Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The 2nd’s Lexi Simonsen

Up-and-coming actress Lexi Simonsen is making her big screen debut in the must-see thriller The 2nd, starring opposite Ryan Phillippe, Casper Van Dien, and Jack Griffo. It’s a breakout role for Lexi, who shines as the strong yet vulnerable Erin Walton. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Lexi about the film, her character, and what she took away from this experience.

PC: Tell us about The 2nd, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Lexi: The 2nd is a high-energy action film with a nostalgic ’90s vibe. It’s about a father and son coming together and fighting to save not only their lives but the life of a Supreme Court justice’s daughter when an inside job goes wrong. It was so fun getting to play someone my age as well as a girl who is very feminine and strong. Normally I’m cast as the tomboy, so it was great to tap into that side of myself.

PC: How similar/different are you to Erin? How did you prepare to tackle her journey throughout the film?
Lexi: Erin has to protect herself because of her dad’s job, so she’s often pretty lonely. I brought a lot of my own sarcasm to Erin because I wanted to make sure that she wasn’t just an entitled/sheltered girl but someone who is intelligent, quick, and wants to have a connection.

PC: Which of Erin’s relationships was your favorite to explore and why?
Lexi: I loved working with Jack [Griffo] who plays Sean. He was a great scene partner in general, and we hit it off right away. Exploring Erin’s relationship to Sean was great because I got to really work on breaking down her walls and showing a vulnerable side that she hadn’t allowed herself to feel before this moment.

PC: The 2nd is a breakout role for you. When you look back at the experience, what was the biggest takeaway?
Lexi: Yes! This is my first feature, and it was an absolute blast. The biggest takeaway is by far the knowledge that I can make a career doing this. Previously, I had only done smaller student films. I knew that I wanted to pursue an acting career but didn’t realize that it was a lot closer in reach than I could have imagined. It opened the door for me to get representation and truly changed my course of life.

PC: Is there a particular scene/moment that you’re excited for your fans to see?
Lexi: There’s obviously some really cool action scenes in the movie, but there’s one in particular that may or may not include a curling iron that I’m pretty eager to see!

PC: With the film out now, what do you hope audiences takeaway?
Lexi: With everything going on in the world and how fragile the industry is right now, I hope people see that you don’t need millions of dollars and the craziest expensive effects and locations to make a movie. All of our effects were practical. We shot ninety-five percent of the film at one location with a small and dedicated crew. If you want to do something, just do it. All you need is a team of people you trust and a script you love.

To keep up with Lexi, follow her on Instagram.

Photo Credit: Dana Patrick