We want to hear from you! When I read the pilot, and I thought it was incredibly well-written. Wever played a lead role in 2017's miniseries Godless as Mary Agnes McNue, a tough leader of a female-dominated town. Danielle Macdonald: It was sort of a combination of everything. Edna Hendershot (Grace Rasmussen in the show), had investigated more than 100 rapes by 2011. She grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to win an Emmy Award for her work on the show. They were able to talk through a counselor to her about her experiences. He is a proud member of GALECA, Critics Choice, and HCA. Beth Dubber/Netflix I remember getting uncomfortable with that because I think the truth is a little more complicated and a little sadder. His battles with the church arent over, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Based on reporting from ProPublica and the Marshall Project, the series follows Marie, but also the two detectives who, much later, gave her case a chance to be solved. For example, theres a snippet where the real person that Merritt plays says that when she met Ambers charactershe was completely fine. She later took acting training in New York City. If you believe enough and try hard enough and work hard enough, you can find an answer. Its all important information, but you have to fill in all the blanks by yourself. DEADLINE: Can you tell us anything about your French Exit character? MACDONALD: Im not entirely sure how much Im allowed to say, but it was a fun role for me to get to come in and play. Your arm is kind of draped on him, so theres a physical connection there. MACDONALD: From what little I knew about the relationship with Eric, I know how she didnt want to tell anyone at first. However this excellent show doesn't have a bad performance - enjoyed the always excellent Annaleigh Ashford, Dale Dickey, Heartbreaking Danielle McDonald, a rather icy Elizabeth Marvel and a . Flash forward a few years later to the state of Colorado, where Detective Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) is interviewing a rape victim named Amber (Danielle Macdonald), whose story contains a myriad . Ive been told that. "[18] Many critics nonetheless noted her character as a highlight of the show. I move with ease. My experience of playing Ruby, frustratingly at the time, was one of chasing her down. Danielle Macdonald and Kaitlyn Dever strike a pose alongside their co-star Merritt Wever while attending the cast and crew screening of their Netflix series Unbelievable held at The Landmark on Monday evening (August 26) in Los Angeles. I truly had to wrap my head around how someone is fine. In 1997, Merritt Wever made her first TV show appearance as Myra in the Mad Dog episode of the crime drama TV series,Law & Order. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. And I loved having that energy there. Meredith Blake is an entertainment reporter for the Los Angeles Times based out of New York City, where she primarily covers television. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. DM: Eric Lange plays the cop in the first case, and I think of how her case would have been different if he handled it. I learned a lot about this show. As a result, Marie was charged with a gross demeanor and had to pay $500 for court costs. That was my big thing. Im okay with that. Merritt Wever stars in the TV series Run, which premieres Sunday on HBO. But for Wever, a modest, deeply humane performer who has long seemed allergic to self-promotion of any kind remember when she won an Emmy for Nurse Jackie, then fled the stage after a stunned, 11-word instant classic of an acceptance speech? When her character was killed off in the 6th season of. [11] Zoey is described on the official Nurse Jackie website as "an irrepressibly bubbly trauma nurse, who serves as a comic foil to Edie Falco's hard-bitten (and prescription drug-addicted) titular character". I think I completely understood that being in that terrifying place where youre maybe a little bit on eggshells now, because youre just a little bit scared that now someone sees you differently. Vicky is really lovely and really wonderful and she believed in me throughout all this, even when I truly didnt believe in myself. MACDONALD: Yeah. All Rights Reserved. Youre smiling in a lot of moments when we first see you. Once I heard who was behind it and got to talk to them about where they wanted to go with it, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. Since Netflix first premiered the limited series, both critics and curious streamers alike have been raving about the central performances. Performances we love: In Netflixs Unbelievable, Merritt Wever delivers not so much a performance as a near-spiritual service to the message of the series. We will all become more compassionate and learn how this can happen. How can these cops not believe her? And even though this is happening all over the world, Im homesick and heartsick for my city., In Run, Wever stars as Ruby, a dissatisfied housewife who reunites with college boyfriend Billy (Domnhall Gleeson) for a spontaneous cross-country adventure. "I've never had the experience of going to work every day mostly being opposite one other actor, and I'm very . I think I internalized that maybe more than I had ever understood before this audition process. While Kaitlyn Dever (who plays Marie Adler in the Netflix series) tells GoodHousekeeping.com that she hoped Unbelievable would "start a conversation," she doesn't think the series necessarily "vilifies" the two male cops. I gotta go. MACDONALD: I havent actually. AD: This could have been just a standard procedural, but the subject matter is handled with such exquisite care. Merritt Wever's birth took place on August 11, 1980, in Manhattan, New York City, USA. They really wanted to tell the story in the right way. And that was the best thing I think I could have done, because I went into the role after that saying, Okay, this is exactly whats going through Ambers head. And I made that choice and I spoke to everyone involved. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Its so important to show her smiling because thats what people often do. Kim Kardashian's 10 Met Gala Looks Ranked After She Walked Yara Shahidi Wows in Mermaid Gown at Met Gala 2023, Manu Rios Shows Off Perfect Smile at Met Gala 2023. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. It was such a mind trip. Merritt Wever is an American actress who got her big breakthrough with an important role in the medical drama TV series, Nurse Jackie. UmI gotta go. Titles Unbelievable. Senior Editor, Editorial Business Development, 'Unbelievable' Star Kaitlyn Dever Speaks Out About the Portrayal of Police in the Netflix Series, The Heartbreaking True Story of Marie Adler, 'NCIS' Fans, Mark Harmon Made a Huge Career Move, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. You know this actually happened to people and I instantly wanted to see where this was going. I will add my thoughts about the DEI standards following these rule changes. We know people that this has happened to. It reminds me of an email I wrote Vicky after she cast me. I didnt expect me. Eventually, it was revealed that Jeffrey and Jerry's interactions with Marie included "bullying" and "hounding," and were nothing short of the victim being coerced into admitting that she lied about the rape.. It was honestly very fun to film and funny, and Jo is hilarious, and Hugh Skinner is amazing. She started her career by appearing in a number of low-budget short films. Danielle Macdonald. Merritt Wever. Along with Colette's character, the pair work together to link their Colorado case to Marie's. The actor is best known for. I dont want to say wary because that feels judgmental of people who are more comfortable with it. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. I heard the rest of the series would be more about the investigation. Thats really powerful. Danielle Macdonald and Kaitlyn Dever strike a pose alongside their co-star Merritt Wever while attending the cast and crew screening of their Netflix series Unbelievable held at The. Performances like these are difficult to watch but essential, and Macdonald will make you listen and take action. It made me feel more passionate. After all, a review of research from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) finds that the prevalence of false reporting is very low between 2 and 10%. She doesnt have any official social media account. Merritt Wever is an American actress, who earned an Emmy Award for playing the character Zoey on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie. I found it difficult at first, because she seemed fine. I didnt know anything about my role. You can also find help at hotline.rainn.org. I feel like the. She was born as Merritt Carmen Wever to mother Georgia Wever and was conceived via a sperm donor. I finally found myself in a room of people who werent telling me that I couldnt do this or couldnt be that. But theres something about the way that our business works, and the way that as actors were dependent on other people seeing us a certain way and choosing us, allowing us to do our work, that can sometimes make it OK for people to tell you those things very directly to your face. AD: I like how you said that trauma isnt a blanket experience for everyone. They just told me a little bit of the basis of it. Love is in the air at the Water Cooler this week. She appeared in the films Birdman, Into the Wild, Neal Cassady, Michael Clayton, Series 7: The Contenders, Signs, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, Bringing Rain, All I Wanna Do, and Marriage Story, among others. Grant, Chabon, Waldman, Timberman, Beverly and Couric executive produce. And I think that that was really key in me wanting to do this. I read a lot of stories about how different women reacted to this. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. The Netflix series Unbelievable brings together a group of actresses including Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Dale Dickey and Danielle MacDonald. Deadline Launches Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted Streaming Site, WGA Officially On Strike After Studio Talks Fail; Picket Lines Start Tuesday, 20 Questions On Deadline Podcast: Sheryl Lee Ralph Talks Abbott Elementary Season 3, Her Secrets To Happiness & Best Life Advice, 20 Questions On Deadline Podcast: Wild Author Cheryl Strayed On New Hulu Series Tiny Beautiful Things, Her New Janis Joplin Project & Life Advice, Jennifer Garner On The Last Thing He Told Me: I Didnt Think I Could Survive If Somebody Else Played The Role; Author Laura Dave Hints Season 2 Contenders TV, What Went Wrong? MACDONALD: Yes, theyre in post-production. [10], She has guest-starred on a number of TV shows, including New Girl, The Good Wife, Conviction, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Wire. Plugging a show would be tricky for any actor right now. I love and admire the courage of these women. But obviously, it is such a delicate subject matter. Thats how Im going to survive this. Macdonald is repped by CAA, Justice and Ponder and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? ', Met Gala red carpet 2023: Margaret Qualley, Maya Hawke, Lily Collins and more grown-up celebrity kids lead fashion's biggest night. Fox doesnt think hell live to be 80: Every day its tougher, Jerry Springer kept his aggressive cancer a family secret in his final months, James Corden gets a star-studded send-off on his final Late Late Show, Kim Kardashian is catching shade from Patti LuPone and Sharon Stone for AHS casting, Jonathan Majors accuser gets full temporary protection order ahead of court date. I dont think his character is a bad person, but these people arent trainedtheyre not taught. The person screaming, I cant get cast in this was me and not them, but I dont know. Parker and Pruitt portray real-life investigators Sgt. Shes also set for Netflixs Bird Box with Sandra Bullock. She has also delivered memorable performances in popular shows such asThe Walking Dead and New Girl. After graduating from high school, she got enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College. Steve Rider, the commander of Lynnwoods Criminal Investigations Division, also called Maries case a major failing. Still, no one in the Lynnwood Police Department faced disciplinary action. I think everyone should go and look up the statistics, because thats where I was astounded. Frank's chase leads him to La Belle, New Mexico--a town inhabited, after a mining disaster, almost entirely by women. Won the 2018 Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie category for her role as Mary Agnes in. Prior to her new position, she was the Senior News and Entertainment Editor for the brand, covering and editing all things in the entertainment, pop culture and celebrity world forGood Housekeeping. I think that what I do for a living just sometimes brings it into stark relief in certain moments. In times of stress, I tend to go towards getting things done. Marvel's feedback: 'I was kinda sweaty. Co-written by Grant, who will serve as showrunner, Michael Chabon (John Carter) & Ayelet Waldman (Applebaum), Unbelievable is based on The Marshall Project and ProPublica Pulitzer Prize-winning December 2015 article, An Unbelievable Story of Rape, written by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, and the This American Life radio episode about the same case, Anatomy of Doubt. It tells the true story of Marie, a teenager who was charged with lying about having been raped, and the two female detectives who followed a twisting path to arrive at the truth. Danielle Macdonald Rich Fury Getty Images You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat. Danielle Macdonald 's portrayal of key witness Amber Stevenson expertly conveys the unexpected aspects of trauma response, in that many people dissociate and are apparently fine instead of. How could you cast me as as this?. [5][6] Her mother is from Texas, and is a feminist and political activist.[7][8]. A lot of people think they are out to get them and they mistrust them. It crosses everyones mind. She also "listened to the woman with a sense of alarm.". I was fascinated by that choice. Amber is courteous while she answers Wevers questionsthe trauma hasnt hit yet. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}'NCIS' Fans, Mark Harmon Made a Huge Career Move, See Iam Tongi's Journey on 'American Idol', Kelly Clarkson's See-Through Look Is Going Viral, Read 'Jeopardy! Scarily, I think everyone knows someone that has been. [21][22], In 2020, Wever began starring in the HBO black comedy thriller series Run opposite Domhnall Gleeson. Amber, who is an anonymous rape survivor in the original account, had Detective Stacy Galbraith (Karen Duvall in the series) on her case after reporting that she had been assaulted repeatedly in Golden, Colorado. If you would like to talk to Joey about cheese, corgis, or Julianne Moore, follow him on Twitter or Instagram. Wever began her career starring in low budget, independent short and feature films. I feel like its probably one of the biggest shapers of who I am. She also starred in Ed Zwick's ill-fated pilot Quarterlife, with Rachel Blanchard, Austin Nichols, and Shiri Appleby. I agree. . Merritt Wever and Toni Collette play two detectives investigating a series of sexual assaults. Hopefully that has been the experience for everyone that was portrayed. I think that when I first came onto this, from the podcast, you hear, She was fine. I was like, What does that, mean? Like, youre not fine when stuff like this happens. Only one. Thats terrifying and changes the course of your reaction. DEADLINE: What made you really want this role? She is someone who is very easy to feel joy with but this is such a carefully rendered portrayal of this young womans specific pain. Unbelievable 's Detective Karen Duvall, a.k.a. When Wevers character interviews Amber for the first time, she is standing alone. She had an understanding that everyone reacts differently, and that was the most important part. Writers & Studios Talk What They Couldnt (And Could) Agree On, Late-Night Shows To Shut Down Immediately As Writers Guild Calls Strike, WGA Leadership Says AMPTP Refused To Bargain On Guilds Core Issues, Strike Explained: The Issues, The Stakes, Whats Affected & How Long It Might Last. I guess well see them when we see them. Oh, my god, thank you sothanks so much! Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever, and Danielle Macdonald at an event for Unbelievable (2019) Grant, Chabon, Waldman, Timberman, Beverly and Couric executive produce. DM: If you look up the statistics, a lot of the time society might say, Well, these people are lying. If you look at the amount of people who are assaulted versus the people that lie about it, its less than one percent or something. Its an indication of how exceptional Kaitlyn Dever [who plays the rape survivor] is within the whole show. And then when the relationship ends, it feels like you dont have access to it anymore. And I think its incredible that she allowed that in the first place. He wasnt understanding what I was going through. As she notes several times over the course of an hourlong phone call, the gravity of the headlines has made it even harder for her to discuss her work and its challenges. Thats where, I think, the system needs to pick up. This site uses cookies to serve you better. Kayla Keegan leads Good Housekeepings editorial growth strategies in the partnership, news, social, branded, membership and newsletter spaces. She has also played supporting roles in such films as Michael Clayton (2007), Birdman (2014), and Marriage Story (2019). Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. For that reason, the only thing I knew was what I read or heard in the podcast. Actress: Signs. Timberman & Beverly and Couric had been independently pursuing the rights to An Unbelievable Story of Rape and decided to join forces on the project. Its very important that Unbelievable drives home to its audience that not every trauma is the same and neither is the reaction to that trauma, and that is something Macdonald learned while doing research on the real victims. I then read ProPublicas article that it was based on and the podcast, so I had a sense where it was going. Best Dressed at Met Gala 2023 - The Top 30 Red Carpet Looks, Ranked in Order! And that actually spoke volumes to me. When somebody is finally offered what it is that they crave or they need or theyve denied themselves of for a long time, they are not going to be able to keep themselves from taking it.