Actress Emily Somers chatted about being a part of the HBO series “Westworld” and the digital age.
How was your experience in “Westworld”?
My experience on the show was surreal – from the moment I got the call I’d booked the role to my first day on set working with Evan. It’s a very unique and humbling show to have the opportunity to work on.
The caliber of acting, production – every department is working at the top of their field. I’ve never been happier or more grateful to be on a set. The writing is so intelligent and nuanced. As an actor, it’s a dream. Most of the time, we have a very narrow idea of how our role fits into the larger picture. It keeps you on your toes.
What did you love most about playing your character?
I loved Lindsay’s compassion and vulnerability. Her dialogue was beautiful and she continued to care for those around her even when her world was falling apart. I also loved having the opportunity to work opposite acting legends like Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood. I learned a great deal just by observing the rest of the cast.
What do your plans for the future include?
I just finished filming a short film I wrote, produced, and acted in based on a novel I’ve optioned the rights to. It’s a 1967 woman-on-the-run road film based on Ruth Galm’s Into the Valley set in Northern California and explores gender inequalities still prevalent today.
We’ve just moved into post-production with the goal of using it as proof of concept to obtain funding for the feature screenplay. I’m also excited to work on a new Apple TV+ show next month.
What motivates you each day as an actress?
I’m motivated by an ongoing interest in the human condition. I’m happiest working as an actor on set. I love the act of collaboration, being a small part of a greater whole, and creating something that connects people. It’s also tremendously fun and challenging to delve into a character’s existence for a while.
How does it feel to be an actress in the digital age? (at a time when streaming and technology are so prevalent)
It feels both limitless and overwhelming to be an actress in the digital age. There’s quite a bit more content, but the lines are also blurred between content creators and actors. Technology has made it easier for independent filmmakers to make their own projects, which is fantastic.
The tools to make your own work have never been better or more widely accessible. Television has evolved with all the streaming options, and the quality of projects has been simultaneously elevated by some networks and oversaturated by others. I think, most importantly, it has given a platform and a voice to a new generation of creators.
What does the word success mean to you?
Success is a culmination of hard work and perseverance lining up at the right time with a little luck to enable you to do what you’ve trained to do on a professional scale. Success can also be finishing a screenplay or booking a role. To me, it comes from achieving the opportunity to work on projects that are both fulfilling and challenging.
What would you like to tell our readers about “Westworld”? What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it?
It’s a brilliantly crafted mirror for our society. What happens when we lose touch with human connection and become too invested in our devices and curation of our online selves.
I hope Westworld prompts viewers to self-reflect on our own dependence on technology and distraction. And…it takes a village to execute a show like Westworld.
It’s easy to watch the finished product and forget, but there are so many incredibly talented people working behind the scenes. I was in awe of the lovely people I had the opportunity to work with both behind and in front of the camera.
To learn more about Emily Somers, follow her on Instagram.
