“I’m always in, I’m always really open.
I believe that there’s a spiritual element to acting and to writing.
And so, I guess personally, I like what we see,” the actress tells EW.
Alexa Demie as Maddy in ‘Euphoria.'.Eddy Chen/HBO
Was the Russian Roulette scene the hardest one you’ve had to shoot on the show?
ALEXA DEMIE:Yes, for many reasons.
It was basically all we did all day on those days.
Jacob Elordi and Alexa Demie as Nate and Maddy on HBO’s ‘Euphoria.'.Eddy Chen/HBO
What did you all do to prepare for it, and get through it?
Was it something that you all had a lot of conversations about before going into production?
What was happening in between scenes?
Alexa Demie and Minka Kelly in a scene from ‘Euphoria’ season 2 on HBO.Eddy Chen/HBO
Because I know different actors have different processes.
We didn’t have a lot of time.
We kind of just jumped into it.
Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, and Barbie Ferreira play friends Cassie, Maddy, and Kat on ‘Euphoria.'.Eddy Chen/HBO
We were really figuring it out as we went on and as we were shooting it.
I have to kind of stay in my own world and tune everyone else out.
Why do you think Maddy tried to play off not having the tape at first?
Alexa Demie as Maddy in ‘Euphoria’ on HBO.Eddy Chen/HBO
The duality between having that confidence, being really tough, and then being incredibly vulnerable.
It’s something that I also brought up a lot.
To clarify, Maddy already knew it was Jules on the tape?
She knew it was Jules, which is part of why she was wanting to hold on to it.
Did scenes with Jacob and Sydney feel different this season?
What did you all do to build that dynamic that has so much subtext?
I had a lot more time with Jacob season 1.
It felt very natural in the way that it just picked up with Maddy and Nate.
And that also feels very natural.
So that helped to develop that relationship.
Speaking to development too, how has it been filming withMinka Kelly?
It seems like her character is really helping Maddy mature.
It honestly was so nice to work with her.
It gave her a bit of light and hope.
But yeah, she truly believes she’s f—ed up.
Do you have an awareness of their history?
Do they go way back?
Is that moment indicative of Maddy’s loyalty to people?
She knows the history of Rue, but in that moment it feels so true to her.
Rue seems so sincere in that moment.
Her instinct isn’t to distrust Rue, Maddy has always liked Rue and has had empathy for her.
She also knows when Cassie is lying.
Did you have a lot of talks about what Maddy’s reaction would be?
What were you all factoring in or trying to figure out?
Because while it delivers on what we were expecting, part of Maddy’s reaction is still surprising.
This is so toxic and I don’t deserve this."
But she’s human.
She’s going through the emotions of being angry, being hurt, being revengeful.
Finally, do you get very particular about line readings?
I feel like you especially have a way of getting viewers to hang on your every word.
How has it been seeing these reactions?
I’m honestly surprised at all of it.
I’m still surprised when I see things.
We get to just explore what works in those moments.
But I did not know that anything that Maddy would say would [resonate].
I just did not expect it at all.
I think the line from this week that stayed with me was “Like a grisly murder.
One that shocks the nation.”
Oh my god [Laughs].
Yeah, that was a fun one to think about Maddy doing.
This interview has been edited and condensedfor length and clarity.
Two answers include a follow-up response that Demie sent via email.
