Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Lodge 49’s Olivia Sandoval

Talented actress Olivia Sandoval is blowing audiences away as Janet Price on AMC’s dark comedy, Lodge 49. Her character is an ambitious CEO who seems to have it all together—but, as season 2 begins to unfold, we discover that might not be the case. Pop Culturalist caught up with Olivia ahead of the season 2 finale to chat about Janet and Lodge 49.

Lodge 49 Questions

PC: For readers who may be unfamiliar with the series, tell us about Lodge 49 and what drew you to this project.
Olivia: Lodge 49 is a modern fable that circles around down-and-out surfer Dud; his brilliant, cynical twin sister Liz; and The Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx, a fraternal order not unlike the Free Masons. In the Long Beach chapter of the order (the titular Lodge), Dud finds solace, direction, and meaning to life itself after a series of tragedies derail his sense of normalcy. Liz’s path is not as clear, and as the practical one in the family, the weight of her reality is a crushing force.

The everyday struggles of this community, their triumphs, their failures, and their moments of profundity weave a tapestry that make up the singular universe that is Lodge 49. It’s blue collar poetry. It’s also really funny! There’s magic, donuts, divorce, mysterious men in black vans, plumbing, and Paul Giamatti. It’s truly unlike anything on TV, which is what had me hooked from the get. I had never seen story telling like it. One of our producers called the show “a place to come in from the storm”. I really like that.

PC: There’s a lot of mystery surrounding your character. How would you describe Janet? What’s her greatest strength and biggest weakness?
Olivia: Janet is pure ambition. She’s part Steve Jobs, part Houdini; she’s not without her own form of brilliance, but if you pull back the curtain you can see it’s mostly smoke and mirrors. She’s built an empire based on selling her particular brand of success, but not too far beneath that exterior is a fragile ego that needs constant feeding. Janet is not a carbon copy of the image she sells, and the cracks definitely begin to show during season 2.

Her greatest strength is her ability to manipulate, specifically with language. She can sell a line of BS like no other. Her biggest weakness is her need to be relevant. It’s this compulsion that leads her to make some hasty, desperate decisions that catch up with her and land her in some serious trouble.

PC: Which of Janet’s relationships is your favorite to explore and why?
Olivia: I love Janet’s relationship with Liz. First of all, she is performed so flawlessly by Sonya Cassidy, and it’s an actor’s dream come true just to have the opportunity to share the screen with her. Secondly, in the story, I’m fascinated by how their opposite personalities attract like protons and neutrons, functioning as reflecting pools for what the other lacks. Oddly enough, I think they somehow need each other to survive in this universe—or certainly Janet needs Liz. Either way, I think these two are cosmically tied for whatever reason and will have a hard time shaking each other. There are lots of incidents like that throughout the show. The world is bound with secret knots.

PC: What can you tease about the upcoming season finale?
Olivia: All I can say is that the mysteries of the Lodge are vast and deep, and when one door closes, another door opens (wink, wink). As for Janet, no prison of man can hold her. I’ve already said too much! [laughs]

PC: If the series is picked up for a third season, where would you like to see your character’s storyline head?
Olivia: I would love to see Janet’s relationships with both Liz and Dud continue to deepen, perhaps leading Janet through the doors of the Lodge itself. Also, Janet having a beer and a chat with Champ is a scene I would pay good money to watch.

Career Questions

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Olivia: I saw Julie Taymor’s The Green Bird when I was seven, and that was it for me. I knew I wanted to be a part of that magical, impossible world.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Olivia: My parents are both actors, so I had a wonderful childhood surrounded by creativity. They never hesitated to include me in their world and made a point to expose me to the arts from an early age. They’ve always been nothing but supportive, and I credit them for inspiring me to persist, to work hard, to be kind, and to be diligent.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Olivia: Real Housewives of New York

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Olivia: Face/Off

PC: Favorite book?
Olivia: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Olivia: Waiting for Godot

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Olivia: Aphex Twin

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Olivia: Unbelievable on Netflix

PC: Hidden talent?
Olivia: I’m a decent twerker! [laughs]

To keep up with Olivia, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Catch the season finale of Lodge 49 tonight at 10/9c on AMC.

Photo Credit: Nicolas Bates