Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Paradise Lost’s Emily Peachey

The verdict is in and Emily Peachey is without question one to watch. After landing a role in The Fault in Our Stars, the gifted actress made the decision to forgo her law degree to pursue her true passion: acting. Since then, she’s gone on to have guest-starring roles and cameos in projects like Awkward., 13 Reasons Why, and Sons of Thunder. This spring, she stars in her biggest role to date as Liza Sampson in the Spectrum Original Paradise Lost. Pop Culturalist spoke with Emily about her breakout performance.

Career

PC: You’re an actress and dancer. How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Emily: I was always very creative. From an early age, I always loved to write, draw, and dance. When I got to middle school, I took theater classes. That’s when I got bit by the acting bug and became fascinated by movies and how the actors were able to transform into their characters.

PC: How has the stage prepared you for your work on screen?
Emily: Overall, I think the stage is much harder than screen acting. You have to exaggerate your facial expressions and physical movements as well as project so the person in the last row can see and hear you. All of this helped me on screen because it’s a lot easier to tone everything down as opposed to bringing your energy level up. Also, for the stage an actor needs to learn the lines for an entire show and get them right the first time because there aren’t any second takes or redos. Acting in theater really helped on screen to have everything down and every line memorized because I wasn’t used to getting to do it over.

PC: You were going to study law when you booked a role in The Fault in Our Stars. How challenging was that decision to pivot from law into acting?
Emily: Honestly, from a passion standpoint, it was a very easy decision to make. I wasn’t necessarily entirely passionate about law at that point in my life, and I was very passionate about acting. However, the decision did become hard when I was choosing between certainty and uncertainty. I had already started law school and knew if I stuck with the curriculum, in three years I would be an attorney. However, with acting, so much of it is out of your control, and hard work definitely helps, but aspects of it do come down to luck or a certain look or just being in the right place at the right time.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Emily: My parents have had such an amazing impact on my career. They have supported me every step of the way, even when it was a risky move and something that wasn’t very common growing up in DC. My mom would drive me to acting class an hour and a half away every Monday night after work, and they both went above and beyond to support my crazy career choice.

Paradise Lost

PC: Tell us about Paradise Lost, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Emily: Paradise Lost is described as a Southern Gothic drama. It follows Josh Hartnett’s character, Yates, as he returns to his hometown, where secrets from his dark past are revealed. I play Josh’s character’s old girlfriend who mysteriously dies. I was really drawn to the project because the story was so amazing and it was a show I would want to watch. Also, there were so many great people attached that I had to be a part of it!

PC: What can you tease about Liza’s arc in Season 1?
Emily: Liza was Yates’ old girlfriend who tragically died when they were younger. In Season 1, when he goes back to his hometown, we uncover more about her mysterious death and the impact she had on Yates’ life.

PC: This is a breakout role for you. Has anything surprised you about the experience? What was the biggest takeaway?
Emily: This was my first experience recurring on a TV show, and I really enjoyed it! Up until this point, I have done mostly film or one episode of a TV show, and having a recurring role was so much fun! The cast and crew got really close, and everything ran so smoothly.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Emily: Married at First Sight

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Emily: Malibu’s Most Wanted

PC: Favorite book?
Emily: The Great Gatsby

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Emily: Hairspray

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Emily: Green Day

PC: Who would play you in the story on your life?
Emily: Scarlett Johansson

To keep up with Emily, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Catch Paradise Lost on Spectrum.