I come in in Episode 2. How do you make this entertaining but tell a true story, but also give a voice to victims and survivors everywhere. MACDONALD: From what little I knew about the relationship with Eric, I know how she didnt want to tell anyone at first. You know this actually happened to people and I instantly wanted to see where this was going. DM: Id carry it home with me a lot. Danielle Macdonald: It was sort of a combination of everything. Featured Image by Thomas Attila Lewis / Flickr / CC BY-2.0. AD: I like how you said that trauma isnt a blanket experience for everyone. It goes back to really me hitting up against a wall during the audition process of realizing how much I was like, Are you mistaking me for someone else? Youre in it. 14 of 124. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Toni Collette Merritt Wever Kaitlyn Dever Dale Dickey Scott Lawrence Danielle Macdonald Austin Hbert Eric Lange Elizabeth Marvel . Parker and Pruitt portray real-life investigators Sgt. It took a really long time because we were doing it in flashes, and she was just so incredible about explaining exactly was coming up in the shot for that segment of the scene I was like, Oh, this is a different experience. Godless: With Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever. You didnt get to meet the real Amber, but have you heard any reactions at all? I know everything this girl has gone through and I cant release it because she didnt. In times of stress, I tend to go towards getting things done. How could you cast me as as this?. This content is imported from youTube. Co-written by Grant, who will serve as showrunner, Michael Chabon (John Carter) & Ayelet Waldman (Applebaum), Unbelievable is based on The Marshall Project and ProPublica Pulitzer Prize-winning December 2015 article, An Unbelievable Story of Rape, written by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, and the This American Life radio episode about the same case, Anatomy of Doubt. It tells the true story of Marie, a teenager who was charged with lying about having been raped, and the two female detectives who followed a twisting path to arrive at the truth. The 33-year-old actor looked handsome in. Youre not acting them out so youre not experiencing that emotion, and thats entirely new for me. You can also find help at hotline.rainn.org. We know people that this has happened to. No, it's not the decades-spanning platonic love between Megan AMC's Lucky HankstarsBetter Call Saul'sBob Odenkirk in a decidedly significant departure from his iconic character Saul Goodman. MACDONALD: I guess I cant really either because that wasnt my experience. Beingcast in the lead role in the western drama web series, Having played supporting roles in popular TV shows such as. Steve Rider, the commander of Lynnwoods Criminal Investigations Division, also called Maries case a major failing. Still, no one in the Lynnwood Police Department faced disciplinary action. While growing up, she used to go to socialist summer camps. Prior to her new position, she was the Senior News and Entertainment Editor for the brand, covering and editing all things in the entertainment, pop culture and celebrity world forGood Housekeeping. I know multiple people that have been, and it gives me a better understanding and maybe that means I dont understand what theyve been through, you know what I mean? Wever has also had supporting roles in other television series, including Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (20062007), New Girl (2013), and The Walking Dead (20152016). It was a no-brainer for me. However, it has been proved to be a false claim. So my experience is not one of using this time to read the books that I havent read. Hats! Her retraction came after detectives Sgt. But yeah, just Falling for Figaro and French Exit right now. And maybe it also just felt right because they were so involved about this, and they knew exactly what they wanted to do with this, that you felt safe going into it and you knew it was going to be told the right way, and you felt safe and taken care of within that. Starring: Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever. And that actually spoke volumes to me. "We can't just treat these people as one large group we can't do that. "I think this show has done that incredibly well, and was never about gender or saying 'Because they were male detectives, that's why they didn't have compassion for it. I might regret saying, but I told someone that being in this business, doing this job meant that I had to agree to get hit over the head with a hammer and I had said, Thats OK. I kind of used that aspect, as in these are the things I remember because if I remember everything that needs to be said to catch this guy, thats the right thing to do. DEADLINE: Theres a scene where Ambers describing the rapist to Merritt Wevers character in absolute, calm detail. Because of her passion for the LGBT cause, she has been often assumed to be homosexual. Did Amber feel like she needed to react in a certain way? Based on The Marshall Project and ProPublica Pulitzer Prize-winning article, "An Unbelievable Story of Rape," written by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, and the This American Life radio episode, "Anatomy of Doubt," Unbelievable is a story of unspeakable trauma, unwavering tenacity, and astounding resilience. Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald has been cast opposite Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable, an eight-episode Netflix limited series from Erin Brockovich. I was raised by my mother, who was a single mother by choice. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. With a cast led by Merritt Wever, Toni Collette, and Kaitlyn Dever, Unbelievable also features performances of staggering realism from its supporting players like Annaleigh Ashford, Jayne Taini, and Danielle Macdonald. Having played the role ofnurse Zoey Barkow in the medical drama TV series. It starts with that. [21][22], In 2020, Wever began starring in the HBO black comedy thriller series Run opposite Domhnall Gleeson. A native of Bethlehem, Pa., she graduated from Georgetown University and holds a masters degree from New York University. And I was so incredibly fascinated, moved, enraged, all of the things, by the case. She said in interviews that she had been intimidated by the role: "I spent so much of this shoot thinking I would come off as a fool, that nobody would buy me as this and it wouldn't be believable. And so, telling someone. So, the fact that that is a reality, the fact that we all know that, we know that there are all these untold stories. Merritt Wever and Toni Collette play two detectives investigating a series of sexual assaults. As much as she wants Billy, I think that she also wants to feel like that person again. That was an incredibly difficult scene to film. Part of my research made me think, Is this just how shes coping? For that reason, the only thing I knew was what I read or heard in the podcast. And thats so heartbreaking if you think about it, because being worried that someones going to see you differently because of something that happened to you against your will is horrifying. I know what its like to be in a relationship with someone and feel like your best self with them. She has also delivered memorable performances in popular shows such asThe Walking Dead and New Girl. Thats terrifying and changes the course of your reaction. There were a lot of shifts and a lot of turns, and I think I had to give in to always feeling like I was behind her. Timberman & Beverly and Couric had been independently pursuing the rights to An Unbelievable Story of Rape and decided to join forces on the project. I am having to explain to someone how rape cases are handled so insensitivity by police in America," one viewer tweeted. But again, talking about anything else than whats going on right now feels like some kind of inappropriate human betrayal. This week, the race for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series was shaken up in a major way when Oh my godshoes Che! With a medium like television, you want people to understand what people are going through, but you also want them to be engaged and rooting for a sense of hope. [5][6] Her mother is from Texas, and is a feminist and political activist.[7][8]. The true crime series, starring Toni Collette and Merritt Wever, is based on the real-life case of a rape victim the police refused to believe. It makes you wonder how many people you know whove experienced this and been disbelieved. Grant, Chabon, Waldman, Timberman, Beverly and Couric executive produce. After all, a review of research from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) finds that the prevalence of false reporting is very low between 2 and 10%. It's based on a true story about a young woman named Marie who was sexually assaulted and pressured by the police into recanting her story. Youre smiling in a lot of moments when we first see you. When Wevers character interviews Amber for the first time, she is standing alone. Macdonald, a breakout star of 2017 Sundance Film Festival hit Patti Cake$, will next be seen in a starring role in Dumplin opposite Jennifer Aniston. Its not going to hurt me. And then 25 years later, I woke up and I was like, Why am I bleeding? I dont think his character is a bad person, but these people arent trainedtheyre not taught. Thats how Im going to survive this. Instead, shes at home and, like the rest of us, struggling to adjust to the bizarre reality of life in a pandemic. The three ladies were also joined at the event by co-star Eric Lange, as well as showrunner Susannah Grant, producers Sarah Timberman and Lisa Cholodenko, and Netflix original series VP's Allie Goss and Cindy Holland. [20] The series received critical acclaim, with Wever receiving her first Golden Globe Awards nomination for Best Actress- Miniseries or Television Film. Then Merritt comes in," Danielle says. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Send us a tip using our annonymous form. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. I was fascinated by that choice. Ive actually thought about that place a lot over the last few weeks, as whats happening has exposed more and more. JOIN NOW. Merritt Wever, left, and Michelle Dockery in Godless., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, understated but steely performance as Karen Duvall, stunned, 11-word instant classic of an acceptance speech, The unforgettable scene in Unbelievable between Merritt Wevers detective and a rape victim, Review: White House Plumbers reenacts the mishaps of Watergates operatives for laughs, Get ready for the 2023 Met Gala: Heres when, and how, to tune in live, Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon blasted at White House Correspondents dinner, Tom Jones review: PBS Masterpieces latest period drama is laid-back and enjoyable. Education, Ethnicity ", 21 episodes: Season 1 Episodes 1-14; Episodes 16-22, 8 episodes: Season 2 Episodes 21-25; Season 3 Episodes 1-3, Season 11 Episode 4: "May Cause the Exact Thing You're Taking This to Avoid", Season 1 Episode 5: "The Woman Who Was Fed by a Duck", This page was last edited on 28 April 2023, at 07:12. I have a really thick skull and I can take it. "I was walking through base camp, going to a makeup trailer and Merritt comes out, sees me, and then rushes over and gives me a big hug. Your arm is kind of draped on him, so theres a physical connection there. I learned how common this all is and thats horrifying. I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of it after talking to them, because they knew exactly what they were doing. Flash forward a few years later to the state of Colorado, where Detective Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) is interviewing a rape victim named Amber (Danielle Macdonald), whose story contains a myriad . We also meet Detective Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever), whose investigation into the rape of another young woman (Danielle Macdonald's Amber) leads her to an open case in a different. "I've never had the experience of going to work every day mostly being opposite one other actor, and I'm very . I finally found myself in a room of people who werent telling me that I couldnt do this or couldnt be that. Its so important to show her smiling because thats what people often do. How did you convey that? 5 of 88. They were able to talk through a counselor to her about her experiences. In the pivotal role of Amber Stevenson, Macdonald manages to convey so much with little screen time. And even though this is happening all over the world, Im homesick and heartsick for my city., In Run, Wever stars as Ruby, a dissatisfied housewife who reunites with college boyfriend Billy (Domnhall Gleeson) for a spontaneous cross-country adventure. But girls like me dont get parts like this., Created by Vicky Jones, who directed the original stage version of Fleabag, and executive produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the series represents another milestone in what has already been a remarkable creative period for Wever. I feel like anything that comes my way is actually a side effect of both Kaitlyn as an actor and Marie the real Marie and its my gravest and deepest hope that Marie somehow knows that any of the light that gets shined on this project is really borne of a deep care for and validation of her. Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. Promoting a show wasnt my responsibility. '", Like in the ProPublica piece, the Netflix series compares Marie's police experience with another woman, Amber. "I'm watching #Unbelievable and the differences of approach in questioning rape victims by male and female cops is incredibly alarming. It was crazy because when youre filming on set, youre surrounded by the same people every day. She won her second Emmy in 2018 for her turn as a pistol-packing leader of an all-female frontier town in the Netflix western Godless. Last fall, she earned raves for her understated but steely performance as Karen Duvall, a Colorado detective investigating a serial rapist in the groundbreaking Netflix series Unbelievable, and she provided some brief but vital flashes of comic relief in Noah Baumbachs Marriage Story., Ive appreciated a lot of what has come my way, she says. ), Michael J. Scarily, I think everyone knows someone that has been. Danielle Macdonald. Theres less time with television than with film, I feel like. I was definitely thinking about her honestly, throughout filming. He wasnt understanding what I was going through. AD: This could have been just a standard procedural, but the subject matter is handled with such exquisite care. "It's not about men versus women, that's not what the show is doing," she says. Shes also set for Netflixs Bird Box with Sandra Bullock. I feel like the. And there was something about making Run that brought into focus how I had internalized those messages more than I realized. This year, almost everyone said that the Oscars were "back to normal," so will that be the case with this At this time last year, Oscar-sweeper Everything Everywhere All At Once was in theaters and many awards pundits began forecasting From director Yorgos Lanthimos and writer Tony McNamara comes Poor Things. But its new to me. I got to live in this sweet spot where I was able to pay my bills and get some really fulfilling, amazing jobs, but didnt really have to participate in this sidecar. Unbelievable (2019) Merritt Wever and Danielle Macdonald in Unbelievable (2019) People Merritt Wever, Danielle Macdonald. Its an indication of how exceptional Kaitlyn Dever [who plays the rape survivor] is within the whole show. That partly has to do with how Merritt [Wever] and Toni [Collette] respond to the victims. Its a way of coping. She was a feminist and a political activist and a caseworker for the city of New York and did not subscribe to a lot of what mainstream culture is. Bye. Her co-star Danielle Macdonald also revealed what she thought of Marie's investigation. I didnt expect me. Danielle Macdonalds portrayal of key witness Amber Stevenson expertly conveys the unexpected aspects of trauma response, in that many people dissociate and are apparently fine instead of breaking down. Plugging a show would be tricky for any actor right now. They sent me the pilot script, which Im not in. Details of Macdonalds character are not being revealed. I instantly felt . Shouldnt everyones reaction to trauma just automatically make sense? And it doesnt. Related: Unbelievable True Story: How Marie's Foster Mothers Reacted Netflix's Unbelievable features one of the most promising American actresses in the lead role, and the main female detectives will be immediately recognized by many viewers. I dont want to say wary because that feels judgmental of people who are more comfortable with it. The Netflix series Unbelievable brings together a group of actresses including Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Dale Dickey and Danielle MacDonald. Merritt Wever plays Detective Karen Duvall. Everyone experiences very different reactions, and this show does that beautifully. Last week, we at TVLine revealed our 20 finalists for Performer of the Year. How can these cops not believe her? She was born as Merritt Carmen Wever to mother Georgia Wever and was conceived via a sperm donor. Merritt Wever is an American actress, who earned an Emmy Award for playing the character Zoey on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie. Wever was conceivedvia a sperm donor. I cant be that thing. She wrote back at length and what I took from it was, she can be all the things. On top of that, watching the show is about these cops finding this guy without having all the clues. Did you have to paint those conversations yourself with how Eric may have reacted to the assault or did you speak to the writers about that at all? 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Detective Stacey Galbraith in real life, is the detective who encountered another rape accusation from a . After seeing the series, many Unbelievable viewers became upset with how the police dealt with Marie's case. A lot of it is really heavy and the next time Id have a scene, a lot of stuff has happened, and I had to figure out how Id go from being fine to being at a gun range and hooking up with random guys other than my boyfriend. Stacy "often volunteered to take rape cases," and was "good at empathizing with the victims." While Kaitlyn Dever (who plays Marie Adler in the Netflix series) tells GoodHousekeeping.com that she hoped Unbelievable would "start a conversation," she doesn't think the series necessarily "vilifies" the two male cops. Even though this was true, she recanted her claim soon after and said she made it all up. And honestly, it was one of those crazy moments where I had a conversation with a friend about her experience while I was in the middle of shooting this show. Or you arent speaking directly to the camera. Tell me about the decisions you made to play her that way? So this would be a challenge for me anyway, but right now it is very hard for me to find my footing. Danielle Macdonald and Kaitlyn Dever strike a pose alongside their co-star Merritt Wever while attending the cast and crew screening of their Netflix series Unbelievable held at The. In the pivotal role of Amber Stevenson, Macdonald manages to convey so much with little screen time. People have to be trained in thisthey cant automatically know. Hopefully that has been the experience for everyone that was portrayed. We filmed in LA, so I was at home. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. When I read the pilot, and I thought it was incredibly well-written. Thats all stuff from the outside. I think its really important to know that, if you want to come forwardand it has to be your choicepeople will listen. Her boyfriend isnt with her and she is asked about her assault while standing outside her home. Marie (Kaitlyn Dever) is questioned by Detective Parker (Eric Lange) and Detective Pruitt (Bill Fagerbakke). And I know that they were very much about protecting the identity of these people and I know that Susannah didnt get to talk to Amber in real life. [12] Wever received widespread critical acclaim for her role on the show. After that shell star opposite Jamie Bell in Skin and will appear with Emma Roberts in Paradise Hills. Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever, and Danielle Macdonald at an event for Unbelievable (2019) And then when the relationship ends, it feels like you dont have access to it anymore. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.