Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Psycho Sister-In-Law’s Lydia Hearst

Lydia Hearst is a storyteller who’s more than up for a challenge, whether that’s through the world of fashion, television, or film. She’s brought dynamic characters to life in projects such as South of Hell, Z Nation, Condemned, and dozens more.

This August, she’ll be starring in Lifetime’s Psycho Sister-In-Law, playing Zara Downes, the estranged sister who reappears to cause some mischief.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Lydia to learn more about her journey in the industry, Psycho Sister-In-Law, and everything she’s currently working on.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Lydia: For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the entertainment industry. When I was a little girl, I remember watching my mom walk the catwalk for Thierry Mugler and act in various John Waters films; it all seemed so magical and fantastic. I just knew that it was a world I wanted to be a part of. I am grateful that my family has always been extremely supportive of my dreams and ambitions. The entertainment business is hard work, especially when you’re just starting out. It’s ninety-nine percent rejection, and so you just have to keep plugging away, you have to keep working hard, you have to keep believing in yourself, and you have to have thick skin. I am so grateful to be here, to be alive, to have good, positive people in my life and a strong family and support system that affords me the opportunity to do what I love.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career, and who do you admire?
Lydia: There are so many people who I admire.

Emma Watson. Her commitment to helping women and others is completely genuine. She really brings political activism into a whole new light and is not abrasive about it.

Greta Thunberg. You may not be familiar with who she is, but you should be. This inspirational sixteen-year-old from Sweden has spent the last few years of her young life dedicated to addressing world leaders about the need for immediate, drastic action on climate change and organizing kids in thousands of cities to protest for necessary environmental policies.

Lin Shay. She has a long history in the business and can be seen in a lot of different productions as a lot of different characters, and each one of them has been a great contribution to whatever project she’s been working on. I think she is one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of meeting, and I truly believe her to be one of the greatest female character actresses of all time.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout the years. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Lydia: I truly don’t think I can choose just one or a couple moments. There’s a story behind each photo shoot and every film, and to go through all of them would take a while. Every moment on set for me has been memorable. Each production is unique and special to me. I have been extremely fortunate in my career and am so thankful for every acting opportunity that comes my way.

PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a model. How has your work in fashion helped you as an actress?
Lydia: As an actress and model, my elastic and chameleon-like face has provided a blank canvas for a range of transformations that are facilitated by my own personality. On set, I strive to achieve fluidity and personify whatever the directors or photographers have envisioned for the project.

In 2004, my life changed overnight when I did a cover and editorial for Vogue Italia by Steven Meisel. This launched my career in fashion where I had the incredible privilege of traveling the world and working with some of the most iconic designers and photographers whom I had idolized. This experience helped me develop my own personal sense of style and taught me how to be comfortable in my own skin.

There’s a fair bit more character work in modeling that might not seem obvious at first: you’re given the clothing, the setting, and in a moment’s notice in which you have to create an emotion that falls in line with the vision of the photographer and fashion company to help create the best image. This has been extremely helpful in the way of character creation for acting. I love playing dress-up, putting on wigs, applying prosthetics, and I’m certainly not afraid to roll around in the dirt if I need to.

This usually surprises directors who don’t know me, that I’m willing to play and try things—the weirder the better! Fashion shoots can put you in extreme conditions where you don’t have a lot of time and you just need to do whatever you can to get the shot right. This has helped me immensely with acting by fostering a sense of fearlessness and experimentation. I’m genuinely appreciative and fortunate to have worked for and collaborated with so many talented people. For me, acting is a character-building extension of the career I began in fashion.

Psycho Sister-In-Law

PC: Tell us about your new film, Psycho Sister-in-Law, your character, and what attracted you to this project.
Lydia: I cannot wait for audiences to see Psycho-Sister-In-Law! It premiers on Sunday, August 16, on Lifetime. I play Zara Downes, the estranged, half-sister to Nick—Brando Eaton—who reappears after the death of their father. I absolutely love dark psychological stories, characters, and projects, and I had so much fun making this movie.

PC: Your character causes a lot of mischief. Is there more freedom playing the “villain?” How did you prepare?
Lydia: I find myself drawn to more character-driven roles and scripts where I’m forced to challenge and change both physically and emotionally in some way for a part. When you are an actor, you have a script, but you have to make yourself into the character, live the part, own the words, and breathe life into role because in the end, the only thing the camera wants to see is something truthful.

PC: Besides Psycho Sister-In-Law, you have a ton of other upcoming projects in the works. Are there any you can talk about at this time?
Lydia: I just wrapped production on a film called Root Letter. It’s an American film adaptation based on the widely successful Japanese video game developed by Kadokawa Games, Root Letter. I play the role of Karen, a volatile and unstable mother who is emotionally tortured and desperately addicted to heroin.

I am currently in preproduction on a film where I am coexecutive-producing as well as acting in alongside Malin Akerman called With Teeth. It’s a unique and modern reimagining of the classic vampire lore. Hopefully, once we get a better idea of how productions will be able to safely resume, I can elaborate more on this film, as we are currently in preproduction with the hopes of shooting sometime this fall.

I have also done a bit of voice-over work recently. I just completed two characters on a short animated series called Shugirl, which follows a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and lands in an alternate reality world where she embarks on a wild adventure, created by Roberto Mitrotti. As well as voicing two characters for The Shana Chronicles: Sympathy For The Devil, which is a new scripted podcast series that is a mashup of revisionist music folklore, ’70s era conspiracy thriller, and classic graphic novel mystery created by K. Asher Levin and Zack Imbrogno.

I am also producing a film called Beneath, slated to shoot later this year in the UK. I love the story and world that writer/director Gene Fallaize has created, and I am thrilled to be a producer on this and helping to bring the project to life. One of the key components to my involvement in this project is the inclusion rider. We are one of the first—if not the first—to use a global inclusion rider. This is a perfect and effective way to ensure that we as filmmakers employ people responsibly. The film talent pool is as huge and diverse as any other industry, and everyone deserves an equal chance at getting a particular job on a film production, so we are proud to be incorporating inclusion riders to all contracts for this production and have also already employed diverse individuals in key roles on the picture and will continue to do so until the film is completed.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Lydia: Just about any ghost or true crime show.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Lydia: I’m only ever watching one of two things: horror or Adam Sandler movies.

PC: Favorite book?
Lydia: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Lydia: Bye Bye Birdie.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Lydia: I listen to just about everything: country, R&B, rock, pop, jazz, classical, you name it! Maybe that fact alone could be surprising to people?

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Lydia: Eventually probably someone like Mckenna Grace.

To keep up with Lydia, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Catch the premiere of Psycho Sister-In-Law at 8/7c on Lifetime.

Photo Credit: Martina Tolot