MATILDA LAWLER
Stars in HBO MAX series
Station Eleven
Photography Sami Drasin
Creative Director Deborah Ferguson
Interview Tessa Swantek
When an actor is young, their age is often the focal point- many say he or she is good for a child. Matilda Lawler, at 14 years old, however, isn’t good for her age, she is good for an actor. And, even then, good is selling her short. In our interview with her, it is clear that she values community and family- themes that have underscored a lot of her work- whether she is a part of an Irish family as Honor Carney in The Ferryman on Broadway, in a strangers-turned-family unit post civilization collapse in Station Eleven, or amongst Santa and the elves in upcoming Disney+ series, The Santa Clause. Lawler seems to be one of the few actors whose career starts in projects they feel intensely passionate about, as she tells us that her intuition and gut guides her. In our interview with her, Lawler tells us about vivid childhood memories, moments she wishes she could experience again, and details her upcoming roles in Season 2 of The Gilded Age and The Santa Clause!
I wanted to start by asking about something you’ve said in another interview- you said that you grew up watching your dad act. Is there a vivid memory you can share with us related to this?
I love this question. One memory I can think of is when my dad played Malvolio in Twelfth Night. I was really young, maybe like four, and there was this one intense scene where Malvolio gets blindfolded and thrown into jail and I was so young that I thought that my dad was the one being thrown into jail and not his character. I was crying and freaking out and I even tried to get onto the stage to get him before my mom had to carry me out of there. Not the happiest memory I must say, but definitely impactful.
I know it’s been quite a few years now, but I wanted to also ask about your experience on Broadway in The Ferryman since so many actors have such positive associations with theater. How does the feeling of doing theater differ from working on a TV show or film?
TV and film are very different in my mind. Not just because in theater you’re on stage whereas in film there’s always a big camera in your face, but because when you’re in a play, you’re with the same people every night doing the same exact scenes over and over. In film, you spend a few hours on a scene and then you will never have to do it again in your life. My experience on The Ferryman made me feel like I was part of a big Irish family (which is what the play is about), because after spending so much time with the same people everyday for almost a year, you can’t help but get close. But yeah, my experience on that show was just really great – the writers, directors, crew and cast were all amazing to work with.
Blazer & Trousers: Patou
Heels: Sam Edelman
Before getting into projects you have coming up, I do want to talk a little bit about your role as Kirsten in Station Eleven, I genuinely think you did such an amazing job in that role! Episode 7 was my absolute favorite of the series. When I interviewed Himesh Patel, he said that in the scene when you sing The First Noel, he was so moved by your singing and acting. How was it working in that ensemble of you, Himesh Patel, and Nabhaan Rizwan?
First of all, I’m glad you liked the show! I love episode 7 too. Lucy Tcherniak, the director of the episode, was just absolutely amazing and so were all the actors and everyone else. Himesh and Nabhaan are just such genuinely great people which made working with them so enjoyable and memorable. They were such generous actors and are both so insanely talented I was just in awe of everything they did. The two of them kind of reminded me of brothers in real life and I loved the conversations we had and the funny childhood stories I heard from them. Watching them/working with them was such an honor.
Top, shorts: Patou
Heels: Charles & Keith
In that episode, adult Kirsten is observing herself as a child to understand that day in a different way. If you could go back to a moment in your own life to observe from the outside, what would it be?
Another great question! I might want to go back to a day when I was a lot younger, when I was able to spend time with my grandparents. Watching any young kid interact with a grandparent is always such a special thing to me and I feel like it would make me smile to see my younger self interacting with my own grandparents who aren’t here anymore.
Shifting to upcoming projects, congratulations on being cast as Frances Montgomery for The Gilded Age’s second season! The show’s first season is so well done and the costume design is outstanding. I know you can’t really give anything away, but what was it like working on a period drama and making that transformation to the Gilded Age?
Thank you for the congrats and oh my goodness I love the costumes on The Gilded Age too! The costume designers are so talented I don’t even understand. I’ve always been very curious to work on something from a different time and when I saw the audition for this come in, I was really excited. I’ve had a ton of fun researching the Gilded Age and learning as much about it as possible. I’m even doing a paper on The Gilded Age in school because I find it so fascinating. With the help of the sets, the costumes, the scripts, and so much more, I kind of feel like I’m being transported to the Gilded Age when I step on set.
Moving from Gilded Age fashion to more modern-day fashion, your ballerina inspired look for Rodarte’s F/W 2022 Portrait Series is so gorgeous. Can you tell us a little more about shooting this campaign?
The Rodarte campaign was just a blessing to be a part of. Kate and Laura are on another level of talent and just seeing all the beautiful pieces that they created was stunning. I was so eager to try on the dress they made and putting it on I felt like a swan or something. They must make their clothes with magic, I’m just saying!
Blazer, pants: Yves Saint Laurent at Tab Vintage
Heels: Sam Edelman
You’re also set to play Betty, Santa’s Chief of Staff, in Disney+ upcoming The Santa Clause. Had you seen any of Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause films before getting the role? If not, what are some of your favorite Christmas movies or shows?
I watched all three of The Santa Clause movies when I was younger and when I got the audition, I rewatched them since it had been so long. It was just a really sweet and fun thing to watch with my family and it looked like the kind of thing that would be great to work on. It turned out to be a lot of fun and I made so many great friends on it. I have a lot of favorite Christmas movies and The Santa Clause ones are definitely up there.
Blouse & Shorts: Patou Paris
Dress: Rodarte
Your character, Betty, seems to be very Type A and job oriented. Do you feel like you are similar to Betty or are you more Type B?
Yes, my character Betty is certainly type A. I think I’m somewhere in between. I am very particular and a perfectionist for sure, but I am more relaxed than Betty – that’s for sure. It was really fun to play a character like Betty because while she is very passionate, she always comes from her head while I come more from my intuition and gut. I always look for characters who will challenge me in new ways and Betty did that!
Blazer, pants: Yves Saint Laurent at Tab Vintage
Heels: Sam Edelman
Photography
Sami Drasin
Creative Director
Deborah Ferguson
Interview
Tessa Swantek
Makeup
Jo Strettell
@Walter Scupher
Hair
Ryan Taniguchi @tmg-LA
Fashion assistant
Juan Marco Torres
Web layout
Katlen Guzman
Thank You
Independent Public Relations
& HBO Max