- 5 hours ago
The breakout star from The CW series looks back at life before landing the role of Cheryl Blossom while looking ahead at what's to come for Cheryl and Toni this season, fan dedication to their love, why Jughead's storyline is her favorite and more.
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00:00Hi, I'm Madelaine Petsch, and I'm in studio with The Hollywood Reporter.
00:06There's a flash forward in the new season.
00:09It was at the end of season three, but I kind of want to take a flash back to your
00:13life pre-Riverdale.
00:15Did you see that?
00:15I see what you did there. That was very clever. I like that. Yes. Practice it all day.
00:19When you look back at kind of your time working in L.A., you said like working three jobs.
00:23Yeah.
00:24What do you remember most about kind of the challenges and like kind of what kept you motivated to kind
00:28of continue your journey?
00:30Back then, it felt like back then. I'm so old now.
00:34It felt so long. It felt like I was doing it forever.
00:37And it's funny because I look at it now and it feels like such a small piece of the pie.
00:40Like I've been doing Riverdale for three years now, four.
00:42And I mean, it felt really hard when I was doing it, but also I picked jobs that I thoroughly
00:48enjoyed.
00:49So I was a barista at a really local coffee shop called Republic of Pie.
00:52I feel like a lot of people know that place. I met a lot of really cool people there.
00:55And there was music around and there was always writers there.
00:57And so I feel like I chose jobs that were somewhat in the industry.
01:00So I still felt like a little fulfilled in that.
01:02Part of it, yeah.
01:03And I also picked jobs that I could quit easily so I could go to auditions and just kind of
01:06messed up.
01:07But yeah, I was an executive assistant at a political consulting firm for a while.
01:11I did crazy stuff, but the hardest part was probably the amount of rejection you get.
01:16Yeah.
01:16It's a lot of rejection and that's something that everyone tells you, but you can't really get ready for it.
01:20To prepare for it.
01:21There's no way. There's no way to prepare for it until you're actually in that.
01:25So a lot of tears were shed.
01:26But also I think it was a really, it was a kind of formative moment for me to go through
01:30all of that to become who I am today.
01:32Because now rejection is like, whatever, who cares about that?
01:35I don't mean that anyways.
01:36Been through 200 of those, you know?
01:37Back then I used to count my auditions too, which was don't do that.
01:40What do you mean, like actually count how many you went on?
01:42It was neurotic and I would write down number one audition for this thing.
01:46This is what they said.
01:47And like kind of keep notes like I thought that would help me because I felt like I needed to
01:51control a piece of my career.
01:52And that was the only part that I could control.
01:54And the minute I let go of that was the minute that I booked Riverdale, which is the most bizarre
01:58thing ever.
01:58But it was like I had this huge kind of catalyst moment where I was like, what am I doing?
02:02Like I've been here for three years.
02:03I've only done, I think I did a Honda commercial back then and that was it.
02:07And just worked and did a bunch of auditions and took a bunch of classes.
02:10And then I stopped being crazy about my auditions and just like took a deep breath and was like, this
02:14is an art.
02:14It should be fun.
02:15Like what am I doing?
02:16And that's when I booked Riverdale.
02:17And now you're having the most fun ever on Riverdale.
02:19Most fun ever, yeah.
02:20But Riverdale came from another audition, correct?
02:22Yeah.
02:23Can you kind of tell that story for those who don't know?
02:25So I was driving to Venice because I was working for this couple.
02:28I was a personal assistant to a couple.
02:29And I got a call from my team being like, this is crazy, but there's an audition right now.
02:32This also sounds like its own movie or TV show, by the way, too.
02:35Like your rise to the...
02:36Oh, wow.
02:37I'm honored.
02:38I never thought of it like that, but thank you.
02:40So I got a call from my team basically saying like, there's an audition right now.
02:43Can you get there?
02:44And also like, can you be prepared like that?
02:46And I was like, I don't know.
02:47I guess we can try.
02:48So I get to the place.
02:49I had to get the sides from the audition room, which I hate doing.
02:52Like basically a cold read.
02:55And my job was totally okay with me missing it.
02:57And I went in for Legends of Tomorrow to play a guest star on that show.
03:01And they asked me, can you come back later for the producers?
03:04I was like, for a cold read?
03:05Okay, sure, whatever.
03:06And then I was done with the producers.
03:08I went in for the producers and it was the same people who did Riverdale, the same casting director.
03:11And he basically was like, look, I'm doing a pilot.
03:14There's a role in there for you.
03:15We're not even casting her yet, but I just think you're literally perfect for it.
03:18And I would love to have you come in and read for a different character just so the producers can
03:21see you.
03:22So a week later, I went in for Betty.
03:24Oh.
03:24And I think sometimes people think that I went in to play Betty and I was never running for Betty.
03:30They just didn't have anything for Cheryl yet.
03:32And so that was the first time that the producers saw me and they all kind of whispered amongst themselves.
03:36And I was like, what does this mean?
03:37I don't even know what they're talking about.
03:38Cheryl, that's right.
03:38Exactly.
03:39And they were like, can you do this kind of like mean?
03:43And I was like, read Betty like mean.
03:44How do you do that?
03:46It was the scene where she's in Pop's chocolate shop and she's talking about this best summer of her life.
03:50Oh, okay.
03:50In the first episode.
03:51With Archie.
03:52With Archie, yes.
03:53Good memory.
03:53I love that.
03:56And I don't know.
03:57I guess I did a good job because they brought me back into producers when they started casting for Cheryl.
04:00Now, when you did get a script kind of for Cheryl, what jumped off the page about her specifically?
04:05And did you kind of brush up on the Archie comics about your best summer?
04:07She's not really much in the Archie comics and I don't think any of the characters are too firmly based
04:12on them.
04:13So I kind of built my own character.
04:14And that's what's great about her too is she's not one of the core four.
04:17Like those characters are so iconic and so set in their ways that it was probably hard to mold those
04:22characters.
04:23Cheryl, I got to have a lot more fun with and play with.
04:25And the first thing that I really looked at in the pilot episode, I only got two scenes.
04:28I got the scene where I sit down with them for lunch and I talk about Archie's effron-esque emergence
04:32from the chrysalis of puberty,
04:34which is one of my favorite lines ever.
04:35And the other one was the cheerleading auditions.
04:37Okay.
04:37Where they have the lesbian kiss and whatever.
04:39When Betty ended up.
04:40Yes.
04:40She has the best one of nine years in quotes.
04:42I love her.
04:43Ever.
04:43Do you ever translate those to your real life when kind of trying to tell someone off?
04:47You know, I think I've always been like feisty.
04:49I think that comes when you're a redhead.
04:50You're just kind of a feisty creature.
04:52And so I think it just kind of goes along with my personality.
04:54But she's quite witty and also very up to date on pop culture.
04:57So I think I've become more up to date on pop culture because of her and Riverdale in general.
05:00Now going back to the early days of Riverdale, what were the chemistry reads like with everyone?
05:05Did you do them with everyone?
05:07So Lily had just been cast.
05:08Okay.
05:08And that was kind of right when I was starting the whole Cheryl process.
05:11And they had found Cole.
05:13And that was it.
05:13And KJ was at my chemistry read.
05:15Lily was at my chemistry read.
05:16They hadn't found Cami yet for Veronica.
05:18And I chemistry read with another kid for Archie as well.
05:22I didn't read with KJ.
05:23And then I read with Lily and this girl, a different girl for Veronica.
05:26And Lily, she says the minute that I walked in, she was like, that's going to be Cheryl.
05:29Really?
05:30Yeah.
05:30But I was very nervous and she felt that I didn't like her.
05:32But I can't talk to people in auditions because I get like psyched out.
05:35Because you're focused on what's going on.
05:36100%.
05:37But I remember KJ said, oh, sorry, I got caught on the motorway or something like that.
05:41And we were all like, what is a motorway?
05:43What are you talking about?
05:45I'm so sorry.
05:45That was the worst accent ever.
05:47Please cut that out.
05:47That was pretty good.
05:48No, that was pretty good.
05:49I forgot that KJ was Australian until you did that, so.
05:52New Zealand.
05:53New Zealand, oh my God.
05:54He's going to come get you.
05:56It was the accent.
05:56It was the accent.
05:57It was her fault.
05:57It was your fault.
05:58Going back to season one, though, when you guys were actually filming, when did you
06:02know it would be the hit that it is?
06:04And did you have any idea?
06:05No.
06:06I had no idea.
06:06It was my first kind of project.
06:08I guess I've done a couple of movies.
06:09But other than that, this was like the first time I really got to sink my teeth into Cheryl
06:12or into any character.
06:14And I don't know.
06:16I don't think we ever really thought of it.
06:17It's kind of hard to think of what you're in as like a big success because it freaks
06:20you out.
06:21So I don't think we really ever think about it like that.
06:23I'm very grateful that it is, obviously.
06:25But you never know.
06:26I mean, we aired January 27th, 2017.
06:30I remember that day very well.
06:32And we watched it and we were like waiting.
06:34We're like, what now?
06:34We've watched our show.
06:35Like what's going to happen now?
06:36And nothing happened.
06:37And then the fourth episode aired and we were like, what's going to happen?
06:40It took a long time.
06:41I feel like it was kind of a slow burn.
06:42And that's when you, was there a moment kind of seeing people, like hearing reactions
06:46about the show?
06:46I think the first time a fan came up to me was like the first time that I was like,
06:49people watch our show?
06:50What?
06:52I didn't know who I am.
06:53I didn't know who I am.
06:54People are watching me.
06:55No, I'm just kidding.
06:55No, the first time that a fan came up to me, I was at The Grove, which used to be
06:58one
06:58of my favorite places to go.
07:00It's one of my least favorite places ever to go.
07:03Well, now it is for me.
07:04Now it is?
07:04Okay.
07:04Now it is for me.
07:05When you were first out here.
07:06But I used to really love The Grove.
07:07It was like my place to go.
07:09But I remember I was walking around The Grove and a girl screamed, Cheryl Blossom!
07:13And I was like, what?
07:15And then she ran at me and like hugged me and I was like, wow, this is, it's cool because
07:18also I didn't know the impact that we had on fans.
07:20And to have somebody run up to you and hug you that you don't know.
07:22Like an adorable little kid who just thinks everything of you.
07:26It was like such a crazy experience.
07:27It was like, whoa, A, people watch our show.
07:30B, people look up to me.
07:31No.
07:31That's wild.
07:33Like as a 21-year-old or 22-year-old, for 15-year-olds to be looking up to you,
07:37you're
07:37like, wow, that's a lot of responsibility.
07:39I'm very honored.
07:40And also for people to be that excited about something that you're passionate about.
07:43It was the first time that I really was like, wow, people like what we're doing.
07:45What advice would you give a young actor working right now in LA, about to give up, kind
07:50of?
07:50You know, it's a hard question because even the, the advice that I give you is going
07:56to either feel patronizing or it's going to feel like you've heard it a million times
08:00before.
08:00But truly the rejection is, can be debilitating and just try not to let it get to you.
08:05Honestly, I just started meditating, which seems kind of silly and people probably think
08:08it's hokey, but it really will change your life.
08:10And I think it could, it could help you kind of find the things that are important outside
08:14of your career, which is something that I really work on.
08:16And just keep being passionate and really keep that fire lit.
08:20Like that fire has to be lit and, and stay excited about everything you do.
08:24And the nerves are important.
08:25Like, love the nerves.
08:26I'm, I get nervous every time the camera rolls.
08:27That means you're doing something right if you're nervous.
08:29Yeah.
08:30It feels like you care about it.
08:31Exactly.
08:31And the minute that the nerves go away is the minute that you don't care about it anymore.
08:34So keep nervous, keep passionate, keep excited and just, you know, give it your all.
08:39Uh, in season four, the latest episode of season four, we see Tony meet Jason.
08:43Yeah.
08:43The corpse of who Cheryl has been holding.
08:46Meet Jason.
08:46JJ.
08:47I guess.
08:47God.
08:48How is this going to affect their relationship going forward?
08:51That's an interesting question.
08:52You know, I, when I first, even when the body conversation started happening at the end
08:57of season three, I was like, guys, we got to address the mental health piece here.
09:01Like there's something going on.
09:02Obviously Cheryl's having a mental break.
09:03We need to figure this out.
09:04And they're like, that's going to all be addressed with Tony as well.
09:08And so I think that's kind of what the whole narrative of the season has been is like, Cheryl
09:12is the Gothic heroine.
09:13Like that is who she is.
09:14And that's why we love her so much.
09:15At least that's why I love her.
09:16Uh, and the relationship will be obviously tested by things like that and other people
09:21coming into the show and things like that.
09:23So I'm not sure how to answer this properly without spoiling anything, but essentially
09:28it will be addressed.
09:30Uh, there will be rocks in the road for them, but, uh, Tony's incredibly supportive of Cheryl
09:34and almost, I would say to a fault.
09:36Now, Shoni has been the relationship that everyone has gravitated towards.
09:40What has it meant to you to be part of this relationship that people care about so much?
09:43It is one of the greatest honors of my career so far to be one of the few lesbian representations
09:48on television.
09:48I think it's very rare and sad that it's rare.
09:51I remember when I was a kid, I can't think of one off the top of my head that I
09:54could think
09:54of.
09:55And so it's nice to be able to have that on such a mainstream media show.
09:58Um, and the impact that it's had on fans' lives is what's the most important to me.
10:02When I go to conventions, I've had multiple people, even just one person saying this to
10:07me is incredible, but multiple people saying that because of the storyline, they were able
10:11to come out to their family and their friends or be who they truly are and live their authentic
10:16lives.
10:16And that, it might make me emotional.
10:18It's like one of the, to have your art impact someone's real life like that is the most
10:23incredible thing.
10:24And that Cheryl can do that for people.
10:26My God, like emotional.
10:27That Cheryl can do that.
10:28No, no, no, it's okay.
10:29I really mean it though.
10:30It's like, it's, it's incredible that my art can, can help people live authentically.
10:34When Tony was first introduced on the show, was it always the plan for her and Cheryl?
10:39I have a funny story about that.
10:39Okay, perfect.
10:40So Vanessa has been my best friend since before the show.
10:43We went testing for Riverdale when she was going out for Josie.
10:46And when she, when they were looking for Tony Topaz, they auditioned Vanessa and I would
10:51not stop texting Roberto.
10:52I was like, if you don't hire her, I swear to God, Roberto.
10:54And he's like, I like her.
10:55I like her.
10:56I'm good.
10:56And I was like, are you gonna hire her?
10:57Exactly.
10:58I went full Cheryl on him and I kept texting him and David Rappaport all the time.
11:01And they finally told me she got it and I had to keep it in.
11:04It was the hardest thing from her.
11:05And then she called me and told me she got it, which I already knew.
11:07Sorry, Vanessa.
11:09And that moment on, people already kind of had started once they had announced her,
11:13had been like, what if Cheryl and Tony get together?
11:15And we hadn't even announced Cheryl's sexuality.
11:17Like we hadn't even really, we knew, but we hadn't really gone into that world yet.
11:21Yeah.
11:21And people started tweeting it at us.
11:24And so I remember I sent it to Vanessa being like, can you imagine?
11:26Like, what if you ended up being my love interest?
11:28And then I screenshot that and sent it to Roberto.
11:30And I was like, LOL.
11:32And he was like, oh lady, you never know.
11:35He loves doing like the little teases, right?
11:37Yeah, yeah, yeah.
11:37And then what, 15 episodes later, we're in a relationship.
11:40What's your best tease for what fans can expect for this kind of different side to what's going on?
11:46There will be a reckoning.
11:49And there will be lots of fire.
11:53There's always fire.
11:55Cheryl's like a pyro or something.
11:58Another thing that happened in the last episode, we see this videotape.
12:01Is that going to unravel some mystery?
12:03Is that episode three you're talking about?
12:04Episode three, yeah.
12:05That is, I think, going to be...
12:07Set it off.
12:08It's going to set off the mystery for sure.
12:10Something that seems up with Jughead's school, I don't know.
12:13There's some things going on there for sure.
12:15I actually, one of my favorite storylines this year is Jugheads.
12:18Really?
12:18Yeah, I think actually I would say my favorite storyline this year is Jugheads.
12:20It's really cool.
12:22I think they've done a really excellent job with it.
12:23Next up, you also just launched a new series on a YouTube channel called I Try.
12:29What can fans expect for what you'll be trying?
12:31And what have you learned about yourself kind of in this series?
12:34I think I've realized that I'm very much like a comfort zone person.
12:38I have social anxiety, so it's hard for me to get out of my comfort zone.
12:40And this...
12:41Exactly, right?
12:42This whole series is about trying new things and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
12:46And even within doing that, like I talked about meditation earlier.
12:48And that's one thing that I learned from it.
12:50I did a Reiki episode that I'm not going to put out because it was really personal.
12:53But it was something that made me realize like, wow, this is something that I actually am very interested in
12:58and I want to do.
12:59And now I do cryotherapy, which is my first episode.
13:01And that's kind of what it is.
13:02It's really a way for me to A, create content that people, I think, is kind of different.
13:05I don't know if anyone else is doing that.
13:07And B, push myself out of my comfort zone and in hopes of also pushing fans out of their comfort
13:10zones.
13:10Even if it's something silly like cryo, which is not that big of a comfort zone deal.
13:13But it's just something random and weird, right?
13:16Lastly, you have sightless coming up.
13:18What can audiences and fans of yours expect from that?
13:20It's just a completely different side of me that you've never seen before.
13:22I'm really excited about it.
13:23It was an intense 20-day shoot, which is incredible.
13:26I just did ADR for it the other day.
13:28And it's something I've never done before.
13:30Honestly, it's like, it's just a new side of me.
13:32Thank you so much for being here.
13:33This was so much fun.
13:34Don't miss Riverdale Wednesday nights on the CW.
13:37On the CW!
13:38See you!
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