Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Locke & Key’s Hallea Jones

2020 is off to a magical start for actress and singer-songwriter Hallea Jones. The up-and-comer is currently starring in her breakout role as Eden Hawkins in Netflix’s Locke & Key. Based on the bestselling graphic novels by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez, Locke & Key follows the lives of the three Locke siblings, who move into their family’s ancestral home along with their mother after their father is murdered under mysterious circumstances. Soon, they begin discovering enchanted keys that may be connected to their father’s death.

Hallea’s character, Eden, is the resident queen bee at the high school that siblings Tyler and Kinsey Locke attend. And let’s just say she has quite the journey with the duo. Pop Culturalist caught up with Hallea to chat about her career, Locke & Key, and what the shocking season finale means for Eden.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Hallea: I’ve always been a performer and very dramatic as a child, so I think it’s just in my blood. [laughs] There’s no denying that I’ve always been destined for this career!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Hallea: My high school had an open casting call for Degrassi when I was in eleventh grade. Around 500 people auditioned, and I got a call-back! It really made me think seriously about this as a career. Plus, coming from a family of musicians and entertainers definitely helped spark my love for what I do.

Locke & Key

PC: Tell us about Locke & Key, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Hallea: Locke & Key is a show based off the comic book by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez about a family who moves to their father’s ancestral home after his murder. The kids start to find these magical keys that can do incredible things, and while it’s pretty fun, the games begin when a demon named Dodge starts coming after the keys. My character, Eden Hawkins, comes in when the two eldest, Tyler and Kinsey, go to school and have to deal with me—the mean girl of Matheson. This show really interested me because it was based on such a beautiful comic book and story. Even though my character wasn’t originally from the comics, the writers have done such a good job of creating this world that is so relatable while still offering the opportunity to use your imagination.

PC: Which of Eden’s relationships was your favorite to explore and why?
Hallea: I think Eden’s relationship with Kinsey was the most interesting because there really is no reason for Eden to be so mean to Kinsey from the get-go, so it reflected a lot of her own insecurities. Then, further into the series when Eden and Kinsey become acquaintances, it opens up Eden a lot and explores the beginning of a possibility for a great friendship. But then that last scene in Episode 10 happens and it’s just WHAT?! Where is this going to go, and how is Eden going to act in the future?

PC: What was your reaction when you read what happens to your character in Episode 10?
Hallea: I was sitting with my mom when I read it, and no joke, I started jumping around the room like a crazy person. I may have cried a little too. My mom was so adamant I tell her what happened, but I couldn’t tell her! It was the hardest secret to keep.

PC: If the series is picked up for a second season, where would you like to see Eden’s storyline head?
Hallea: I would really love to see Eden play nice and get in tight with the Locke family. Eden is smart, and I hope to see her play an intelligent game to get what she wants.

PC: Locke & Key is your first television role as a series regular. What’s been the biggest takeaway?
Hallea: The friendships! Everything before this was only a day player job, so I never got the opportunity to get to know the cast. But this experience has been so lovely because I have truly made some of the greatest friends, and they are all people I can see being in my life for a long time.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Hallea: Good Girls

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Hallea: Devil Wears Prada

PC: Favorite book?
Hallea: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Hallea: Mamma Mia!

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Hallea: Birds of Bellwoods

PC: If you could have a key, which would it be and why?
Hallea: Anywhere Key—simply no more planes, no more traffic, no more tardiness.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Hallea: Chloë Grace Moretz

To keep up with Hallea, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Binge-watch Locke & Key today on Netflix.