Parallels follows a small band of people journeying across multiple parallel earths to help a scattered family reunite. We’ve talked to Jessica Rothe who plays the role of Beatrix.
You’re playing the role of Beatrix Carver in Fox Digital Studio’s newest Sci-Fi adventure, Parallels. Can you tell us a bit about Parallels? What do you feel is unique about this story?
Parallels is a sci-fi adventure about a brother and sister who, while searching for their father, discover a building that is a gateway to parallel earths and embark upon an adventure where literally anything (any version of you, any version of the earth, any thing you could or could not every prepare yourself for) is possible. The first time I read the script I was hooked. Chris Leon, our writer and director, has created such an amazing, vivid world where the rules are always changing. And as a result, the characters are constantly having to adapt to new, strange, and unpredictable circumstances and the audience gets the pleasure of watching how we maneuver through these brave new worlds.
I must admit that after watching the film I’m hooked. The big question I see everybody asking is, will there be more? What’s your hope for the series?
Ideally that it will be shot as a full series as initially intended. To me the most amazing thing about this project is the endless possibilities that it presents to everyone involved. When we were watching the first screening on the Fox lot, my favorite part was when the audience began to realize that we could run into infinite versions of these characters in infinite other earths. What an exciting opportunity for the actors, director, crew, and viewers. There is nothing outside the realm of possibilities.
Can you tell us a bit about your character, Beatrix?
She is strong and smart and has had to work incredibly hard for everything she has achieved. When Ronan, her brother, who has been MIA all of these years shows up it takes a while before she can put her guard down and not only trust him but allow him to take care of her. I think in some ways she always expects to be disappointed by other people so she puts up quite a wall. But she has a very good heart and can see the best in others.
What is the most challenging with the role?
I jumped into in to this project pretty last minute (I found out I was flying to New Orleans 2 days before we started shooting) so I didn’t have a lot of prep time. But luckily the cast and Chris were so amazing and supportive and with there help I was able to discover who Beatix was and what her role was within this world.
Science Fiction and parallel dimensions, this is a quite different setting from your other roles. Did you use a different approach getting into this role?
It was my first time working with green screens which was wild. But other than that I don’t think there was much of a difference. Each project is its own unique entity, and as an actor I feel it is my job to discover my truth and the director and writers truth and find the best way to communicate that.
How has it been working with the rest of the cast? Any funny moments you can share from the set?
I absolutely loved working with this cast. Everyone was so incredibly talented and lovely and because we were on location in New Orleans we had a lot of bonding time eating bignets and running around the french quarter. But the big thing about this cast and crew to me was how motivated everyone was to make this the best project it could be. It is a wonderful and rare thing when everyone is on the same page like that.
How did you get into acting?
When I was a kid my parents told me that every time we went to see a play or musical I would sit there with my mouth hanging open completely immersed. I think it has just always spoken to me, been the thing that makes me feel alive, seen, and the way I can express myself.
Why do you enjoy acting?
I love getting to be someone else, to explore the parts of myself and other people that we may keep locked away or have no idea exist within us. I also love starting new projects because I always walk away with such a wonderful new group of friends. Each project brings together such a unique group of humans, people who you might have never met or connected with othewise.
What sort of acting roles do you hope for in the future?
As long as the material is good I am game for anything. I will admit I love super gritty dark stuff and the complete transformation that that requires, but I also think it would be a blast to be in a crazy farce.
What do you do to unwind and relax, any hobbies?
I absolutely love reading. I just finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl which was wonderful, I couldn’t put it down. I also love all of those LA things to love, hiking, yoga, spending time with friends outside. I lived in New York before this and one of my rules for myself is to do something everyday that I couldn’t do in NY.
What is your favorite movie/tv series?
Right now I am obsessed with Luther. Idres Elba blows my mind. Bob’s Burgers is also my jam :). And as far as movies from the past year go, I loved Birdman. To me, it was film’s love letter to theatre.
Are you working on any other projects?
I just wrapped an indi film called Juveniles directed by Nico Sabenorio with Beau Knapp and Stephen Moyer which was really fun- I got to play a very over sexed, slightly trashy/crazy, possessive girl (just a little different from Beatrix). And a film I shot two years ago with Hannah Murray and Jack Falahee is premiering this Friday at the Vista in Los Angeles. Other than that it is back to the audition grind. Though hopefully (fingers crossed) there is a future life for Parallels on the horizon.
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Interview by Dag Rambraut – SFFWorld.com © 2015
