Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Emilie Leclerc about Motherland: Fort Salem

Emilie Leclerc is an exciting up-and-coming actress who’s transitioning from the stage to the screen. Currently, she can be seen starring in her biggest television role to date as the powerful multifaceted witch Izadora on Freeform’s must-see new sci-fi drama Motherland: Fort Salem.

Set in an alternate America where witches ended their persecution three hundred years ago by cutting an agreement to fight for their government, Motherland: Fort Salem follows three recruits who go from basic training in combat magic to early deployment.

It’s a project that means a great deal to Emilie because it celebrates women coming together to fight a common enemy, and it’s a life-changing project that shifted her perspective of the industry. Pop Culturalist spoke with Emilie about Motherland: Fort Salem and the importance of embracing your authentic self and not conforming to industry expectations.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Emilie: When I was eight years old, I won a national drawing contest organized by Post Canada, so that meant that all my family and I were invited to fly to Ottawa to be honored at the Winterlude Festival. As a child, that was the first time that I was exposed to a large-scale cultural event because I grew up in a really small town. I was interviewed on TV, and it became quite clear at that point that I wanted to pursue acting.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career, either personally or professionally?
Emilie: That’s a good question. Personally, I’d say my dad because he was quite opposed to me pursuing acting as a career when I was a child, and honestly, his resistance at that point, it really thickened my skin, and it made me even more obsessed with pursuing a career in acting. I’m really grateful for that. Today, he’s one of my number-one fans, and he’s so proud of me. But him saying “no” just forced me to develop my drive and my self-reliance and also thickened my skin, which is quite useful in this industry.

Then professionally, I’d say it’s my acting coach, named Andrew McIlroy. He helped me look at the craft of acting through a different lens, and I feel quite inspired every time I work with him. He’s inspiring me to dig deeper and really perfect my craft.

PC: You have a theater background. What’s that transition been like going from the stage to the screen?
Emilie: That’s a good question. It strengthened my acting technique, working with voice, breath, and movement, and all that. When your technique is strong on the stage, it’s really useful for the screen. It’s the same technique: script analysis, how you research your character—all that is the same. The transition was more about the intimacy—the intimacy of the lens and how much subtlety pays off probably more than being a bit larger with your movement or voice.

I think for me that was it. It’s very similar, but at the same time, it’s very different, especially on a TV series. You might be working with different directors, and you may or may not be interacting with the whole cast in a particular scene. You have to be a bit more self-reliant.

Motherland: Fort Salem

PC: You have a new series out now. Tell us about Motherland: Fort Salem, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Emilie: Motherland: Fort Salem is set in an alternative America where witches ended their persecution three hundred years ago by cutting a deal with the US government to fight for the country. The series follows three young women that go from basic training in combat magic to their early deployment. It’s a great world. It’s a matrilineal world, and it’s a show where women use their voice to fight evil, so that’s extremely powerful to me. My character, Izadora, is a powerful witch, scientist, and teacher.

PC: Like you just stated, the recruits find their strength through their voice. Tell us about your journey as an artist and discovering your own voice.
Emilie: That’s a great question too! I’m in my thirties, and this is one of the bigger things I’ve done on television. I’ve been fortunate to do a lot of plays. I feel like it wasn’t until I fully embraced who I am, rather than trying to fix me to fit what I thought the industry wanted—that’s when I became successful. This is a tough industry to be in. There’s a lot of rejection, a lot of disappointment, and often it can turn you inward and start making you analyze everything that might be wrong with you.

When I started fully embracing who I was—no matter how I spoke or how I looked—I became ready for this world to embrace my presence and energy. Being a part of Motherland is so important for me so early in my TV career because it’s a show that celebrates women coming together fighting a common enemy.

PC: This is your breakout television role. Has anything surprised you about the experience? What’s been the biggest takeaway?
Emilie: It’s a continuation of my last answer. I had such a wonderful experience working on Motherland: Fort Salem. It changed my perspective about the industry and about working on set. I thought somehow that it was a cold and superficial industry, and I experienced the total opposite. Everyone from the production team to the creative team to the cast was so kind, professional, talented, and fun to be around. It was a really warm and generous environment. It changed my perspective on TV, coming from the theater world, and made me want to be even more involved in it.

PC: What can you tell us about your character’s arc this season?
Emilie: In episode 6, you see Izadora in a new light. She gets out of the lab and gets to play.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Emilie: Sex Education

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Emilie: Always Be My Maybe

PC: Favorite book?
Emilie: The War of Art

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Emilie: Waiting for Godot, Macbeth, Drowsy Chaperone, and so many more.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Emilie: Anderson .Paak

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Emilie: Marion Cotillard

To keep up with Emilie, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Catch new episodes of Motherland: Fort Salem every Wednesday at 9/8c on Freeform.