Exclusive Interview: Lili Simmons Talks ‘Double Down South,’ Celebrating Original Scripts and Powerful Female Characters, and More

Renowned for her captivating storytelling prowess, Lili Simmons has etched her name in the industry with transformative performances and nuanced character portrayals, shining brightly in acclaimed projects like Banshee, Ray Donovan, and Power Book IV: Force.

This January, she graces the screen alongside Kim Coates in the eagerly anticipated thriller, Double Down South penned by the Oscar-winning writer Tom Schulman. Immersed in the perilous realm of illegal keno pool gambling, Diana (played by Lili Simmons), a sharp and resilient newcomer, skillfully captivates keno-veteran Nick (Kim Coates), convincing him to mentor her. As they brace themselves to risk everything in a quest to dethrone the reigning world champion, they soon discover that the stakes are far higher than they could have ever envisioned.

Pop Culturalist was fortunate enough to speak with Lili about Double Down South, the significance that music plays in her preparation for a new role, how the film celebrates original scripts, and powerful female characters, and more.

PC: You’ve built such an illustrious career in film and television. What was it about Double Down South and this character in particular that resonated with you?
Lili: Thank you so much. First of all, Tom Schulman, Oscar award-winning writer. I hadn’t read a script in a long time that absolutely sucked me in. Diana is so strong and brave. It was like, who wouldn’t want to be her? That’s what brought me in.

PC: Throughout your career, you’ve jumped back and forth between television and film so seamlessly. In television, you’re often learning more about your character as the series goes on. But with film, you know where your character starts and where she ends. How different are those mediums from a creative standpoint and in your character development process?
Lili: It’s fun both ways. You’re right. It is great to know where your character ends, but I always believe that they live on a bit in me. But it’s also amazing to develop a character over years and not know where she’s going to end up. With Diana, it was so great; we got to rehearse for a week before, so it felt like a play. We were in one location pretty much. We basically lived there. The house itself feels like a character of its own. You do a lot of work before you jump in, but the rehearsal process with the whole cast, our DP, our director Tom, was incredible. It was so helpful.

PC: You’ve played so many powerful female characters throughout your career. Who are the women in your own life who shaped the storyteller that you are today?
Lili: My mom. She is a powerhouse. She’s incredibly intelligent. I don’t know where that went for me [laughs] I wish I got some of that. [laughs] She goes for what she wants and what she believes in. She believes in herself. She made sure that I believed in myself. She brought me up and kept me grounded in so many ways. My late manager, Kate Linden, was also such a powerhouse as well. Surround yourself with powerful women, and it will help your life.

PC: As part of your preparation for this film, you spent hours training in pool. How did that physicality and research allow you to further tap into Diana’s core and essence? What was more challenging, learning pool or maintaining that accent throughout filming?
Lili: [laughs] Thank goodness for Matt Craven, who is great friends with Kim Coates. Tom called me and was like, “Are you ready to start learning pool?” Because I had no idea. I didn’t have a proper bridge. I didn’t know what I was doing, so thank goodness for Matt. We spent like five hours a day practicing. Practicing the accent, weirdly, came a bit easier than the pool. I don’t know why. But it flowed through me, maybe being around everyone. Pool was tougher.

PC: It’s a testament to your talent and craft. Music also plays such an integral role in how you prepare for a scene. Has that always been part of your creative process? What were you listening to embody Diana, who goes on such a rollercoaster journey throughout the film?
Lili: Great question. I love music. I always try and make playlists for my characters. While we were filming, I was actually making a playlist for the movie. I was going up to them and saying, “We need this song here. Can we afford it?” [laughs]

For Diana, it was a lot of Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash, both of whom I love. There was also a little bit of Simon & Garfunkel. “Money” by Simon & Garfunkel was a really fun one. So I kept it a little southern with a bit of rock and roll to keep me in that space, but also bring out the toughness a bit and the go-get-’em energy.

PC: Diana faces a lot of adversity and misogyny throughout the film, but it fuels her drive to prove everybody around her wrong, and you brought so much depth and strength to that journey. As an actress, how did you create the space for yourself to tackle that arc? Did you channel any of your own personal experiences into Diana?
Lili: Absolutely. Being a woman, we unfortunately have to deal with a lot of misogynistic men. If you want to be great at your career, you have to deal with it. It has definitely fired me up and made me want to be better and do better. I definitely brought some of my own experiences. But I also feel like I took some of Diana’s experiences with me and feel stronger today as a woman, which is wonderful.

PC: That shocking reveal at the end is something that you know as the actress embodying Diana that it’s coming, but the audience doesn’t, and all the things that happened in the film leading up to that point start to make sense. How were you able to find those little moments where you could drop those subtle hints? How rewarding is it for you to know so many audience members didn’t see that twist coming?
Lili: It’s so rewarding. It’s so much fun. When I read the script, I had no idea. So that was really exciting. Normally, I can guess, but it was such a surprise. It was so much fun.

We all talked about it; Kim, the whole cast and crew, and Tom. We were like, “Let’s not do this here. It’s too much. We need to make it a little bit more subtle. But there are definitely moments in earlier scenes where I choose to add a little subtlety that when you go back and watch it you’re like, “I see what’s going on here.”

PC: There’s so much trust that you need especially with that dynamic between Nick and Diana. What was it like collaborating with Kim and building that as you approach bringing that dynamic to life on screen?
Lili: First of all, Kim is an angel of a human. He’s endlessly talented, so king, and so funny. We were all such a family. It felt like summer camp. He and I stayed away from each other a bit more than others to keep that tension alive on set. But he’s a forever friend and family now. He’s completely different than his character, like the exact opposite. Knowing that immediately gives you trust, especially when it came to the physical scenes. I trusted him. He trusted me and everything was safe. Kim calls himself Mr. Safety, or something like that. He’s absolutely wonderful.

PC: I feel like you both elevated each other’s performances throughout the film. You’ve worked on projects of all sizes. What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as a creative?
Lili: Great question. Independent movies are so important, especially original scripts. There’s so much more love and passion because the people that are there are doing it because they love it. They love the script. They believe in the story. Everyone comes together. Everyone trusts each other. You have to work with everyone and trust everyone. Sorry to repeat myself, but it’s such a beautiful family.

PC: Tom wrote and directed this project. How different is that filming experience when the person who’s helped create these characters and universe is also at the helm directing? What was that collaboration like?
Lili: Wonderful. Tom is wonderful and a genius. He prepared us for this. But the difference is that he would come to set and be like, “So, I rewrote that scene that we were supposed to do today. We’re doing this now.” [laughs] We’d go, “Okay, we’re in. Let’s go.” He held our hands along the way, but he knows these characters so deeply. A lot of these characters are inspired by true events that happened when he was younger. Getting to collaborate with the person who knows these characters so deeply and work together to create these characters was incredible.

PC: That feels very much like the television medium where writers are shaping narratives based on the performances of their actors. You carry this film so incredibly. Is there a scene in particular that you’re excited for audiences to see?
Lili: Well, you know the ending is pretty great. [laughs] But I love them all. I love my one on ones with everyone. I think they’re really special. My one on one with Igby [Rigney]. He’s fantastic. Obviously, every scene with Kim. Even my one on ones with Douche, played by Cameron [Cowperthwaite]. They’re all really special and show the heart of each character.

PC: The film has made its way around the festival circuit and it’s in theaters now and going to be on VOD. It’s been incredibly well received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences? What do you hope they take away after seeing it?
Lili: I hope for the women they see that they can be strong, courageous, and believe in themselves. I hope that people go see it in theaters because it’s so special to see it in that setting. But I hope it excites people again about original scripts and art. I hope it makes them happy and they enjoy it.

To keep up with Lili, follow her on Instagram. Double Down South is out in select theaters now and on VOD in March.

Photo Credit: Morgan Demeter