Maria Sten NEAGLEY Interview: Haphephobia, Reacher & Prime Video’s NEW Spinoff Series!

I know you're a big fan of Lord of the Rings. >> I am. >> So, I'm going to ask you this one question real quick. First, if we got a season 2, you can only choose one. Would you want to be cast in the next Lord of the Ring adaptation as an elf or have a badass female villain in season 2 and you get to design her and come up with all of her backstory, etc.? >> Ooh. >> Which would you pick? First, I just want to say congratulations on you debuting on your show, Neely. I think it's fantastic. I've seen the whole season, so I'm very confident that fans from Reacher and also newcomers will be very, very pleased with the end product. So, first thing I want to know is like I know that in season 1 when they was casting the show, they let you know like, "Hey, we're being real careful with this. We may You may have a spin-off somewhere down the line." So, when season 3 wrapped and you was talking to Nick like how did you celebrate when you got the news? Like, what did you do? Did you party, call somebody, read a book, go fishing? You know, like what did you do? >> What what did I do? I'm just um I'm always wary of praise and good news. So, I think I I just took it in and then I got a little emotional and then I just sat with it and then I thought I should go horseback riding. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I think that's what I did. I It's a long time ago now, but I I do believe cuz I had all this weird energy, this crazy energy. I was like, I have to get that out of my body. I have to get it out of my system. I'm going to run a horse up a mountain. >> Okay. Okay. Cool. Cool. I've actually never been on a horse before. >> Oh, really? >> With me being in Texas, yeah, I know. I need to get up I need to, you know, go go ahead and get up there. >> Got to change that. >> Yeah, yes, ma'am. So, what was your reaction when you first read the script? Now, I know that's kind of generic, but specifically I want to know when you first read the script, was there anything about it that gave you pause or concern or you thought she was going to be heading in this direction with the story or this character arc and you ended up going in a completely different unforeseen direction, but after it was all said and done, it actually worked out for the better than you originally anticipated. Did anything happen like that or what was your reaction when you first read the script? >> That's an interesting question. I They had already pitched me sort of the rough storyline, so I didn't know before I read the actual scripts what was going to happen. Um and and it was very true to the story that they had told. I think it was just a matter of making sure that, you know, we keep the nuances alive in terms of who the character was in Reacher and and how that translates to who she is in her own world uh as well as as the relationship with her dad and what is going on with her dad and his past and I was sort of adamant about making sure that we um are telling the right story. >> Okay. And we're going to definitely talk about that relationship. Something that I really do like about your character is you're 100% unapologetic, your fearless, you're bold, you're not afraid of confrontations at all. Whether you have Reacher behind you and your whole team or you're running in there solo by yourself. I mean, you'll burn down a building in a second to get justice. That's my interpretation of the character, but I want to hear in your own words like what is it like what are the exciting things and challenges about playing like that? And also for newcomers that are not familiar with the character from Reacher, like what are they in store for? Who who is Neagley? You know, what what is something they can get excited about? >> You know, the thing that's important for me about Neagley is all those things are true, by the way, but what I always wanted to um protect is that Neagley isn't someone who necessarily like springs for violence. She is someone who resorts to violence if she must, you know, but it isn't her first option. Her first option is always um investigating. >> Right. >> And and maybe outsmarting. >> Correct. >> And she will only resort to violence if there's no other option. >> Right. >> Or if the violence is brought to her. Often it is brought to her in that way. But on the flip side, from an investigative standpoint, she will be sort of ahead of things. Like the way that Reacher always just wants to be left alone, Neagley is not that way. Neagley wants to figure out what's going on. And and and solve problems. >> Right. >> Um so I think that is her the the duality of of her personality in that way. >> Got you. And also not making assumptions, too. You know, paying attention to details, you know, that's important. You don't want to end up being killed out there. >> Yes, exactly. >> Now, you've been doing this since 2022 with the first season of Reacher. Of course, we're 4 years later. What are some of the biggest differences between being on set then opposed to now? Is it more of the same or completely different? And also, the reason why I asked that is you just spoke about violence. It's increased in your in your show other than Reacher. One thing I noticed is because in Reacher you're always helping him out and you're you're helping victims that you're not familiar with, but in this show you know them personally. So it makes you more angry and that's where the violence comes from. So, but going back, what is the biggest differences between when the first the show first started up until now? >> Um I mean, behind the cameras it is that I've worked with these people for so long, so there's like a built-in trust. There's a built-in rapport. There's a shorthand, which makes the work so much easier, you know? So when I give a note to my showrunner, he trusts where that's coming from. Or, you know, the hair people, the makeup department, or the director, you know, Sam Hill who directed our pilot has been on Reacher since the beginning. So, they're so helpful in that way. Um, and then I think in inside the story from a character standpoint, Neagley starts, you know, she's younger, she's closer to being out of the army, and and she's still like figuring out which direction she's going to go. Season 2, we see her come into her her work as a PI and really thriving and being successful. And and this is just a continuation of that. I think this Neagley, the show is where we meet her there is um, a point of no return uh, in her life because she is finally being faced with this trauma that she's been suppressing her entire life. And I think um, we watch her um, really break open in the show. >> Yes. >> And and there's there's no going back from that. >> right. I know we're both excited about the reveal of your condition, the haphephobia. I I I mean, I've seen this season twice now and I was blown away. I wrapped it up again last night. Your performance during a particular scene where you're talking to a certain character, you know who I'm talking about. I don't want to spoil it. Your performance was next level. Not only was it the best scene in the whole series, but the whole Reacher universe. To say that you were pissed off and angry is an understatement. So, I kind of want to talk if you can talk to me about the challenges of setting up that scene. Was it What What was more challenging for you? Trying to deliver the best performance possible so that all audience from even season 1 of Reacher will be pleased with the reveal or recovering from the scene after the crew said cut because it dealt up so much emotion? Um, interesting. That's a great question. I think the the the most important the most important part of my job is always being truthful. >> Mhm. >> And that is what I bring to any scene. Um, and I think in this particular moment it was it's so raw and it is so like coming from deep deep deep deep deep buried down inside of her that that that's all like that's all I was thinking about. It was like what is this character communicating to this other person? That that's all I was thinking about and then hopefully the director knows how to point the camera and and and cover that and get the best out of me in that way. >> Well, I don't thank you for that. I have one quick question and rapid fire. I know you're a big fan of Lord of the Rings. >> I am. >> So, I'm going to ask you this one question real quick. For if we got a season 2, you can only choose one. And this is for your life. Like which or or as an actress would you want to be cast in the next Lord of the Ring adaptation as an elf or have a badass female villain in season 2 and you get to design her and come up with all of her backstory, etc. >> Ooh. >> Which would you pick? >> Number two. >> Really? >> a villain. >> Okay. >> I'm dying to play a villain. >> Okay. >> I'm going to do the hero thing for a while now. >> [laughter] >> Any superhero you want to play? Marvel, DC, anything like that? >> Well, you also the key was like I get to make up the backstory. That's why I picked >> Okay. >> But but I I think I yeah, I I'd love to play a villain. So, >> Awesome. Awesome. Wonderful. Well, Maria, I'm sorry. Thank you for your time. I really do appreciate it. This is a pleasure and I know that This is going to be a hit. It's going to be a hit and fans are going to love it. And so, again, congratulations. You deserve it all, okay? >> Thank you so much. Appreciate it. So nice to meet you. >> to meet you, too. >> Mhm.