Elise Bauman – Carmilla

By starrymag | November 26, 2015

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) We saw Laura mature some in season two and kind of break out of her bubble. What are your thoughts about Laura and her growing up in season two?

 

A) I feel so lucky to be given that arc this year. I could honestly talk for hours about everything that Laura goes through. This fairy-tale idea that good always “wins” is shattering around her and lines that were once solid are being blurred, broken and bled into each other. That’s part of growing up and she’s going through it in an extreme way. When that starts to happen, you want to hold on for dear life to what you once believed and will defend that position until the last possible second, which usually ends up causing a lot of damage. I think towards the end of the season we see her being aware that a lot of her actions came from that place, and she starts taking responsibility.

 

Q) You had a new director in “Carmilla Zero,” how did Mars Horodyski’s and Spencer Maybee’s approaches differ? And what did you take away from your experiences working with Mars?

 

A) Unfortunately, I didn’t get to work with Mars that much! She wasn’t on set the day Natasha [Negovanlis, who plays Carmilla] and I shot the “VHS & Chill” scenes—as they’ve been affectionately named by the fandom—and I only appear briefly at the end of Season Zero. Mars brings such a good new vibe though. We talked a lot about filmmaking and writing over lunch and I instantly felt really inspired and intrigued by her. Spencer has been such a huge and positive part of this experience so far. He was in the room each time I auditioned and has been there from the start. I’m not sure what’s in store for Season 3, or if there even will be one (fingers crossed), but something I learned from Laura’s Season 2 arc is that everything is in a constant state of change and it’s better to roll with that than try and hold on tightly to the idea of what something once was.

 

Q) Can we talk about the chicken demon scene in “Carmilla Zero,” was that all scripted or was there any improv?

 

A) Oh, the chicken demon. That line was in the script, but the action was unscripted. I had a bowl of candy eyeballs in front of me, so how could I not, really?

 

Q) Some people saw Laura as a bit of a betrayer this season, how did you see her and did you feel her actions were justified? Does she own any of the actions that led to bloodshed? 

 

A) It was really interesting to see people’s strong reactions to Laura’s actions this year. Something I’m starting to realize and own in my life is that often when I’m outraged or angered by someone, it’s because I’m seeing something I don’t like about myself reflected back in that person. So when I’m angry with someone for being selfish let’s say, I have to look at all the ways I’m selfish in my own life. It’s not easy to have compassion towards someone else for something I have no compassion for in myself.

 

In regards to Laura, I mean, that girl is going through some pretty extreme situations. Relationships are complicated enough without having to fight off evil forces in your spare time! She absolutely did betray people this season, which is an important part of the story and her growth. Sometimes the right thing to do and the good thing to do aren’t the same thing. 

 

Q) What is something about Laura’s backstory that you have always wanted to know more about?

 

A) I’m so curious about Laura’s mother. It’s an interesting thing, being part of a series, because you have to fill in the blanks and make choices about where your character is coming from. But then you also have to leave room, knowing that the writer [Jordan Hall] could have a completely different thing in mind and have that written into your arc and roll with that. So, part of my acting work in Season 1 was figuring out who Laura’s mother was and what that history looked like and that’s informed part of what I’ve done. But Jordan may have something completely different in mind. It’s exciting, I have no idea!

 

Q) Was there anything about Laura this season that you found especially hard to play?

 

A) The whole season brought lots of challenge that I was ready and excited for, but Episode 34 especially was very challenging when I got the scripts initially. Sometimes it’s hard for me to apologize and own up to things in my own life so of course it’s challenging to do that in a scene. I can be pretty stubborn and one of the main themes of the season is that by insisting that you’re “right,” you can end up causing a lot of pain and damage (for others and for yourself). That’s definitely something I’m still working on in my own life.

 

Q) The palpable tension and dynamic between Hollstein in season two really shifted. Can you talk about playing that progression from the beginning of season two with a heroic pedestal to almost enemies towards the end?

 

A) First off, we didn’t shoot entirely sequentially so that was a challenge in itself. Laura and Carmilla go through something that most relationships face at some point, but in a more extreme and concentrated way. They both start waking up to the fact that there are parts of the other person that they don’t necessarily like. When you first start falling in love it’s easy to remain blind to those things, but I think a deeper love is accepting all parts of your partner, deciding if you can live with that and choosing to build a relationship from that place of truth.

 

I also strongly believe that just saying “I love you” isn’t going to fix all their problems. That would be a bandage over a wound that needs stitches. I’m interested to see what a third season could bring – exploring what it’s like to mend a relationship. To both see sides of a person you can’t un-see and move forward from there without resentment and with love.

 

Q) Deep down, what do you think it is that Laura actually fears the most?

 

A) Wow, I love this question. I think fear is at the root of so many actions. I can only speak from myself for a character, so I’ll rattle off a few…

 

Fear that if I admit how much I love, I open myself up to pain.  Fear that there will always be darkness in the world and I have no control over that. I think that’s a huge one. Fear that love is not enough. Fear of admitting that I’m human and I need love more than I want other people to know.

 

Q) What do you hope or want fans to take away from your character arc in season two?

 

A) When I first got the scripts and started buzzing with questions, I wanted to answer all of those questions immediately. And one thing I’ve discovered is that you can’t rush to find those answers. Learn to carry around those questions, without weight, and know that life just unfolds.