentle phone calls from your sister or your best friend, or, you know, those constants in your life. You barely notice how gentle and sweet they feel but they make you feel like life is worth living.
Is there a song on the album that feels most sentimental to you?
The first obvious one that comes to mind for me is Starlight. It was on my heart that I wanted to write that song when I went into the studio that day. I was very clear, I’m gonna make a song that’s essentially a letter to my son, but not a lullaby. I wanted it to have a certain level of grit and depth to it sonically. I’m explaining to my son that there are all sorts of things to watch out for in life, but you have all of the tools inside of you that you need for the game. He does sing at the end so that’s really cute. You can hear it if you’re really listening.
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Molly Brown wants you to know that “If you don’t get Deb in Dexter: Original Sin, you just don’t get teenage girls.” The actress, who hails from Iowa, has carved out a notable presence in the entertainment industry over the past eight years, starring in projects like Evil and Bloody Axe Wound, along with guest appearances in Billions, FBI: International, and Chicago Med. But, her most recent role stands out as a testament to her tenacious commitment to her craft, not only challenging her as an actress but also allowing her to explore the complex emotions and experiences that define the teenage experience.
In Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel to the cult-followed TV series Dexter, Brown portrays 17-year-old Debra “Deb” Morgan, a character originally played by Jennifer Carpenter. The series follows a young Dexter, Deb’s older brother, as he begins his transformation into an avenging serial killer – and all the complexities that come with leading a double life. Throughout the season, Deb bursts into scenes with a barrage of colorful curse words that underscore her fiery personality, but beneath her tough and brash exterior, she’s grappling with the deep sense of isolation that comes from feeling like the odd one out within her family.
While fans of the original had a lot to say about the casting, Brown let it slide off her back, saying, “I have unearned confidence in my ability; I did feel prepared to take on the role. I knew once people saw it, they would change their minds.” Watching Brown’s mannerisms, facial expressions, and all-around attitude on-screen, she’s not only got Deb down pat, but her confidence is anything but unearned.
In a conversation with Schön!, Brown shares how she found out she got the role, portraying a young and rebellious Deb, and discusses the pressure of joining an established fan base.
I want to start by congratulating you on Dexter: Original Sin. I read that you were a huge fan of Dexter before booking this project. What were some of the emotions running through you when you got the call that you’d be playing Deb?
It was a lot! The other thing is that I’ve been a working actor for 8 years, so there was an overwhelming sense of like, “Wow, this is much bigger than something I’ve done before.” On top of that, it was a character I already love, and I feel like I know. That’s why the audition went the way that it did, because when I was reading the audition material, I was like, “I know how Deb says this; I know how this sounds.” It was a lot of emotion all at once. I was at the Eras Tour, so that was a very crazy place to learn about it. It was right at the end of the show, and every part of it felt like it was out of a movie. It didn’t feel like real life.
You were in Paris for the Eras Tour, right? And was Karma playing when you got the call?
Yeah!
That’s such a crazy thing to have happened! Do you look back at that and go, “Is this real life?”
It’s the kind of thing that seems made up; it sounds too much like a story. That whole week, I had been telling myself, “There’s nothing left for me to control with this. The audition is done. All I can try to do for myself is have good karma,” and Paris can be a very particular place to exercise that.
It’s almost one of those things that, once you let it out of your hands, it comes back to you. Keeping on theme here, if Taylor Swift was around in the 90s, what song would Deb be listening to on repeat?
Oh my God! It’s interesting because Deb’s music taste in the show is a bit different than what I would’ve imagined her music taste to be… It’s so hard because there’s probably a perfect answer somewhere, and that’s what I’m looking for – I feel like I’m going to give a mediocre answer. My girlfriend just said, from the other room, ‘Reputation.’ I was also thinking of ‘Now That We Don’t Talk’ – probably something with a bit more angst behind it.
Going back to when you got the role, what was the most exciting part about getting it and what scared you the most about taking it on?
What scared me was that Deb is a beloved character, and people had thoughts about me based on just a picture and pre-judged my ability to do the role. Knowing that kind of pressure is intimidating.
What excited me was that, on the contrary, I felt super up for it. Because of Jennifer Carpenter, I know who she is and who she’s supposed to be at 17. I had the full backing of the creator, Clyde Phillips, and the producer, Robert Lewis. I was also really excited about reading the scripts; it was so fun to read a Dexter story before we started working on it.
We spoke a bit about how you’ve been a fan of the show for a while. What was your first introduction to Dexter?
I wish I remembered. I think I watched it in college or when I first moved to New York. The show’s pilot is one of the best pilots I’ve ever seen. It hooks you from the very beginning, so my experience with it was, “I don’t want to stop watching. I love this.”
With this prequel, Deb had such a fiery introduction to the show. What was it like to immediately jump into her character?
The craziest part was that because we shot it with a block shooting schedule – and we had a 10-day shoot in Miami before we went to LA – the first scenes I filmed were from episodes 4 and 5. Then I filmed a lot from episode 8 in the very beginning. In true Deb fashion, it was either sink or swim from the beginning. We eased our way into it, but it did start with a bang.
Speaking of episode 8, the scene on the boat between Deb and Dexter is a touching moment where they connect. How does this relationship evolve over the final two episodes of the season?
That’s what excited me most about Deb’s arc and her relationship with Dexter. Throughout the whole season, Dexter is learning how to at least fake being a better brother, and episode 8 in particular, is a really big turning point for them, in terms of how Dexter is able to offer comfort. That’s the key difference between who Deb is at 17 and who you meet her as in the original. When Dexter comes and rescues her, very intentionally, there’s a hug that happens, and it mirrors a moment in the pilot when Harry’s in the hospital. Deb hugs Dexter, and he doesn’t hug her back. Then, in the graduation scene, he tentatively hugs her back and here, more quickly, he understands what he should do and how he should act as a brother. It’s not just the relationship with Dexter, but also with Harry. There’s more growth happening there because she’s pretty upset with Harry for a lot of the season.
It’s interesting you say that because when watching, Deb is definitely on the outskirts of Dexter and Harry’s relationship and feels like the odd one out. What was it like getting into those details?
It played out in reality sometimes. Paddy [Patrick Gibson] and Christian [Slater] just had more scenes together, and they never excluded me (they’re lovely people), but they spent more time together. There were several times when we would have a scene: I would come in in the middle of it, yell at someone, leave, and they would continue the scene. When they would wrap, I would hear them both laughing and I was literally on the outside of the house looking in, wondering what they were laughing about. It’s them laughing – sometimes it’s the whole crew laughing – and I’m the only person that doesn’t know what’s going on. So, there’s little things like that that you tap into.
With that being said, what was it like building these on-screen relationships?
The first scene that Paddy and I shot together was that scene on the beach. It helped that we were starting from a place where they’re closer. Then, pulling back from that, it is weird acting with someone who’s supposed to be a sociopath. It’s like, “What are you doing? Why are you not responding?” He’s not supposed to.
The best part about acting with Christian – I was a fan of his, I love Heathers – is that he’s so amazing, down to earth, and friendly and welcoming. He didn’t feel like a father; they honestly both felt like my brothers.
There’s an emotional moment for Deb in episode 8, which has stayed with me, as the audience gets to see a very vulnerable side of Deb usually hidden by her snappy one-liners and curse words. When acting that scene out, what was important for you to tell the audience without speaking?
What I talked about with Monica [Raymund], who directed that episode, is that Deb’s alone. We’ve only seen Deb cry twice in the series thus far, and both times, she’s alone. She’s been upset before, but those are the only times when it’s a full release. That is, ultimately, the only time she’s been fully vulnerable, when she hasn’t been with anyone else, and that’s a key part of who Deb is. She has this tough exterior, and she doesn’t let everybody see the part that’s hurting. You see the abrasive reactionary part before, but you don’t see her break down like that unless she’s alone.
You said earlier that there was a lot to live up to with this character. When you approached this project, how did your portrayal of Deb differ from Jennifer’s, and why was that distinction important to you and the prequel?
I’m sure people have a lot of critiques about every part of us that’s different, but one thing I felt very freed by, from the very beginning, was that I’m playing a 17-year-old Deb. If you thought Deb had a lot of emotions in the original, she’s an adult there. I’m playing a version of Deb where her brain isn’t even fully formed yet, and she has stronger hormones and is more temperamental than she is when you meet her in the original – which is saying a lot. That felt a little bit easier; like I could relax into that part and make it mine. It would be a whole different thing if we were rebooting the show, and I had to come in and redo [Jennifer’s] scenes, which I wouldn’t want to do. I just tried to make her younger and a bit rougher around the edges.
There’s a lot to say, in that respect, that nobody is the same as their 17-year-old self.
Thank God.
But that’s important to enhance Deb’s character and ensure you’re not imitating Jennifer’s work.
Exactly. And, I know Paddy is slightly freed by the part that Dexter’s still learning things, he’s still a novice, and he’s making mistakes. But, it would be a total lie to say there’s no pressure with stepping into these shoes and for me, it didn’t hit me until I got there. Even the way you interact with your parents as a teenager is different. I think that Deb has a lot of respect for her father in the original, but that’s kind of a rose-coloured glasses situation in my interpretation. It’s a lot easier to say nicer things about people when they’re gone.
We’ve spoken about how this project has made you expand your perception of Deb, but were there any other ways it changed your view or understanding of Deb as a character?
It’s funny because you can’t really spoil a series that’s already a prequel. Everybody knows where Deb is headed and that eventually, she’s going to join the police academy and become a police officer. What became clear to me was her intentions behind that and what she actually wanted. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the primary thing that drives Deb is to feel like she is a bonafide member of her family. It’s something that you wouldn’t necessarily think is a primary struggle for a lot of people, especially a lot of 17-year-olds – it should be a given, but it’s just not. I think that deepened where Deb comes from.
It’s something a lot of people have to deal with, so it’s just another way for viewers to resonate with this character.
Right. Deb is just a teenage girl. If you don’t get Deb in Dexter: Original Sin, you just don’t get teenage girls. And that’s fine, not everyone needs to. They’re very hard to understand. Having been one myself, it’s like, “Well, of course, she’s reacting this way.”
Definitely! On social media, there have been some comments from men on Deb’s behaviour where I was like, “You just don’t get it!”
Like, “You just don’t like teenage girls, and that’s fine. You don’t have to. It’s even better if you don’t.”
Without spoiling anything, what’s in store for viewers in the last two episodes?
There’s a lot to wrap up. At the end of episode 8, there’s a big shootout, so there’s going to be some fallout from that. Dexter knows who has been kidnapping these kids, and something’s got to be done with that. Honestly, the most exciting part for me – and this is what I’ve been so excited for since I read it because I’m such a huge fan of the original – is that in episode 8, Harry discovers who the NHI Killer is, and there’s more to see with that. I knew the whole time that’s what fans were going to be excited about.
Before the show began airing, you attended Comicon in San Diego in July with the cast. What was that experience like?
It was surreal. It was absolutely crazy. I think the hall we were in had a capacity of 8,000, and a part of me was like,“Well, this is going to be so awkward for us when it’s empty.” But it was full; it was packed. There were so many people.
Mentally, the challenge of walking into an established fan base, I was mostly okay with because I have unearned confidence in my ability; I did feel prepared to take on the role. I knew once people saw it, they would change their minds. People can say whatever they want online, but when you get to see people – in person – so excited about something without seeing any footage, it’s an amazing experience.
It must be so surreal because, at that point, it wasn’t out, and you didn’t know how it would be received. It’s also a testament to how loyal a fan base can be.
I’m a part of that fan base, and I’m very grateful for it.
Do you have any upcoming projects you can share?
Right now, I’m waiting – like everyone else – to see if we can do another season of this show. In the meantime, for the past couple of years, I’ve been working on a pitch for a show based on a series of short films I created called ‘Boy Shorts.’ We’re going to start bringing out my show to pitch soon, so I’m very excited about that. It would be amazing to do. It’s exciting to bring sides of myself into Deb and play with that side of myself, but the project I’ve been working on is more fully based on me. I love all aspects of creating film and television, so I’m hoping to become more involved in the production process.
sweater. Zankov
trousers. Hyke
shoes + earrings. Stylist’s Own
bracelet. Pandora
opposite
t-shirt. Le Set
denim. Hyke
ear cuff. Stylist’s Own
earrings + rings. Meuchner
sweater. Zankov
trousers. Hyke
shoes + earrings. Stylist’s Own
bracelet. Pandora
opposite
t-shirt. Le Set
denim. Hyke
ear cuff. Stylist’s Own
earrings + rings. Meuchner
Credits
The series finale of ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ premieres on February 14th. Catch up with the season on Paramount+.