Exclusive Interview: Sasha Pieterse Talks ‘The Image of You,’ the Empowering Roles, Collaborating with Author Adele Parks, and More

Sasha Pieterse, an acclaimed storyteller recognized for her multifaceted performances in renowned projects such as Pretty Little Liars, Inherent Vice, and Heroes, takes center stage this May in the eagerly awaited thriller, The Image of You. In this gripping narrative, she portrays identical twins Anna/Zoe, navigating a complex storyline of deception and desire adapted from Adele Parks’ bestselling novel.

As Anna becomes entangled in a new romance with Nick, her trust is unwavering, while her cautious sister Zoe senses a looming deception. As Zoe delves deeper into the mystery, the trio is ensnared in a perilous game where truth may prove lethal.

Pop Culturalist had the privilege of chatting with Sasha about her role in The Image of You, her approach to portraying dual characters, her collaboration with Adele Parks, and more.

PC: When this project first came across your desk, even before getting cast, you immediately knew how you wanted to play certain scenes. What was it about this script that resonated with you in such a visceral way? As an actor who’s built an illustrious career in this industry, is that generally how you know if a project is right for you?
Sasha: Absolutely. I read a lot of thriller scripts, and many of those things come across my desk, but the fact that I didn’t see this twist coming excited me. That was the first hook. Then, of course, these characters are so fun. The idea of playing two people, getting to develop two different characters, and really sink my teeth into that, I was like I got to do this.

You’re right, I was dreaming about it. I knew exactly how to be these people. The fact that I got the opportunity to do it was awesome. These characters, as dark and twisted as they are, are very close to my heart.

PC: Part of your job as an actor is to find your character’s motivations and the reasons why they are the way that they are. What was that process like for you on this project because you’re playing not one, but two characters who are so distinctly different in their tone, physicality, and the ways in which they react to things? You did that so brilliantly that when the twist does happen, you don’t know who’s at the helm of it? What did you write on those sticky notes?
Sasha: Thank you so much. That makes me happy. I was writing about the tone and what needed to be accomplished here. But then it became deeper than that. When you’re establishing characters, you want to know why they tick and why they are the way that they are, even if it’s not necessarily on paper, you want to create it in a way. Why does this person react this way? Most people have some sort of traumatic experience or it could be a good experience that changes their perspective and makes them who they are at that point in their life. It’s so important to find that because we all have that, we’re all humans.

It’s nature and nurture. You have to figure out what makes people tick. You have empathy for even the darkest of characters. That’s why I always reference the Joker for whatever reason; you kind of love him. He’s got this quality about him that’s so fascinating. There’s something toxic about him; obviously, he’s a villain, but you have this weird understanding of him. That’s what I wanted to capture here.

I wanted people to enjoy both characters and have that guilty pleasure feeling. But at the same time, I wanted you to understand that people don’t wake up like this one day. Zoe is the way that she is because of what has happened in her past. The same with Anna.

When you get confused as to who is who, towards the end—I don’t want to spoil it—my sticky notes were essentially split. It was picking the pieces that made sense from each character to be in that moment. What’s coming out of Anna? What’s coming out from Zoe? What is making this happen?

It was constantly figuring out what the motivation was. That’s my job. That’s what ultimately makes it believable. That, as an actor, is your hope. I want you to believe that these two people are different, even though you’re seeing the same face. A lot goes into that. It’s not just me. It’s hair, makeup, costume, and really making sure that we nailed that. When I change into somebody else, I have to believe that as well.

PC: Book-to-screen adaptations are so interesting in the way that audiences have created their own versions of Anna and Zoe. They’re so invested, but everyone involved has been so open about saying that this film is its own thing. You’re no stranger to playing characters that have lived in multiple mediums, how did that freedom allow you and everybody involved to play? Is there a different pressure coming into a project like this?
Sasha: Absolutely. Pretty Little Liars and Inherent Vice were all books, and this one as well. There’s a certain pressure of living up to the character that people love and adore. With the book, you have somebody that you imagine, whether that’s the author describing that person or you’re creating it for yourself. When you have this intimate care for something, it’s weird to see it come to life. You’re so excited to see it as a movie, but oftentimes, it can be a letdown. That’s why it’s so important to have differences in the movie.

Adele [Parks] was happy and encouraged people to have a different ending for this movie. It’s different. If you love the book and you care about it so much, when you watch the movie, it’s different enough that you don’t know what’s happening next. It’s exciting, but it’s similar enough that you feel the same passion towards those characters that you care deeply about. That’s the challenge. I think if you accomplish that, audiences get it, they love it, and they’re there for that ride. Ultimately, you want to entertain people. So you do all that you can. You put all the love and care in it, and you hope that shows through at the end.

PC: The film checks all those boxes. As a storyteller and artist, I imagine your job is to bring truth to your performance, and it’s not about the accolades. But what was it like getting to hear from Adele Parks firsthand that when she thinks of these characters now, she thinks of you? How helpful was it having her on set and bringing that honesty to the screen?
Sasha: It was incredible having her on set, and the fact that she feels the way she does about me portraying her characters is such an honor. I adore her. We adore each other. I missed her when she’s not around. She was there for me on set. I could ask, “Is this working? Do I feel like your girls? Does this make sense to you? Is this something you know that this person would do or that person would do? How can I do it better? How could I do it differently? Is there something that could make this come to life for your readers?” We were always collaborating and always loving the similarities in our creative processes. That was such a treat. I don’t think it would have been the same if she wasn’t on set.

PC: Outside of acting, you’re also the host of Women in the Nude. In a discussion with Adele, you talked about how you learned so much about yourself playing these characters. What have Anna and Zoe taught you? If you had them on your podcast, what question would you ask them?
Sasha: A lot goes into being a woman. I know that’s a weird thing to say. We have a lot of pressures, a lot of things that we do, a lot of hats that we put on, and a lot of them are based on society’s pressures and what we should be and what the order of things that happen in your life should be. When you take those guardrails off, it’s freeing, but it’s scary. It’s also very empowering.

Zoe and Anna being so different, being so powerful in their own ways, helped me. I’ve gone through a lot of health struggles in my life. I’ve been in this industry for a long time. My situations are very different to most at my age. Now being a mom, my body is completely different than it was before I had Hendrix. Having this role, in many ways, I’m forced to feel confident in my body. It really did help me because it wouldn’t work if I wasn’t.

Becoming Zoe, who’s somebody who’s so sexual, confident, powerful, and taking control over things, to make that believable, I had to believe that myself. I had to believe that I was able to do that and I had to be able to believe that I could be that and to become that.

It takes a special environment. I’m really thankful to our crew and the people involved creatively. I don’t even think they knew that they did it, but they made an environment that was comfortable that I enjoyed going to set every day. I didn’t feel self-conscious. It was such a beautiful experience in that way. Everybody plays a part in that, from your P.A. to your director to your producers. It takes a village and it can make a complete difference for the audience and the end product.

If I would ask them anything on the podcast, it would be what made you who you are? We get into a lot of trauma sometimes on the podcast. Things that we’re going to be sharing in the second season are the things that make you who you are today—good and bad. Why do you think this is the first thing that you go to? Why do you think you react a certain way? Are you interested in dissecting those things? It’s about growth. Once you’re aware of the reason in the way that you do things, once you’re aware of that chain, then it’s up to you if you want to get better or stay the same. Ultimately, I hope that people grow and that I grow and then I’m constantly evolving and becoming better.

To keep up with Sasha, follow her on Instagram. The Image of You is out in select theaters and digitally.

Photo Credit: Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label)