Collider: This is such an interesting character, in such an interesting story.
What was it like to explore someone like her?
That was the first thing that I fell in love with.
It has this weird unease and tension, coded in a fairy tale glaze.
I liked the contradiction.
My favorite part of it was getting to play someone whos just so much of everything.
Image via Brainstorm Media
Even with her clothes and her hair.
FARMIGA: For sure.
I feel like shes very much aware.
Image via Brainstorm Media
Shes so internal, and yet she wears who she is on her sleeve.
But its so different from who she is when shes with Constance.
Had you just read the script when you got this?
Image via Brainstorm Media
Had you read the book, or did you go into this cold?
I really got to understand her better.
FARMIGA: Its interesting because shes an 18-year-old girl, but its like she was emotionally stunted at 12.
Image via CBS All Access
Shes uncomfortable in her body.
It just really verified the depth of the relationship, and howMerricatdoesnt really love very many things in life.
What did you grow to appreciate aboutMerricat, by the time you got to the end of the shoot?
Image via Brainstorm Media
Were there things that you hadnt realized about her, until you got to the end of the experience?
FARMIGA: Thats interesting.
Im sure there were.
Image via Brainstorm Media
She didnt tell people about her.
She didnt show herself like that.
I was like, What the hell is wrong with me?!
I know how to talk about this character.
I know this character.
Why cant I talk about her?
Its becauseMerricatdidnt want me to talk aboutMerricat.
Stacie and I had such a shorthand about the character.
I dont think Ive ever connected with the director so intensely, on a specific character before.
You want this version ofMerricat.
We just meshed, and it was what it was, for those six weeks.
FARMIGA: You know, probably.
In Constances case, she tries to see everything from the positive side.
Everything is, We can handle it.
And then, theresMerricat, whos the exact opposite.
If you think about it, these two sisters are in a very intimate relationship.
Its sisterly, but theres still an intimacy that not very many siblings have.
They dont have anybody else, in the entire world.
So,Merricatgoes to that darker place.
Shes trying to find balance.
Thats why things go awry, the way they do.
What were those scenes like to shoot?
Ill talk about him, but I never acknowledge him to his face.
And whenever Im talking to Cousin Charles, I didnt look at him or even really make eye contact.
She doesnt really give them the time of day.
That was hard, but it was also fun to just ignore people.
The fun part is filming that in the wide because everyone can talk.
The worst part is when youre just in coverage and youre not allowed to talk over other people lines.
You have to sit there and just mouth what youre doing.
What was that dynamic like, as actors?
Did you guys just have a lot of fun with each other?
I feel like everybody was down to play.
Everyone wanted to stick as close to the authenticity of the original story as possible.
When we were all in the room, we had so much fun.
Youve said previously that this is the character thats the furthest from you that you have played.
Which character has been the closest to who you are?
Its so hard to say because its probably different at different times and moments in my life.
Its hard because Ive changed so much, in the last year.
Ive gone through some personal stuff and some health stuff, and Ive grown so much.
But in the moment, some of them felt like such a giant leap.
I absolutely love what has been done with this version ofThe Twilight Zone.
Ive been having such a great time watching it.
FARMIGA: Oh, amazing!
How did you come to the show, and how did you find the experience of working on that?
FARMIGA: For me, it was just a straight offer.
I read 15 pages and was like, Oh, shit, Im down!
And then, two days later, I was in Vancouver and we were starting to do prep.
And then, two days after that, we started filming.
I didnt have very much time to think about it.
I was just excited that they picked me.
I dont know how they picked me, but I was excited that they did.
What did you most respond to, with your episode and character?
FARMIGA: I liked the content.
I liked the story.
I liked the conversation that it will spark about gender norms and society.
We cant just let something go by.
You have to speak up and say, This is not right.
I also really loved the character and the story.
At this point in your life and career, what gets you interested in a project?
FARMIGA: Honestly, I dont know if its gotten easier.
Ive worked with so many incredible people.
The names, like Jordan Peele, are important, but thats the icing on top.
That makes it extra special.
What I really love is the story and the character.
Do you know then what you are going to do next?
FARMIGA: Well, Im super excitedboutThe Twilight Zoneepisode.
And then, [We Have Always Lived in the Castle] comes out on the 17thof May.
Other than that, everything that Ive done, in the last year, has come out.
I have awide-openfuture, and Im really excited.
I just know that Iwannakeep growing.
Im almost 25, and every character that Ive played has helped me define parts of my personality.
I feel like Ive been really lucky to be able to have acting as an outlet to discover myself.
We Have Always Lived in the Castleis in theaters and on VOD on May 17th.
